Community Volunteer Programs in Africa

Want to Create Impact in the Community?

Africa is full of diverse and beautiful people. Unfortunately, as a result of poverty, there are many under-resourced communities in Africa that, on a daily basis, face unavoidable challenges. African Impact seeks to eliminate the majority of these challenges by implementing community based volunteering programs that focus on building a strong and solid foundation for community development in Africa. Create a positive impact on people’s lives, the places you’ll visit and meet like-minded volunteers on one of our community development projects in Africa. Perfectly designed for people who have a combined love for working with people while doing something meaningful, our volunteers get the chance to explore local neighborhoods and work directly with Africans to make an impact.

Community Volunteering Highlights

  • Personal Development  — Uncover new skills and industry insights, whilst doing meaningful work on projects to help the community.
  • Purpose — Be a part of purposeful work, and learn about the importance of volunteering in community development in Africa.
  • Build Relationships —At your volunteer placement, immerse yourself in the culture of the area and build connections with locals.
  • Networking — Share new experiences with the African Impact team, a group of committed volunteers based in Africa.
  • Stunning Terrains — Whether you’re in East Africa or Southern Africa, you’re always in close proximity to something mesmerizing in the beauty of Africa’s landscape.

Types of Community Impact Projects

Classroom in Zambia with a teaching volunteer and local child
Join us on a life-changing adventure as a teaching volunteer in Africa! Explore the rich cultures of South Africa, Zambia, or Zanzibar while making
Passionate about coaching and taking sports to children? Sports can be a fun and effective way to boost children’s health and teach important life
volunteer taking a blood pressure reading from a lady in the local community Zambia
Discover our dynamic healthcare volunteer projects in Africa and make a difference in the lives of those in need. Experience the thrill of providing
gender-equality-volunteering-zambia
Join us in Livingstone, Zambia, and become part of an inspiring program that provides girls and women with useful tools to reduce the prevailing

Browse All Community Volunteering Programs

Improving the quality of life for those in under-resourced communities is one of the many benefits of volunteering in community development in Africa. Find the volunteer program that is right for you, whether it is to get involved in teaching English, coaching sports or working alongside healthcare professionals. Volunteering in the community through African Impact means you’ll get to discover more about how volunteering makes a difference on community development in Africa.

Cape Town, South Africa
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Childcare
As a volunteer on our Early Childhood Development project, you will work in Cape Town’s townships, educating and caring for children.

$1,955 – $5,150

Cape Town, South Africa
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Sports Development
Join African Impact and volunteer on a sports coaching project in Zambia! Assist sports coaches in teaching physical education sessions at schools.

$1,850 – $5,150

Livingstone, Zambia
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Healthcare
Join African Impact and volunteer on a public healthcare program in Zambia! Support remote rural areas in Zambia by providing important healthcare services.

$1,955 – $5,150

Livingstone, Zambia
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Teaching
One of African Impact’s first ever volunteer projects which we began in 2006 was our teaching volunteer program in Livingstone, Zambia.

$1,955 – $5,150

Livingstone, Zambia
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Gender Equality
Through our initiative in Livingstone, Zambia, The Girl Impact, you’ll support, educate, and encourage adolescent girls as they become empowered young women in their community.

$1,955 – $5,150

Zanzibar
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Teaching
Live the tropical island dream while teaching children at local schools, teaching adult English classes, and use your skills to contribute to community development in Zanzibar.

$2,420 – $5,615

Livingstone, Zambia
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Environmental Sustainability
Join African Impact and volunteer on a plastic waste reduction project in Zambia! Help support the fight against plastic pollution in local communities.

$1,955 – $5,150

Livingstone, Zambia
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Teaching
Come and join our Christmas & Community volunteering in Livingstone, Zambia and impact lives over the festive season.

$1,955 – $5,150

Livingstone, Zambia
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Sports Development
Put your passion for sports, fitness, wellness, and nutrition to great use as you educate and train school students in the villages of Livingstone, Zambia.

$1,995 – $5,150

Cape Town, South Africa
Specific Start Dates
Impact: Healthcare
The ideal project for those Pre-Med looking for real life experience. Our Cape Town Medical project is what you are looking for.

$2,450 – $5,150

Africa Highlights

Culture & Lifestyle

From South Africa to Kenya, the cultural roots in Africa run deep. There’s an amazing amount to learn if you are open and respectful to these values and beliefs while volunteering. Additionally, life in many African countries moves at a slower pace, it’s a great chance to unwind and experience a different pace of life.

