TravelWorks.co.uk » Volunteer Abroad » Zambia » FAQ
Gap Year in Zambia
Zambia, a landlocked country at the heart of South Africa, offers rich wildlife and landscapes, a fascinating culture, and friendly people, who will make you want to stay forever. The South Luangwa National Park:
- takes up 9000 km² of Zambia
- is called “the greatest wildlife sanctuary in the world”
- ...and is home to 400 kinds of birds and 60 other animal species.
As rich as Zambia is in terms of culture and wildlife, most Zambians live in poverty. All the more reason to pitch in and help this intriguing country!
Can I participate if I’m not from the UK?
Do I need to take a test to prove my English skill level?
Do I need special references or experience to participate?
Is there an age limit? How old are typical participants?
Can I participate with a friend?
Can I combine my volunteer work in Zambia with a volunteer programme in another country?
Where can I volunteer in Zambia?
Can I choose which project I would like to work on?
How much time will I actually spend volunteering? Will I have free time?
Should I bring any special supplies for my volunteering project?
May I extend my stay in Zambia?
What will my accommodation be like?
Will I live and work with other volunteers?
Can I contact other volunteers before I depart?
How will I get to my volunteering site each day?
What is the health/ safety situation in Zambia? Do I need vaccinations?
Do I need to apply for a visa?
Should I buy travel insurance?
Are food and accommodation included in the programme price?
How much money should I expect to spend on extra costs such as travel and food?
When does the programme start? How long does it last?
Will I earn money during my project work?
Can I participate if I’m not from the UK?
Yes. Participants from the United Kingdom and the United States are welcome to participate in the gap year in Zambia programme, as are citizens of other countries. If you are from another country, it will be necessary to check your country’s visa requirements to see if you can participate.
Do I need to take a test to prove my English skill level?
No test is required to prove your English skills, but you will need to have good English skills in order to participate in the gap year in Zambia. You will need to fill out the application documents in English, prior to your departure for Zambia. We will send these application documents to you via e-mail.
Do I need special references or experience to participate?
No special experience is required. However, any special skills which you could use during your gap year in Zambia would be both helpful and welcomed. For example, if you have prior working experience in the field of medicine, you could have a higher level of responsibility if you volunteer in a hospital. In order to do medical work, you will need to send us a reference letter from your employer (or any former employer in the medical field), to prove that you do actually have medical experience.
Motivation, flexibility, and personal initiative are the most important qualities you can bring to your gap year in Zambia.
Is there an age limit? How old are typical participants?
Volunteers must be between 18 and 40 years of age in order to participate in the gap year in Zambia programme. Most participants are 20 to 25 years old, but anyone within the age limits is welcome to take part in the programme.
Can I participate with a friend?
Yes. When you apply, you can list a travel partner. As long as you sign up early enough and there are still two free places in the programme, you should have no trouble volunteering with your friend in the gap year in Zambia programme.
Can I combine my volunteer work in Zambia with a volunteer programme in another country?
Yes. It is often possible to combine programmes. Feel free to contact TravelWorks for more information.
Where can I volunteer in Zambia?
All projects are located in the city of Livingstone in southern Zambia, near Victoria Falls and the border with Zimbabwe.
Which projects can I work on?
During your gap year in Zambia, you will have various opportunities to volunteer. For example, in the morning you could work as a teacher in a primary school, offer medical assistance at a health clinic, or coach sports for children. In the afternoon, you will work on community development projects. Any relevant experience you may have in these areas of work will be an advantage, but flexibility, creativity, and personal initiative are more important.
Depending on the project, you may work full workdays or part-time during your gap year in Zambia. Participants usually have free weekends.
Zambia is a developing country. Many projects here are rather poorly equipped or cannot afford to employ enough people, making your work here all the more important. In the volunteer projects, there is often no one to tell you what to do all the time. Therefore, you will need to show a great deal of initiative and creativity as you pitch in and help during your gap year in Zambia.
Can I choose which project I would like to work on?
Before you depart for your gap year in Zambia, you will be able to choose the type of work you will be doing in the mornings (medical, sport, or educational). The work that you do in the afternoons will be in local community projects which need help during your stay in Zambia.
How much time will I actually spend volunteering? Will I have free time?
Volunteers usually volunteer Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. You will most likely be free at the weekends to explore Zambia and its neighbouring countries during your gap year in Zambia.
Should I bring any special supplies for my volunteering project?
You do not need to bring any supplies for your volunteer work, but you can bring project-appropriate materials if you like. For example, if you are working with children, you could bring along toys, art supplies, or school materials to distribute during your gap year in Zambia.
May I extend my stay in Zambia?
You may originally book your stay in Zambia for 2 to 8 weeks. It is only possible for you to extend your stay after you have already arrived in Zambia. You will need to speak with our partner organisation in Zambia as early as possible if you decide to extend your stay. An extra fee for accommodation and meals will apply.
