College is such a great time of creating rock-solid friendships–gathering souls to you with whom you will share your entire future. Your chosen family begins there for so many, and blood may be thicker than water, but that’s no match for shared dorm food. Those alliances, forged even as we discover and proclaim ourselves, will last a lifetime, and sometimes move mountains.
A group of UCLA students decided to change the world, and in 2008, they formed One Heart Source, an organization born of a need to take action against the AIDS epidemic that was (and is) devastating parts of Africa. In Tanzania, there were nearly 2.4 million orphans, about half of them orphaned due to HIV. The volunteer group dedicated itself to creating a sustainable home for orphaned and abandoned children, then later, added community-based programs in education, health, and empowerment.
If you want to get involved with amazing volunteer projects now in Cape Town, South Africa and Zanzibar, Tanzania–teams of volunteers perpetuate existing programs and create new directions and missions as well, during 4-week and 6-week placements. You live and work in villages and become a true member of the community during your stay. You’ll work in schools and other community locales, organizing English and health initiatives as well as sports and agricultural efforts. You’ll be completely immersed in a new culture, making everyday differences in the lives of your neighbors and new friends. Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the calendar year as groups engage in the programs in waves, building on the work of previous service travelers.
Programs as deep and wide as this don’t come along every day–explore, consider, support.
Change by Doing 
Posted by Marquita N. Dejesus on April 28, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Whether walking with a Maasai through the boundless plains of the Rift Valley or paddling a dugout canoe with a Bakiga guide through the mysterious depths of Uganda’s gorgeous Lake Bunyonyi, on our Africa semester you may find yourself speechless from the astonishing diversity and sheer beauty of the natural and cultural landscape. On this three month journey you will live with the Bena tribe, have close encounters with awe-inspiring wildlife on a multi-day safari, chat with Tanzanians using your newly acquired Swahili skills, lend a helping hand to inspirational organizations, help with local wildlife conservation, and much more. In East Africa you will work alongside a diverse array of organizations attempting to assist local communities through education, orphanages, building projects, women’s empowerment, and HIV/AIDS support – so if you are drawn to community service or are interested in the complexities and approaches in international development, this is an ideal trip for you! End your adventure on the fascinating spice island of Zanzibar, where you will earn your SCUBA certification in its crystal clear waters and wander through the maze-like streets of Stone town in your off time. More than any other, this semester is rooted in diverse volunteer opportunities that all involve “getting your hands dirty” while loving every minute of it.