Zimbabwe is a Southern African country known for its abundance of diverse wildlife and varied landscape – ranging from vast grassy savannas to tropical forests. On the other end of the spectrum, however, it also commonly associated with a tumultuous and controversial political history, which has unfortunately left many of its native population living under difficult circumstances. The landlocked country, bordered by Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique is not only home to approximately 15 million people but also hosts natural wonders, the most famous being the incredible Victoria Falls and majestic Zambezi river. Volunteering abroad in Zimbabwe is truly a spectacular experience and your time spent either working with underserved communities or in wildlife conservation will be highly valued in every sense of the word. Zimbabwe can be viewed as a country divided into two specific regions – the south where you will find more natural terrain and wildlife and the north which is considered more urban. The capital and largest city of Zimbabwe is Harare and is home to almost two million people. With a multitude of volunteering opportunities, Zimbabwe is undoubtedly a country to visit if you are looking to make a unique and valuable difference. Regardless of your field of interest, there will definitely be volunteering opportunities for you. These could range from contributing your time and skills toward minimizing the effects of poverty by working with and aiding in education and community development with different members of rural communities. Alternatively you may wish to aid in the conservation, rehabilitation and sometimes even in the release of wildlife in the region. This could involve collecting data and carrying out valuable conservation research to hand on work with a variety of different animals. Regardless of what you elect to do with your time, volunteer projects in Zimbabwe almost always afford its participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in the unique culture of this incredibly beautiful and welcoming country. From an array of different volunteer opportunities some of the key areas that really benefit from the assistance of international volunteers range from healthcare and medical assistance to community building and teaching to wildlife preservation and conservation. Many members of the rural communities in Zimbabwe do not have access to private health care facilities and are therefore solely dependent on the poorly staffed local clinics. Volunteers with an interest or affinity toward the healthcare industry or profession can make a truly valuable contribution by helping out at one of these clinics or even by providing or running discussions or education workshops on basic health and hygiene issues enabling the prevention of health care issues in the communities. Teaching or providing care to children who lack formal support structures at home is an invaluable way to spend your time volunteering in Zimbabwe. Whether you choose to provide assistance in formal classrooms teaching English or arranging and running extracurricular activities ranging from sport matches or clinics to arts focus activities you will really be making a difference in the lives of these children. On the other end, choosing to work with some of Zimbabwe’s endangered wildlife, including the “Big 5” animals – lions, elephant, buffalo and rhino – is a decision you will value forever. As a result of mass deforestation and dire poaching problems across both the African continent and Zimbabwe itself, the wildlife population is in great need of assistance and preservation. There are a host of different ways to help out at sanctuaries and wildlife projects aiding in the overall conservation of some of this planet’s most majestic creatures. The work is varied and incredibly valuable and coming up close to some of these creatures will be a memory you will cherish for years to come. Volunteering abroad in Zimbabwe is a once in a lifetime opportunity to engage in a country brimming with life, history and culture and any time spend there will definitely be rewarding – in the best way possible!
