Health Promotion and Community Volunteering in Zambia

 Project Summary

 If you are studying or considering a career in healthcare or nursing, join our fascinating project focusing on health promotion and community volunteering in Zambia and assist local staff with the daily challenges facing residents in communities around Livingstone, Zambia. This projects works with healthcare teams in the mornings and community   based projects in the afternoons, in an effort to improve the lives of the impoverished from young to old, many of whom are HIV positive or are suffering from Malaria or TB. Home Based Care is vital for this community and health activities undertaken on this project include home visits for the very sick, clinical work, HIV education and talks for the communities regarding topics such as nutrition and basic health, and visits to old people’s homes to provide much needed assistance for understaffed facilities.   

Community work are an important aspect in supporting initiatives such as repairing and building structures, providing much needed extra pairs of hands for literacy, art and mathematics clubs, and working in local old people’s homes as well as sports clubs.  Farming support for sustainable livelihoods initiatives is also provided.  With so many activities to get involved with, this is a fantastic opportunity to volunteer and support the needy in Zambia and gain an insight into the wonderful work being undertaken by health promotion and community volunteering in Zambia.

Why Choose this Project?

Community health is seen as an essential part of support for vulnerable communities in Africa. A lack of funding within the medical, hospice and home based care systems in Zambia has resulted in serious staff shortages. Volunteers assist and support trained staff with non medical as well as community based activities to provide much needed extra pairs of hands. A helping hand is needed in a system struggling to cope with rising HIV numbers, limited education and a lack of resources for the young and old. Volunteering can be challenging and it will be a challenge as well as personal growth opportunity.

Role of the Volunteer

The volunteer’s duties will be split between health and community activities and may include:  

• Home Based Care – Provide basic advice, comfort and assistance to members of the community with little or no access to clinics or hospitals.  Chatting to patients about the importance of hygiene, a healthy diet and exercise as well as taking their medication is an essential part of this activity.  
• HIV,  Health and Nutrition Community Education – Health issues in Livingstone could be improved with education. Working in small groups with local staff, volunteers help to teach about communicable diseases, healthy living and to provide HIV awareness and prevention.  
• Clinics – Volunteers will perform basic checks before they are screened by the medical officer, help completing paperwork, assist the workload of local doctors and nurses and observe patient care.  
• Farming – help prepare land and maintaining crops on one of the sustainable farming initiatives to support local communities in their efforts to become self sufficient.
• Reading Club & Adult Literacy Clubs – join after schools clubs and adult classes to help improve literacy by focusing on phonics, spelling, pronunciation and general fluency.
• In Old People’s Home – there is a lack of old peoples home in Zambia and people are often destitute.  Volunteers engage the elderly in games, reading and physical activities enriching their lives.

Skills Required

Volunteers do not need to be qualified but you do need to have a great deal of enthusiasm and patience. A First Aid Course is recommended but a half day medical induction is included for every volunteer as part of orientation. Medical professionals are needed to help build the capacity of local staff through training and one to one coaching as the provision of treatment is not permitted on this placement in line with Zambian law. You will be asked to send your CV/resume before being accepted onto this project and attend a telephone interview. A flexible attitude is a must as you will be working with vulnerable communities and activities can change in line with local needs. As the project partly concerns home based care, there will be a lot of walking to and from patient’s homes. Some days you may be walking up to 6 km a day so a good level of fitness is required.

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