Duration & Fees
| 10 days | £927 |
| 2 weeks | £1,030 |
| 3 weeks | £1,308 |
| 4 weeks | £1,585 |
| 5 weeks | £1,862 |
| 6 weeks | £2,139 |
| 7 weeks | £2,416 |
| 8 weeks | £2,693 |
Please note: The currency conversion is an estimate based on today's exchange rates and is to be used as a guide only. All payments to Amanzi Travel have to be made in Pounds Sterling (GBP)
Start Dates
Volunteers can join this project on any Monday throughout the year. This project is open year round.
Payment
£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
What's Included
- Financing that goes directly back into the projects themselves, to buy building materials, books, equipment etc. It also covers operational costs such as housing, communication, and project vehicles
- Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at our volunteer house (excluding weekends)
- All airport transfers from Livingstone International Airport upon arrival and departure
- All daily transfers to and from your projects during your stay
- Housekeeping service
- Comprehensive orientation and training program
- Assistance and support from the African Impact staff and Project Managers who live and work with you
What's not included
- Travel insurance to include cover for repatriation
- Personal items eg clothes, travel goods
- All transport by air or bus to Livingstone
- Use of internet (email) and telephone
- Soft drinks, wines, beer and spirits and snacks
- Visas for border crossings and any trips undertaken other than in the planned programme
Project Highlights:
- Directly support a local teacher by providing classroom assistance in a rural primary school. If you’re feeling confident, you can even lead your own lessons
- Change a child’s life who is falling behind in their education by providing one-to-one attention that they otherwise would not receive
- Spend each afternoon on a different community project. Choose from activities, such as helping children to read, getting creative at Art Club, assisting community members at Adult Literacy Class, or even trying your hand at a building project
- Tick one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World off your bucket list, Victoria Falls. Did you know it has the largest curtain of falling water in the world?
- Live and work in the ‘Adventure Capital’ of Africa, where you can bungee-jump, go white-water-rafting or take to the skies on a microlight flight
- See Africa’s most iconic wildlife on safari during your free time. You might even see an elephant or two during the ride to your volunteer projects each day
About This Project
Many schools in rural areas of Zambia suffer from a serious shortage of classrooms, educational resources and formally trained teachers. This has led to a ‘hot-seating’ system, where children are not able to attend school full time and can often only come in for either the morning or afternoon session. This, coupled with the harsh reality of poverty and parents’ inability to pay school fees, means many children do not complete their primary education.
VOLUNTEER WORK (MON – FRI MORNINGS)
You work in one primary school throughout your stay, helping out with the following:
SUPPORT A LOCAL TEACHER IN A CLASSROOM
You will spend your mornings at a primary school in one of Livingstone’s rural communities, supporting a local teacher in their classroom. During your stay, you will remain with the same class so that you can get to know the children, identify problem areas and provide individual support to the students. You are also there to share your skills with the local teacher so that they are better able to educate the children in their care. Through general classroom assistance, you will improve the learning experience for all.
Should you feel comfortable in the teaching environment, you can discuss with the teacher the possibility of leading a class yourself. Upon agreement of a subject to be taught, you will be responsible for planning your own lesson (our staff team will be there to support you). It is an amazing opportunity for the students to get a fresh perspective and for you to grow in confidence.
REMEDIAL WORK
In overcrowded classrooms it is very easy for students to fall behind, especially when there is normally only one teacher to – on average – every 50 students.
Volunteers therefore provide an absolutely essential role in identifying those struggling students and providing one-to-one attention that they would otherwise not receive. This will involve taking individuals, or groups of children, outside of the classroom and repeating the lesson at a slower rate with greater repetition to enhance learning and retention. It is an extremely rewarding way to contribute to a student’s education and future.
MARKING TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Livingstone schools are no different to anywhere else in the world, so there is always a lot of marking of tests and assignments to do. By sharing this duty with the local teacher, you are relieving their workload and allowing them to focus on more academic instruction.
WHAT ELSE WILL I BE INVOLVED IN?
Your afternoons are very flexible and will be spent immersed in the community. If you would like to continue volunteering with young children, perhaps try Reading or Art Club. If you would like to work with adults, join our team at the Adult Literacy Club or at the Maramba Old People’s Home. You will be fully supported by our staff team who are there to make sure your passion and skills are fully utilized to benefit the community members you work with.
School Term Dates:
During school holidays activities may differ from the usual schedule but rest assured your time with us will still be rewarding and the work will be equally engaging.
The school terms for Zambia for 2019 are as follows:
Term 1: 14 January – 12 April
Term 2: 13 May – 9 August
Term 3: 9 September – 6 December
LOCATION
Livingstone, Zambia is a beautiful, rural town that many call “the real Africa.” Just a stone’s throw away from one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls – Livingstone is the ultimate playground for those who love adventure sports, wildlife and the great outdoors. Whether you want to bungee jump, swim in the ‘Devil’s Pool’, feed some crocodiles, white water raft down the mighty Zambezi or just enjoy a breath-taking sunset, you will experience things that only Livingstone can offer. Don’t worry, you will certainly not miss out on wildlife. There are many national parks where you can observe lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, elephant and giraffes and often, we spot some of these animals along the road on our way to project.
A week in the life of Volunteer
This is a rough example of how a week as a research volunteer could look. However, due to the nature of the project, these activities may change on a daily basis.
| |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
| AM |
Support a teacher in your assigned primary school |
Provide one-to-one attention for students falling behind at school
|
Feeling confident? Lead your own lesson at your assigned primary school |
Work with small groups of children on numeracy and literacy |
Support a teacher by helping to mark student assignments |
| Lunch |
Meet the team and your fellow volunteers |
Chill by the swimming pool or check out some local markets |
Meet the team and your fellow volunteers |
Optional workshop on our charity and our achievements |
Check in with the team and enjoy a traditional Zambian lunch |
| PM |
Run Math’s Club or visit the old people’s home |
Go to After-School Club or adult literacy lessons
|
Join Reading Club or Youth Group |
Attend Adult Literacy or Art Club |
Get involved in farming or at Math’s Club |
| Evening |
Movie Night |
Free time to enjoy the backpacker accommodation |
Braai and games night |
Sundowners by the Zambezi River |
Weekends Begins! |
| Sat |
Sun |
| Spend the day white-waterrafting down the Zambezi River, or head out on a sunset cruise. |
Go on safari, get up close with rhinos, bungee-jump or go and see the mighty Victoria Falls. Our team will help you plan whatever you’d like to do. |
WHERE YOU WILL BE STAYING
Volunteers reside in a comfortable, private house located within the Victoria Falls Backpackers – voted the #1 Hostel in all of Zambia. The Victoria Falls Backpackers allows you access to a fun dining area, bar, swimming pool, and even a rock-climbing wall. You are just a short 5-minute walk away from Livingstone’s town center that is filled with grocery stores, cafes, bars and restaurants.
The volunteer house has 24-hour security and individual lockers to store your valuables. Bedrooms sleep 4 - 8 people, with bunk beds in each room. Bed linen is provided, and a cleaning service will attend to your room daily.
Volunteers are provided with three meals a day. Breakfast is either a daily hot breakfast option or on a help-yourself basis and consists of cereals, toast, tea and coffee. Lunch and dinner are full meals, and will be prepared by the chef at the volunteer house. Please advise of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Volunteers will need to cater for their own meals at weekends. Weekends are usually good times for tourist activities and exploring the surrounding area, so it’s a great opportunity to try out some of the local cuisine and nearby restaurants.
Please note: That while the project try their very best to provide varied and interesting meals, due to the nature of the rural location food will generally be quite simple but still nutritious.
Zambia - Take A Working Holiday & Support Local Communities
Why visit Zambia?
For anyone out to experience the ‘real’ Africa, Zambia is that diamond in the rough. The country boasts some of Africa’s best game parks and shares (with Zimbabwe) some of the region’s major highlights, such as Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba, Lower Zambezi National Park and South Luangwa National Park. South Luangwa National Park is one of the best parks in Africa for night game-drives. More than 60 mammal species and over 400 bird species are found in this Park, which is also renowned for thousands of hippo and crocodiles. Luangwa is the birthplace of the Walking Safari and there is no better way to explore this wilderness. Featuring leafy woodlands, slow-moving river channels and lily-bedecked lagoons, South Luangwa is renowned for the expertise of its guides. It is also excellent for spotting leopards and is home to about 15,000 elephants and the same number of hippo. The Thornicroft's giraffe and Cookson's wildebeest are unique to the region.
The mighty Zambezi River is tamed by the Lower Zambezi valley, becoming gentle as it spreads languidly across the Valley. Islands and floodplains create a densely vegetated habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, elephant in particular. This area is seasonal and many of the lodges and camps are closed from November to March. It is also an angler’s dream as fishermen try their luck on the mighty Zambezi, with the hopes of landing a tiger fish or rare, giant vundu. Avid birdwatchers also flock to Zambia to glimpse its fabulous diversity of birds.
Game viewing along the upper Zambezi River by canoe or cruise boat is rewarding and relaxing. Adrenaline junkies may want to experience the spectacular view while bouncing upside down from the end of a bungee cord off the Victoria Falls Bridge. Intrepid travellers will also be attracted by the white-water rafting excursions on the swirling waters of the Zambezi Gorge. Helicopter or micro-light trips over the Falls, game-drives in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, horse trails along the Zambezi River and a visit to Maramba Market are also available. Most activities are accessible from the quaint colonial outback frontier town of Livingstone.
