Zambia – Christmas in Victoria Falls

This project takes place in Livingstone, Zambia. It is located a stone’s throw away from the magnificent, thundering waters of one of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders – Victoria Falls – and only 10 kilometers north of the majestic Zambezi River. The small town of Livingstone was named after the British explorer, David Livingstone, who named the great falls after Queen Victoria of Britain.

Today, Livingstone is a popular destination for tourists who wish to visit the Victoria Falls from the Zambian side. Livingstone is also renowned for countless attractions including African safaris, museums, historical buildings and a wide range of outdoor activities for the adventurous traveler.

As a volunteer on this project you will be participating in a variety of activities and tasks. Volunteers will work in a primary care school and will also be involved in reading, art, adult literacy, math and sports clubs within the local community. There will also be additional, holiday-oriented tasks. This gives volunteers the opportunity to make a positive impact on the local Zambian community in the spirit of the holidays!

The weeks leading up to Christmas will involve both “regular” volunteer work- working with children in the primary care school – as well as preparation for the holiday festivities. Volunteers will help to arrange gifts and on Christmas day, will be visiting a home for the elderly as well as a Pediatrics ward, delivering gifts to spread Christmas joy.

Some of your tasks may include:

• Leading school clubs (math, reading, art, sports)
• Eco-building
• Sustainable farming
• Holiday decoration and Christmas card making
• Caroling and gift delivery

A typical day: Volunteers will begin their day volunteering with children in the primary care school, and will then select which afternoon club they would like to join. They can also choose to volunteer at an eco-friendly building or sustainable farming project.

Internet: Internet cafes are available in town, and Wifi is available at the base for a fee

Laundry: There is a weekly laundry service available

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: Volunteers are provided with 3 meals a day. The food is of good quality and nutritious, but should you wish, you can purchase extra items in town at one of the supermarkets.

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

• Basic level of English
• Police clearance
• Visa Requirements: If you are volunteering in Zambia for 30 days or less, you will need to get a business visa upon arrival, with provided documentation to make the process easy. There is a small fee, which varies by nationality. If you are staying longer than 30 days, you must apply for a Temporary Employment Permit (TEP), which costs around $300–$400 USD. It’s best to apply for this before arriving, through an embassy. To qualify for the TEP, you must have a bachelor’s degree and be at least 21 years old.

Volunteers will have some weekends off to explore the area and go on 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:

• Dinner/sunset cruises 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