Description

If you enjoy telling stories of your adventures, why not have an adventure telling stories to African children as a story-teller with the Book Bus, Zambia?

The Book Bus operates from May to October. We need volunteers to join us for a minimum of 2 weeks up to a maximum of 5 months. Join this remarkable project on any Saturday between May and October in Livingstone, Zambia.

Something Completely Different
If you're looking for something worthwhile but a little bit quirky in your travels, read on...

The Book Bus project is one of our more unusual ventures. It provides a unique opportunity to become part of the crew of the traveling Book Bus in Zambia, a very special mobile library service for children in remote villages in Africa. Between May and September, the Book Bus will tour Zambian schools, hospitals and orphanages, promoting reading and storytelling. The bus has been hand-painted with drawings by much-loved children's illustrator Quentin Blake.

Share your Passion
Do you have a passion for books and a desire to share the magic of stories with children?

If you combine these two traits, then please consider climbing aboard, as your contribution to the Book Bus could help children become readers for life, boosting their education and quality of life in the future. You will visit schools, hospitals, orphanages and remote villages in Zambia loaded with a cargo of picture books, painting equipment and musical instruments. Wherever you stop you will read to the children, paint and make music with them, donating a box of books to each community.

Fight Inequality
If you believe everyone has the right to an education, this project could be perfect for you. Nearly half of Zambia's population are aged 14 or under, and the country is one of the worlds poorest and least developed. Education, and literacy in particular, is one of the weapons that can help Zambia's people to fight their way out of poverty. Four out of five of Zambia's population live on less than USD 1 a day - that's less than Europe spends on average on each cow in the European Union.

What can I Do?
It's not a question of throwing money at a problem - it's about spending time getting involved.

The Book Bus is a self-supporting mobile library. As a volunteer you will be involved with setting up camp and cooking meals. You will be fully-involved in running the weeks activities, which requires participation with the children through reading, storytelling, art and sport. It will be hard work, but is infinitely rewarding.

Please Note: If you're particularly keen on this venture, please make sure you book soon as spaces on the Book Bus are extremely limited.

Highlights

Life in the camp
There's no doubt that life on Safari brings many rewards: endless horizons, huge skies and the call of the wild are just some of the impressions you can expect from life in the African bush. The actual lifestyle on the road however, is very different from home. Our base camps do provide the basic home comforts of toilets, showers and even a bar and life tends to revolve around the Book Bus which acts also as our home, it carries tents, a full field kitchen and storage for water and all of our personal equipment. The local environment can present its own challenges with temperatures often soaring to the mid 30s (centigrade) in the middle of the day. The insect life is prolific and whilst the majority cause no harm, some are annoying and we must guard ourselves against malaria throughout the Safari. Now that you are prepared for the outdoor life why not join us for this unique and rewarding Book Bus safari!

Travel Types

• Camping
• Native Culture Studies
• Off Road / 4X4 Driving
• Volunteering

Qualifications

No qualifications are required.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 999 for 2 weeks

Program Fees Include:

All food, transport and accommodation; A fully experienced, qualified leader, materials and 24 hour support.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Childcare/children
• Community Development
• Primary Education
• Teaching
• Volunteering

Typical Volunteer

Venturers are enthusiastic and motivated team-players, with lots of initiative and a desire to make a positive contribution to the communities they visit.

Age Range

9-99

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of maximum of 10

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

7 days

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

VentureCo Worldwide's Mission Statement

To travel to adventurous destinations is a privilege: the opportunity to work closely with indigenous communities is a revelation: the experiences you earn and memories you return with will become part of who you are. In 1999, a group of people came together to found a travel company for all those who believe that travelling is about more than simply flying to a foreign country. VentureCo was created out of a need to get under the skin of the cultures we encounter, for those who seek to genuinely understand our world and the part we play in it thorough a spirit of adventure, exploration and cooperation. VentureCo was set up by current directors Mark Davison and David Gordon. A chance conversation between Dave and Mark in a back street ceviche bar in Quito, Ecuador in 1998 gave rise to the idea of combining our experience and creating VentureCo.

Year Founded

1999