Pre-Field

Welcome to the SIC Pre-field Site!

All volunteers will receive copies of the pre-field manual (including all logistics information and forms), and our HIV curriculum, which you will use as the basis for your teaching in Tanzania.  Coordinators will provide paper copies of these documents to volunteers at your first meeting.  You can also download them using the links below.

Residence Permit Application Form (pdf)

SIC HIV Awareness Curriculum – v3, English (pdf)

Each of the 8 pre-field sessions includes required and supplementary readings.  Some of these readings are taken from our HIV Curriculum, while many others are from other sources.  These readings are available through the page for each module (accessible by following the appropriate link).  The readings vary greatly in length, so don’t leave them until the last minute!

Session Topics

1. Introduction to SIC
  • Prefield goals and expectations
  • General introduction to SIC: history, mission, and projects
  • How volunteer work fits into the organization’s mission
  • Logistics: Plane tickets

2. The HIV Epidemic
  • The History of HIV
  • Current global HIV/AIDS epidemiology
  • Overview of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania
  • Social and economic impacts of the epidemic
  • Logistics: Medical preparation

3. Tanzania Background
  • Tanzanian Culture and Ethnic Groups
  • Tanzanian Political and Economic History
  • The Tanzanian Education System
  • Working in a multi-cultural team
  • Logistics: Residence Permits and Program Fees

4. Sustainable Development in Tanzania
  • Introduction to Sustainable Development
  • HIV in the context of development
  • Ethics of international volunteering
  • How would you design a program?

5. Teaching the SIC Curriculum for Behavior Change
  • Introduction to life skills and behavior change
  • Introduction to the SIC curriculum
  • Demonstration: a life skills focused approach
  • Introduction to the SIC curriculum

6. Basic Biology I
  • Overview of Genetics and Cell Biology
  • Introduction to the Immune System
  • Logistics: Homestays

7. Basic Biology 2
  • Introductory Microbiology
  • CIV Life Cycle and Drug Targets
  • Progression of HIV infection
  • Logistics: Tax deductions

8. Swahili and Logistics
  • Basic Swahili
  • Logistics: Packing, arrival and final questions