What will my accommodation be like?
You will be living in a volunteer house in the city of Livingstone during your gap year in Zambia. Up to four volunteers will be staying in each room. Though the accommodation is very nice, you should expect to live in more basic conditions than what you are used to.
Will I live and work with other volunteers?
Yes. The house where you will be staying is reserved for volunteers, and you will work in groups of volunteers during your gap year in Zambia.
Is there a volunteer “base”?
Our partner organisation in Zambia is headquartered at the site of the volunteer house in Livingstone. Staff from out partner organisation will always be available to help you with any questions, concerns, or problems you may have during your gap year in Zambia.
Can I contact other volunteers before I depart?
Yes, 3-4 weeks before your departure, we will send you the contact information of the other TravelWorks participants who are going to spend a gap year in Zambia at the same time as yourself.
How will I get to my volunteering site each day?
Our partner organisation will provide you with daily transportation to the project sites during your gap year in Zambia.
What is the health/ safety situation in Zambia? Do I need vaccinations?
Zambia is a developing country where the health risks are much more serious than those in Europe or the United States. For example, the risk of malaria is quite high in Zambia. As long as you eat and drink hygienically and take care to protect yourself from mosquitoes, you can reduce your risk of contracting dangerous infectious diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea during your gap year in Zambia. It is important that you visit a doctor as early as you can before your departure for advice about necessary vaccinations and health precautions. Please wait to receive your vaccinations after you have definitely been admitted to the programme. You can find useful information regarding vaccinations at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.
Zambia has a high and ever-growing AIDS rate. It is of the utmost importance that you take this into account in regard to your personal behaviour in Zambia. Medical treatment is generally good in Zambia. The private hospitals in the larger cities are comparable to European health facilities, but the country’s public hospitals are overflowing and suffer from budget shortages.
You can find more detailed information regarding safety and health in Zambia and other countries on the website of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office: www.fco.gov.uk or on the website of the U.S. Department of State: travel.state.gov.
Do I need to apply for a visa?
Yes, if you are a citizen of the United Kingdom or the United States, you will need a visa in order to enter Zambia. It is possible to obtain a visa upon your arrival in Zambia, but we suggest that you apply for your visa at the Zambian Embassy in your country before your departure. A visa fee will apply. You will also need a passport, which should remain valid for at least six months after your planned return from Zambia.
If you are not a resident of the United Kingdom or the United States, it will be necessary to check your country’s visa agreement with South Africa to determine if you will be able to participate in the programme.
Should I buy travel insurance?
Yes, we strongly recommend that you get travel insurance to protect yourself abroad. WorldNomads offers flexible travel insurance for short-term and gap-year travellers like yourself. Note that this is only a recommendation. Feel free to search for the travel insurance which is right for you.
Are food and accommodation included in the programme price?
Yes. A cook will prepare meals for participants Monday through Friday during the gap year in Zambia programme. Participants will prepare their own breakfast with provided food. At the weekends participants can either prepare their own meals using food provided by our partner organisation, or go into town and purchase their own food. Accommodation in the volunteer house in Livingstone is also included in the programme price.
How much money should I expect to spend on extra costs such as travel and food?
Our partner organisation estimates that you will spend about £ 360-450 (about US$ 600-750 / 400-500 €) each month in extra costs, for excursions, souvenirs, etc. during your gap year in Zambia. Of course, this will depend on your personal lifestyle, so you may spend more or less than this. You should also factor the following expenses into your trip’s budget:
- Flight ticket
- Visa costs
- Travel insurance
- Vaccinations
- Miscellaneous personal expenses
Livingstone, where you will be living, is very close to the countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe, and many volunteers travel to these nearby countries. You should also factor these possible travel expenses into your budget.
When does the programme start? How long does it last?
The gap year in Zambia programme starts every first and third Monday of the month. You should arrive in Livingstone on the Monday that your programme is set to begin. The programme lasts a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 8 weeks. You will have to speak with our partner organisation after you have already arrived in Zambia in order to extend your stay.
Will I earn money during my project work?
No, this is volunteer work! This means that through your work, you are supporting people in need and assisting in projects which usually have barely enough money to cover their own essential expenses. Please do not expect payment for your volunteer work. Instead, look at this as an amazing opportunity to help people and gain meaningful life experiences.
What are my next steps?
If you decide to participate in the gap year in Zambia programme, just fill out the PDF or online Booking Form. Please note that if you are booking online you will need a credit card (we accept Visa or MasterCard). If you choose the PDF booking form, please print, fill out, and sign the form before faxing it to TravelWorks. As soon as we have received your application, we will process your booking. At this point your application will be legally binding. We will contact you if we need any additional information.
You will receive various application materials by e-mail after you have applied for the gap year in Zambia programme. These documents need to be completed and returned to TravelWorks.
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