Volunteer in Africa in 2024: Ins and Outs of Orphanage , Medical, Teaching, Conservation and Other Africa Volunteer Programs

Last Updated: January 2, 2024

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Key Takeaways

• Volunteer in Africa
• Volunteering in Kenya
• Africa volunteer programs in Tanzania
• Volunteer work in South Africa

Does the idea of traveling to a new country to experience their culture and living with the local people excite you? Then you might give volunteering a shot! Africa hosts an array of countries with diverse ecology, culture, and way of living. Africa hosts diverse ecological regions as well which makes it rich in natural resources and the best place to travel.

If you have decided to volunteer in Africa, you can go to countries like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, or Uganda. Volunteering programs in Africa can range from medical teaching, working with children in orphanages, in conservations to working ecotourism projects. 

Volunteer in Africa

Africa is one of the most diverse places on earth and working there as a volunteer would expand your area of expertise with shared knowledge and skills. For solo travel lovers there are individual programs, and for those who want to participate with partners there are programs where you can volunteer in groups with your family or friends. While applying, you will have to pay a very minimal fee for these programs. With such a small fee you will be able to explore the vast beauty that is Africa and get a chance to live and volunteer among the locals. After the completion of the volunteering, you will also get completion certificates that will come in handy lifelong as a work experience for you. 

To help you find the best volunteer in Africa programs, we have enlisted here some of the projects and works you can opt in for year 2024.

Volunteer Projects in Kenya

Located in the eastern part of Africa, Kenya is a beautiful country full of rich biodiversity and the best safari destinations. Having the riches in terms of natural resources, the country however still is pushing hard towards economic prosperity. However, the country faces problems of a developing country, and to solve them, it needs help from parties that can provide it. There are local and international organizations lending their hand. As a volunteer in Kenya, you can help the organizations in making a difference. You could help the local schools by teaching, or if you are skilled in the healthcare sector provide your service in medicals or hospitals. 

Orphanage Work in Kenya (Nairobi)

In Kenya, due to the ongoing economic crisis and the ever-increasing rate of poverty, there are many homeless children and orphans in orphanages who would highly appreciate the work of a volunteer. Although various institutions and orphanages take care of these children they are typically understaffed. If you have always wanted to work with children, working in Kenya, you can help them feel safe with a loving atmosphere. Cities like Nairobi in Kenya offer a lot of volunteering opportunities for interested individuals across the world. You can help with simple work in orphanages such as preparing food for the children, teaching them the English language, leading them in games, arts, and sports activities.

Teaching English in Kenya (Nairobi)

Volunteers in Kenya (Nairobi) can assist with teaching various subjects to the children in elementary as well as high schools. As learning English might help them get better jobs which as a result will help to raise their standard of living. The experience that you will gain as a teacher in Kenya will also be immensely beneficial for you in your professional life. As you get to work alongside experienced teachers and learn the skills from them which might help you in both your personal and work life. There are a lot of opportunities available for interested volunteers in the city of Nairobi.

Healthcare Project in Kenya (Nairobi)

As many of the hospitals in the city of Nairobi in Kenya are understaffed, they are overcrowded and difficult to manage at times. These places are actively looking for qualified volunteers that can work under the medical professionals and doctors to manage the places better. Many ongoing health care projects are being run in Kenya such as: fighting HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, child health care, maternity care, and so on. A medical volunteer's work would be highly appreciated in any region in Kenya. At the same time, you can gain a volunteering experience that will enhance your skills. 

HIV/AIDS Project in Kenya (Nairobi)

According to UNAIDS data, Kenya had 1.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 2019. It is alarming that Kenya has the third largest epidemic of HIV/AIDS. The growth of the cases is high among people that are the most vulnerable and unaware of the impact of the disease. To prevent the further increment of the disease and break the transfer of the virus, it is important to educate and generate awareness. However, there are only a limited number of medical workers in the country. As a volunteer, you will be able to help people from rural areas learn about the disease by counseling, participating in awareness programs, visiting patients, and so on. As per your education, skill, and experience, you can help the people affected in the region and make a difference. 

