Welcome to the GoKili Visiting Schools Progamme. We are part of UWC East Africa, the first IB school in Africa, and we’ve been hosting international students since 1969.
The GoKili VSP aims to provide students with an outstanding CAS experience that will enhance their personal development and give them a real taste of life in a developing country.
Added to this is our location. GoKili operates out of the Moshi Campus of UWC East Africa, based at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and the gateway to two of the world’s wonders: Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
Our programmes, therefore, also offer visiting students the opportunity to have an outstanding wildlife experience. From trekking up one of the most famous mountains in the world to viewing game on the plains, Tanzania offers the best safari experience on the planet.
Take a look through these pages and check out the sample programmes and quotes from teachers and students. Discover who we are and drop us a line any time if you have a query or would like a bespoke itinerary and costing.
You can also download the following PDF documents:
GoKili VSP Brochure
GoKili VSP Expectations
GoKili VSP Registration Form
Come and join us for the trip of a lifetime and give your students the chance to have memories which may influence them for the rest of their lives.
GoKili VISION
Enabling students to be active Global Citizens through a challenging CAS programme, that inspires the creation of sustainable futures for local Tanzanian children through contributing to Tanzanian state schools and the communities they operate in.
GoKili Mission
The GoKili mission is to provide a world-class CAS programme in a dynamic environment. We are committed to contributing towards developing balanced global citizens who are empowered to act responsibly in a complex world.
What we do
In a nutshell the CAS element of GoKili builds classrooms in state run schools in an effort to help reduce class sizes and increase the quality of local state education. This in turn helps improve the facilities for children in the state system and provides a valid learning experience for visiting students. Additionally we facilitate and organize visits to NGO organizations and other service elements for the visiting student, that include agriculture, health and hygiene, and ecology and environment. We are also able to organize and provide safari, trekking and wildlife experiences for your student group that can follow from the main CAS activity. These vary in price, length and complexity depending on individual group needs.
Participation Requirements
Each participant is expected to raise money to donate requiring them to plan and research how they will do this. The money is then sent to us, where it’s used to buy building materials that the participant then uses whilst they are participating in the CAS project on their visit with us. At the end of the CAS project students are able to see the fruit of their labour and we hope this process contributes towards a transformation in them as a person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the cost?
The cost includes:
- pick up/ drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport
- accommodation
- food and chefs (where appropriate)
- transport to all planned activities
- all planned activities including park fees(where appropriate)
- qualified guiding (where appropriate)
- an experienced local coordinator
- use of UWC East Africa facilities, including internet, swimming pool, sports facilities, teaching facilities and social centre.
- laundry service (for extended visits)
What kind of accommodation will we be staying in?
UWCEA has purpose built accommodation for the VSP. This can accommodate 30 people. This consists of a teachers’ area (three bedrooms sleeping 6 and a bathroom), several student rooms sleeping 4-6 people, bathrooms, a kitchen, a common area and dining hall.
Additionally, UWCEA has 8 boarding houses accommodating about 150 students. All houses have comfortable rooms, shower facilities, hot and cold water.
What medical precautions do we need to take before visiting Tanzania?
Each individual visiting Tanzania should seek medical advice from their doctor before travelling. The only legal vaccination requirement for entry into Tanzania is Yellow Fever. You may be asked to show a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate on arrival.
What medical facilities are in place for visiting schools?
UWC East Africa has a Health Centre at the school with a resident nurse available 24 hours a day. This service is available to visiting schools should they need it. The school doctor operates a weekly clinic at the health centre and is available on call when required. More serious problems are dealt with through Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. It is critical that all visitors to UWCEA as part of the Visiting Schools Program come with adequate medical insurance to covers costs of treatment they may receive. This insurance must additionally cover repatriation to their country of residence. UWC East Africa can accept no liability for financial costs incurred for medical attention received while in Tanzania.
Can we expect to build an entire classroom in the time we are there?
There is more work than you might expect building a class room. However, it does depend on what stage of construction you begin your work, how long you are here and the number of people in your group.
What adults will be there to help with our community service?
We provide a programme manager to organise and oversee the project you will work on. We approach these community programs with the attitude that we are here to help but not control. There will be local craftsmen and builders there to give direction in the building and work being done by your group. For example, they will show you how to make the bricks, mix sand with the correct ratios, how deep to dig foundations etc. Additionally it is common for members of the local community to offer assistance with the manual labour.
What is the best time of year to visit?
The long rains start in March and April, however this is very changeable, as is the amount of rain received during the rains. During the rains some high altitude trekking may be difficult and long off road safari not always possible.
What kind of clothing should we bring?
For most of the year we tend to wear light-weight clothing but students will be glad of a sweatshirt from time to time. Footwear tends to be training shoes or open sandals. A hat is highly recommended to protect students from the sun.
What is the maximum number of students for a VSP?
The maximum number of students during the UWCEA term time is 30 people.
The maximum number of students during the UWCEA holiday is 130 people.
How much money is raised for the community service project?
UWC East Africa expects each participating student to raise $200 for the local school they help. This community service donation needs to reach us 3 months before you arrive to enable raw materials to be bought in advance. It also ensures that local schools can then make arrangements with craftsmen and builders to be employed to help you with your construction and complete the project when you leave.
What kind of spending money should students bring?
Day to day items are generally cheap in Tanzania. Souvenirs are likely to be the biggest expense. Most things, such as bracelets, blankets, pictures, wooden carvings etc cost $1-$20, unless buying something extravagant.
Cultural Sensitivity
We request that visiting schools participants take into account cultural sensitivity to approaches to dressing. It is inappropriate to wear clothing with logos or slogans that might cause offence, this includes reference to drugs or alcohol. It is inappropriate for participants to wear clothes that are skimpy.
What are the payment procedures?
Payment in full must be made 90 days prior to arrival. Non payment by this date relinquishes the reservation of accommodation.
Payments must be made via a bank transfer. Please advise us immediately of any transfers giving details of the dates, currencies and amounts of the transfers.
Is there a cancellation policy?
Yes
- Cancellation of an entire visit 60+ days prior to arrival dates: full reimbursement of total cost (excluding the community service donation).
- Cancellation of an entire visit 30-59 days prior to arrival dates: 75% reimbursement of total cost (excluding the community service donation).
- Cancellation of an entire visit 0-29 days prior to arrival dates: 50% reimbursement of total cost (excluding the community service donation).
- Cancellation of a party member 60+ days prior to arrival dates: full reimbursement of individual’s cost (excluding the community service donation).
- Cancellation of a party member 30-59 days prior to arrival dates: 75% reimbursement of individual’s cost (excluding the community service donation).
- Cancellation of a party member 0-29 days prior to arrival dates: 50% reimbursement of individual’s cost (excluding the community service donation).
Anything else we should remember to bring?
A hat, sunscreen, swimming gear, mosquito repellent, torch (head torch if possible).
Are there snakes & wildlife?
Yes. Tanzania has fantastic wildlife everywhere. This include snakes, monkeys, large spiders and many insects. These usually do not present a problem as long as you stay calm and don’t interfere with them
Please contact us by email on vsp.gokili@uwcea.org