Volunteer Teaching Project in Zambia

Engage in Meaningful Educational Lessons with Young Kids

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
Teacher and student reading book together.

Quick Facts

Livingstone, Zambia

Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport

Specific Start Dates

10 days - 12 weeks

Impact: Teaching

$1,955 – $5,150

Destination

Young children in learning lesson with volunteer teacher.

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 stay at a comfortable lodge in the heart of Livingstone. We can offer you dorm or single rooms, and you’ll have use of a great number of facilities, including common areas, a bar, and a large pool. You’ll be walking distance to shops and restaurants, and a short drive to the Zambezi River and the Victoria Falls.

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

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.

Heartwarming moment from a volunteer teaching community in Livingstone, Zambia.
A joyous scene of a volunteer making an impact through teaching in Livingstone, 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.

After-School Clubs

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.

Volunteers making a positive difference in the community of Livingstone, Zambia.
In Livingstone, Zambia, a group of adult literacy students gathers for a community teaching lesson.

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.

Other Activities

Recent Volunteer Reviews

Dates & Rates

When would you like to volunteer?

Give us an idea of your travel plans, you can also say ‘I’m not sure yet.’ We’ll take it from there.

How long would you like to volunteer?

This is the place to select your preferred duration(s). The African Impact team recommend at least 4 weeks for a truly memorable experience!

10 days $1955
2 weeks $2150
3 weeks $2450
4 weeks $2750
5 weeks $3050
6 weeks $3350
7 weeks $3650
8 weeks $3950
9 weeks $4250
10 weeks $4550
11 weeks $4850
12 weeks $5150

Personal Information

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Volunteers in Zimbabwe taking photos of the sunset sky.

Project Fee Includes:

  • Airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Accommodation throughout your stay
  • 3 delicious meals a day
  • Transport to and from project
  • 24/7 support from experienced international and local staff
  • Full orientation to ensure you contribute responsibly
  • Project equipment and resources

Project Fee Excludes:

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa-related costs
  • Weekend trips or tours not on the itinerary
  • Snacks, soft drinks, gifts, and souvenirs
  • Mandatory contribution of US$25 that is donated to the African Impact Sustainability Fund

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