In Zambia, 1 in 5 people are infected with HIV, with young women and girls particularly vulnerable due to their less powerful position in society. The first diagnosis of the disease in Zambia was made in 1984, and by 1993 27% of pregnant women were HIV positive.
Most cases of HIV are passed on through sex, but mothers also transmit the illness to their children, with 40% of HIV positive mothers giving birth to infected babies. Gender inequality is also a factor, with women less likely to gain access to education and mass media, coupled with the belief of more than a third of Zambians that a woman cannot refuse sex if she suspects that her husband has HIV.
One of the biggest problems in Zambia is the moral stigma attached to AIDS, meaning that communities often assume that victims have deserved the disease, and women are blamed for infecting their children, as well as presumed to be promiscuous. Traditionally people in need are supported by their families, but the toll of AIDS is now so high that family structures cannot support this and survivors can be left destitute.
High levels of HIV have led to increased sexual abuse of children; men assume that younger partners are more likely to be HIV negative, and the `virgin cure' myth (that sex with a virgin can cure AIDS) fuels infection as well as abuse. As in most countries, there are laws against child abuse, however, in Zambia there are not structures in place to care for children after families reject or abuse them.
There has been a massive increase in the numbers of street children, especially in the big cities, and 1 in 5 children have lost at least one parent to the disease. There is an urgent need to help care for and protect these vulnerable children, as well as to support the ravished communities struggling to support themselves against the onslaught of AIDS.
Discover stunning Zambia on this unique programme as you assist with lion walks, gather research and teach conservation, all of which will help to achieve the ultimate aim of the project; to release wild borne offspring from captive bred lions into appropriate national parks for their survival.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
Work as a classroom-teaching assistant, or as a sports coach in Zambia. The aim for both of these projects is to take children from the streets, improve their educational and social skills to give them more opportunities for the future.
Provide much needed voluntary assistance to African communities, in exchange for a culturally enriching experience. This programme is located close to Victoria Falls, with many opportunities for travel to Zimbabwe, Zambezi National Park and many other African highlights.
Change the lives of the underprivileged children and adults of this South-West Zambian community by working on various volunteer projects. From building homes, assisting with medical care and lending a hand with education you can put your skills to the best possible use and explore the African wilds on a Botswana bush camp and safari!
Janet Horsley had an incredible time on her tailor-made gap year, blazing a trail through Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, read her story here.
Gap Year for Grown Ups have many Career Break Voluntary Projects in Africa for grown up gappers. Because Gap Year for Grown Ups is the leading authority and only specialist source of ideas and options for grown up gap years, it has the widest range of volunteering programmes in Africa. These include animal/wildlife conservation, teaching English in Africa, community volunteering in Africa and Voluntary work with children in Africa.
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