Attractions
Antelope Park is an operation impact partner site where volunteers are welcome to spend weekends. The park is 20 minutes from the volunteer accommodation and offers lion walks, elephant rides, horse riding, game viewing, five-star accommodation and dining facilities. Your project fee includes a lion walk, cub viewing and unlimited canoe use.
Project Management and Support
An operation impact Volunteer Coordinator will accompany volunteers and reside in the project accommodation alongside volunteers to address any issues that may arise. An on site Project Coordinator will be responsible for the actual work at each location and will liaise work schedules and tasks with the Volunteer Coordinator.
Personal Development/Mentoring
Volunteers will meet with the Volunteer Coordinator each day to have devotions, discuss their concerns and work through any problems that may be encountered.
Training
Volunteers will be trained to facilitate youth camps and teach life skills courses to school children. The volunteers will also learn cultural practice and customs during the orientation week. Volunteers will assist in church outreach and evangelism initiatives run by local churches or missionaries.
Accommodation
Volunteers will be housed in an operation impact property within Gweru city limits. The property is in a low-density suburb that has been modified to accommodate volunteers with separate male and female bathrooms.
Food
3 meals will be provided each day by an operation impact employee – volunteers will be asked to assist whenever possible. Breakfast will be served at the house and packed lunches will be sent to the projects with volunteers. Dinner will be served at the house every evening. Volunteers are welcome to eat-out or purchase fast-food at their own expense.
Transport
Fly to Bulawayo International Airport (BUQ) or Harare International Airport (HRE). We recommend that you fly to JHB (Johannesburg) or HRE (Harare) direct – if you fly to JHB transfer to BUQ. We will meet you at the airport! Please do not attempt to arrive by bus, past volunteers have gotten lost! All intercity transfers will be facilitated by operation impact.
Transport within Gweru will be coordinated by the Volunteer Coordinator in residence with the volunteers. (An operation impact vehicle will be present at the site. Depending on distance and involvement in various events, our partner tour company, African Christian Tours and Safaris (ACTS) or local transport may be employed by the Volunteer Coordinator.)
Project Cost
£ 995 / US$ 1840 for 1 month £ 1795 / US$ 3320 for 2 month placement. This project works extensively in schools and is most successfully run when volunteers are present for a minimum of 2 months to complete course material with the children. Longer placements are available – £ 600 / US$ 1110 per additional month.
Project Cost Includes:
- Project Fee: financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This project fee facilitates funding for items such as teaching materials, sports equipment, supplies, etc.
- Transfer from the Bulawayo International Airport (BUQ) to the project accommodation in Gweru
- Week long orientation, programme training, African custom/culture training and introductions to project work.
- All daily transportation to and from the projects in Gweru
- Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at your volunteer accommodation
- Assistance in your projects by various operation impact staff, volunteer coordinators and project coordinators. Full support from operation impact and your coordinator throughout your time at your Gweru placement
- Antelope Park visitors’ package deal – Lion walk, cub viewing, unlimited canoeing
Project Cost Excludes:
- Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement (expected to include cover for repatriation)
- All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other)
- Email/Internet and telephone calls
- Soft drinks, wines and spirits
- Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in Gweru and within Zimbabwe facilitated by operation impact
- All activities purchased outside of operation impact facilitated activities – game park excursions, national parks fees, white water rafting, bungee jump etc.
- All visas for border crossings (on extra excursions)
- Flights into and out of the country.
Project Contact Information:
operation impact Head Office - 11 Phillips Dr, Avondale, Harare Tel/fax: +263 4 702814-6
