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Top 10 Volunteer Projects in Zimbabwe

Volunteer in Zimbabwe and explore a country that is renowned for its incredible natural beauty...

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Volunteer Opportunities in Zimbabwe

This Southern African country is not only known for its stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife, but also for its friendly and hardworking people. Nevertheless, both hunger and poverty continue to be big issues in this country, where about 1.5 million people or 16% of the Zimbabwean population have to deal with food scarcity on a daily basis. In fact, as many as 29% of Zimbabwe's children is not tall enough for their age, which is a development that has been caused by chronic malnutrition.

If you are looking for a country where you can really make a difference through your charity work as a volunteer, Zimbabwe might be the place to be. Of course, we do not only offer you various volunteer projects to choose from, but you will find that there are plenty of exciting activities outside of your voluntary work in Zimbabwe as well.

This guide will help you prepare for your volunteering adventure in Zimbabwe. In what follows, we will tell you what you need to know about volunteering in this Southern African nation so that you can be prepared. From the different fields of interest and volunteer opportunities in Zimbabwe to general requirements for becoming a volunteer, we have you covered. Find out how you can become a volunteer in Zimbabwe and read about some of the different volunteer projects below.

Volunteer opportunities in Zimbabwe

While Zimbabwe is a fascinating country in many regards, this country unfortunately has one of the shortest life expectancies in all of the world. As such, the local population is in dire need of your help as a volunteer in Zimbabwe. Working with the local people directly might thus be one of your goals when you come to Zimbabwe to join a volunteer project. However, you can also choose to work towards saving the local wildlife population instead. Given the various fields of interests that are covered by our partner projects, you can choose to contribute in whichever way you see fit. Learn more about what causes you can contribute to as a volunteer in Zimbabwe below.

Protect the wildlife in Zimbabwe

If protecting the local wildlife from becoming extinct is important to you, you will want to become a wildlife conservation volunteer in Zimbabwe. Compared to many other African nations, Zimbabwe is certainly advanced in this regard. After all, the Wildlife Conservation Act was passed in 1960. As such, Zimbabwe has been working hard to protect its wildlife population from going extinct for several decades. Nevertheless, your work as a volunteer in Zimbabwe is required to make sure that this African nation continues to do well in the area of wildlife. In particular, your work as a wildlife conservation volunteer in Zimbabwe will likely be benefitting the following wild animals:

If you have thought about a future career as a vet, becoming a wildlife volunteer in Zimbabwe will look great on your resume. However, even if you just want to use your love for animals and wildlife to do good, you can also volunteer in Zimbabwe.

Volunteer for education

Not only the wildlife needs your helping hand. As an wildlife conservation volunteer education volunteer in Zimbabwe, you can do your part to make sure that the literacy rate continues to be high. If you love working with children, this field of interest will be right up your alley. From working with preschoolers to older children, you will likely get to experience what it means to be a real teacher by becoming a volunteer in Zimbabwe in this field. From teaching English to PE to the local kids to offering after-school activities, there is much that you can do to be of service. There are also volunteer opportunities in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, that are focused on education. The local community is certainly going to benefit from your efforts as a volunteer in Zimbabwe! Now you can make sure that more children in Zimbabwe are receiving the education that they deserve.

Support community services

If you are interested in supporting the local community as a whole, becoming a community volunteer in Zimbabwe is a great idea. Take on the role of a social worker or work at a local daycare center in Zimbabwe. You might even be asked to work at an orphanage, where you can provide counseling for orphans if you are qualified. Depending on your prior qualifications, you might just help them with their homework or play with them. One thing is for certain. As a volunteer in Zimbabwe, you can be sure that your volunteer project is going to utilize your skills as much as possible.

Especially when working with children, teenagers or orphans, you will likely be working in a team and you will also receive the support that you need as a volunteer in Zimbabwe. Even just giving these children your undivided attention can mean the world to them and might change their lives forever. If you are determined to change the life of a child or even multiple children for the better, you should definitely consider one of the volunteer opportunities in Zimbabwe.

Work for a business and marketing project

Of course, your business and marketing skills can prove to be useful as a volunteer in Zimbabwe. If you are looking for the perfect way to work towards a worthwhile cause, this might just be it. Use your marketing, videography or web-design skills to assist your local volunteer project. While some of these skills might be useful in the fundraising efforts of your volunteer project, you might be asked to teach classes to the locals to pass on your skills to them, too. Your help as a volunteer in Zimbabwe will certainly be very much appreciated when you choose this field of interest as well.

Cost of living

The suggested daily budget for living as a volunteer in Zimbabwe is between US$20 and US$30. This is an estimate made considering the average price of some of the services you might need and things you might want to buy. It gives you a general overview about how much things cost in this country, so you can be prepared and save the money you will need.

