Getting ready for voluntary work in Africa

You will need to plan ahead for your voluntary work in Africa. Below, you will find information about the specific things you will need to take care of before you get on your flight to Africa.

Booking a Flight to Latin America

It is a good idea to book your flight to Africa as early as possible to make sure that you get a good price on your flight ticket. Try to avoid flying at the weekend or around major holidays, as flights tend to be more expensive at these times.

Keep in mind that you may need to apply for a visa before you depart for your host country. If you do not have the proper visa or a valid passport when you get to the airport, you will not be allowed on your flight. In some cases it is not required, but recommended to apply for your visa before you leave for Africa, in order to avoid waiting in line for a visa when you arrive in the country you are visiting.

Language Preparation

If you are already a native English-speaker, you meet the language requirement for most destinations for voluntary work in Africa with TravelWorks. However, if you are volunteering in Burkina Faso, where French is the required language, you should take measures to brush up on your language skills before your trip abroad. Try to immerse yourself in French as much as possible before you depart: listen to language tapes, take a language course, or find a native French-speaker to talk to. Once you arrive in Burkina Faso, you will receive some language training, but any preparation you make before your arrival will make your transition to the local way of life much easier.

Health & Safety

Visit a doctor: At least six weeks prior to your arrival in Africa, you should visit a doctor for a basic check-up and vaccination advice. Let your doctor know if you will be working with animals, as they may recommend vaccinations against rabies, tetanus, and Hepatitis A for such projects.

Get travel insurance:Travel insurance is highly recommended for your voluntary work in Africa. Please make sure that you take out insurance that will cover you for the duration of your time abroad, insuring you for any health care expenses and for lost or stolen luggage.

Money

For your voluntary work in Africa, you should bring along a credit or bank card, or both. You should inform your bank and/ or credit card provider that you will be volunteering in Africa to make sure that they do not cut off access to the card, if they interpret your money withdrawals abroad as suspicious activity. Travellers’ cheques may also give you some added security with your money, though they may be exchanged at unfair rates, and should not replace cash or credit cards as your main source of money. You should take along a money belt and try to avoid carrying very large bills or large sums of money.

ISIC Card – Save Money

Full-time university student are eligible for the International Student Identification Card (ISIC), which can provides deals on things such as food , hostels, and museum entrance fees in Africa and around the world. For more information, visit: www.isic.org

What to Pack

Pack light – you will thank yourself later. Just keep in mind that you will need to carry and keep track of everything that you bring along to your voluntary work in Africa. Here are some tips on what to pack:

Clothing: Do not assume that just because you are going south to Africa that the weather will be warm and sunny all of the time. Africa has several different climate zones, and you should read up on the weather in the region where you will volunteer to get an idea of what sort of clothing you will need. Make sure that you are prepared for night weather – even in the warmest locations, nights can be cold. You should also make sure that you have a pair of sturdy shoes which are good for walking/ hiking, a bathing costume/ swimsuit, a hat to protect you from the sun or the cold, and a raincoat.

First-Aid Kit: A first-aid kit is essential for anyone planning to do voluntary work in Africa. Even if you do not use it, it is good to know that you are prepared for scraped knees and headaches abroad. Your first aid kit should include:

  • Thermometer
  • Plasters/Band-aids
  • Gauze bandages
  • Scissors
  • Pain relief medicine
  • Sore throat medicine
  • Nausea medicine
  • Diarrhoea medicine
  • Broad-spectrum antibiotics
  • Disinfectant ointment
  • Insect repellent

A gift for your host family:If you will be staying with a host family, you should plan to bring along a gift for them. This does not have to be anything huge or expensive. Bring along something which is typically found in your home country, such as a certain type of candy or an interesting souvenir from your hometown to thank your host family for welcoming you to their home.

Important documents:

Make copies of all of your important documents and give them to a trusted family member or friend before you leave for your voluntary work in Africa. These documents should include your flight ticket, passport, vaccination records, and travel insurance policy. Write your credit card and travellers’ cheque numbers on a separate piece of paper, along with the numbers to call in case these happen to be stolen. Then, scan all of your important papers and e-mail them to yourself. This way, you will always have access to your important information throughout your voluntary work in Africa.

Country information

To further prepare yourself for voluntary work in Africa, you should be sure to read a lot about the location where you will be travelling. Countless travel guides offering country-specific information are available. Borrow some from your local library and gain some insight into the culture and travel advice for your host country. The more you know about your host country before you arrive, the better you will be able to appreciate your experience abroad.

It is also important to keep yourself up-to-date on current travel warnings for the country you will be visiting. Visit the website of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.