Volunteering in Malawi

Malawi is a small, narrow, landlocked country in sub-Saharan Africa. It shares boundaries with Zambia in the west, Mozambique in the east, south and south-west and Tanzania in the north. It has an area of 118 484 square kilometres, of which 94 276 square kilometres is land and the remainder is water. The major water body in the country is Lake Malawi, which is to the southernmost of the Rift Valley and has a total surface area of more than 30 000 km square kilometres.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Malawi is making efforts to overcome decades of underdevelopment, corruption and the impact of an HIV-Aids problem, which claims the lives of tens of thousands every year. Malawi is predominantly an agricultural country, with this sector accounting for about 35% of the gross domestic product, 93% of export earnings (primarily tobacco), and providing more than 80% of employment. 

Lake Malawi, Africa’s third largest lake is a huge attraction, being both culturally interesting as well as a fantastic beach destination. The crystal clear waters are home to a vast number of cichlid fish, and the lake offers excellent swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking and sailing opportunities.

Malawi is not especially known for its big game safaris, but Liwonde National Park on the Shire River is particularly good for bird-watching and has good concentrations of big game, especially elephants. Other regions such as Vwaza and the Nyika Plateau are well established and strongholds for particular species of interest, such as roan antelope, whilst lesser known regions such as Nkhotakota and Majete are beginning to develop into reasonable game-viewing destinations.

Capital: Lilongwe (Population: 646,750)

Currency: Malawian Kwacha (MWK) $1 = 728MWK / £1 = 944MWK (2019)

Population: 18,620,000 (approx)

Official languages: Chewa and English

Area: 118,484 sq. km

International Calling Code: +265

Go Volunteer Africa offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities in Lilongwe and Blantyre in Malawi from teaching, childcare, construction, youth empowerment, women support, photography or healthcare projects etc. 

If you are looking for somewhere to volunteer in Africa for a short or long stay, Malawi is an ideal destination. Programs are perfect if you want to do something more than sightseeing and would like to see more than the average tourist and truly start to understand this distinctive culture. 

VOLUNTEERING IN MALAWI QUICK FACTS

• The program is open all year-round
• Very flexible start and end dates (arrive any day of the month)
• Over 10 oustanding sustainable project options
• Projects are based across the country with major locations being Lilongwe & Blantyre
• Accommodation available at volunteer house & host families
• We host over 20 volunteers every month across Malawi
• Program fees include pre-departure support, airport pick-up, orientation, project donation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support
• We are the most affordable organization in Africa, because we are the locals!

You will get to integrate into local society, sample the tasty food, experience the vibrant culture and also make a difference. There are summer and year round programs available where you can help people, animals and the environment. Volunteering in Malawi  and helping people is a highly rewarding experience and there are also lots of cultural and sightseing activities you will get to do in your spare time.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate, unless volunteering with a parent or guardian. All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to Go Volunteer Africa's local Coordinators on arrival in the country.

SAFARIS & TOURS

Sightseeing tours can be organized over the weekends for volunteers. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the famous Malawian resorts. There is a lot to see and do in Malawi.

All international flights have the option to land in either the capital Lilongwe or Blantyre. There are road routes into Malawi from Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. Assume that border posts will be closed from about 18.00hrs and reopen at 07.00hrs. Visitors requiring a visa may find this difficult to obtain at border posts and are advised to obtain the documentation in advance.

After you have booked and confirmed your placement, please book your flights to arrive at either Kamuzu International Airportin Lilongwe or Chileka International Airport in Blantyre (So make sure you know the exact location of your project before booking flights). A member of staff from our local partner organization in Malawi will meet you on arrival at the airport and take you to the volunteer guest house or host family which will be your base for volunteering.

Orientation and Placement will be done the next day. Both airports services numerous international carriers including the national airline Malawi Airlines. Malawi has good connections to destinations throughout Europe, the Asia- Pacific region, USA and Africa.

Go Volunteer Africa's volunteers enjoy an extremely unique experience not only in the work they do but also in the atmosphere they live in. Volunteers working in Blantyre or Lilongwe are housed at our in-country Coordinator’s home, host family or volunteers’ house, depending on the interest of the volunteer. All accommodation environments allows volunteers to meet other travelers and to get to know each other better outside the work-site and forge friendships that will last a lifetime.

The accommodations of course are clean and comfortable and will quickly become your second home. The African and western style toilet and shower facilities are shared between 4 or 10 people and, while we can’t always guarantee the hottest water, the facilities are more than adequate. The accommodation is always equipped with a lounge, TV, Kitchen, hand washing facilities, telephones, and spare electricity sockets. Life at the accommodations facilities is simple, unsophisticated and fun, perfect for unwinding from a busy day!

You will be provided with three good quality meals every day, so you shouldn’t ever feel hungry. The food you will be provided with will consist of delicious local dishes, using fresh produce to create a cultural and tasty experience! The basic food of life in Malawi is Nsima (phonetically en-see-ma), which is maize flour mised with water to make a thick porridge. This is generally served with beans, or vegetables (such as spinach or 'greens' in a tomoto-and-onion sauce or meat. Along with cassava and rice, carbohydrates is the cornerstone of any malawian meal! Water and tea/coffee are included throughout your stay whilst soft drinks (coke, sprite etc) and other beverages can be purchased from the local supermarkets in town. Malawian hospitality revolves around the food that they feed you so don't be surprised if you are fed first and the most!

The hard work volunteers put in during the week undoubtedly warrants some fun and relaxation during evening free time and on the weekends. During the week we organize a variety of activities for volunteers in the evenings. We often play football (soccer), cards and board games or chill out around the bar or go out for a dance getting to know fellow volunteers from around the world. Musical ballads are known to break out from time to time as well as the always entertaining pub-quiz nights.

Yet one of the biggest perks of volunteering in Malawi lies in the plethora of weekend outings we organize. We arrange city day tours and long-weekend tours. No matter what your interests, there is always something for everyone to enjoy!

PLACEMENT BOOKING FEE:

After application process and acceptance into the program, you will be required to pay a placement booking and confirmation administration fee of USD$180 (solo traveler), USD$150 (2-5 participants p/p), USD$125 (6+ participants  p/p). This is charged above the program fee quoted which is paid in cash upon arrival to your host country.

The fee covers: Administration Costs, Placement Booking & Confirmation, Pre-departure support & documentation, 24-hour international HQ back-up

Visas: Visitors to Malawi must obtain a visa from one of the Malawian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries eligible for visa on arrival. Holders of diplomatic, service or official passports of any country traveling on duty do not require a visa for 90 days. Malawi government is working on implementation of an e-visa application system. Visit website to learn more: https://www.immigration.gov.mw/visa/ 

Insurance: You'll need to buy appropriate travel insurance covering your participation on the program. You won't be able to go without the right travel insurance so double check to avoid disappointment. Please make sure that you're covered for the whole duration of your trip – from the day you leave your home to the day you return.

To participate in this program, you have to fill an online application form, and submit it for consideration. After application process and acceptance into the program, you will be required to pay 50% of the program fee within 14 days of your acceptance. Failure to make the placement booking and confirmation payment will lead to cancelation of your program.