PUBLIC HEALTH INTERNSHIP

Quick Facts

  • Livingstone, Zambia
  • Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport
  • Specified Dates
  • 4 weeks
  • Impact: Healthcare

from US$2,170

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PUBLIC HEALTH INTERNSHIP

EXPERIENCE AND MAKE MEMORIES OF A LIFETIME

This is a 4-week global health program that takes place in the town of Livingstone, Zambia. The internship is designed to improve access to, and quality of, healthcare. You will do innovative work in a low-income area that includes determining the health of community populations, launching and running initiatives, and addressing context-specific barriers to effective healthcare. 


Project Highlights

Obtain practical experience as part of a 360-degree internship, exploring key issues in Zambia’s public healthcare system and bringing research-driven change
Gain an understanding for social research methods in an under-resourced area and learn how to report on understandings of problems surrounding health
Explore a variety of community health issues and how they intersect with gender, environmental and behavioural studies
Engage with healthcare workers, professionals and NGOs in varied settings to acquire an in-depth view of current health challenges – monitoring the status quo and assessing emerging trends
Deliver practical workshops on topics that range from promoting disease prevention to living a healthy life
Learn how to collect data, interpret survey methodology, and analyse health indicators, within a supportive and solution-focused program
Live in the heart of Livingstone, Zambia; a dynamic town bordering the Natural Wonder of Victoria Falls

the destination

Livingstone is a beautiful, rural town in southern Zambia just a stone’s throw away from the mighty Zambezi river and the border of Zimbabwe. It is a hub for visitors looking to experience one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls, locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘the Smoke that Thunders’. Livingstone is the ultimate playground for adventure-seekers, wildlife enthusiasts, and lovers of the great outdoors. Whether you’d like to bungee jump, swim in the ‘Devil’s Pool’, white water raft down the Zambezi, join a river safari or enjoy an African sunset, every experience in Livingstone is unique. The town itself is relaxed and friendly with an intriguing culture and history. Here, you’ll find arts and craft producers, museums, colonial architecture, traditional village life, as well as delicious local food and laidback African lifestyle.

You’ll be staying in the heart of Livingstone at a private volunteer house within the popular and vibrant Victoria Falls Backpackers Zambia. This comfortable backpackers’ is 15 minutes from Victoria Falls and is a 5 minute walk from Livingstone’s town centre which has many stores and a great selection of cafes and restaurants for you to explore at weekends. You will have access to a swimming pool, lounge, bar, fire pit area and even a climbing wall! These communal areas offer the perfect space to get to know each other and relax at the end of the day. Bedrooms are dormitory style with bunk beds and shared bathroom facilities, as well as daily housekeeping. The staff can share knowledge about the area and are happy to help organize river cruises, canoe safaris, and trips to Chobe National Park. You won’t want to leave your “new home” as the staff will become your new family!

You will receive three fresh and delicious meals a day cooked by local chefs during the week. For breakfast you can expect cereal and toast, along with a cooked option such as eggs, pancakes or French toast. Lunch could be a wrap, pizza or sandwich paired with a fresh crispy salad. For dinner you might have a pasta dish, curry with rice or an authentic stew. Vegetarian options are available and we can cater to most dietary requirements. At weekends you will have access to the kitchen to make your own food, though most volunteers choose to visit local cafes and restaurants. Café Zambezi makes great traditional Zambian food and is a favourite amongst locals, while Maramba River Lodge is a popular spot for sundowners and Fez Bar is a popular place to hang out with locals and do a little dancing in the evenings!

To keep in touch with family and friends back home, Victoria Falls Backpackers has complimentary WiFi for you to use during your stay. You can also purchase a SIM card with data bundles if you wish.

Weather in Livingstone tends to be stable and sunny from August until late October when the "monsoon" rains start to hit. Either side of this time, the weather is very pleasant. The climate is tropical or sub-tropical depending on altitude, with a hot, humid, and rainy season from mid-November to March and a dry season from April to mid-November. October is typically the hottest month of the year.

PROJECT OUTLINE 

This internship provides invaluable on-the-ground experience where you will get the chance to do hands-on work while engaging with theories of African healthcare. 

This provides the foundation, so you feel confident to hit the ground running. You will be provided context, partake in knowledge-sharing, be introduced to the local clinic, and receive training in data-capture and analysis. 

This will introduce you to several different population groups and you will learn how to effectively run workshops and gain a greater understanding of the community and its challenges. You will also spend time on real practical service work. Our team will be available to support you. 

You will grow in knowledge and confidence, so you become part of the bigger picture. You will have exposure to professionals that work in various clinics and NGOS who work in villages located on the outskirts of Livingstone. 

With the correct support you can assess how much you have learnt and how you have become part of a larger process working towards a goal of understanding and pursuing health and equality. The structure will include workshop times, language skills development as well as personal development coaching sessions. 

