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SUMMER 2026 SERVICE TRIP:
SCHOOL RENOVATION & SAFARI IN TANZANIA
In June 2026, eleven Nordhoff students traveled to Arusha, Tanzania, where we were hosted by The Tanzania Host Experience (THE) a local organization that finds placements and coordinates volunteers with projects in the area. Our group was placed at Kiranyi Primary School, an elementary school in need of renovation and flooring repairs. Throughout our week of work at the school site, our team demolished and removed old damaged flooring from two classrooms, then mixed and laid new concrete floors in both rooms. Additionally, we were able to help with some painting and wall repairs in other classrooms at the school site.
Along with our service work, our team spent time in Arusha learning about the tribal cultures that make up Tanzania and what life in Tanzania looks like today. We spent a day with a local Maasai tribe, learning about their traditional ways of life and how they maintain these traditional customs. We visited several local markets, met and learned from other volunteers that were working on other project sites, explored the natural beauty of the area by visiting local waterfalls, and took a cooking class with a local nonprofit focused on providing young women in difficult situations with the support, education, and healthcare they need.
After our week of service in Arusha, we embarked on a safari in Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. We spent three nights camping, spending our days on safari drives encountering lions, giraffes, zebras, elephants, cheetahs, hippos, and more! We spent our nights camping in the Serengeti, where we listened to the roars from the distant lions and encountered zebras walking through our campsites. We also learned about the ongoing conversation efforts to keep both the lands of the Serengeti and the animals who live there safe and healthy.
"By exploring Luang Prabang and aiding its communities, I was able to be a part of something I had never thought I could be a part of. L.I.V.E club has allowed me to expand my horizons and understand the world from an entirely new perspective. Talking with the Lao people made me realize that everyone has more room to learn, and we must approach everything with an open mind. Our conversations usually made me think about the many differences we face, making me feel incredibly grateful for my privileges and an immense admiration for the Lao people and the way they can appreciate their lives regardless of their many difficulties."
-Jacaranda Shepard, Class of 2025
tHANK YOU TO OUR 2025-2026 SPONSORS who made our TANZANIA trip possible:
Nordhoff parent Association
Ojai valley lions Club
Ojai Rotie
sarah houseman fitness
big mann bbq
agave maria
ojai noodle house
westside optometry
the city of Ojai
Rotary club of ojai west
Ojai valley athletic club
Mandala
Wingate earthworks
breathe ojai
linda taylor
mustangs and more
Greater goods
Pixie's general store
Java & Joe
Jim & Rob's fresh grill
ojai ice cream
tania mccracken midwifery
skating plus
transmission brewing
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