Tanzania remains a popular volunteering destination

Even in the vicinity of Tanzania's popular tourist trail, thousands of people are living in poverty, it has been claimed.

Speaking to Sound Living, volunteer worker Simon Mashauri - who lives in Tanga - highlighted the number of people living in squalid conditions.

The 32-year-old set up his own small scale volunteering project in 2007 in a bid to improve the quality of life for people in the villages of Kiomoni and Mzizima.

Mr Mashauri said he became aware of the plight of local people while working in the tourism sector as a safari tour leader.

Explaining why he has dedicated his life to helping the rural poor, he said he feels "connected" to the villagers every time he visits.

"I feel obliged to help them like they are my relatives," he stated.

"The villages are blessed with fertile land and water, also with sand and rocks for construction. But still there are many people who are sitting around doing nothing."

Mr Mashauri explained that he has helped establish a vegetable growing operation in the villages, which is helping to provide much-needed income for struggling families.

His project is also helping to raise education levels, improve life skills and find employment for local people.

"Among the things we hope to achieve is capacity building in agriculture, ensuring sustainable environment, and health to create self-employment," he stated.

Tanzania is a popular destination for people wishing to participate in voluntary work abroad.

The country is well-known for its stunning physical geography, including beautiful mountains, lakes and coastline, but also for its wildlife.

But there are also various opportunities to help local communities as part of a structured gap year program.

Among the Year Out Group members organising voluntary work placements in Tanzania are Quest, Africa and Asia Venture, GVI, Frontier Conservation, Gapforce, Gapguru, i to i Volunteering, Oyster Worldwide, Personal Overseas Development, Real Gap Experience, Projects Abroad, Travellers Worldwide, The Leap Overseas, VentureCo, WAVA.

Check out all the different gap year programs on offer.