Malawi

Placement locations

Placements are located throughout Malawi, either in rural areas or on the outskirts of small towns.

Roles explained

Teaching

Teaching placements in Malawi are either undertaken at schools or within institutions that support the community. The official language in Malawi is English, however many students speak little or no English on starting school. Volunteers teach a range of subjects such as English, maths, history, geography, drama and sport with limited resources and teaching aids. There is generally a curriculum to follow, from which lesson plans can be developed. Students appreciate the value of education, are very dedicated and volunteers support is greatly appreciated.

Community

Community-focused teaching placements are within schools attached to orphanages, or for children with hearing impairments or severe disabilities as well as at a local hospital. In addition to teaching a range of subjects, volunteers assist within the institutions and provide extra support and assistance as required.

Volunteer health worker

Health worker placements are one of our most challenging placements. Based in a rural health centre, volunteers aid the ‘Health Officer’ who does almost everything medical-based for their community. The role of the Health Officer is vital within a rural community and is greatly respected; it’s rare to find doctors or nurses at rural health centres, so the demands on a Health Officers time are great and you will need support them and be flexible.

The role does not require any technical or medical experience and you will volunteer under the supervision of the Health Officer (although if you do have experience, that would certainly be welcomed). Patients who require specific treatment are referred to a district hospital. Typical activities of a Volunteer Health Worker will include: assisting with some of the running of a rural health centre, looking after a basic pharmacy and providing general administration for patient care, helping to maintain patient records, assisting with activities with babies and under-fives and monthly baby monitoring (weighing) and feeding. You are also likely to have the chance to involve yourself in other community activities; this will often be encouraged and developing links with the community through your role as a Volunteer Health Worker will help you easily make contacts and friends and help you to experience, explore and understand the culture of a rural area.

Conservation

Conservation placements offer the volunteer a chance to get really stuck in with helping with the environment in areas throughout Malawi. Placements offer a wide variety of activities regarding environment conservation and sustainability.

Placement details

If you decide that you would like to be a community worker in Malawi, the kind of work you would be doing would be very varied. If you were placed in our host community in Sangilo village for example, you would help out on the community feeding programme, assist local leaders with the supervision of the local nursery and spend time tutoring local children in order to help them strengthen the skills they have learnt in the classroom.

As a volunteer teacher you would play a more active role in the education of children. You could find yourself working in a small village near the town of Mtunthama; a very rural placement, but one where the people are extremely friendly and welcoming. Due to the shortage of teachers in the local primary school, which has 640 pupils and only 5 teachers, you would use your skills to teach your own class whilst following a detailed syllabus. Once school finishes at 1pm, you would also be able to help organise extra-curricular activities for children in the afternoon.

Our conservation placements in Malawi are also highly varied. An example of one of our conservation roles would be to work on an eco-project in Livingstonia. Located on a plateau overlooking a beautiful lake, you will assist with education outreach for permaculture, help sensitise the surrounding communities to the issue of reforestation and gardening efforts and take an active role in educating primary school children on the importance of good nutrition.

Lastly, our health worker roles would involve assisting a local health officer with any medical issues that he/she encounters through the course of their duties.

Accommodation

Volunteers are allocated a house or nearby accommodation on the school campus, near their placement or they will live with a host family. Most accommodation is basic with some furniture and a small amount of cooking equipment. Not all accommodation will have electricity or running water, but it will be of the same standard as the houses lived in by the staff.

Food

Some food is supplied but volunteers should bear in mind that they are living within poor communities and will probably need to supplement their diet with extra food which they purchase and prepare themselves. This may work out at around an extra £1-£10 a week, depending on volunteer needs and the placement.

Is it for me?

If you are interested in really contributing to a community then Malawi is for you. In schools you will help students to improve their English skills as well as taking charge of classes teaching core subjects. Some placements involve an element of community outreach work, as you could also teach at a school attached to an orphanage or work with children with disabilities after your core teaching hours end. Other placements, whether as a health worker or working in conservation have a big community focus and volunteers will always find themselves involved with the local village in some way.

Need to know

• Pre-departure: All volunteers will be invited to a group briefing.
• On arrival: The majority of volunteers will be collected from the airport (group flights) and attend an orientation.
• As part of the orientation volunteers will either undertake a Teaching Skills Course or a Special Training Course.

Travel

Nicknamed the “Warm Heart of Africa”, Malawi is remembered fondly by all travellers who have had the good fortune to pass through it. A land-locked country with Zambia to the north-west, Tanzania to the north-east and Mozambique to the south, visitors should not be worried about the country’s lack of coastline. Lake Malawi, or the “lake of stars” as it is affectionately known, stretches over 500km of the country’s eastern border and provides ample opportunities for exploration and relaxation. Home to around 500 species of fish, Lake Malawi is an underwater heaven for fresh water divers and snorkelers. If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on dry land, Malawi is also perfect for those who enjoy hiking. Mount Mulanje and the Nyika National Park, which blend dizzying peaks with rolling hills, provide what many consider to be the finest walking opportunities in Africa.

Local amenities in Malawi are often basic, so during the evenings and in your free time at weekends, you are encouraged to involve yourself in the activities of your local community as much as possible. People in Malawi are very friendly and welcome effort on your part to integrate yourself in their social activities. Malawi really is a country where the more you put in, the more you get out, and past volunteers have found setting up extra-curricular activities, such as music or sports groups very rewarding.

Volunteers have the opportunity to travel during the school holidays and at the end of their placement. Many spend time at Lake Malawi, soaking up the sun or diving, snorkelling, kayaking or sailing in or on its calm waters. Others head off on safari in Liwonde National Park where they can expect to see rhinos, elephants, antelopes, monkeys and possibly big cats. Malawi also has a rich cultural history to explore, from Stone Age rock paintings to colonial architecture. Wherever you go in Malawi, expect to be awed, from the depths of the dramatic Rift Valley to the peaks of Mount Mulanje.

Costs

Lattitude Global Volunteering fee:
All departures: £2,500

As part of the placement the following is provided:

What’s included?

• Accommodation & food (provided by host, but volunteers may need to supplement their diet)
• In-country support
• 24/7 support
• In-country orientation
• Assigned Volunteer Coordinator to help with all pre-departure support and offer guidance
• Pre-departure briefing
• Debrief
• Airport pickup
• In depth matching process to align your skills and interests with a placement that really suits you

Please note this fee does not include the cost of getting to Malawi or extras such as insurance or any inoculations you may need. For an estimated break down of all costs you may have to budget for please click here

Fundraising

As a charity we always recommend our volunteers fundraise to help meet the costs involved in volunteering overseas. In many ways it is part of the whole experience. For more information and fundraising ideas please click here

Planning your trip

*Application deadline refers to the time by which your application must have been accepted and the £25 interview deposit paid.

Please note that the deadline is the last possible time allowed to get an application form in that allows us enough time to match volunteers and begin sorting out visas.

We always recommend applying as early as possible in order to secure your place.

We are currently accepting applications for departures in 2016 and 2017.

Volunteer in Malawi: Apply now>>