from 619€

Outstanding 5rating (11)

Disability Support & Skill Sharing Centre

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Below average response rate

Highlights

  • You can support the centre in many ways. Motivate, educate and support disabled adults through learning new practical and vocational skills, or improving on their existing skills.
  • Share your skills: Fashion textile designers, weavers, tailors, gardeners, builders, carpenters, chefs, nursery teachers, etc. New ideas practices that have business income-generating possibilities.
  • Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and health professionals may be able to offer members, and the surrounding rural community consultations, referral exercises and useful and medical advice.
  • Fundraisers and grant/ proposal writers can help provide equipment for vocation practice, materials for skills workshops and capital for building renovation, funiture and workshop materials..
  • Sign language can be taught to deaf members families, to improve communication within families. IT lessons can be given to group members who are interested to lean how to use technology.

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Located in rural villages, these centers offer educational, physical & practical support, access to services, education and promote self-advocacy & social inclusion.

We support two disability centers, Pundu and Mpamba, both of which are located outside of Nkhata Bay in rural villages. They offer educational opportunities and support and promote self-advocacy, enabling access to quality education, skilling sharing, and income generation. Vocational skills are ...

About the program

We support two disability centers, Pundu and Mpamba, both of which are located outside of Nkhata Bay in rural villages. They offer educational opportunities and support and promote self-advocacy, enabling access to quality education, skilling sharing, and income generation. Vocational skills are taught to those that likely have not had the opportunity to attend school, creating a means of living and a sense of greater purpose and belonging in their community. Both centers support people with all types of physical and mental disabilities.

Each has a committee which we work side by side with, to facilitate our workshops. 

Both centers provide a hub for regular meetings, access to information, microfinance support groups, and a place where medical professionals can see multiple patients at one time, to offer advice and support to members and their families.

We also encourage and engage with the wider community, to raise awareness of the rights and needs of persons with disabilities and encourage social inclusion.

Our mission "To empower and provide disabled people with skills and opportunities to achieve their full potential as individuals, promote social inclusion and improve quality of life."


Typical day

This depends on the program which volunteers wish to run while volunteering. Volunteers with relevant and useful skills can arrange and run workshops in these centers, and in the wider community for health care advice. Along side Butterfly's support team, we also have dedicated local volunteers who ...

Typical day

This depends on the program which volunteers wish to run while volunteering. Volunteers with relevant and useful skills can arrange and run workshops in these centers, and in the wider community for health care advice. Along side Butterfly's support team, we also have dedicated local volunteers who are always more than happy to help our community outreach programs and offer support and advice, and find the people who really need to be reached.

Transport on a local shared taxi or motorbike is necessary for these locations. Unfortunately we don't have the means to cover costs but we can help you to organise the transportation to the villages you may need to reach. 


Free-time activities

Butterfly Space Lodge is beautifully situated under a canopy of mango trees, surrounded by lush permaculture gardens with a restaurant and bar. Butterfly Space is a 15 minute walk from the bustling ferry port and market town, which has a vibrant market, great night life handcrafted souvenir shops, ...

Free-time activities

Butterfly Space Lodge is beautifully situated under a canopy of mango trees, surrounded by lush permaculture gardens with a restaurant and bar. Butterfly Space is a 15 minute walk from the bustling ferry port and market town, which has a vibrant market, great night life handcrafted souvenir shops, restaurants and a warm and friendly feel! 

Across the bay is Aqua Africa who offer scuba diving and kayaking, Monkey Business  (on site at Butterfly) is a small Malawian business that offers kayaking and canoe trips, mountain biking and treks. The lodge has a lively bar and pool table, and hammocks overlooking the beautiful crystal clear Lake Malawi. Snorkels are available free of charge at reception for snorkelling. There are lots of beautiful coves and beaches to explore along the lake, and pretty villages that welcome warmly passers by.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level)

Education Requirements

Medicine, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, vocational training, nursery school teaching at Vocational Skills, Medical Qualifications, Fundraising level

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

All skills are welcomed that could be useful to teaching adults living with disabilities at this vocational centre. The centers both run nursery schools which also welcome volunteers to interact with the children, teach new games and practice English language! Artists can decorate the nursery school walls.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Butterfly Space Malawi

• Dormitory Accommodation*

• Two meals in the restaurant included FOR THE FIRST MONTH ONLY

• Laundry and cleaning facilities

• Orientation on projects and Nkhata Bay

*If people wish to stay in an individual chalet rather than the dormitory then there are upgrade options available.

Discounts can be discussed and provided for volunteers wishing to volunteer for longer than their initial month. The first month volunteer package is a necessary cost to cover the running costs of the non-profit Butterfly Space lodge and the projects. 

Accommodation

 You will be placed in a 6 bed dorm, males or females, both which overlook the lake. Dorm beds have mosquito nets, a secure locker, and are situated close to our composting toilets and lovely heated outdoor shower overlooking lake Malawi. Upgrades to private chalets are available upon request.

Food & Beverages

2 meals a day in the lodge restaurant for the 1st month only.

Mkana cafe, situated at Butterflty lodge is outsourced to create more opportunities for local entrepreneurs in our community. 

