Volunteer in

Botswana

It's estimated that over 130,000 children are orphaned in Botswana, the majority due to AIDS and HIV. We visit the children living in the orphanages and put on fun activities to help them to learn and have fun with the wonderful volunteers that make our trips happen.

Our summer-camp style activities are a huge hit with the children, so whether you have skills that you'd like to share, or you'd just like to help out, we are all there to make sure that the children have fun.

We also get involved with helping the orphanage with improvement projects, and we get out into the community supporting families where we can.

Volunteering abroad is a dream for many. We understand that you might be time-poor and have commitments, that's why we designed a 10-day trip - meaning an average of just seven days annual leave. We also know that it isn't cheap to travel, so we can help you to pay for your trip through fundraising. We ask for a deposit and a minimum fundraising commitment from you in return. Don't worry, we work with you to help you reach your fundraising target.

The trip is not an easy ride, working with children can be hard work, but seeing them happy and having fun is more than rewarding.

The safety of both the children that we are committed to, as well as the Volunteers, is of the utmost importance. Botswana is considered one of the safest places in Africa, and is politically stable. It's home to stunning backdrops, safaris, a rich and welcoming culture and it also neighbours South Africa, which some of our volunteers have gone on to explore by extending their trip. Read more about the foreign travel advice for Botswana.

Find out what our trips involve. We talk you through the types of activities you'll be involved in, accommodation and information about what to expect.

We find that these webinars are a great way for you to get to know our trips, before you register your trip and we start to get to know each other.

After joining one of our webinar, you will be invited to register your interest your interest in one of our volunteering trips.

You register this interest by emailing the Trip Leader, confirming your availability to have an informal follow on conversation with this. This takes place by call or Skype and helps us get to know you better, and vice versa. It also ensures you fully understand the requirements of the Charity and the next steps you will need to take.

After talking with one of our Trip Leaders, we will email you our volunteer application form, which includes a list of available trips.

If you wish to join a trip, simply return the form and your deposit to us, and we'll be in touch shortly afterwards with everything that you need to get ready for the trip, including advise with meeting your fundraising target, and confirming your DBS status before you travel.

Once you have received confirmation of your place on the trip, the fun begins.

We will need to get the group to come together in personal, at least twice before flying out. This helps volunteers to get to know each other, to check in on fundraising targets, and to plan the activities we'll be putting on for the children.

Your fundraising efforts allow us to continue to run future trips, as well as making a charitable donation to SOS Children's Villages Botswana, helping continue to support the children you will meet.

We're here to answer any questions, or offer support anytime you need us, you don't need to wait for us to meet up as a group.

We're off! You'll be greeted at the airport by your trip leader, leaving plenty of time for one final check before boarding the flight.

What happens next is the start of an amazing adventure, prepare to truly make a difference and create some smiles.