Tiko is working with these volunteer platforms:
- Duration: 8 days minimum up to 12 weeks. We suggest from Saturday to Saturday but this is flexible.
- Cost US$ 300/week Includes 3 meals a day and accommodation at Tiko. Drinks, transfers, accommodation in Lusaka, and tourist activities are not included. The standard package includes all meals, but if volunteers staying longer decide they prefer to self-cater, the price will be reduced for accommodation only.
- Longer stays: The longer you stay, the more you will get out of your volunteering experience as you get to spend more time with people and get more involved in projects. There are lots of rolling activities, but depending on when you come there may be one-off projects also running.
- Lusaka airport transfer: Taxis can be found outside the airport and cost up to around US$30 to most central backpackers.
- Lusaka accommodation: There are options for all budgets.
8-day package overview
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lusaka (transfer not included, public or private is available – we can recommend backpacker s and bus company) |
| Day 2 | Transfer day to Tiko (transfer not included, public or private, whatever the client prefers) Dinner and overnight at Tiko community centre |
| Day 3 – 7 | Volunteering activities, overnight and all meals with Tiko. Examples of activies are outlined below and depend on your skills, experience and interests. |
| Day 8 | Departure day after breakfast |
Projects for volunteers to run independently
- Design and carry out research on a chosen topic or something that would help Tiko to develop and better understand our community:
- Health/living conditions/attitudes to farming/family planning Research could be carried out with support of interns for capacity building too.
- Make some short films / videos about Tiko life (everything for our social media is welcome – ASK FOR PERMISSION from our crew and other visitors)
Agriculture activities and mitigation for climate change
- Learn about the TIKO Survival Package (cultivation of a sustainable, balanced diet. Use of firewood as renewable energy on mud stoves, growing one’s own firewood trees.
- Help find ways of selling our products.
- Assess some of the 32 villages of the “health workers” and of the 22 new groups who opted to set up a survival package.
IGA activities
- Learn a skill: Soap making
- Make peanut butter
- Weaving/Mat making
- Animal husbandry
- Traditional Zambian cooking
- Teach a new dish to the kitchen
- Support the Tiko crew to deliver computer trainings
- Feel welcome to ask what IT equipment is needed at Tiko before you visit – ask ‘tiko-it-service@tikondane.org‘ for recommendations
Education
- Classroom assistant
- Support learning with smaller groups in English, Maths, Science
- Reading and story club
- Deliver an assembly
- Create a workshop for art, music or drama
- Help with adult education and English practice
- Teach computer skills
Health
- Visit home-based carers to learn what they do
- Visit villages and make photos of the progress of the survival package (Balanced diet)
- Go around to meet people and find out what they actually eat daily
Marketing
- Contribute to make awareness of Tiko in social media
- Research on NGO funding opportunities
- Help filing in grant applications
Volunteer criteria
Volunteers can be students or professionals with more experience, minimum 18 years of age. We ask only that you come with an open mind, are willing to get stuck in and help in any way you can, and bring a sense of humour.
