Volunteer at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre

Malawi is known as ‘the warm heart of Africa’, both for its stunning beauty and friendly people.  It’s also one of the most densely populated countries in Africa and one of the poorest countries in the world, which puts enormous pressures on its natural resources.  As a result, the illegal trade of wild animals and their slaughter for bush meat is still a big problem in Malawi, at a time when conservation of both the environment and wildlife is more critical than ever. 

Lilongwe Wildlife Centre was set up in 2007 as the first ever People and Wildlife Centre, a project developed by international wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation.  The Centre provides sanctuary space for Malawi’s rescued, confiscated and orphaned wildlife and, in line with Born Free’s objectives, releases wildlife back into the wild when it is feasible to do so. 

What makes Lilongwe Wildlife Centre especially unique is its commitment to the people - recognising that wildlife conservation can’t be addressed without also looking at the pressures facing the communities.  Our community outreach programme covers a huge range of projects such as working with the orphanages, planting trees, and setting up a wildlife football league and a youth cultural dance programme.    The Centre itself is also open to all visitors from international tourists to residents and local schools who can come to learn about wildlife and its conservation, see the sanctuary at work and enjoy a relaxing day out. 

So as you can imagine, we are very busy, which is why the support of our volunteers is so important to the Centre!

What kind of volunteers do we need?
There are all sorts of projects you could contribute to as a volunteer and make a real difference to the wildlife and the local communities.  The help of volunteers at the Centre is absolutely invaluable - read about the difference that some of our previous volunteers have made here

Dependent on your passions and experience you could be involved in any of the following:

1. Assistant animal carer: Work alongside our animal carers to offer our orphans the best possible care that they deserve...cleaning, feeding, buying food from the market, handrearing baby orphans and providing enrichment to those that need it.
2. Vet assistant: Work alongside our full time vet and their team and help conduct full health checks on all new arrivals and regular vaccinations and check-ups on all the animals at the Centre.  Or work with our sister organisation, the LSPCA, helping to deliver care to domestic animals with surrounding communities that need it.
3. Release assistant: Track animals that are being released back to the wild, whether that be in the Centre’s 60 hectare wilderness area or out at one of the Centre’s release sites around the country
4. Centre support: Helping with construction and maintenance, giving guided tours or getting involved with events at the Centre
5. Education: giving guided tours, working on new signage or helping out at the Wild Kidz Summer Camps
6. Community outreach:  Working with the community outreach manager, perhaps you could coach some of the youth wildlife football teams, work with the dance troops or help out at one of the local orphanages.  Other outreach work covers reforestation, farming diversification and health education on subjects like HIV/Aids and Malaria, and developing markets for their crafts and produce.
7. Environment: If you’re interested in conservation management, we have several ecological surveys and mammal censuses and an important aforestation project we would love your support on. 
8. Marketing: anyone with experience in website design, pr, events, photography or documentary making would be more than welcome.

We’re looking for volunteers who are flexible, full of enthusiasm and like a good day’s work!  If you have experience in any of the above areas please do let us know, but a can-do attitude is even more useful and whether you want to learn new skills, enhance your CV or simply do something different, we will do our very best to get you involved in the projects that most interest you.  

Placements are available for 3 weeks to 3 months, from c. £890 (3wks) to £2163 (3 months).  This covers all accommodation, food, work related transport and a donation to the Centre, 100% of which will go towards the care of the animals.  We also have some taster volunteering placements for 10 days to 2 weeks. 

For every four weeks that you stay, we’ll also make sure you get a well deserved break at somewhere like the Lake as a special thank you for your support, and we’ve also organised some great deals with a local operator on safari tours in Zambia and Malawi if you want to combine your volunteering with travelling as well.  Just let us know what you are interested in. 

If you would like to apply or have more questions please email Kate at marketing@llwc.org