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Teaching & Community Development Volunteer In Zambia

Quick Facts

Livingstone, Zambia

Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport

Every Monday

10 days - 12 weeks

Impact: Teaching

$1495 – $4695
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One of African Impact’s first ever volunteer projects which we began in 2006 was our teaching and community development volunteer program in Livingstone, Zambia. Spending over 15 years developing schools and teaching children in the rural community in Livingstone, African Impact is a household brand and the sustainability of this program has given young children an education they deserve. You can join the African Impact team in Zambia, the iconic destination of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls, and work alongside local teachers in rural primary schools that are overwhelmed with children wanting to learn. This is an amazing opportunity to give individual attention to children who really need it, gain valuable volunteer teaching experience abroad and visit the ‘Adventure Capital’ of Africa with other international volunteers from around the world. 

Read about a past volunteer’s Reflections on Teaching in Livingstone, Zambia.

Project Highlights

Directly support a local teacher by providing classroom assistance in a rural primary school in Livingstone, Zambia

Change a child’s life who is falling behind in their education by providing one-to-one attention that they otherwise would not receive

Spend each afternoon on a different community volunteer project. Choose from different activities, including helping children to read, getting creative at Art Club, or even trying your hand at a building project.

Tick one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World off your bucket list, Victoria Falls

Live and work in the ‘Adventure Capital’ of Africa, where you can bungee-jump, go white-water-rafting or take to the skies on a microlight flight

See Africa’s most iconic wildlife on safari in Chobe, Botswana on an overnight adventure

The Destination

Volunteers sitting and talking around fires at Victoria Falls Backpackers in Zambia
A photograph of a colourful communal seating area at Victoria Falls Backpackers in Zambia
Volunteers seated at backpackers accommodation
Volunteers seated at accommodation area

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 Impact Areas

tefl-practicum-zambia

ASSIST A LOCAL TEACHER

You will spend your mornings at a primary school in one of Livingstone’s rural communities, supporting a local teacher in their classroom. During your stay, you will remain with the same class so that you can get to know the children, identify problem areas, and provide individual support to the students. You are also there to share your skills with the local teacher so that they are better able to educate the children in their care. Through general classroom assistance, you will improve the learning experience for all.

teaching-community-development-volunteer-zambia

REMEDIAL WORK

In overcrowded classrooms, it is very easy for students to fall behind, especially when there is normally only one teacher to – on average – every 50 students. Volunteers, therefore, provide an essential role in identifying those struggling students and providing one-to-one attention that they would otherwise not receive. This will involve taking individuals, or groups of children, outside of the classroom and repeating the lesson at a slower rate with greater repetition to enhance learning and retention. It is an extremely rewarding way to contribute to a student’s education and future.

teaching-community-development-volunteer-zambia

AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS

After-school programs help a great deal in the development of children, in their motor skills, reading, literacy, and creative development. Part of your volunteer work will include teaching children the alphabet, phonics, spelling, pronunciation, and general reading and comprehension skills. You will also conduct and develop outdoor games and art projects and just have some fun interacting with the kids.

teaching-community-development-volunteer-zambia

ADULT LITERACY

Improving adult literacy subsequently improves the chances of employment. If you would like to, you will get a unique volunteer opportunity to gain first-hand insight into a different culture – and to make new friends from the community – by facilitating structured lesson plans and tests in our adult literacy course. A certificate is issued to students upon successful completion of the course, and they are really invested in their ongoing education.

Recent Reviews

“My volunteer experience in this program was undeniably the greatest thing I have done in my life! The people I met were amazing, kind, helpful, and allowed me to have an unforgettable experience in Zambia. You immediately feel like part of the family when you start, and it only gets better the longer you stay!”
Kelley Elise Costa, USA Teaching & Community Development, Zambia
“I had such a great time here. The volunteer experience was so much better than I ever expected. I’ve made a lot of good friends and had an awesome time. I'm going to miss all the days I spent here, and if I have the chance I would definitely come back.”
Emma Kolstad, NorwayTeaching & Community Development, Zambia
“Very good volunteer experience overall. A lot of assistance pre-departure and on the field. Even if you stay only for a short period you can feel African Impact is really making an impact in the local zambia community.”
RI, ItalyTeaching & Community Development, Zambia
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Other Activities

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 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 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.

Apply Now

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

Step 1
Select your Start Date
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STEP 2

Select your Duration
10 days $1495
2 weeks $1695
3 weeks $1995
4 weeks $2295
5 weeks $2595
6 weeks $2895
7 weeks $3195
8 weeks $3495
9 weeks $3795
10 weeks $4095
11 weeks $4395
12 weeks $4695

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 live and work alongside you every day
  • A full induction, orientation and training session to ensure you can contribute sustainably
  • WiFi

Project Fee Excludes

  • Flights
  • Medical or travel insurance
  • Visa-related costs
  • Snacks, soft drinks, gifts or souvenirs
  • Laundry
  • Mandatory contribution of US$25 that is donated to the African Impact Sustainability Fund

  • Weekend trips or tours, or any other non-project activity

Apply Now