The meals are freshly prepared and there are many delicious menu options of local and international dishes, which cater for all dietary requirements.

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Mzuzu

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Mzuzu (ZZU) in Mzuzu. We assist you to find cheap flights to Malawi. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Malawi provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Malawi you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Malawi. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Any time throughout the year.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 619€
6 weeks 760€
8 weeks 902€
10 weeks 1,043€
12 weeks (max. stay) 1,184€
Average fees 127€/week

Program fees

127€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 12 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Butterfly Space Malawi during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Butterfly Space Malawi

Outstanding 5 rating (11 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2011

Verified by Volunteer World

  Below average response rate

Coordinated by

Holly

About the project

Diverse socially responsible grassroot community projects; empower communities & make real impact. Our non-profit eco-lodge offers a unique & engaging experience to all.

Meet your organization

Butterfly Space passionately works directly with communities, to support diverse grassroot projects and initiatives both on and off site. With a focus on sustainable development, environment, and education, our goal is to empower and motivate communities to drive significant positive changes and make a long lasting impact. We are a UK registered charity and our projects target 15 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
You can see all of our ongoing projects on our website; butterflyspacemalawi.com.

Some of our projects include: a well established international standard primary and nursery school, a vocational training centre, community based libraries, IT, resource and media center, Permaculture after school clubs (in 22 schools), community outreach programs to deliver workshops based on sustainable and regenerative agriculture, tree planting projects, and empower and support community groups including disabled people, and women's groups.

Butterfly Space has hosted volunteers since 2011. We provide and encourage ethical volunteering and internships to respectfully work alongside and educate our community. There is an emphasis on exchanging knowledge and experience as projects are diverse and self-sustaining where possible and are staffed by local people who work alongside the volunteers.
“Our vision is to develop and support beneficial sustainable projects which empower those who benefit from them to govern, encourage and develop them, encouraging self advocacy, self development and motivation”

Volunteers can be matched with the projects they feel they are most passionate about and are encouraged to come with new ideas and make their mark. Volunteers will receive guidance and support both before they arrive and during their stay about the organisation, projects, travel advice, health and safety, and are welcomed to discuss, develop and implement their new ideas, fundraise and provide ongoing support. 

We run a non-profit eco-lodge, which also provides a hub for our community projects, while financially supporting them. Butterfly Lodge is open to travelers and volunteers, and offers amenities to make sure volunteers are comfortable during their stay and also...have fun! 
Accommodation rates start from >$10 per night plus food.

We do not charge a fee for volunteering. We try to encourage our projects to be community led and financially self sustaining. That said, fundraising before hand, and donations are always hugely appreciated and means more support to all projects, so we do encourage this!

We aim to provide a genuine, unique and affordable experience for people wanting to join our community and have an experience that supports our projects, while enjoying the beautiful location on the lake and the warm Malawian culture. 

All of our projects are located around the Nkhata Bay district and Butterfly Space lodge is used as a hub to plan, discuss and debrief after a days volunteering, as well as to relax, socialize with locals, travelers and other volunteers while enjoying the beautiful lake's crystal clear waters and the surrounding lush permaculture gardens. Nkhata Bay is a 15 minute walk, and a bustling ferry port and market town, rich in culture and beautifully nestled into a beautiful bay on the lake shore. It is lively both during the day and in the evening, and is a very welcoming and safe hub for volunteers to explore.

11 reviews · rating5

Myself and my friend Erin came over to butterfly space as newly qualified physios, we divided our time between a few different projects including supreme (a social enterprise providing reusable sanitary products for school girls) and the local nursery school. Primarily we spent most of our visit ...
I spent 4 weeks staying at and volunteering with Butterfly Space, my main reason for volunteering was to help provide physiotherapy to some of the rural communities in Malawi. Through butterfly Space I was connected with Patrick who took me around the local villages helping translate and introduce ...
Stefan Karakashian rating5

2016 at Disability Support & Skill Sharing Centre

Fantastic experience - hands-on in a beautiful setting! I taught small group lessons in Maths and English and ran computer skills workshops for secondary school students. There were loads of other projects happening at the time though, which were great to learn about! It was really rewarding work ...
Imogen Steuart-Feilding rating5

2020 at Stepping Stones Primary, & Nursery School

Stepping Stones is a project run by Butterfly Space, in Nkhata Bay. There are almost 220 students in the school, coming from a range of socio-economic backgrounds. The school was set up a few years ago and it is now very established in the local area. I was helping to run the school in my ...
I volunteered at Butterfly Space, Nkhata Bay Malawi for a few months in December 2019 - March 2020. I was really attracted to the community focus and community feel of Butterfly Space and the lakeside location was an absolute bonus! Josie and AJ have worked tirelessly over the years to focus on ...
Judith Weymont rating5

2020 at E.A.R.T.H Workshops

Volunteering through Butterfly Lodge in Malawi has been a real treat,the people are great, the climate wonderful, the food good and the water safe to drink. Working with local people on the edge of Lake Malawi is a bit like working in paradise and its fun. I have spend time helping to train small ...

Location

Africa > Eastern Africa > Malawi > Nkhata Bay

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  Below average response rate

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