Bontle Bahao is an organization that is empowering communities: women, youth and children with agro ecology, permaculture knowledge and technical skills to combat food and nutrition insecurity and respond to climate change and facilitate arts and craft income generating projects so that they thrive on being self-sufficient. Our work seeks to provide women with skills in organic farming and support in their day-to-day lives to combat food insecurity and become self-sufficient. Our apprenticeship program is nine months long where young women apprentices learn hands-on skills on farming, permaculture, natural building, agroforestry and nature based practices. We run 3 day workshops in various communities where we explore how food gardening can also be a form of therapy whilst individuals learn how to grow their own food in the process. We work with individuals and community health workers. Our Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course offers a comprehensive introduction to Permaculture principles, applications & design practices and meets the international standard as the 72+ hour foundational course for Permaculture practitioners and teachers.
Our work varies from daily farm chores that rely on farming seasons to community development workshops, content creation and storytelling. We run organic gardening training for women groups, schools and work with other communities. Our work has expanded into beekeeping to curating workshops for various communities, attending food fairs, and food processing. Volunteers become part of the team, share daily farm chores, skills and meals, and participate in the organisation's activities. Volunteers are to work closely with the director of the organisation. A Zimbabwean art and culture experience is something to look forward to
Project proposal writing and fundraising, Natural/Earth building, Agro-ecology, Permaculture, Gender/Community development, Agro-business, Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Videography and Photography, Content Creators
Accommodation: The volunteer will live with host families within the community and this will provide volunteers with the opportunity to learn more from the local people and also share in their daily way of life as well as deep understanding of the host community.
Food: Basic meals will be provided in the host family from what is locally available in the local community. Volunteers are therefore advised to be flexible and open minded. This will make it easy to negotiate entry into the community as volunteers.
Volunteers should have enough pocket money in order to participate in other activities during leisure time
Visas
You are advised to take a DOUBLE ENTRY BUSINESS VISA which cost approximately USD$50.00 for thirty days. This will help you to travel to neighbouring countries cheaper and on the same visa as scheduled on the itinerary. Single entry visas could turn out to be more expensive. Your visa should be marked BV meaning Business Visa and not TV meaning Tourist Visa. Volunteers are required to take a BV.
All volunteers intending to stay for over 30 days are required to apply for a TEMPORAL EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (TEP) which cost USD$500.00 and can be valued up to 2 years. Volunteers will be issued with a 30 day Business Visa on arrival at the port of entry which normally cost USD$30.00 depending on nationality and once they are in Victoria Falls, our Project Officers will help with the preparation of necessary paperwork for the TEP. The following documents should be provided for application of the TEP:
1. Original birth certificate and three notarised copies of the birth certificate
2. Original passport and three notarized copies of the passport
3. 3 passport size photos
4. Chest X-ray certificate (To be attained in Victoria Falls for USD$20.00)
5. Notarized copies of academic certificates (Three of each)
6. Police clearance from country of origin
Volunteers should have travel and medical insurance.
The participates will contribute €300 for all around Zimbabwe
The fee covers orientation, evaluation, monitoring, project set up, office running/administrative expenses, supporting small community projects running of activities during the project, certificate of participation, accommodation, feeding at camp and communication prior to, during and after the camp.
This project is open to anyone above the age of sixteen years irrespective of nationality, gender, race, religion, political view, or educational qualification..
Volunteers will be picked up from the Airport or regional bus station in on request. They will be transferred to any lodge in town of their choice. Two-day orientation will be organized in close collaboration with the volunteers and ZWA staff. The main objective of the orientation is to minimize the effects of cultural shock as well as to build capacities for the volunteers, so as to meet the community with open mind
- Find a project that interests you in our Open Projects
- Find your local organisation in your country of residence using our branch locator
- Get in touch with them with details about the project(s) you want to apply to. They will become your sending organisation.
- Any issues? Contact us!