The Ota Initiative welcomes volunteers of all types who have a passion for learning and wish to engage with the world around them. Every volunteer brings their own unique expertise to our programs and helps brighten and improve the work we do in Karagwe.

International Opportunities

Volunteers wishing to make the journey to Karagwe to engage with Ota’s on-the-ground work can do so through our sponsor, Amizade Global Service-Learning. Amizade has been bringing volunteers to Karagwe for semester-long and short-term programs since 2002, and it brought over its first group of volunteers to work with Ota in 2015. Past volunteers have assisted with our leadership seminars, worked with our staff to build their English-language capacity, and conducted community surveys, among other tasks. Universities can arrange service-focused study abroad trips to Karagwe through Amizade, and individuals wishing to volunteer with Ota may also be able to receive academic credit. Swahili skills are useful but not required to volunteer with Ota in Karagwe.

Please visit Amizade’s website to learn more about volunteer opportunities in Karagwe or send an inquiry to volunteer@amizade.org. 

Domestic Opportunities

Domestic volunteers have played a large role in Ota’s development through a wide variety of contributions. Past volunteers have hosted fundraising events, reviewed curriculum, assisted with program marketing, and arranged letter swaps between our students and American elementary school students. We are always looking to partner with new people and communities who wish to connect with our students in Karagwe.

If you are interested in volunteering with Ota domestically, send an email to info@theotainitiative.org.