Additional costs you should consider when volunteering will be:

An exemplary overview of living costs in Zimbabwe (in US$, for one person) is:

Hotel
$40
Big Mac
$5.00
Coca-Cola
$0.79
Eating out
$5.00
Rental Car
$n.a.
Hostel
$15
Marlboro
$2.00
Beer
$1.38
Fuel
$5.17
Public Transport
$0.50

Things to know before you volunteer in Zimbabwe

When you travel to a different country for voluntary work it is important to familiarise yourself with its culture and social characteristics. This helps you to settle in quickly and avoid misunderstandings. These are some tips that you might find helpful when preparing for your volunteer work in Zimbabwe:

Safety & precautions

Since we are here to help you prepare for your time as a volunteer in Zimbabwe, we would like to tell you about the precautions that you might like to consider in the interest of your safety and health.

In order to best protect yourself as a volunteer in Zimbabwe, you will not want to travel alone if at all possible. Since street lighting can be poor, try avoiding walking around at night or only do so in groups. Also make sure that you do not openly display your valuables, since this might make you an attractive target for pickpockets. Moreover, we recommend taking the following precautions during your time as a volunteer in Zimbabwe:

  • Keep your car doors locked and always keep your windows closed while driving
  • Do not park your car in abandoned parts of town
  • Always carry a copy of your passport no matter where you go
  • Beware that you might experience frequent power outages depending on where you will be staying
  • Note that Marange's diamond mining area is restricted - do not access a particular area if you see signs forbidding you to do so or if you are explicitly told not to
  • Watch out for particularly deep potholes when driving
  • Avoid engaging in political activities or openly criticizing the country's president

Health advice

Before you travel to Zimbabwe, you should make sure that you have gotten all of the necessary vaccinations. Please talk to your doctor well in advance of your trip to leave sufficient time for getting vaccinated. The following routine vaccines are a must when volunteering in Zimbabwe:

  • MMR
  • Diphtheria/ Tetanus/ Pertussis
  • Chickenpox
  • Polio
  • Flu (optional)

Moreover, these vaccinations are also recommended. Be sure to ask your doctor for travel medications that you should be taking with you before you become a volunteer in Zimbabwe.

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Malaria
  • Typhoid
  • Rabies
  • Yellow Fever

Culture & religion

You will find that a large majority of all Zimbabweans identify as Christian. In fact, as much as 87% of the population ascribe to the Christian faith. 76% of all people in Zimbabwe are said to be Protestant Christians. Traditional religions are ascribed to by another 4% of the population.

Who can volunteer in Zimbabwe?

You might have noticed by now that there are many different projects that require different skills and abilities from their international volunteers. While you can find out the specific requirements for each project on their profiles on Volunteer World, here are some general requirements that apply to to a great amount of voluntary work in Zimbabwe:

  • You need to be at least 18 years old for most of the volunteer projects. When in doubt, we advise you to get in contact with the local project manager
  • You should have an intermediate level of English knowledge; some projects also require an advanced English knowledge
  • Depending on the project you're interested in, you might need to provide a criminal background check and a health declaration before volunteering

What visa do I need to volunteer in Zimbabwe?

You have made it to the last section of this guide, which is another really important aspect while planning your trip: getting your volunteer visa for Zimbabwe.

Please consider that the following information is based on a best practice approach, which has been made according to the best of our knowledge and in cooperation with several volunteer organizations. That's why you should please make sure to discuss your visa requirements with your contact person on Volunteer World. If in doubt, we also recommend getting in touch with the Embassy of Zimbabwe or consulate in your country.

General entry information

There are some general requirements you should comply upon your arrival:

  • Please check the current validity of your passport. Your passport should have at least 6-month validity from the date of arrival in Zimbabwe
  • Make sure your passport has at least two blank Visa pages. Zimbabwe requires that you have adequate unused pages in your passport, allowing for any necessary stamps upon arrival and departure
  • Please check if a transit visa is required for any connections
  • Make sure to be in possession of a valid return ticket
  • Category A: No visa required: Nationals of Zimbabwe as well as nationals of these countries do not need a visa to enter Zimbabwe
  • Category B: Visa on entry: Consists of those countries whose nationals are issued visas at the port of entry on payment of visa fees
  • Category C: Visa before arrival: Consists of those countries whose nationals are required to obtain their visa before travelling to zimbabwe
  • Holiday Visa is issued to foreigners entering Zimbabwe temporarily for tourism, sightseeing, to visit family and friends or other private purposes
  • For more information, check eVisa Zimbabwe: