At a glance
- Work with professional human rights lawyers and help to protect the rights of women and children in Tanzania.
- Kick-start your legal career and get practical experience doing things like writing pleas, researching cases, and giving human rights presentations.
- You’ll focus on tackling injustices and helping with issues of land, inheritance, and probate law.
Is a Human Rights internship in Tanzania right for me?
Looking to gain practical human rights experience? This internship is an opportunity to learn directly from experienced human rights lawyers.
This internship is a great addition to your CV and will help with university applications or job applications in the competitive legal field. If you’re still deciding on your career path, you can experience the day-to-day life of a lawyer to help with your decision.
You don’t need any experience or qualifications to join. Projects Abroad staff will guide you and support you throughout your Human Rights placement in Tanzania.
This internship is also perfect for you if you want to provide practical legal support to vulnerable groups. You’ll be working with women and children to protect their rights and help enforce justice.
This internship runs all year round so you can join whenever it suits your schedule. The minimum duration is four weeks, but we recommend staying longer so you can learn and do as much as possible.
What will I do at my Human Rights placement in Tanzania?
Your cases will relate to juveniles. You'll experience many aspects of human rights law through these activities:
- Prepare people for court by role-playing different courtroom scenario
- Write pleas
- Attending court sessions with the children and social workers
- Running human rights presentations
- English language classes
- Life skills training
- Games and fun activities with the children
Your human rights work in Tanzania will focus on the following areas:
Research work and interviews
You’ll research issues like gender equality, children's rights, inheritance, property, land rights, violence against women, and minority rights. Through your research, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the human rights issues prevalent in Tanzania. You can also use your research to help local lawyers with giving legal advice.
You’ll also visit different legal organisations and sit in on court proceedings. This will give you the chance to learn more about the role of a human rights lawyer.
Human rights awareness
By running presentations and workshops, you’ll help raise awareness about human rights. You’ll work with women from a women’s empowerment organisation. You’ll teach them about their rights and give advice on what to do when their rights are infringed.
Prepare individuals for court
You’ll help local people prepare for court cases by acting out courtroom scenarios with them. This will help build their confidence and leave them feeling ready for trial. It’s also a great opportunity for you to see what it’s like to be a lawyer in a real court case.
Where in Tanzania will I work?
Arusha
You’ll be based in Arusha, a city in Tanzania at the foot of Mount Meru. It’s home to over 400,000 people and has a buzzing city centre with exciting colourful markets. Communities on the outskirts are less developed, with dirt roads and less modern buildings.
You’ll do your office work, like research and report writing, at the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office (PAHRO). The office is well-equipped and our staff are there to answer your questions. You’ll also do fieldwork in local communities. These areas will usually be more remote and rural, and people here don’t have access to legal advice.
We’ve partnered with a local women’s organisation and a lot of your time will be spent working with them. You’ll also have the opportunity to work in a juvenile detention centre.
A typical day on this Human Rights internship
On a typical day, your human rights work in Tanzania will begin at about 9am and finish at 4pm. You’ll work from Monday to Friday, with your weekends free.
You’ll usually start your day by doing research work and writing up reports in the human rights office. You can take the time to prepare presentations or workshops. You’ll work alongside human rights lawyers, who will be there to answer your questions and guide you.
After office work, you’ll go to a local community to interview people. You might also visit a legal organisation to hear more about the kinds of legal issues they encounter, or you’ll give a talk on human rights to local people. You’ll also work with a local NGO to provide legal support to vulnerable groups.
Your evenings will be free, giving you the chance to travel around Arusha. You can spend time at a local market and buy an eye-catching Batik artwork, or enjoy a hearty meal with your host family.
What are the aims and impact of the Human Rights internship in Tanzania?
The aim of this project is to help address issues of gender inequality that are prevalent in Tanzania.
Tanzania has a history of human rights issues, particularly in terms of women’s and children’s rights. As an intern, you’ll work with qualified lawyers and help them advise local people. You’ll also help with raising human rights awareness, and promote women’s empowerment. You’ll do this by giving presentations and workshops about human rights.
Through research work and assisting local lawyers, you’ll also help provide free legal assistance to those who can’t afford it. The communities where we work are usually remote and the people here don’t have the funds to speak to lawyers when their rights are violated.
Another goal of this project is to give you practical human rights work experience while in Tanzania. It will boost your CV and you’ll get the chance to see what the day-to-day life of a human rights lawyer is like.
Join our Human Rights internship in Tanzania and gain valuable experience while working towards protecting human rights.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Arusha. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Tanzania and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
A trip to Tanzania is the chance to experience life in the heart of Africa. There’s plenty to see and do here during your free time on your project.
A project in Tanzania wouldn’t be complete without a safari! This is a chance to see the beautiful wildlife of this country, like elephants, rhinos, and lions.
What’s more, Tanzania is home to the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. Hiking around the base through lush vegetation is a peaceful way to spend an afternoon.
Browsing through a vibrant, local market is a must while you’re there. You can also spend time in a Maasai village, getting to know a completely different way of life.
There will likely be many other volunteers in Tanzania with you. This means you have the option to explore the country independently or with a group of like-minded volunteers from different projects.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
Meet the team in Tanzania
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