Volunteer Projects in Tanzania

Tanzania is another beautiful country in East Africa that is widely known for its wilderness and the highest mountains like Kilimanjaro. The economy of this place is highly dependent on agricultural production as well as tourism. Although the economy is growing and better than a lot of other countries in the region, as per the world bank Tanzania still has about 49% of its population living below the poverty line. So, many social problems arise as a result of this. There are many sectors where you can volunteer in Tanzania including, health, education, child care, women empowerment, raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, and so on. The fee for the basic volunteering program starts from about $100 for a week. 

Orphanage Work in Tanzania (Moshi)

Due to a large number of people living under the poverty line in Tanzania there are a lot of children that are left without a home and end up at orphanages. If you have always been someone who has loved taking care of children or you are aspiring to work in a field where you can take care of children, you could give Tanzanian orphanages a shot. There are a lot of facilities in Tanzania where there aren't enough resources and employees to take care of the children. Most of these institutions will happily provide volunteering and internship opportunities to interested and qualified individuals.

Teaching English in Tanzania (Moshi)

As learning English opens up the door towards the world, learning English is also another focused project in Tanzania. If you are interested and qualified, you can apply to teach English to students and children in Africa. If you already have a skill, helping other students learn will only help you enhance it. So, by joining the volunteering programs, you will help the students open their eyes to the endless possibilities of communicating with the world. The fees for the application of the volunteering for teaching English will start from about $175 per week.

HIV/AIDS Project in Tanzania (Arusha and Moshi)

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a growing concern in Tanzania as it has swept many people into poverty. Many families have lost their single income earner of the family to the disease. As a result of which, the cycle of poverty and lowered living standards has continued. Many organizations have been working to break this chain and better the conditions by generating awareness in the community. Their programs can help to reach people at the grassroots level and prevent the disease from causing further havoc in the country as a whole. The volunteers can help in the awareness of reproductive health in teenagers or work in supporting the infected.

Health Project in Tanzania (Moshi)

In Tanzania, the health infrastructures available are not able to completely secure the needs of the population. The villages don't have enough resources, experts, or professionals to take care of the patients. Depending on your skill, experience, and expertise, you will be able to work in various sectors or fields. Some of the common works as a medical volunteer in Tanzania are taking care of children or patients, assisting the doctors, providing awareness of nutrition, and fundraising. When you work in the health projects of a developing country, you will be able to help make a difference while simultaneously also gaining the experience that you need for your professional life.

Volunteer Projects in South Africa

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South Africa is a country widely known for its cultural, topographical, and natural diversity. Due to its rich culture and diversity, it attracts a lot of tourism which serves a substantial amount to its economy. The country is also one of the most developed regions on the continent which makes it the ideal place to travel to. However, due to Apartheid that divided the country, even in the present, it still has a huge wealth gap with about half the people living in poverty. This has birthed a list of social problems which have persisted even to date. To date, there are many organizations with projects that are working towards improving the situation and helping the ones in need. Your work as a volunteer might help these organizations in boosting their work progress.

Teaching in South Africa (Cape Town)

Do you think you’ve always wanted to share the knowledge you have with others? Teaching is the best way to do it. Before you start working as a teacher, getting some volunteering experience might be the best for you. In South Africa, there are several understaffed schools where they need volunteers that are willing to help children in their growth and development. The volunteers can teach language, or various subjects like math, science, or English to kindergarten, primary, or even high school students. The school, teachers as well as the small children will be very appreciative and thankful for your help in making their lives better. If you want to continue as a teacher, this volunteering experience might also be useful for your professional career.

Underprivileged Children in South Africa  (Cape Town)

Due to Apartheid, the country has faced situations of extreme poverty and economic imbalance. This has bred poverty and as a result, there are a lot of underprivileged children and orphans in South Africa, even in the cities like Cape Town. The minimal resources and funding from the government aren't enough for orphanages and other institutions to take care of needy children. So, if you are someone who has always wanted to help children in need, this might be the best place for you. The country offers you the best places that you can travel to. You can gain work experiences while you make the best memories mentoring, guiding, and teaching the children which will always remember the impact that you make in their lives. 

