Across the UK, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe, the Act4Africa family is working to stop the relentless spread of HIV/AIDs in its tracks - by fundraising, doing fantastic sponsored events, joining our teams on the ground through our expeditions, doing a medical elective, attending a charity gig or helping out in another way.
Whatever you do, whoever you are, EVERYONE can be part of the solution to this mammoth problem. If you want to find out more, you can read the Act4Africa story here, or you can check out all the articles in our Factfile here!
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Join us and many others as we go to serve the people of Africa and get along side them in their struggle with HIV & AIDS. Below you will find all the relevant info you'll need to apply for a place on a team. If you have any questions, then just pick up the phone or email us – we'd love to hear from you!
An Act4Africa expedition is your chance to spend several weeks – short-term expeditions - or months – long-term expeditions - serving on one of our brilliant HIV & AIDS Impact teams. What makes us different is that we take people to serve on our own HIV & AIDS education projects so you will be part of an established community and gain a unique insight into local life and culture.
With many years experience of taking people of all ages to Africa we have unrivalled ability to ensure you will have an amazing time but always giving high regard for your health and safety.
We currently train and fund local teams who deliver our interactive HIV & AIDS prevention education programs. They also work alongside the most vulnerable and at risk people, empowering young women to take control of their sexual health, and giving peace, hope and dignity to those for whom education has come too late.
We give you the chance to work alongside our African teams by serving on one of our short-term HIV & AIDS Impact Teams in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi or Zimbabwe to give thousands of Africans hope for a future without HIV & AIDS.
If you have...
- A thirst for adventure and a heart to serveAn ability to connect with young people
- An interest in Sport or Performing Arts
- An ability to lead or work as part of a team
- A passion to give the proud people of Africa hope for a better future
... then an Act4Africa expedition is for you.
If you are over 16, a school leaver, a gap year student, a postgraduate or a more mature person with a zest for life, we challenge you to join us.
Are you up for it? Then what are you waiting for?!
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You can start off your application to join us by registering your interest here. We will then send you a full application pack. Please remember that places are limited on each team to approx 10 places and we operate on a first come, first served basis.
Once we receive your completed application form and deposit we will take up references. We aim to do this within 2 weeks but this depends on the availability of the people you have asked to act as referee for you.
Once your references are satisfactory and you have paid your deposit we will send you a letter of acceptance and you can book your flights - we can provide advice on airlines etc. If your references are not satisfactory, you will get all money paid returned to you.
Once you have booked your flights you will need to let us know the details so we can arrange to meet and collect you safely at your arrival airport.
If you have any medical or health issues that may hold up your application it's a good idea to get in touch and chat these through with us before applying.
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The cost of going on an Act4Africa expedition depends on the country, or countries visited, and the projects supported. The cost includes airport pick ups, all accommodation, all meals, all travel to and from the projects, medivac insurance, and a contribution to the costs of running the HIV/AIDS prevention projects you will working with.
The cost does not include return airfares.
Once your application is accepted you will need to pay
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There are probably a hundred different questions on your mind as you start thinking about going on an Act4Africa expedition. Here are a few of the more common ones. Our full FAQs can be downloaded here:
Where will I stay?
Depending on the location you will be staying in basic local hostels or hotel accommodation and you will be sharing a room with other people. If you are on an Overland trip you will be camping.
How will I get around?
Act4Africa will organise air port pickup and all project transport. There will be opportunities to use local public transport.
How many people will be going?
We generally limit the expeditions teams to a maximum of 10 people as we have found this to be an ideal team size. On the Overland expeditions numbers may vary but will generally not exceed 12. (The overland trips are dependent on achieving a minimum number for an expedition to run)
Will I be safe? Who will look after me?
Act4Africa takes your health and safety very seriously and all our expeditions are subject to a rigorous risk assessment process. We always work with local people who are known by the communities we serve. Each of our expedition teams is led by two leaders who are very experienced and are responsible for liaison with the local communities and ensuring that everyone is looked after and cared for appropriately. We ask all team members to abide by simple guidelines and in booking to come on an Act4Africa expedition you will be agreeing to abide by these rules.
Will I be insured?
Part of the project contribution you pay is to cover a comprehensive medi-vac policy which will cover you while in our care. If you choose to extend your stay in Africa you can also extend the cover for an additional fee. The insurance is provide by Banner Insurance who are specialists in this field and in the unlikely event of you requiring emergency medical attention it covers the costs of flying you to a suitable medical facility.
How can I prepare?
For short-term expeditions, Act4Africa will organise a training and orientation event in south Manchester in June. At this event you will meet everyone on your team and learn more about the project and be given key information about health and safety and preparing for your expedition. You will also be equipped with the basic training to enable you to deliver our HIV & AIDS education programmes. Long-term expeditions have a similar training and orientation event.
Can I stay out there longer on my own?
As you are booking your own flight you have the option of arriving early or staying on longer. However Act4Africa will only be responsible for you between the start and end dates of the actual expedition. You will need to extend your insurance cover for any time outside these dates.
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First of all, training. Our in-house training courses for our Action Teams are an essential part of the preparation for expeditions. They comprise of a compulsory weekend-long development programme and orientation in the UK approximately one month prior to departure to Africa. This is followed by a week long "on-the-job" training programme in country before moving on to your chosen project.
The training courses provide all UK participants with teambuilding and leadership skills. It also trains them in the delivery of 'train the trainer' skills with a core focus on HIV/AIDs education through Performing Arts or Sports Ministry. After completion of this development programme, the Action Team will then share their skills with their African counterparts and take responsibility for mentoring their development and sharing the delivery of HIV/AIDS education in schools and communities.
Generally the UK volunteer teams work alongside our teams of African staff. Your work will take you primarily into schools, colleges, village communities, AIDS hospices, orphanages and sometimes into churches, army, or police camps. You work alongside our staff but will be responsible for delivering our interactive HIV & AIDS Prevention, Stigma Reduction, Behavioural Change and Women's Empowerment, workshops in tandem with our local team. These will enable young people in particular to ask questions and express their feelings about a range of situations. We also fund VCT services (Voluntary Counselling and Testing) which run alongside the delivery of the education programmes.
On the short-term expeditions, during the 2 - 3 weeks in which you are delivering the HIV & AIDS Education Programme, you could work with between 4,000 - 8,000 young people. For long-term expeditions, you could be working with up to 30,000 people. You will be involved in mentoring the African team is very much "on the job" training. We are adding new workshop materials, and ways of approaching the delivery of HIV & AIDS Prevention all the time and there will be plenty of time during the days in the field to discuss, facilitate and cement key learning's with your African counterparts. We recruit all of our African staff through partner churches and fund them through our UK supporters, trust applications and fundraising events.
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If you have any further questions, you can download our FAQ sheet here (PDF) or just pick up the phone and call us! We'd love to hear from you.
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