Dear Volunteer,

You cannot fail to agree that, with as many activities as we have here (see homepage), there is no possible way that a person interested in pitching in would be without work, or get bored! Did we mention the need for computer experts?  You can see that there is still much more to do!!

Some of the skills we think that we need the most are listed below:

Volunteering Through an NGO

Thanks to pioneering placements thus far, Tikondane is now known to such well-respected international organisations as Voluntary Services Overseas (www.vso.org.uk) and the United States Peace Corps. Tikondane is recognized as a formal partner with VSO and they have also created informal ties to the Peace Corps through volunteers placed within the local community. Most VSO postings last for two years and include a quarterly allowance (provided by the volunteer organisation or the partners) and free accommodation (provided by partner) for the duration of placement. The advantages of volunteering through an organisation include not only help with sorting out your work permit and the availability of assistance if needed, but also the security of knowing that you are going to be part of this community for an extended of time. It is difficult to understand a place that you have only been able to experience on a surface level, but with these placements, volunteers are hopefully provided with an in-depth experience of what it takes to run such a dynamic project on a day-to-day basis. While deciding whether or not to come to Tikondane might be difficult, leaving behind the people here who you have come to value and respect as real friends proves to be even harder.

Independent Volunteers

Tikondane is the perfect place for independent volunteers. The immediate as well as encompassing environment is not only safe, but also very warm and welcoming. Zambians are some of the most friendly and good-humoured people in Africa and the people you would meet here are no exception. Whatever your intention, either to stay for one month or one year, the community at Tikondane would love to have you. Past volunteers have helped with the English language education for both our primary and adult learners, as well as chipping in with their enthusiasm for physical tasks such as landscaping our beautiful garden or helping to build new classrooms. If you are interested in stopping by during your travels, you will be given a rare glimpse of REAL Africa as opposed to the local tourist destinations; a glimpse that I am sure will last a lifetime in your memory. Volunteers receive a discount on both room and restaurant prices and we hope to have a self-catering station available soon. There are no requirements in so far as skill assessments prior to arriving at Tikondane, but there are three invaluable prerequisites: positive energy, enduring empathy and an open mind, ready to take away as much from this rich environment as you hope to offer it.

The Package: 

If you would like to visit Tikondane and help out during your stay, we ask that you pay for your lodging, but at a reduced rate. Due to the fluctuating value of the local currency and the diverse requirements of each volunteer, the price/per night will vary.  Depending on a number of factors, such as a catered stay (by our restaurant) vs. self-catering, the rate will range from $8 US to $14 US. We are also vegetarian friendly! Feel free to contact us in advance to discuss the pricing option the works best for you.

Sample Menu

Breakfast: Eggs, fresh bread, sausage, fresh fruit juice, tea or coffee.

Lunch: Sandwiches, beans with bread, salad (with seasonal vegetables from our garden)

Dinner: Nshima (maize), rice or potatoes (chipped or mashed) with chicken, beef, fish, rabbit or duck and seasonal vegetables.

It is impossible to show here what a special place Tikondane really is and how much people get out of just being here, whether they be from Katete or elsewhere.  Volunteers remember their time here with great fondness and often choose to return or encourage others to visit. Our community is ever growing, why not become part of it and experience the real Zambia, as well as helping to give the people of Katete an opportunity to grow as independent individuals and as a cooperative community through your experience?

First-Hand Accounts...

    I came to Tikondane by chance as a backpacker working my way through Southern Africa and felt at home from the very first minute I arrived. While, as a trained teacher, I knew I had something to offer their school programs, it was I who walked away decidedly more educated. I have never met a more determined group of diverse individuals working together to create such a place of happiness, hope and harmony. What is being discussed and accomplished at Tikondane are things that we only dream about making a reality. I am sure that one of the most exciting things people will notice when visiting Tikondane, besides the sheer number of programs on the go here, is the incredible ability of its founders to empower the local community.

                -Michelle, 25 years old (Canada)

    There are a number of reasons why I feel that Tikondane is an important project for Zambia. The encouragement of assertiveness within its members allows for individual responsibility in the promotion and implementation of projects, contributing to a better future for those involved in this community. Being here day-to-day is inspiring, but when I see visitors come and experience the atmosphere I truly realise the immense impact of Tikondane on a local, national and personal level. When I first arrived in Zambia from England as a VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas) volunteer, my organization was unfamiliar with Tikondane as a possible placement and we have now worked together to create an official partnership with this amazing place. Having witnessed first-hand the clear vision and sheer determination of those involved with Tikondane, I have nothing but optimism for their continued development in the future.

                -Elizabeth, 27 years old (England)