• Reduced Inequalities

Rural Community Assistant

location
2 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 16 - 50+
rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Experience real rural Zimbabwe life and immerse yourself in the culture.
  • Make a real difference in peoples lives
  • Visit a local game park to view Zimbabwe's wildlife
  • Hands on work with animals
  • Helping in running sustainable projects

Especially good for

Age 16+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Experience rural life while working with us on our community projects. (poultry, beekeeping, vegetable garden, fish, pig farming, goats and cows).

For this volunteer program we are looking for eager volunteers that would like to support us in the realisation of our community projects. You will be actively involved in reaching out to the community. 

Your work will be to assist us with all our projects, these are many and varied and you will be ...

About the program

For this volunteer program we are looking for eager volunteers that would like to support us in the realisation of our community projects. You will be actively involved in reaching out to the community. 

Your work will be to assist us with all our projects, these are many and varied and you will be working with and alongside locals.  You will be involved in helping with our income generating projects run at our centre including chickens, rabbits, bee keeping, pigs, fish and vegetable gardening.  You will be shown how the projects work and how to look after the animals. You will help look after the animals and help set up similar projects with families in the community.   

There will be other projects that we are working on and you could end up turning your hand to anything!

It is possible to build in a 2 day trip to a local game park, to enjoy a bit of luxury and see some wildlife. (additional cost)

Typical day

A typical day will involve feeding poultry, cleaning fowl run, working in the vegetable garden, checking bee hives, helping planning and setting up new projects.  Running our community shop and going out into the community setting up income generating projects.  We tend to have an early start 6am ...

Typical day

A typical day will involve feeding poultry, cleaning fowl run, working in the vegetable garden, checking bee hives, helping planning and setting up new projects.  Running our community shop and going out into the community setting up income generating projects.  We tend to have an early start 6am (this is mainly due to the temperature in the area later in the day). Breakfast and meeting around 8am, with lunch around 1pm.  There are breaks during the day, especially during the hottest months.  The day finishes around 6pm and ends with an evening meal.

Free-time activities

We are in a very rural area, most of the time we make up our own entertainment, chill out in the evenings around a fire, bbq (braai), exchange stories & play games. You can explore the local township and visit the local river and there is the possibility for some local fishing.


It is possible to ...

Free-time activities

We are in a very rural area, most of the time we make up our own entertainment, chill out in the evenings around a fire, bbq (braai), exchange stories & play games. You can explore the local township and visit the local river and there is the possibility for some local fishing.


It is possible to organise a 2 night trip at a local game park, enjoying their beautiful lodges with warm showers! You will be able to book additional activities at the park, horse riding, canoeing, game drives etc (additional cost)

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 16 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 16 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

A willingness to get involved and to be flexible is very important.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Ratidzo Trust

Includes, transfer from airport, overnight hotel in Harare B&B, accommodation & food in Sanyati, game park trip B&B, 

return to Harare for overnight hotel B&B and transfer to airport. (The cost of the trip does not include flights, insurance, visa & optional game park trip approx. $250).

The cost includes a donation used by the Trust for its work. If however you wish to raise any additional funds to put towards the work of the trust, this would be greatly appreciated.

Airport Pickup at Harare International Airport

Harare Int Airport, overnight hotel in Harare, Drive to site is approx 4hrs

Accommodation

Accommodation is basic but comfortable on site.  Each room has its own toilet and shower (cold water only) and there is solar power. (we can supply hot water for washing in if required)
2 people sharing a room (when fully booked - but where possible we will try and allocate you your own room)

Our centre is strictly non smoking

Food & Beverages

Please advise us of any dietary requirements. We generally eat from the land, using what we grow, poultry and livestock.

We will provide water & tea for drinking, any soft drinks and alcohol can be bought locally at low cost.  Coffee is fairly expensive but available for you to buy.

You will have access to basic cooking facilities and have the option to cook for yourself if you wish.

At this time due to our rural setting we are unable to accommodate restrictive dietary needs - i.e Vegan. (Vegetarian is ok)

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Harare International Airport (HRE) in Harare. We assist you to find cheap flights to Zimbabwe. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Zimbabwe provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Zimbabwe you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Zimbabwe. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

You can join our program at anytime during the year, (depending on availability).  October to December are the hottest months, with rainy season Nov - Feb.  It is cooler May - August.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 895€
3 weeks 1,094€
4 weeks (max. stay) 1,292€
Average fees 385€/week

Program fees

385€ per week 2 - 4 weeks Age 16 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

2 - 4 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Ratidzo Trust during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

Ratidzo Trust

Brilliant 4.7 rating (9 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2015

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Richard

About the project

Come and experience rural Zimbabwe while working with vulnerable local communities, widows, schools, orphans and vulnerable children.

Meet your organization

We are a young Trust working in rural Sanyati and need your help setting up and helping run some of our community projects. We also get involved in building and refurbishing projects.  You do not need any particular skills, just a willingness to get your hands dirty, get involved & be flexible.  Things will and do change!

You will be able to visit some of the people we are working with in their homes and see how the projects are making a real difference in their lives.   Also visit and maybe do some work in local schools, find out from the teachers and students what rural schooling is like in Zimbabwe.

WARNING: We are in a very rural setting, with very basic accommodation and utilities.  We have solar power, running cold water (cold shower is available & can heat up water for you to wash with if you wish).  We eat from the land (no MacBurger King here!!).  Internet is limited, as is phone reception, so if you want all mod cons this is not for you, but if you want a real rural experience then look no further!

9 reviews · rating4.7

Elsa Kalifa rating5

2024 at Rural Community Assistant

This was without a doubt the best weeks of our life. My husband and I spent 2 weeks with Ratidzo Trust with Edline and Richard and we both agree that we took more than what we gave. We learned so much about gardening, construction, social work and taking care of animals. We also learned how to be ...
Roman Lavoine rating5

2023 at Rural Community Development Assistant

This trip was a sublime experience, and I will remember it all my life. We were very well received by very nice people, Edline and Richard. Thanks to them, they were able to do a lot of different activities to make themselves useful. Help lots of people in need, help schools, do agriculture. An ...
Kija Mennour rating5

2023 at Social Community Outreach Assistant

In June 2023, I spent two eye-opening weeks in Sanyati with the Ratidzo Foundation. The organisers, Edline and Richard, gave us a very warm welcome and immediately made us part of their daily work. The work of the Ratidzo foudation trust is to improve the lives of the people of Sanyati. To do this, ...
Stephanie Lucas rating4.8

2020 at Social Community Outreach Assistant

My trip to Sanyati, Zimbabwe In September 2018, I spent a fortnight in Zimbabwe, volunteering with my daughter and parents. We stayed in Sanyati and saw, first hand, the work of Ratidzo Trust. Visiting the schools was a highlight for me; giving text books to the schools; presenting letters from ...
Laura Mvula rating4.8

2019 at Rural Community Development Assistant

Volunteering with Ratidzo Foundation Trust is really such a great experience as volunteers get to learn a lot, for instance working in a team while gaining a sense of community, learning something new from the scratch, it might be the all the stages of a project from identification to project ...
Elias Gorzewski rating3.8

2019 at Rural Community Development Assistant

I spent two months, from September to November 2019 with "Ratidzo Foundation Trust" in Zimbabwe. The organization focuses on community development in a rural area in Zimbabwe called Sanyati. It is run by Edline and Richard Jarman, who are both very nice and easy to work with. They are going to help ...

Location

Africa > Eastern Africa > Zimbabwe > Sanyati

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Contact Richard
  Excellent response rate

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