Volunteering placements in Zambia

Come to Zambia if you want to immerse yourself in an African country with the natural beauty of Victoria Falls, the vibrant cultures of the Zambian people and the African wildlife of Mosi o Tunya National Park. We have a range of projects within health care, children’s homes, adult education and community schools.

The variety of these projects will suit a whole range of skills; from building classrooms, to setting up sports programmes to creating a loving home for orphaned children. The projects are based in and around Livingstone; an attractive town steeped in colonial history. Livingstone lies a few miles away from the second Wonder of the World; Victoria Falls. The town is a popular stopping point for Western travellers travelling between Cape Town and Cairo.

Livingstone is named after the famous explorer Dr. Livingstone (“I Presume”). It is the heart of the South of Zambia and connects roads leading to Lusaka, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The town, with its colonial history, boasts good infrastructure and heritage and all projects are within a five mile radius of the town. Livingstone lies 10km from the might Victoria Falls, know locally as Mosi Oa Tunya (the smoke that thunders). These falls are the widest and highest in the World making them the second wonder of the World, beaten only by Mount Everest. The falls are majestic in themselves but the Surrounding national parks and the mighty Zambezi River bring their own attractions in terms of extreme sport, safari and sightseeing. Elephant and gazelle have both been seen in the area recently.

On the periphery of this bustling town, however, lie small communities who continue to struggle with basic health, education and social care. This is your chance to help these communities build a future for themselves whilst enjoying the wonders and vibrancy of daily life in the heart of Africa.
The first week aims to acclimatise you to local life. You will be given a language course in Nyanga and shown around the town and surrounding areas. You and your group will see all the projects as well as going on a tour of Victoria Falls. Once you have settled into your home you will begin your projects. We have identified a variety of projects to suit your passion and skills. We have set up links with a number of community schools which are run independently by the local community. These schools are often very poor, relying on foreign aid to provide food and books and using local volunteers to teach.

They are very keen to have enthusiastic volunteers to assist with English as well as developing sports and art. One school, Nakatindi, has a garden and has built this into the curriculum; they would be keen to have some help in this area as they sell the produce to fund the school. They are also building new classrooms from scratch so anyone keen to help make bricks and build the school would be most welcome.

Kwathu Children’s Home lies within the town and is a small and personal home for 9 children. It is managed by Aggrippa, a Zambian man who firmly believes in setting up a loving and sable home to orphaned and abandoned children. Your role would be to get involved with the daily routine and help keep these children entertained, but also to act as a trusted adult helping them develop life skills and listening to their problems.

We have joined forces with local government to work with a variety of community projects including adult education. For example, you can work with Zambians to improve their literacy, craft making skills and small business management. Alternatively LIWOMADI (LIvingstone WOmen MAke a DIfference) is a local NGO that wants to work with Oyster volunteers on anti poverty, corruption, AIDS and HIV workshops as well as assisting in Health clinics.

You will be based in Livingstone living in safe local accommodation that Oyster will rent for you and your fellow volunteers. Please expect to share a room. You can go out or cook for yourself in the evening. If you are based at Kwathu Children’s Home there would be an opportunity for you and a fellow volunteer to stay within the home which is very central. Our representative in Zambia is there to be a helpful friend to you and to steer you through difficulties of any kind. He will keep us updated on your health and welfare. He has knowledge of both cultures and well as local expertise and sympathy for Oyster’s aim. You will see him regularly while you are in Livingstone, at work and socially at various informal occasions.