Summit4Water project to bring clean drinking water to Uraki school and village: 

In September 2010, four of our Kilimanjaro climbers launched www.Summit4water.org .  This US-based, nonprofit (tax deductible) project is ambitious and much-needed.  The team originally wanted to do a project to benefit the Uraki School near SPS headquarters in Usa River, Tanzania.  The idea of bringing clean water for the school was the winning plan.  However, the team discovered those same students who have to carry water by bucket from the stream to the school each day, also drink contaminated water at home.  The project grew to include bringing a pipeline of clean spring water not just to the Uraki Primary and High Schools, but also to families living in the village along the way.  Water-borne illnesses are frequent cause of school absenteeism for the kids, and SPS applauds the Summit4Water team!  Please visit their website and consider making a donation. 

Cradle of Love Baby Home, Usa River, Tanzania.   www.cradleoflove.com

Cradle of Love is a very special place located in Usa River, which is the home village of Serengeti Pride Safaris & Kilimanjaro Climbs Co-Founder Lema Peter.  Cradle of Love is a Baby Home - basically an orphanage that specializes in taking care of babies from birth to about age 2.  After Cradle of Love provides great care and nurturing during their infancy, these kids are well prepared for adoption or to return to their extended families.  Some of the babies have health concerns such as prematurity, HIV, etc and they come from impoverished backgrounds.  Cradle of Love accepts short and long-term volunteers, with housing available.  Visit them for an hour, a day, a week, or longer!  They have cottages available for rent on a bed and breakfast basis to volunteers or to anyone looking for an inexpensive place to stay in Usa River (even if not volunteering).  Proceeds benefit this and other nonprofit projects.  Please consider making a monetary donation as they have many medical expenses as well as staff salaries for the Tanzanian nannies who care for the babies, birth to toddler, who were orphaned or whose families cannot care for them.  We can easily arrange for you to drop by Cradle of Love so you can bring much-needed donations of hand sanitizer gel, newborn disposable diapers, baby wet wipes, etc.  (Baby clothes are not needed at this time). 

Peace House Africa's Secondary School

http://peacehouseafrica.org/

A US-based nonprofit group runs this wonderful residential secondary school (boarding high school) for AIDS orphans just outside Arusha.  It's a great project that provides opportunities to kids who would otherwise likely drop out after primary school due to lack of funds or support to stay in school.  They have short and long term volunteer opportunities available - as little as 3 days to as long as many months.  Older teenagers, and adults of all ages are accepted.  One of the nice things about their program is that they have structure and provide guidance, with volunteer coordinators on site at the school, so you won't be left floundering without a plan of what you're supposed to be doing.  Yet, they can adjust to take advantage of specific experience/skills of each volunteer.  Volunteers do not need to be teachers.  Their program also includes cultural interaction, visiting a local governement-run primary school, etc.  Their volunteer housing on-site is very comfortable.  There is a fee to volunteer which covers meals and housing but 90% is tax deductible (in the USA) since it helps support the Peace House Africa school program.

Global Service Corps' Tanzania Volunteer Program

http://globalservicecorps.org/site/Tanzania-service-learning-programs

This is a reputable nonprofit offering longer-term volunteer opportunities.  Global Service Corps, a longstanding (NGO) in Tanzania, offers a unique way to experience Tanzania through two-week to six-month service learning programs that focus on HIV/AIDS Educaiton and Prevention, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, and International Health.   GSC's Tanzania volunteer programs include in-depth cultural orientation and technical training, Swahili lessons, and often a homestay with a local family.