Waste Reduction & Eco-building in Zambia

In the mornings, the team goes out to build structures using Ecobricks. These structures include tree rings, benches, outdoor classrooms, walls, and more. After each structure is completed, it is painted as well. Every other week, the group participates in a litter-picking session to serve as a positive role model within the community. They also make Ecobricks together with other volunteers and students. In addition, involvement includes supporting the weekly SwapShop, where Ecobricks are collected from students in exchange for items such as notebooks, balls, pencil sets, and more.

Volunteers have free time to read a book, run errands such as going to the supermarket, or simply relax.

The volunteers prepare for the afternoon activities together with the staff, ensuring that everyone is fully prepared and understands their role for the afternoon. At times, they also help make peanut butter sandwiches and juice for the students.

Each day, the volunteers visit a different community project. These may include Eco Club, Math Club, Reading Club, Girl Impact, Rugby, Health Club, and others. Teaching volunteers are mixed with those working in medical, education, or sports roles to create a balanced team.

A Monday meeting is held with the entire team to get to know one another, review the weekly plan, and share any additional announcements.

Easy night for all the new volunteers.

In the mornings, the team goes out to build structures using Ecobricks. These structures include tree rings, benches, outdoor classrooms, walls, and more. After each structure is completed, it is painted as well. Every other week, the group participates in a litter-picking session to serve as a positive role model within the community. They also make Ecobricks together with other volunteers and students. In addition, involvement includes supporting the weekly SwapShop, where Ecobricks are collected from students in exchange for items such as notebooks, balls, pencil sets, and more.

Volunteers receive an activities talk from Victoria Falls Backpackers, after which they can book their weekend activities.

The volunteers prepare for the afternoon activities together with the staff, ensuring that everyone is fully prepared and understands their role for the afternoon. At times, they also help make peanut butter sandwiches and juice for the students.

Each day, the volunteers visit a different community project. These may include Eco Club, Math Club, Reading Club, Girl Impact, Rugby, Health Club, and others. Teaching volunteers are mixed with those working in medical, education, or sports roles to create a balanced team.

Free time for everyone until dinner.

The team today have a movie night in the volunteer house.

In the mornings, the team goes out to build structures using Ecobricks. These structures include tree rings, benches, outdoor classrooms, walls, and more. After each structure is completed, it is painted as well. Every other week, the group participates in a litter-picking session to serve as a positive role model within the community. They also make Ecobricks together with other volunteers and students. In addition, involvement includes supporting the weekly SwapShop, where Ecobricks are collected from students in exchange for items such as notebooks, balls, pencil sets, and more.

A language lesson is held, during which a staff member teaches the volunteers some basic Nyanja phrases.

The volunteers prepare for the afternoon activities together with the staff, ensuring that everyone is fully prepared and understands their role for the afternoon. At times, they also help make peanut butter sandwiches and juice for the students.

Each day, the volunteers visit a different community project. These may include Eco Club, Math Club, Reading Club, Girl Impact, Rugby, Health Club, and others. Teaching volunteers are mixed with those working in medical, education, or sports roles to create a balanced team.

The volunteers are taken to the Maramba community to visit the local market. At the market, a wide variety of goods are sold, with the fabric stalls being a particular favorite. Volunteers can buy chitenge fabric, which local tailors can turn into skirts, bags, or other custom items.

The team either play games in the volunteer house or they go to a pub quiz in town.   

In the morning we go out and build structures out of Ecobricks. This could be structures such as tree rings, benches, outside classrooms, walls and more. After the structure is finished, we paint them as well. Every other week we do a litter pick session together to be a role model in the community. We also make Ecobrick together with other volunteers and with the students. You´ll be involved with the weekly SwapShop where we collect Ecobricks from the students in return for items such as notebooks, balls, pencils sets and more. 

The volunteers have free time to read a book, go to the supermarket.

We prepare for our afternoon activities together with staff. We make sure everyone is fully prepared and knows their part for the afternoon. Sometimes we also bring peanut butter sandwiches and juice for the students so the volunteers can help make that. 

Every volunteer has the opportunity to take part in the Village Tour, which is organized by the women of the local women’s group. This tour serves as an income-generating activity for the group while allowing volunteers to visit and experience two different communities around Livingstone. Volunteers also get to taste local snacks. If a volunteer has already participated in the Village Tour the previous week, they instead take part in a community project.

Volunteers have free time to read a book, run errands such as going to the supermarket, or simply relax.

In the mornings, the team goes out to build structures using Ecobricks. These structures include tree rings, benches, outdoor classrooms, walls, and more. After each structure is completed, it is painted as well. Every other week, the group participates in a litter-picking session to serve as a positive role model within the community. They also make Ecobricks together with other volunteers and students. In addition, involvement includes supporting the weekly SwapShop, where Ecobricks are collected from students in exchange for items such as notebooks, balls, pencil sets, and more.

Volunteers have free time to read a book, run errands such as going to the supermarket, or simply relax.

Before lunch, a “Friday Check-In” is held. During this session, volunteers are asked for feedback on the week, informed of any maintenance in the house, updated on the weekend plans, and briefed on any new arrivals.

Volunteers gather in the boma at the backpackers, where one or two staff members give a talk about Zambia. The session includes time for questions and answers, followed by a “mock wedding,” in which two volunteers are playfully married to demonstrate a traditional Zambian wedding. Afterward, everyone participates in drumming and dancing together. If a volunteer has already attended the cultural afternoon the previous week, they instead take part in a community project.

Volunteers have free time to read a book, run errands such as going to the supermarket, or simply relax.