Cost of the Program

Volunteer costs total $120 per week

Additional Costs

In addition to the costs to volunteer, volunteers are responsible for their personal costs, including:

• Food and drink – approximately $45 per week
• Flights and travel insurance
• Vaccinations and malaria medication
• In-country travel and trips
• Visa
• Medical registration (when applicable)

For a more detailed budget regarding the cost to volunteer in Africa, please contact Ripple Africa. Please note that costs can vary depending on the activities that volunteers undertake during their placement.

Why Pay to Volunteer?

You are giving up your time to volunteer, so why should you have to pay? First and foremost, you should understand that it costs Ripple Africa money to host volunteers in Malawi. There are staff salaries for the watchmen, gardeners, cooks, and cleaners, not to mention the maintenance and operational costs to look after the chalets, shower and toilet facilities, water pump, solar panels, volunteer bicycles, and so on. Your volunteer fees cover what it costs the charity to keep our accommodations in good working order.

Duration of Placement

We encourage a minimum stay of three to four weeks. However, our average volunteer placement is around three months, which allows volunteers to establish solid relationships within the community and contribute a reasonable amount of time to the projects. In most cases, this allows our volunteer teachers to complete one school term. Although volunteers benefit enormously from their experience with Ripple Africa at Mwaya, it is important to recognize that our main responsibility is to provide consistent and effective assistance to the community.

Want to Visit But Can’t Commit to Our Recommended Placement Duration?

We welcome visitors too. It’s a fantastic opportunity for you to gain insights into the work we do by spending time with our passionate staff and visiting the many varied projects we run. For more information, go to the Visit Us in Malawi page.

Volunteer Fundraising

Volunteers are asked to fundraise for Ripple Africa prior to their trip. Not only does this help keep our projects in Malawi going, but we have also found that volunteers who fundraise have a more fulfilling time while at Ripple Africa because they can see exactly how their donations have been put to good use. And, once back home, volunteers are able to give updates to all those who contributed, telling them firsthand accounts of the difference their contributions have made in Malawi. We can help with your fundraising journey – take a look at our Community Fundraising page for some great ideas to get started.

Paying the Costs to Volunteer

Once you have received and accepted an offer to volunteer with Ripple Africa, you will be required to pay your volunteer-associated costs at least four weeks before your departure. (Please read the section What Happens Next on the Application Process page.)

PLEASE NOTE: You are solely responsible for paying all volunteer costs associated with your placement. Fundraising efforts are separate and should not be used to cover any volunteer expenses.  This is because your volunteer costs cover your stay at Ripple Africa, and using fundraising dollars would essentially be asking people to donate to YOU AND YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS while in Africa. Ethically, this is very different from asking people to donate to the charity itself.