Many of you have asked about our next trip to Tanzania, which we’re planning for this summer provided that we can recruit several of you to come along. Having now been twice, I can assure you that it’s a truly life-changing experience, so I really hope you can join us. Besides, we have so much work to do! Here’s just a sampling of the types of activities volunteers can expect to participate in during their stay in Tanzania:

• Classroom instruction
• Technology Lab Setup & Technology Instruction
• Construction & Building Improvements
• Fundraising Performance Preparation & Ticket Sales
• Negotiation with local merchants to sell Epic Change products
• Photography, Art & Craft Instruction
• Documentary Filmmaking
• Music Recording
• Personal Marketing of Epic Change products

This voluntourism trip is a rare opportunity to learn about an incredible culture while contributing to it. The estimates below include accommodations, airport transfers in Tanzania, $25,000 in emergency medical insurance, $500,000 in emergency medical transportation insurance and administrative fees.

Budget accommodations will be provided at the Arusha Resort Center, where we stayed during our last visit and will be staying again. They offer showers that are usually warm, electricity that usually works and a location near town center that’s hard to beat. Luxury accommodations are offered not far away at the Impala Hotel, which may not be luxurious according to first-world standards, but are very nice, comfortable and set in a large, very safe atmosphere that offers some of the best dining in Tanzania. Additionally, there’s a gift shop and an internet cafe – albeit expensive – that’s open late inside the hotel.

In addition to learning about Tanzania through your participation in at least 25 hours of volunteer service per week, we also would love for you to explore this amazing country further by participating in one or more optional excursion where you can learn more about the Masai people, go on a wildlife safari in the Serengeti or even climb the highest mountain on the continent of Africa. Optional excursions include:

The very authentic Maasai cultural safari is offered by Kitumusote, budget safaris & the Kiliminjaro climb are offered by a local company called Maasai Wanderings, and the luxury safari will be planned through iExplore.com. We have personally worked with each of these operators and assure that these experiences are not to be missed, although they may challenge your comfort zones.

Participants are responsible for booking their own flights into Kilimanjaro (JRO) airport. For those who are able to depart on June 20th, we are recommending a fairly direct flight from JFK to JRO on KLM that offers the least expensive airfare we’ve found of $2091 round trip, returning on August 3rd. Do not book your flight until your trip has been confirmed. If we book together, we may be able to arrange a group discount.

A few final notes:

• Participants are responsible for all airfare, passport & visa fees, required immunizations, anti-malarial medication, trip interruption/cancellation insurance, as well as food & spending money in Tanzania.
• Shared accommodation rates are dependent upon our ability to identify roommates.
• All costs are estimates until time of final payment & booking.
• Minimum stay is two weeks.
• Budget Hotel Rooms & Apartments require minimum 1-month payment.
• Optional excursions are subject to minimum participation.
• An end-of-term school fundraising performance is expected to occur on 7/31 or 8/1.
• Participants assume all risks and liability associated with travel, and will be expected to abide by rules and regulations published by Epic Change.
• Be flexible. While you may specify your preference of volunteer activities, your assistance may be required on many tasks, including but not limited to the list above.
• Each participant will be required to contribute at least 1 blog entry per week throughout his/her stay in Tanzania.
• A non-refundable deposit of $250 is due by 5/15/08.
• 50% of payment is due by 5/29/08, and 100% is due by 6/12/08. Payments are non-refundable.

If you’d like to participate, please contact Sanjay at sanjay@epicchange.org or at 415.748.2152 as soon as possible for an application. To confirm your trip, an application and a $250 non-refundable deposit is required by 5/15/08.

We hope you’re as excited as we are. Mama Lucy and 170 smiling children just can’t wait to see you!