‘Mosi-oa-tunya’ - The Smoke That Thunders… this is how the locals refer to the magnificent spray that is elevated high above the Victoria Falls. Against this backdrop we find the town of Livingstone, a place of supreme adventure, of friendship, of unlimited challenge, a place to care for and become a part of; a place of initiation, and an unforgettable life-changing experience. Perhaps 10 kilometres away Mosi-oa-tunya makes a dramatic backdrop to a rustic field bordered by subsistence maize. In this impressing setting, we offer you the opportunity to gain a unique insight into the Zambian medical field, and to make a positive impact on the local community through our specially structured Medical Programme.

Activities

* Gain medical experience in local clinics under our staff supervision

* Work on school refurbishment and building projects

* Train local people how to care for the sick in their communities

* Immerse yourself in local Zambian culture

* Make friends for life

* Visit the Victoria Falls and enjoy some of the amazing tourist activities that Livingstone has to offer including Bungee Jumping, White Water Rafting on the Zambezi, Helicopter Flights over the Falls, Zambezi River Cruises, visits to Botswana’s Chobe National Park to experience Africa’s highest density of elephants and weekend excursions across to Zimbabwe and much more.

Working Hours

Working hours: 8:00am – 14:30pm (lunch break 12:30-14:00)

Details

Project Cost Includes:

* Project Fee: This facilitates funding for items such as coaching materials and equipment, building materials, etc. This also entails financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This project fee facilitates funding for items such as building materials, equipment, supplies, foodstuffs, etc. Project fees are also used to buy vehicles/equipment and for developing the housing for volunteers to provide for the expansion of the projects.

* All airport transfers from Livingstone International Airport upon your arrival and departure

* Orientation program

* All daily transfers to and from your projects during your stay

* Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at our volunteer house

* Weekly laundry service during your stay

* Full support from African Impact and your project managers throughout your time on your Livingstone placement


Project Cost Excludes:

* Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement, which must include cover for evacuation and repatriation

* All transport by air or bus to Livingstone

* All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other)

* E-mail/Internet and telephone calls

* Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and snacks

* All visas for border crossings

* Any excursions over and above your planned volunteer itinerary in Zambia e.g. visit to the Victoria Falls, white water rafting, etc.

Description

The Medical Project consists of 3 main areas of work:

The Clinics - role of the volunteer within a clinic is to provide back up and assistance to a very understaffed medical establishment. The main roles within clinics are “baby weighing” and taking “vitals”; blood pressure, temperature and weight of a patient before they see the clinical officer. Volunteers will also be providing basic education on a variety of different subjects through “Health Talks”.

Maramba Old People’s Home – Medical volunteers provide assistance by helping the elderly residents with their laundry, tidying and cleaning their living areas, working in the vegetable garden which feeds the residents. The home is poorly funded by the government and the residents mostly have no family or carers to look after them. Volunteers also provide a friendly face to these people who have little entertainment or interaction by going armed with games, puzzles and a smile!

Home Based Care – Our volunteers accompany community volunteers as they visit bed ridden or immobile patients across Livingstone. It is their duty to provide basic advice, comfort and assistance to members of the community with little to no access to clinics or hospitals. This may mean basic First Aid or chatting to patients about the importance of hygiene, a healthy diet and exercise. Home Based Care is also about assisting those incapable of taking care of themselves by making a patient’s bed, doing a bit of simple house work for them, and generally trying to improve their circumstance in the most basic yet effective way.