FAQ

Indeed a fair question! At MIA-Tanzania, we are a dedicated team that’s been matching interns/volunteers on their ideal internship/volunteer placement since 2015. Our collective mission is to establish a perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning. That’s why we offer internships in Tanzania with purpose-driven institutions. We provide internship/volunteering matchmaking and guidance, an in-depth understanding of the work our partner institutions  do, travel and logistical support, troubleshooting assistance to help you reach your goals, and overall a truly unique internship opportunity. On top of this, as an intern with MIA, you’ll be part of the MIA community which provides a chance to connect with like-minded individuals. Participants are also are welcomed on their free time to tour award winning attractions in Tanzania like the Serengeti National Park, Mt. Kilimanjaro among many memorable life changing adventure, not to forget the human connection.

Medical Intern Abroad (MIA) offers internships and volunteer opportunities at a variety of skill levels with medical facilities ranging from level 6 hospital to a rural based community health center in Tanzania   Some internships don’t require much experience or technical skills and are happy to welcome a passionate intern that is willing to learn; while others require a more specific skill-set paired with prior academic knowledge or relevant work experience. You can find the internship opportunities on our project section. Our team is ready to help you find an opportunity that matches your interests and needs, background, and goals, so don’t worry if you’re not sure which opportunity is right for you – that’s what we’re here for! And welcome to a life changing adventure program.

Being an intern or a volunteer with MIA, especially an international one, will peak any employer’s interest and an eye when they look at your resume. Interning with a nonprofit, NGO, community based organization, community health center or charitable Hospitals will allow you to get hands-on experience in your desired field and develop your soft skills in cultural competencies and adaptability. Our blog post highlight some experiences from the previous interns. No matter the internship, you’ll be exposed to experiences that work on valuable transferable skills (think skills like teamwork, communication, and problem solving), which can be applied in any professional environment in the future. Let’s not forget that you’ll also have the added bonus of working towards a meaningful cause that supports the UNITED NATIONS (UN)’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Your career is sure to get a boost, no matter which internship or volunteering you choose!

The well-being of our interns/volunteers is important to us, so we reach out to them on a regular basis to ensure they’re having a fulfilling internship experience, as well as asking for their feedback at the end of their internship. , we’re also happy to put you in touch with our MIA Alumni Network of recent interns. Upon your request, during the application process we can put you in touch with the alumni that can best answer your questions, depending on the host institutions or location you’re interested in Tanzania. But mostly culture shock is obvious to new participants but with time things move on well, in remote regions of Tanzania things don’t move like in Europe or other developed world, so participants have to be patient with the local community and move on with them.

We ultimately believe there are many benefits of an internship with a grassroots institutions! One of the biggest value adds as an intern on one of our internships is that your work will make a tangible impact on a developing institutions. You’ll get to work in a close-knit team where your input will not only be hugely valued, but you’ll be able to truly test our skills in the real-world and take on meaningful task work – not boring spreadsheets or coffee runs here! You’ll get your fair share of responsibility through cross-pollination of skills and knowledge especially from your supervisors.

We recommended starting internship/volunteering at least 3-4 months prior to your intended internship start date – the sooner the better if you’re traveling! But we also allow applications any time of the year or within a short notice of 3-4 weeks before. This will leave enough time for our team to meet with you to discuss your internship goals and place you with the best suited institution for your interests and desired time of year. You should also keep in mind that visa approval and vaccinations may require a time to sort, and flights can get pricey if booking at the last minute. Basically, it’s never too early or late to start your internship/volunteering search with MIA!

You’ve come to the right place at MIA! Get in touch with the MIA team and we’ll be happy to discuss available options and work with our partners to tailor-make an internship/volunteering that fits your needs. Besides the listed internships, we regularly design medical internship experiences in East Africa for those with specific work experience and knowledge. This includes helping develop research or thesis project that are part of university requirements. We’re here to help you use your skills and grow your expertise in the best possible way, so don’t hesitate to reach out even if you haven’t found exactly what you’re looking for on our website. We shall work together to make sure your get your needs covered through our pool of experts around East Africa credible higher learning institutions.

This absolutely depends on your host institution, location, and time of year. If you’re living on-site of a project, there may be other volunteers and interns from within the same institutions and local participants/interns. If the medical institution/facility you’re joining doesn’t have their own housing, you’ll likely stay at an accommodation used by other interns, volunteers, or travelers. Either way, your host organization will help you make connections on the ground to connect with the community. Once you’ve accepted an internship, you’ll also have the opportunity to join the MIA Connect – WhatsApp Community to engage with interns that are part of MIA, either in your internship destination or other locations.

Whether your internship/volunteering travels require a visa depends on details like: your nationality, the length of your stay, and the destination you’re traveling to. We’ll be able to give you guidelines and point you in the right direction for arranging the right visa. We recommend giving yourself at least one month or so months to make the necessary arrangements, but travelers coming to any port of Tanzania from abroad can get visa upon arrival or online application. Our main airports are Der salaam International Airport, Mt. Kilimanjaro International Airport, Kisonga International Airport among others but this are the easiest and we can always guide you through.

Your internship fee will vary depending on your location, duration, and host institution’s housing -Beyond your accommodation, meals, and other logistics that may be included, the placement fee covers all the details required in finding and preparing for your ideal internship/volunteering. This includes:

• the research necessary to partner with responsible & vetted internship host institutions
• marketing activities for you to find these unique positions on the ground with our field members
• the matchmaking process of narrowing down the internship best suited for your needs
• facilitating and securing your placement with our partner facilities and round table discussions
• providing relevant pre-internship information about our institution & travels
• giving advice on your visa/insurance/flights
• developing an Internship Work Plan to define your learning goals
• engaging in regular check-ins with our team to ensure your internship is heading in the right direction
• providing a certificate of completion and a reference letter at the end of your internship
• 24/7 in-country support services
• In-country two days long orientations and briefing with expert, host institutions and the local community
• Site visitation per every seven days to make sure you fit in well
• Provision of quality accommodation with amenities
• Security within the institutions and living areas
• Percipients are free to request for any additional /personal need

Indeed yes! With the guidance of MIA and host institutions, you’ll have the information you need to safely travel to your internship destination. All partners and accommodations are chosen to ensure that you will be arriving to a legitimate and comfortable internship experience. MIA will provide you with pre-departure information to prepare you for your travels and will remain available virtually whenever you need assistance. You’ll be briefed on your go-to contacts on the ground in case of any problem or emergency. And our pro tip is to learn a few greetings in the local language to feel a bit more at ease for your travels. We’re excited to help you embark on an international internship adventure!

There are crucial differences that distinguish our internship or volunteering from the traditional norm. At MIA, we are allies with organizations/Hospitals/charitable hospitals/government hospitals/community based health care focused on social good, environmental causes, or community development. Whereas other companies may be driven by profit and shareholder value, we focus on placing interns/volunteers with an institution that are making a positive impact in the world in a sustainable way. Besides this, internships or volunteering at large companies can be more competitive and hierarchical; our internships collaborate with small teams and mission-driven work, allowing you to potentially have more responsibility and involvement in projects. We follow our dream of alleviating human suffering.

Indeed yes, depending on the requirements and details of your course, it’s possible to receive university credit for your internship.

VERY IMPORTANT – you must double check with your relevant college/university contact to confirm whether the internship is eligible. We’ll work with you to fill out any paperwork and find you the right internship to meet your university’s requirements. We can also assist in helping you purchase purchase credit transfer if your university accepts them. We are free to discuss towards a mutual goal.