Volunteer Zambia
The Wallace Group is a partnership, created in 2006 by several leading UK Universities to support sports development for young people in Zambia. The partnership's mission is to make a difference to the lives of young Zambian people by empowering and enriching communities, through the power of sport, leadership and education.
In the Summer of 2018, The University of Edinburgh became a partner of the Wallace Group, and in Summer 2019 sent four students out to Zambia - Hugh Braidwood, Claire Cumming, Declan McLaughlin & Charlotte Smithson. Students work alongside the Zambian non-government organisation Sport in Action. The initiative focuses on the positive impact that sport can have upon impoverished communities; helping to improve the quality of life and deliver key health messages.
Following a break in the programme due to Covid, in the summer of 2022 we sent 6 students to Zambia. Hannah Campbell, Ellie Meldrum, Emily Clark, Patrick Merrigan, Sian Francis and Lauren Paterson delivered coach education in Netball, Basketball and Womens Football. In 2023 Heather Larmour (Netball) and Kathryn Nicol (Basketball) travelled to Zambia to deliver coach education while Telfer Gray was a Marketing, Media and Communications Officer.
The Volunteer Zambia students for 2024 are Archie Vaughan (football), Izzy Skinner (football), Kene Ileagu (basketball) and Orla Doherty (netball).
What does it involve?
This project involves upskilling and educating coaches, rather than teaching the sport. This empowers the local coaches to go out into their communities and deliver higher quality coaching sessions across Lusaka and further afield. Find out more here: https://www.volunteer-zambia.com/
Prior to applying, students should be aware that being part of Volunteer Zambia is a big commitment. It is hard work, time-consuming, and requires a full 12 months of commitment to the project. However, taking part in the project is massively rewarding and you will experience a huge amount of personal and professional growth.
The commitment includes:
- Attend a Scottish induction in late-January (travel expenses covered)
- Attend full induction in Durham (travel expenses and accommodation will be covered)
- Individual and group fundraising targets
- Undertake additional training, with support from the SU, to upskill yourself
- Represent the University of Edinburgh in line with the values of Sport & Exercise and the Sports Union
You can view the 2023 Handbook HERE.
Key Dates for Summer 2025
- Watch the recording of our information session.
- April 2024 Applications Open Now
- September 2024 - Applications re-open
- January 2025 - Scottish Induction
- March 2025 - Group Induction Weekend in Durham
- June/July 2025 - UoE Students in Zambia
Please contact Neil Rankin (Neil.Rankin@ed.ac.uk) if you have any further questions about participating in the programme.
Check out Volunteer Zambia via Facebook, Twitter or their website, for more information on exactly what the project is all about.