This placement would suit... Caring, responsible volunteers with a real desire to make a difference. This magnificent country in the heart of Africa is a haven for wildlife and has some spectacular scenery and natural wonders. It is fast developing into a must-see destination and your time there is bound to be a memorable one. Zambians are extremely welcoming and you will instantly be drawn in by the friendly locals.We work with many different orphanages in Zambia. Some are for very young children and babies and others are for older children. You will be expected to help with all ages. At the orphanages for younger children and babies there are trained carers, so you are there to help them and give general support where needed. Your support is excellent for the carers as well as the children because it frees their time to concentrate on other areas such as gaining financial support and working on administration. By playing games with the children you help to build their confidence and encourage them to use English in an informal way. For many of the older children you are able to integrate education into games and also help with homework etc. Where children are not taught at the orphanage you will help these on their return from school in the afternoon. About your work Your work here will be to help the carers with the day-to-day running of the centers, and general care of the children. You will also be asked to help clean equipment and various areas within the orphanage. The type of work you will be allocated will depend to an extent on your own abilities. Your hours may vary, but normally you will work from 9-5 Monday to Friday. However, you may sometimes work evenings or nights, sometimes over weekends etc, but you will have time off on other days instead. The level of education of the children is generally very poor, and it will be up to you and the director to find out how best to use your skills. This may mean taking sport and games lessons or offering care for children, it may well be in the form of informal English or vocational teaching which is one of the biggest privileges to receive. You should be supervised all of the time while you are there, and you will be given help and directions. Your work load will depend on yourself and your attitude, with more work becoming available as you grow in confidence. ![]() The work as a volunteer may include... - Preparing food for the children - Helping the children eat - Helping carers and caring for the children - Occasionally taking the children to the hospital for immunisation, treatment etc - General cleaning of the compound and the orphanage - Washing clothes and the children - Teaching informal English, Arithmetic and sports to the children - Organising and facilitating games and plays for the children As a volunteer you will gain the following... - Skills in working with needy children - Knowledge of Zambian society and people As a result of your volunteer work, the orphanage, the workers and the society at large will benefit directly or indirectly as follows... - They will get an opportunity to interact with and learn about foreign cultures - They will have access to free workforce and services - They will have their knowledge and skills supplemented with initiatives from the volunteers - The children will have access to love and care which is fundamental for their growth and development Teaching football It is possible for volunteers to coach football at various schools and orphanages, and with special arrangements it will also be possible to coach a local team. Children in Zambia really are a joy to teach; their enthusiasm for sports knows no bounds. Accommodation You will be accommodated in a small, modern and lively hostel in the centre of Livingstone. The hostel has a large private garden shaded with huge mango trees, and a crystal clear swimming pool. It also has a lively, sociable bar area where many activities are arranged. Livingstone has a colonial feel to it and you will find a wide variety of restaurants, bars and shops. Your accommodation is ideally situated and can offer excellent trips to places such as Lusaka. You will be required to share a room with three or four other Travellers volunteers. Breakfast and evening dinner will be provided by the hostel but you will need to arrange for your own sandwiches to take to the school, which can be bought at a very cheap price from the local shops.At the time of writing, facilities at the hostel include a swimming pool, recreation room with TV, internet cafe, a dining and kitchen area where food can be stored and access to telephones. The hostel also has an in-house booking centre, where many local activities can be booked (wildlife safaris, river cruises, river gorges, bungy jumping, white water rafting, treks, etc). Livingstone Livingstone is a major destination for travellers to Africa, giving great opportunities to travel around this beautiful country and its superb wildlife reserves. Livingstone is the capital of the Southern Province and is situated just north of the Zambezi River, which forms the border with Zimbabwe. The spectacular Victoria Falls Bridge is only about 10km away from Livingstone, and the area surrounding the Falls and Livingstone town have given it the name of 'adrenalin capital of the World'. Local attractions include not only the impressive Victoria Falls, but also Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, located adjacent to Victoria Falls, and Livingstone Game Park.
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