Sports Volunteer in South Africa  (Cape Town)

Are you a sports enthusiast? If you have always loved to get onto the field, then this might be the ideal project to volunteer for you. Along with cricket, rugby, and football, basketball, cycling e.tc. are also enjoyed in South Africa. We know that sports develop a sense of community and are an essential activity for students to grow and develop. However, not all the schools are open and ready to engage their students in these activities as their resources are already limited. Sports might be treated as an unnecessary activity. To avoid this, volunteers can take part and engage the students in sports activities. This also helps to reduce their involvement in drug abuse and other social evils.

Healthcare Volunteer in South Africa  (Cape Town)

Medical or healthcare volunteering is always something that gives self-satisfaction and peace. Although private healthcare in South Africa is fairly developed, the public facilities do not give standard services. These institutions lack resources and sometimes are severely understaffed. If you are qualified you can provide your expertise in assisting the qualified doctors and nurses in helping take care of the patients. The poor cannot afford the expensive health care services, so they opt for government-provided facilities. This might overwhelm the public sector and result in poor service. So, as a volunteer you can assist, counsel, treat minor injuries, participate in awareness programs, and so on.

Conservation in South Africa  (Cape Town)

By now you probably know that South Africa is known for its varied culture diverse traditions and rich natural resources. The country is home to thousands of species that helps balance the world's ecosystem. However, climate change and activities such as poaching, illegal trading, caused a loss of many valuable animals and plants in South Africa. If you want to expand your experiences in the field of conservation and preservation of nature this might be one of the naturally richest places that you could ever visit and work. Volunteering in these projects will teach you about the importance of protecting animals and plants.

Volunteer Projects in Uganda

Uganda is another growing and developing country located in the East of Africa. The country like many other African countries is filled with vast cultural and natural diversity and breathtaking views. For a volunteering project, it is one of the best choices you could make. Nevertheless, due to its landlocked nature, it has had to face a lot of challenges in developmental work. About half of the population of the country falls below the age of 18. This means that there are a lot of projects that could shape the future of the country by guiding young adults. The application fees for a volunteering program in Uganda could start from a minimum of $150 per week. 

Orphanage Work in Uganda

You probably didn't know this fact but Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world with over half of the people under the age of 18. The country has been constantly affected due to HIV/AIDS and blasts of poverty that have kept the country from making progress over the years. The homeless and orphaned population have had to keep taking care of themselves because the facilities provided by the government aren't adequate across the country. There are orphanages with an extreme need for volunteers and help. This is where you can volunteer in Uganda and gain the experience of a lifetime. 

Teaching English in Uganda

The lack of adequate public/government schools has caused the people to lose their grasp of English. Even though English is the national language, because it is not their first language, they will not gain mastery of the language unless they get a proper education. However, due to poverty, there is a lack of resources in the case of disadvantaged students. With programs that provide educational support, students can afford to learn English if they cannot afford to learn it in their schools. As there are a lot of young children in Uganda, you can teach them English so that this opens up them to the rest of the world.

Health Project in Uganda

Another developing country in Africa is Uganda that lacks enough medical or health care facilities to serve the needy. The private health care services tend to be on the pricier side which is not accessible to everyone. Many projects might interest you as a volunteer in Uganda such as working in a maternity facility, HIV/AIDS clinic, labs, family planning clinics, and so on. Depending on your expertise and skills you can help in the planning or performing surgeries, generating awareness, performing tests, or just providing assistance. The application fee for such a program might start from about $150. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I volunteer in Africa?

Yes, you can volunteer in Africa in a range of places including countries like South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Volunteering always comes with a list of challenges. You need skills to complete your stay but in a beautiful place like Africa, you can travel and spend time learning the rich culture and tradition with the locals.

Who can volunteer in Africa?

Most of the projects will require international volunteers to be 18 years. Similarly, the volunteers are also required to know basic English so that they can communicate with the locals unless you are applying for English teaching which might require advanced language skills. So, anyone with a clean background check and health declaration can apply to volunteer in Africa.

How can I volunteer to help in Africa?

You can volunteer in various projects that work with Orphanages, Medical care, Schools, Conservations. You may find these projects online on various sites . You can find programs and locations that suit your needs on these websites.

How much does it cost to volunteer in Africa?

The cost of volunteering in Africa ranges from $125 per week depending on your choice of location. This generally includes accommodation, meals, and orientation costs. Free volunteering programs are quite rare in the continent. These generally exclude the cost of your Visa, airfare, daily transportation cost, and personal expenses.