Social Work & Community Outreach Internships: Intern abroad in Arusha, Tanzania

Internship details

Assist social workers and healthcare professionals who work to address inequalities in underprivileged communities around Arusha. Interns help to deliver important health and education resources and services to people in their homes and communities, as well as providing specific assistance for social issues such as abuse, addiction, mental illness, and unemployment.

This is an in-country internship with accommodation and meals included. Click here to view remote Psychology & Social Work internships which you can undertake from home.

This is a multi-faceted Social Work & Community Outreach internship, where interns help to overcome inequalities that exist in underprivileged communities. Interns can be placed in NGOs, rehabilitation centers, charities and with community programs that provide assistance to address specific social issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, domestic abuse, youth pregnancy and unemployment.

Interns can help to improve access to vital healthcare services. In the communities you’ll work in, people are at risk of contracting preventable disorders, such as malnutrition, anemia, tuberculosis and respiratory disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, and alcoholic liver disease. This internship is conducted in English. Some individuals you deal with may only speak limited English, in which case local staff may need to conduct work in a local language. In these instances, staff will be available to debrief you in English afterwards.

You’ll deliver medical supplies, help raise awareness of healthcare practices and issues, provide guidance and support in individual recovery journeys, all while gaining insight into diverse challenges, and how they are managed on a day-to-day basis. Interns travel alongside social workers and/or medical professionals, making welfare visits in homes, receiving cases and referrals from the local community, visiting community health centers, assisting with health promotion, addiction and health education, making observational reports, developing vocational training programs, general facility support and teaching English language, literature and writing.

As an intern, you’ll learn about the prevalence of social and health issues in these unique communities, as well as how best to address them. You’ll also be making a significant difference to the lives of local people, exchanging ideas, reducing stigma surrounding mental health and providing a safe space to get the care and support they need.

It’s important that interns come prepared to encounter differing cultural beliefs and traditions. While you may experience culture shock, which can be quite emotive, it is important to remain professional and compassionate at all times. You’ll be encouraged to consider your supervisor and in-country coordinator as valuable and knowledgeable resources and mentors. They’re in the best position to provide guidance and local context into the needs and challenges of the local community, and will be happy to support your learning experience throughout this internship abroad. For placements, interns will travel like a local, walking or taking public transport to their placement each day.

In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.

Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.

What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Social Work & Community Outreach Intern?