This project aims to provide the severely under-staffed and poorly-resourced medical clinics in Livingstone and the surrounding areas with volunteers who are eager to make a difference in peoples' lives. Additionally, volunteers will have the opportunity to be involved in many community activities, ranging from afterschool literacy programs to sustainable community farming. There is no need for prior medical knowledge, however those with specialized medical experience will be appropriately utilized and greatly appreciated for their contributions.
Location of the Project:
Livingstone, Zambia
Project length:
Min 2 weeks - Max 12 weeks
Arrival Airport:
Livingstone International Airport (LVI)
Volunteer Work:
Medical support, community outreach, work with the elderly, work with children
Age:
18-70
Number of Volunteers:
Up to 20 international volunteers
Important Note:
Volunteers staying longer than 30 days will need to apply for a "temporary employment permit." This costs approximately $250 USD to be paid upon arrival in Zambia. You must be at least 21 years old to be eligible for this visa. High school diploma is required for all volunteers staying longer than 4 weeks
What's Included
Accommodations:
Shared rooms in a volunteer house
Food:
Three meals per day (excluding weekends)
Airport Transfers:
Airport transfers are included on both arrival and departure days
Orientation:
All necessary training and introductions provided upon arrival.
Support:
Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.
What's not Included
Flights, visas (approx. $50 USD), travel health insurance, weekend meals, personal expenses
Travel to Zambia and experience firsthand the authentic African culture and eye-opening lifestyle of native Zambians. Zambia is Africa's most urbanized country, with a huge percentage of the population localized in just a few urban centers scattered throughout the country. These densely packed regions often suffer from extreme poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, and illiteracy.
This mission trip project takes place in Livingstone, a town located in the Southern Province of Zambia and directly next to the famous Victoria Falls. Livingstone has a history of economic instability due to its proximity to the Zimbabwean border and restrictive regulations on trade in the past. However, Livingstone is now slowly emerging as a lively town with modern restaurants, shopping, hotels, and theaters.
This mission trip project takes place in Livingstone, a town located in the Southern Province of Zambia and directly next to the famous Victoria Falls. Livingstone has a history of economic instability due to its proximity to the Zimbabwean border and restrictive regulations on trade in the past. However, Livingstone is now slowly emerging as a lively town with modern restaurants, shopping, hotels, and theaters.
Volunteers will spend their mornings at one of the multiple healthcare projects listed below:
Clinic assistance: The clinics in the area suffer from serious shortages of staff, so the nurses greatly appreciate any assistance volunteers can provide to decrease their workload and ensure more efficient and effective treatment of patients. You may be volunteering at clinics with outpatient services, HIV and TB services, maternity services, and pharmacies. Your duties here may include:
After your morning medical tasks, you will have the option to participate in other community projects throughout the area. These include:
Important Dates: As we work within local communities, our projects are affected by the school terms. Local partners take time off to spend with their families on public holidays and our school/education-based programs are structured slightly differently during the school and exam holidays. Some of our projects may be put on hold whilst the kids are on leave, but there is no shortage of important and rewarding community work to be done here.
School Terms:
Term 1 - 12 January - 10 April
Term 2 - 11 May - 7 August
Term 3 - 7 September - 4 December
Clinic assistance: The clinics in the area suffer from serious shortages of staff, so the nurses greatly appreciate any assistance volunteers can provide to decrease their workload and ensure more efficient and effective treatment of patients. You may be volunteering at clinics with outpatient services, HIV and TB services, maternity services, and pharmacies. Your duties here may include:
- Filing patient records
- Observing patient care and seeing how healthcare services function in Zambia
- Provide comfort, care, and advice
- Inform patients about the importance of hygiene, nutrition, diet, and adhering to medication regiment
- HIV education and health talks: Health education is the first step in preventing disease and promoting healthy choices and lifestyles. With the help of local staff, volunteers will faciliate community courses to deliver important healthcare information. The syllabus topics include:
- HIV/AIDS awareness
- Basic hygiene
- Importance of healthy living (diet and exercise)
- Providing the residents with a friendly face and opportunity to socialize
- Conducting health talks on personal hygiene and health
- Encouraging mobility for those residents in need
- Spread awareness about HIV/AIDS and how to prevent it
- Educate inmates about how cope once infected
- Addressing the stigma of HIV/AIDS
After your morning medical tasks, you will have the option to participate in other community projects throughout the area. These include:
- Building and construction projects: You will be building classrooms for childhood education initiatives.
- Farming: Help the community work towards self-sufficiency by working on a sustainable farming initiative.
- Reading club: Help children after school with reading and literacy.
- Art club: Plan your own arts-and-crafts projects to nurture creativity.
- Adult literacy club: Help young adults in the community improve their literacy and ultimately find employment.
- Senior living home: Assist the staff in providing care for people without families to look after them.
- Afterschool clubs: Play with preschool-aged children after school.
Important Dates: As we work within local communities, our projects are affected by the school terms. Local partners take time off to spend with their families on public holidays and our school/education-based programs are structured slightly differently during the school and exam holidays. Some of our projects may be put on hold whilst the kids are on leave, but there is no shortage of important and rewarding community work to be done here.
School Terms:
Term 1 - 12 January - 10 April
Term 2 - 11 May - 7 August
Term 3 - 7 September - 4 December
Internet:
WiFi is available at the complex for small fee.
Laundry:
Laundry services are available for about $4 USD per load
Accommodations:
Volunteers will sleep in same-sex, shared rooms (for 6-8 people) in a large, comfortable, and secure volunteer complex located just a 5 minute walk from Livingstone's town center. Bed linens are provided (but please bring your own towel), a lockable cupboard is available in each room to store your valuables (please bring your own padlock), and a daily cleaning service is included as well. The complex provides great social opportunities with other volunteers as it can house up to 87 people total and contains a dining area, bar, T.V. lounge, resource center, swimming pool, large garden, and a rock climbing wall.
Food:
Three meals a day are provided during the work week. Breakfast is on a help-yourself basis and includes cereals, toasts, coffee, and tea. Lunch and dinner are full meals prepared by the staff cook. Meals are not provided on the weekends, so this is a great time to go out and explore the local restaurants and cuisine!
Please take note of this project's minimum requirements:
- Minimum age of 18
- Police clearance
- High school diploma is required for all volunteers staying longer than 4 weeks
- Immunizations (proof of Yellow Fever vaccination required for travel into Zambia. Consult your local travel clinic for any other recommendations)
- Proof of medical qualifications if wanting to work in maternity wards
- Strong desire to help others
- Ability to work in a team
- Basic English
Not Included: Volunteers will get weekends off to explore the area and go on additional trips. Although these are not included in your program fee, our staff would be happy to help you arrange exciting excursions for this time. In the past, volunteers have enjoyed:
Volunteers travelling to Zambia for over 30 days will need to apply for a Temporary Employment Permit, which costs approximately $250 USD.
Zambia has recently begun to require proof of vaccination for Yellow Fever upon arrival per recommendation of the World Health Organization. Consult your doctor to arrange this and to discuss any other immunization recommendations.
- Dinner/sunset cruise on the Zambezi River
- 2 night safari in Chobe National Park
- White water rafting on the Zambezi River
- Bungee jumping and gorge swings over the Batoka Gorge
- Helicopter ride over the Victoria Falls
- 2 night boat cruise along the Zambezi River
Volunteers travelling to Zambia for over 30 days will need to apply for a Temporary Employment Permit, which costs approximately $250 USD.
Zambia has recently begun to require proof of vaccination for Yellow Fever upon arrival per recommendation of the World Health Organization. Consult your doctor to arrange this and to discuss any other immunization recommendations.
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