Zimbabwe – Medical Aid in Antelope Park

Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Africa or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.

 

The majority of Gweru’s population does not have access to private healthcare facilities, so most community members are solely dependent on the poorly staffed local clinics. The local clinic provides a range of services, including full maternity care, treatment for opportunistic Infections (HIV and TB), immunizations, outpatient consultations, and medication distribution at their pharmacy. This clinic caters to over 47,000 people each year, yet it is ill-equipped, poorly funded, and above all, severely understaffed.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Antelope Park, 10km from Gweru, Zimbabwe Midlands

Project length  Project length: Min 2 week – Max 8 weeks

Arrival Airport  Arrival Airport: Bulawayo (BUQ) or Harare (HRE) airports

Volunteer Work  Volunteer Work:  Basic medical experience, teaching and caring for children

Age  Age:  18-70

Number of Volunteers  Number of Volunteers: Up to 6 international volunteers

Important Note  Important Note: Volunteers staying longer than five weeks will require a “temporary residence permit.” This costs an additional $500-600 USD, to be paid upon arrival.

 

What’s Included

Accommodations  Accommodations: Twin or quad rooms at volunteer camp

Food Food: Three meals per day are provided

Airport Transfers  Airport Transfers:  Airport transfers are included on both arrival and departure days

Orientation  Orientation: Orientation upon arrival to Antelope Park includes includes meet and greet, introduction to Antelope Park and Zimbabwe, and project overview.

Support  Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

 

What’s not Included

Flights, business visa (between $30 – $75 USD depending on nationality), travel health insurance, personal expenses

This project takes place at Antelope Park, a private game farm located 10km from Gweru town center, in the heart of the Zimbabwe Midlands.

 

As a volunteer, your greatest service will be the manpower that you offer for the local understaffed clinic and similar clinics in the nearby area. Away from the clinic, you’ll have the opportunity participate in any health and nutrition education campaigns and any national immunization drives scheduled during your stay. You do not need to be qualified in any particular medical field to participate on this project.

 

Some of your tasks may include:

  • Gaining basic medical experience in local clinics through observation and interaction with nurses, midwives, and doctors
  • Playing a role in HIV/AIDS education and awareness
  • Assisting with tasks such as baby weighing, medication packaging, etc.
  • Conducting home visits or helping with night duty at the clinics
  • Organizing nutrition/health education initiatives for local children
  • Repairing and maintaining the facilities
  • Assisting with filing and archiving patient files

 

A typical day: You will eat breakfast at 8:00 am before heading off to your morning project at 9:00 am, which will include volunteering at any of the departments at the clinic. You will be transported back to the volunteer camp for a lunch break at 12:00 pm and at 2:00 pm it will be time for your afternoon project, such as health education, repairs and maintenance, filing and other community work. You will return to the project base at 3:00 pm and dinner will be served at 6:30 pm. You are free to spend your evening as you would like. You will have Saturdays and Sundays off to explore the area or to rest from your week of volunteering.

Internet icon Internet: WiFi is available for a small fee, though can be sporadic due to the remote location.

Laundry icon  Laundry: A weekly laundry service is available at an additional fee of $5

Accommodations icon  Accommodations: Volunteer accommodations are a mixture of comfortable twin or quad thatched rooms at the main reserve camp with clean shower and toilet facilities located adjacent to the sleeping area. Your room will be cleaned daily by the housekeeping staff.

Food icon  Food: Volunteers are provided with three meals a day, breakfast and dinner is served at the main camp of the reserve, and you will be given a packed lunch for your working day.

 

   

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

  • Minimum age of 18
  • Business visa – most often applied for upon arrival
  • Police clearance
  • Good level of English
  • Flexibility and open mindedness
  • High level of independence and emotional strength
  • Motivation to work with children
  • Immunizations (please consult your local travel clinic)

The opportunities for traveling outside the reserve are endless. For example, you can take a day trip to Granite Ridge or the Great Zimbabwe Ruins. For a longer stay experience, you can spend three nights on a houseboat on the stunning Lake Kariba. For an excursion before or after your volunteer placement, you should consider a five-day trip through Miombo to visit Victoria Falls to try out bungee jumping or white-water rafting.

 

Project Orientation (Included):
On arrival at the Antelope Park project, you will receive a comprehensive orientation, including:

  • Meet and greet with the project staff
  • Introduction to Antelope Park and the surrounding area
  • Overview of the project
  • Cultural introduction on life in Zimbabwe
  • Relevant information about common diseases and illnesses and safety precautions

 

4-Day Victoria Falls Excursion Trip (Not Included):

During the low season, for an additional fee, volunteers may have the opportunity to participate in a 4-day/ 3-night trip to Victoria Falls. This trip to one of the Seven Wonders of the World offers the chance to bungee jump, go white water-rafting, ziplining, sunset cruising and more!

Volunteer Experiences

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