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
- Airport transfers from Livingstone Airport on arrival and departure
- Daily support from your Project Managers
- Full board and lodging including three meals a day, Monday to Friday (weekend meals not included)
- Full orientation on arrival
- Daily transfers to and from projects
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:
- Gain teaching experience in a challenging environment and work with children from underprivileged communities
- Make a positive impact in the lives of disadvantagedchi ldren, giving them the love and attention they deserve.
- Opportunities to work on building and construction projects within the community
- Get immersed in local Zambian culture
- Make friends for life with other international volunteers on the project
- Visit Victoria Falls and enjoy some of the amazing tourist activities that Livingstone has to offer
- Opportunities to visit neighboring countries of Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe on exciting optional excursions.
Teaching and Community Development Projects
Zambian schools are overwhelmed with large numbers of students in each class and very limited resources. Teaching volunteers work mostly with community schools - staffed with very few paid teachers and some local helpers. Volunteers provide much needed classroom assistance especially with students who need extra help by giving the one-to-one attention they badly need. Volunteers will spend their mornings in one of the community schools that cater for orphaned and vulnerable children. Afternoons will be spent helping the local community through various afternoon projects.
There are several ways in which volunteers will assist the schools:
Teaching Assistants: Teaching volunteers will be assigned to a class and focus on getting to know the individual needs of the students. It is very helpful to the teacher in front of the class to have a teaching assistant who can go around and help individual children with their assignments as needed. Classes are large and volunteers can be of great help particularly by giving the children the individual attention that will help them make progress. This is very much appreciated and can make a real difference by identifying students who are falling behind and giving them additional support.
Group Work: Volunteers may be asked to help with small groups of children who are struggling to keep up with the rest of the class, as they can provide support at a slower rate with greater repetition to enhance the learning. Volunteers will take groups of children out of the class to work with them. As there are few structures in place to help struggling students, early intervention is key.
Marking Tests and Assignments:
Teachers at schools in Livingstone give many tests and assignments to their pupils, and with homework this results in a lot of marking to be done. Many of the teachers in the community schools are volunteers themselves who give long hours to the school for minimal pay and the opportunity to relieve some of their workload and allow them to concentrate on academic instruction is very much welcomed. This is an important role for the teaching volunteer, but is mixed in with other teaching assistance tasks so as not to become tedious.
Any volunteers who are comfortable with teaching their own class using in depth lesson plans are welcome to discuss possibility with the class teacher. Agreement can then be reached on an appropriate subject to be taught and volunteers will then be responsible for all planning and preparation. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on this role.
Current School Projects
Nakatindi Community School: This is a long-standing community partner and previous volunteers have helped to build a classroom block and community function hall - both of which have provided opportunities for the school to generate an income. The school now teaches grades 0 - 8.
Mwandi Community School: This school started under a tree at Livingstone College back in 1996 and with the hard work and commitent from Mwandi
community members it now hosts grade 1-7 at a site with one of the town’s most incredible panoramic views of the majestic Victoria Falls. Thanks to the outstandingly open and welcoming nature of the staff and pupils at this school volunteers enjoy running projects such as sports programmes, art clubs, reading clubs and maths clubs.
Dwamba Christian School: This school started out with the goal of educating orphaned and vulnerable children from various churches in the surrounding area. It has since grown to be one of the friendliest schools endeavouring to educate its pupils and allow them fun experiences. Volunteers enjoy going to this school as the students are educated in terms of hygiene, the value of good manners and respect for their elders – therefore making for an enjoyable working environment.
Zambezi Sawmills Community School: This school is situated in one of the most impoverished communities. Originally run from a small house, the school can now teach grades 1-7 but it is hoped to build them an additional classroom and a perimeter fence to provide a safe, secure and spacious educational environment free from vandalism, theft and the need for ‘hot seating’. Due to the negative consequences of the social and economic state of this particular housing compound it was discovered that the literacy level from this school was on average 20% lower than that of other of the Community Schools. Therefore greater attention is being focussed on building a relationship with this school and attempting to improve their English skills.
Linda Community School: Set up originally to support the uncountable numbers of street children who struggle to survive in the Linda housing compound, the head mistress is a true inspiration and a strong, powerful and independent Zambian lady. The school has now grown to provide an invaluable education to hundreds of pupils, including many street children who continue to find a safe and welcoming environment at the school and in the school's overnight accommodations. Volunteers enjoy going to the school in the capacity of teaching assistants, sports coaches, and for reading, arts clubs and maths club. "Happy Readers" - a proven literacy scheme specifically designed for African children, has been recently introduced. The pupils and volunteers are thoroughly enjoying using the scheme and the results are eagerly awaited.
Libuyu Community School: This school has just moved to a brand new school building and the children are now taught in classrooms which is a huge improvement where all classes shared one large hall. Volunteers love this school due to the friendly and welcoming nature of the staff and pupils.