PROJECT IMPACT AREAS

PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

By measuring success and working on challenges with African Impact, you are helping to share solutions and raise awareness. You will engage in research to provide support to often forgotten and over-looked demographics. Your work with pivotal groups contributes to your legacy while aiding their well-being. You will work closely with members of the community in workshops that address issues including mental health, general nutrition, physical health, and other topics tailored according to age, gender, and income bracket. Providing opportunities to ask questions, provide resources, and share answers is always the goal.

WORKSHOPS AND INNOVATION

Effecting interventions at grassroots level can be highly useful in accomplishing change. That is why we work with groups that can go on to support each other. Through a series of workshops (that you will help deliver) on varying topics, you’ll find your internship experience to be dynamic and fulfilling in surprising ways. A structured delivery based on strong research will please any crowd. You will gain valuable skills during these workshops. You may present on HIV, talk to different schools or establishments, or compare the dynamics of rural vs urban medicine.

CLINIC VISITS AND HOME-BASED CARE

This will be a regular part of the program and gives you an opportunity to learn from others on the front line of public healthcare. Often the focus is on reactive care while looking to involve and speak to “at-risk” individuals. You may sit in on talks on teenage pregnancy from a local midwife or discussions on pre- and post-natal care, cholera, malnutrition, living with HIV, or medication protocols. You will also work in a home-based care system on the outskirts of Livingstone to gain insight into the healthcare system and the difficulties and limitations faced daily.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This is an area we specialize in as we recognize its importance. You will have 3 professional experts to support you as an individual: Mentorship from the African Impact team on the ground who will add context to your specific interests within this field; this will provide a deeper insight into the history of Zambian public healthcare, as well as the challenges currently faced. A highly qualified Personal Development Coach to work with you through one to one and group discussion. They support you with tools to use throughout your experience and beyond, exploring personal goals and opportunities for your future. Monitoring and Evaluation Coaching in relation to global health. This area allows for development and training in social research method tools and analysing and reporting on data.

Recent Reviews

“Working with African Impact was one of the best decisions that I could have made! It was so cool to experience Africa from the viewpoint of a medical participant. Going into the villages and meeting people in personal situations made the whole experience much more meaningful. African Impact is a great organization to work with and they are so willing to work with you to help you have the best experience possible.”

Kailee R, USA

Public Health Internship in Zambia

“I came into this program looking for some hands-on experience in the medical field. What I got out of it was so much more than I could have ever dreamed. When you wake up in the morning, I always do so with a smile because I know that today I’ll be able to help someone that actually needs it. For a long time now I’ve been on the fence about whether or not I should commit down the medical path. After my time here on this program, I can say with confidence that I’m pretty sure I will become a doctor.”

Justin T, USA

Public Health Internship in Zambia

Other Activities

Livingstone is known as “Africa’s Adventure Capital” because there is so much to see and do. Take advantage of your proximity to the great and mighty Victoria Falls, as well as the other adventures the Zambezi has to offer. Zambezi boat cruises, white water rafting, and canoe trips are all ways in which you can encounter these great waters. You can also ride quad bike trails, swim in “Devil’s Pool” (seasonal) or view the breath-taking scenery from the air in a microlight or helicopter. For the adrenaline junkies, why not try the famous bungee jump or gorge swing?

Livingstone, Zambia is safari country. Here, you can spot a whole lot of wildlife, with elephants being particularly prevalent along the river banks. do rhino bushwalks or even take a boat safari to spot elephants off the Zambezi River. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park offers a convenient safari where you can spot elephant, zebra and more, against beautiful backdrops of the Zambezi River. The real highlight of the park is the re-introduced white rhino, which you can track on foot in a thrilling wildlife encounter! A water safari is also a fantastic way to see wildlife grazing on the river banks – expect elephants, hippos and crocodiles. Across the border in Botswana is Chobe National Park, famed for its huge elephant population (currently estimated at over 120,000!). An overnight safari to this National Park is a popular weekend activity that many past volunteers have enjoyed.

Livingstone has a rich culture and you can embark on a walking or cycling village tour to a local African village, giving you further insight into the traditional way of life. You can also shop at some of the many markets and stock up on locally hand-made goods for your loved ones back home or find interesting local foods to try.

dates and rates

Once you have submitted your application, a Destination Manager will be in-touch to discuss the project with you.

Clear

project fee includes

  • Accommodation throughout your entire stay at the lively Victoria Falls Backpackers Zambia, in a private section shared by our volunteers, interns and staff
  • 3 delicious meals a day cooked by chefs from the local community (weekdays only)
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off by the African Impact team
  • Experienced international and local staff members who are there to support you 24/7
  • Personal Development Coach
  • Full training and mentoring within your chosen field

project fee excludes

  • Flights to your chosen destination, but we can guide you on this
  • Medical or travel insurance
  • Visa-related costs
  • Weekend trips or tours, or any other non-placement activity
  • Laundry
  • Snacks, soft drinks, gifts or souvenirs
  • Mandatory contribution of US$25 that is donated to the African Impact Sustainability Fund

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