Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
20 Mar 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
30
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
This project is an international NGO in Zambia. The main venture of the organisation is a boarding school for blind and visually impaired children with and without multiple disabilities in the Southern Province of Zambia, close to Mazabuka town. It is the only school of this kind in whole Zambia. The project is the ambitious project of a young Austrian called Barbara, who is organising the school alone. The construction for the international boarding school has already started in 2009, anyway, it will still take some years, until everything is really complete according to the plans. Anyway, some of the main buildings got ready, so that the school could open in September 2011. At the moment there are around 20 pupils in all age groups. You find young kids like Jackson, who is 5 but a bit behind in his development or Oliness who is just 3 years old, and older students like Nancy who is already 30 years old.
The students are coming from all over Zambia and also Zimbabwe. Almost all the kids have something in common: They did not get any proper education before joining, since there are no proper schools for them in Zambia. The school has, for example, a whole group of kids enrolled who came from a special unit at a public school, who spend over 10 years in this school without getting any single Mathematic lesson, taught by a teacher without teacher certificate. Two of the older girls are coming from villages, where they were only sitting at home before joining the school and some unruly boys were taking advantage of their blindness and raped them, so they have already children on their own.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
Charity Work
Language practice
Art Projects
Help with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We do not make any plans for volunteers ahead but usually our volunteers find their way in quickly after adapting to the new environment. The school is in rural Zambia, so it usually takes some adaption time. We have electricity, but not everywhere and our water comes from a hand pump. We have currently no internet access at the school but volunteers staying longer usually like buying affordable prepaid modems or just using their phones to stay online or going to town on weekends to the internet cafe. We have a garden and fields and animals as well. Life in Zambia can be chaotic and does not always go according to plans.
Volunteers have the opportunity to experience Zambia in a way normal tourist will never do because it is not an area where tourists normally would go. There is a small clinic nearby and hospitals and clinics in town.
We have school holidays in April, August and December, so these are the months which are not so suitable for volunteering since it can be a bit boring when the kids are not around. Still, there is always somebody there and farming, gardening etc continues. We also offer adult training for blind adults during the holidays.
Volunteers stay for free and can eat with the children who love eating typical Zambian food. Our kids and workers drink the water from the borehole but if you have a sensitive stomach it is better to buy water or use chlorine tablets to purify the water.
As a volunteer you can help in lots of different fields, depending on your abilities and experiences. We had volunteers who loved teaching, some who preferred building furniture with the workers, some who did gardening and field work, some who likes cooking for the kids etc... There is always enough to do and every help is appreciated.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Tonga: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
Directly at the school (village setup, rural area): Volunteer houses
What else ...
Wonderful national parks close by, Victoria Falls.... to travel to on weekends.
Nice volunteer experience in an area where tourists normally don`t come.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We basically have endless parking space :)
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5
Feedback (25)
one… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.8)
one… read more
Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. I needed a few days to settle in and to get a feeling for the life here but after that I felt very comfortable.
I could choose where and what I want to do. I helped Pink Rose in the kitchen: cooking, washing the dishes, cleaning and getting water… read more
There is always something to do from help Mama Pinky in the kitchen to help the teachers. Also all the kids are great and very friendly!
I had the opportunity to learn the local language and interact with people from the village and it was amazing!
All the facilities are basic so don’t expect… read more
There is a lot of… read more
I stayed at school during a month and two weeks and enjoyed the experience very much, the kids… read more
The workers make you fell welcome and share moments with madame Pink, the lady who cooks for everyone is always a pleasure.
About the place they dont have plans for volunteers like they say on profile but quickly you will gonna find your way to help.… read more
This school really deserves any kind of help. Its just fantastic… read more
Do not expect a comfy room or posh meals: the accommodation is simple and you will eat local food with the kids and staff. The school does not have running water or wifi; and electricity is… read more
From hand pumping water every day for bathing and toilets to sleeping on a single bed for two of us with no curtains and the moonlight shining in our room which we shared with a multitude of creatures.
It took us a few days to adapt to our new surroundings, we received no guidance from the owner on… read more
It is located in the village of Munenga, 8 km from a main… read more
Of course the first days were difficult as there is no running water and I had no electricity in my house, but you will get used to it very quick. And I am sure that you will enjoy it after a few days because everyone is so friendly there. The workers, the pupils and… read more
