Care for HIV/AIDS Orphanage in Antelope Park, Zimbabwe

  • The Project

    Zimbabwe has had a turbulent ride over the past few years and as a result of this, the most vulnerable members of the community have suffered from the breakdown of education and medical infrastructures. This project aims to make an impact on the lives of some of those children affected by the political turmoil of the country and works with orphanages and local schools to provide extra help and support where it is most required.
    This project has a two pronged approach working in local orphanages and schools to provide support and care to lift these children out of the situation they have been unwillingly placed in. With physically disabled children, babies, toddlers and even high school age children, the orphanage needs volunteers to promote the children’s warmth and joy who are just yearning for love and attention. In the schools, the oversubscribed classes and poor teacher-student rations mean dismal learning conditions so volunteers are needed here to assist with the compilation of teaching material and one-on-one student assistance.

  • Why the project needs you

    With class sizes ranging from 40-55 students per class, there is just not enough teacher support for the number of students in the schools. For the children to be able to develop to their full potential, extra time and care is needed with each one of them to ensure they are all learning to their maximum capabilities and getting the extra support if they need it. With so many students to look after, classes become monotonous and teachers welcome fresh ideas and injections of fun into their classes to stimulate learning. It is not only schools that are suffering however, orphanages too are becoming over run with children who have no families to support them and just crave personal attention and individual support.

    By volunteering in Zimbabwe, you have the chance to support these children, to act as a mentor and to become a guiding and helping friend to young babies and children both in the schools and the orphanages.

    Project location

    You will be staying at Antelope Park, a 3000 acre game reserve located a few kilometres outside the city of Gweru in the centre of the country. The opportunity to live in the heart of a game reserve is not to be missed, and the site location attracts hundreds of visitors each year. Volunteer accommodation is a mixture of twin and quad rooms and at night all residents gather around the camp fire to listen to the sounds of the wild bush over dinner, looking out onto the dam. On site there is a swimming pool and internet access. Horses roam free on site and orphaned elephants are housed in the camp. A remote area means most volunteers stay on-site, though the option of excursions to Victoria falls are always an option for those wishing to explore a little further.

  • Project Facts

    • Duration: 3 – 8 weeks
    • Cost: £1195 ($2091) for 3 weeks and £245 ($429) for every extra week
    • Requirements: age 17+
    • Location: Antelope Park, Zimbabwe
    • Project activities: Caring for children, cleaning, playing, mentoring, one-on-one assistance, creating learning aids, maintenance of facilities
    • Working hours: Monday – Friday 8:00-4:00
    • Project Availability: Project starts every Sunday. Closed from 19th December to 9th January

  • What is included

    • Accommodation: Single or Shared room in volunteer accommodation
    • Food: 3 meals a day
    • Airport pick up and drop off
    • Training: Pre-departure information pack and onsite orientation provided
    • Support: 24 hour support
    • Transport to and from project
    • Excursion Planning: staff will help organise activities and excursions
    • 1 Lion walk, 1 elephant ride and 1 horse ride will be included for you while on the project

  • What is not included

    • Flights
    • Insurance
    • Visas

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