Term dates
Term 1: Mid January - Mid April
Term 2: Mid May - Start of August
Term 3: Mid September - Start of December
Holiday Clubs - run during school vacations
Holiday club is extremely important as it offers students valuable time to catch up on learning missed due to the Zambian “Hot Seating” system. Not only does it give young people a safe environment to spend their summer holidays, it is also a lot of fun whilst providing an effective educational tool. Teaching volunteers work closely with sports volunteers to do things such as teach lessons, create art projects, science experiments as well as engaging the students in recreational activities.
Afternoon Community Projects
Volunteers will spend their afternoons helping the local community through various programmes. They will rotate between the following:
Building and construction projects: Many schools in the Livingstone area have limited classrooms available, and as a result most children only attend school for partf of each day. With guidance from professional builders and members of the community, volunteers will help on numerous building projects within schools and the community. Volunteers will help with mixing cement, bricklaying, laying concrete floors, plastering and painting or refurbishing existing classrooms. This is hard but very rewarding work! Please note that building projects are not always part of the schedule.
Farming: It is planned to help communities to set up sustainable farming programmes, and provide assistance in preparing the land and maintaining the crops. Three farms have already been helped with the acquisition of land, tools and seeds. Volunteers assist by help9ng to prepare the land, planting, watering, weeding and harvesting. Staff and volunteers have worked hand in hand with Linda Farm for the Disabled to build a plastic bottle greenhouse for additional income generation, with plans for many more exciting projects at the farm including an Eco brick poultry house
Reading Club: Afterschool reading clubs are popular and volunteers assist with the literacy and reading skills of Livinstone's youth. They help give the students the extra support that they need, including teaching them the alphabet, phonics,spelling, pronunciation and general reading and comprehension skills. Competency in English is imperative to children's education as it allows them to understand all other academic subjects which are tested in English.
Art Club:
During this afternoon session volunteers have a chance to nurture the students' creativity and are encouraged to plan these sessions themselves using suggested themes and their own creative ideas. For example, the art club could produce posters for an anti-drugs campaign or make Christmas/Easter crafts, masks etc. The children also enjoy finger painting and making papier mache models.
Adult Literacy Club:
This is a very important club and one that is very popular with volunteers as it offers a unique insight into a different culture and the opportunity to make new friends in the community. There is a structured syllabus with beginners/intermediate and advanced classes in addition to lesson plans and tests. A certificate issued to those who complete the course successfully. The aim is to improve understanding of written and oral English as well as valuable everyday skills which make people more employable in a country where the employment rate is around 50%.
Afters Shool Clubs: Children in Zambia have to grow up really quickly as they are expected to help out with a number of chores at home; older siblings help to look after the younger ones in typically large families. Volunteers run structured playtimes with children at pre-selected locations, taking along balls, skipping ropes, colouring books and crayons, and spend the afternoon interacting and having fun with the children. This time allows children an opportunity to play games, be carefree and expend some of their boundless energy.
Maramba Old People's Home: Homes for the elderly are not common in Zambia or Africa in general because elders in a community typically stay with and are cared for by their family. Therefore people come to this home from far and wide, often destitute, with no-one to look after them. Volunteers engage the residents in games, reading, physical activities etc and the project is a great way to provide stimulation for the residents and improve their living conditions. It gives a wonderful opportunity to talk with and listen to the stories from people who have had some incredible life experiences and witnessed some of history's real turning points.
A day in the life of a volunteer
Please note: This is an example of a typical weekday on the project and should serve as a guideline only. Volunteers are asked to remain flexible as itineraries may differ depending on needs of the project at the time.
| 7.00am |
Get up, eat breakfast and start getting ready for the project - ensuring that everything is packed ready for the day ahead. |
| 7.45am |
Head off to work. The volunteer arrives at their assigned school and class, and after saying "Hello" to the children, gets down to work. Lessons usually last half an hour and include social studies, maths, science and English - and also native language lessons. |
| 11.30 am - 12 noon |
Volunteers will be picked up and returned to the volunteer house to plan and prepare for the afternoon session |
| 12.00 noon - 1.30 pm |
Lunch and relaxation |
| 2.00pm - 4:30pm |
Depart for the community project. This may be farming, building or painting - or perhaps an art club or a reading club or helping out at the Maramba Old People's Home or an afterschool club. |
| 4:30pm |
Return to the volunteer house for some relaxation |
| 6.00 pm |
Dinner |
Livingstone volunteers reside at a comfortable and secure complex, a 5-minute walk away from Livingstone town centre. This accommodation features a dining area, bar, swimming pool, large garden, and even a rock-climbing wall! The property accommodates volunteers from the medical, teaching and sports projects. The accommodation is multi-sex, but males and females will be sleeping in separate rooms.
The house has 24 hour security and lockers to store valuables. Meals are cooked at the accommodation and volunteers will have the support of our project managers at the site. Each bedroom sleeps 4 - 8 people, with bunk beds in each room.
Bed linen is provided (volunteers should take their own towels) and a cleaning service will attend to the rooms daily. The house is positioned within close walking distance to town where there is a wide range of amenities.
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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Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary Teaching Project
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Zambia Teaching Project
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)