Maasai Mara in Kenya
adult english class in zanzibar

Language

African nations boast over 2000 different languages, each with its own local dialects. This can seem daunting, but it’s all part of the experience. Embrace the unfamiliar and challenge yourself to communicate in new ways. Who knows, you might even learn a new language or a few phrases!

Location

From its rolling hills and verdant forests to its sun-kissed beaches and crystal-clear waters, the continent is a feast for the eyes. A visit to Africa is a chance to experience nature at its finest. The breathtaking beauty of Africa’s landscape is sure to leave a lasting impression. Our volunteer projects in Africa will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in traditional life and witness a side of Africa that few get to see.

volunteer watching the sunset in South africa
cape town beach with table mountain in the background

Weather & Climate

The weather patterns in Africa are diverse, from the hot and dry climate to the wet and humid equatorial regions. In coastal areas, the average temperatures remain warm throughout the year, while the interior experiences wide temperature variations, with hot summers and cool winters. The unique weather patterns and diverse landscapes of Africa offer something for every traveler.

Wildlife

The continent’s various ecosystems, ranging from savannas and deserts to wetlands and forests, provide habitats for a vast array of species, making it a prime destination for wildlife lovers and nature enthusiasts. African wildlife is renowned for its incredible diversity and abundance of species. A visit to Africa promises unforgettable experiences and encounters with some of the most awe-inspiring animals on the planet.

elephants in africa
volutneers out enjoying the african bush

Free Time & Adventure Activities

You will work hard as a volunteer, but there will also be time to play hard. You will have your evenings and weekends free to explore all Africa has to offer and there’s no shortage of adventure on this continent! You might join a cultural tour, safari in nearby game reserves, visit historical landmarks, bungee jump over Victoria Falls, abseil down the side of Table Mountain or snorkel in Zanzibar’s coral reefs. Our project teams on the ground will help you book tours upon your arrival, so you can experience it all with your fellow volunteers. There’s so much to experience in Africa – and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Recent Volunteer Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose Community Volunteer Programs With African Impact?

Every beginning of a new journey into the unknown is a determining factor to the outcome, and with us, you’ll be guided every step of the way! From the get-go, our goal is to offer volunteer community projects in Africa that are unique to your selected placement location and structured around how to cater to the most immediate needs within the region. We make sure we look at the bigger picture, but also have a focus on people, infrastructure and conservation. We carefully select and negotiate with local groups in areas where we believe we can make a sustainable impact on the community.

And that’s only half of the important work we do! In addition to our community volunteer programs, you can also explore tailored divisions of high impact, such as the Girl Impact Initiative. At African Impact, the importance of volunteering never goes unnoticed, and we can attest to the success of responsible volunteering in Africa for more than a decade.

Community development is a holistic approach that encourages growth within a given community, focusing within the areas of empowerment, human rights, inclusion, social justice, self-determination and collective action. At its core, this concept stands by the belief that there should be fair and equal access to health, well-being, wealth, justice and opportunity, for everyone. Ultimately, the combination of community with development aims to uplift people’s living standards in a community, and the end-result of success is dependent on how people work together.

Motivated by sustainable practices, your community development volunteer work will be a part of positive change in areas that lack opportunity for economic and social development in Africa. Here is a list of community development principles we follow at African Impact:

  • Identify and address the problem area(s) within the community
  • Identify stakeholders, and involve local citizens who are experiencing the problem(s)
  • Identify innovative and alternative strategies whilst engaging in community discussion
  • Identify resources that can benefit the community
  • Implement the new strategies, and track the progress through regular evaluation

At African Impact, we have unlocked how volunteering helps the community through each and every program. If you’re thinking about getting involved, then you’re in the right place! During your stay, you will discover the many ways that you can create action out of your thoughts and ideas. If you’re interested in programs that contribute to things like improving confidence, gaining new skills, meeting new friends, or giving back to charitable causes, then you will experience first-hand how volunteering is not only a benefit to the community, but also to you, the volunteer!

Africa is the second largest continent, covering almost one fifth of the total land surface of the world, which means there are numerous opportunities to explore volunteer destinations in Africa. Here is a list of destinations where we offer community projects in Africa:

  1. South Africa
  2. Zambia
  3. Tanzania
  4. Zanzibar
  5. Kenya

The first and most important step would be to read more about the program(s) you are more interested in! Our community volunteer opportunities are known to open doors to a plethora of new knowledge systems, social awareness, self-confidence, as well as creating direct access for you to use your skills and benefit the lives of people who are typically underrepresented.

Apply to one of our community volunteer programs today by selecting a program above! If you can’t decide, don’t worry, we have specialists to help you across all areas, from choosing a destination or impact area to understanding what accommodation suits you. Submit an enquiry now and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!