Highlights of Zambia
- Renowned for its pristine National Parks, including Kafue, South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi.
- It is named after the mighty Zambezi River flowing along its southern border, which is fed by the Kafue and Luangwa tributaries.
- Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River are accessible from nearby Livingstone Town.
- Livingstone is home to numerous activities for adventure seekers, including bungee jumping, white-water rafting and abseiling down the gorge.
- It boasts one of the largest areas of land under the protection of national parks in Africa, featuring abundant wildlife.
- Canoeing, rafting and fishing safaris, upstream from the Falls on the Zambezi River, are possible, as are canoeing trips on the Lower Zambezi.
- Kafue National Park is about the size of Wales or Massachusetts, with exceptional bird watching.
- The country, shaped by three great rivers, is characterised by water, including a trio of massive lakes - Lake Tanganyika, Lake Kariba and Lake Bangweulu.
Climate
| Seasons | Max | Min |
| Summer (November - April) |
30 ° |
26 ° |
| Winter (May - October) |
23 ° |
20 ° |
| Rainfall: April - May (Long rains) November - Mid December (short rains) |
Zambia's elevation on a plateau gives it a moderate climate, despite the fact that it is within tropical latitudes, and the average monthly temperature remains above 20 °C most months.
There are three seasons:
- cool and dry from May to August, when temperatures drop at night but the landscape is green and lush;
- hot and dry from September to November, the best time to see wildlife as flora is sparse;
- warm and wet from December to April, ideal for bird-watching.
The Victoria Falls are spectacular in April and May after the rainy season.
Key Facts
Population – 12.9 million
Capital - Lusaka
Currency – Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
Language – English is the official language, with Nyanja, Bemba, Lunda, Tonga, Lozi, Luvale and Kaonde being recognised regional languages.
Time difference – GMT +2 hours
Telephone – country code 260, international access code 00
Had a fantastic time in Africa. Thank you for all your hard work in organising my adventure. It has certainly been a trip of a lifetime and a life changing experience. Will look through my many photos and send some in the near future.
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A trip to volunteer in Africa should be on everones to do list. It is an extremely rewarding and fullfilling experience. Amanzi Travel took the time to ensure that I was placed in the right projects to suit my needs and requirements. You need to approach volunteering with an open mind but the more you put into a project the more you get out off it. i was well looked after on all my projects from the pick up at the airports right through to the end. Everyone was extremely friendly. The only down side was having to leave Africa. i certainly did not want to come home. Volunteering in Africa has certainly been a life changing experince and one I would recommend to anyone.
Alexandra, UK, aged 36 (Zambia Lion Conservation and Community, Naankuse Teaching and Wildlife Volunteer, Zambia Teaching Volunteer, Askari Wildlife Conservation Volunteer)
While I was away I took my entire class on an excursion to the Victoria Falls! Although the kids live literally only kilometres away from one of the world's wonders, many of them had never seen it and it was a wonderful experience for all to be able to show them the magnificent "Mosi-O-Tunya". (Smoke that Thunders)
Amanda/UK (Zambia Teaching Volunteer)
Everyone that has the chance to do something like this should definitely take the opportunity. It was the best part of my year out, and wish I could have done it for longer.
Alice, Scotland, aged 19 (East African Discoverer - 15 Days, Zanzibar Teaching and Community Support Project, Zambia Teaching Volunteer, East African Discoverer - 15 days)
A lot of energy, goodwill, companionship, idealism, lovely atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed spending a whole month in the company of so many wonderful young people. The age thing mattered less and less as time went on.
Gemma was very helpful and extremely enthusiastic. The induction sessions were helpful, especially the parts about the differences between English and Zambian cultures and the things one should and shouldn’t do. The teaching at Malota Community School was, as they say, awesome. I learnt such a lot and was very privileged to be given free rein to teach Grade 3 as I liked. It was a really wonderful experience.
The adult literacy was fascinating and very worthwhile. There was a valiant attempt to make some sort of continuity by keeping a planning book that was passed on from one volunteer to the next.
Alison, UK, aged 58 (Zambia Teaching Volunteer)
Working with the Zambian people and children was an incredible and life changing experience. The people are utterly appreciative of all that you do. However, as much as I was able to teach them during my short time there I learned even more from them. This program is great because you get to see Zambia through the eyes of a resident rather than through the eyes of a tourist. You get the real Zambian experience.
The staff at Amanzi Travel were excellent. We had many questions that Gemma always responded to in a very timely manner and gave the information we needed. She was great! In addition to the volunteer project, she also set us up to go to Matetsi Water Lodge in Zimbabwe for a safari. It was a highlight of the trip and one of the most luxurious places I have ever visited with the kindest most knowledgeable staff. We saw great game, incredible views, and had amazing hospitality.
Jennifer, USA, aged 26 (Zambia Teaching Volunteer)