General Information

About International Needs

International Needs Canada is a global non-denominational Christian development organization that promotes health, nutrition, education, and community development. Our programs include child sponsorship, schools, feeding programs, healthcare, clean water projects, and more. Key to the success and sustainability of these initiatives is a strong partnership with each partner country and ownership of each initiative BY the partner country.

About the Trip

ZACTS OVC Primary School is an International Needs school for orphans and vulnerable children, located in the Muzabula area, north of Solwezi. The children have had very little opportunity to access health care, and the nearest clinic is about 7km away. Many of them suffer from malaria, malnutrition, and a host of other illnesses. The children and their parents are grateful for the team visiting.

Itinerary

About the Clinics

Clinics are organized at schools operated by International Needs. The students clear out the classrooms and set up space for intake, physician consultation, distribution of meds, and education. On a given day we may see 200-400 individuals, depending on the size and needs of the community. We will be joined by public health officials, local nurses, pharmacists, and physicians. Mentoring is another aspect of our work on medical outreaches – by supporting future medical professionals, it’s our hope that our impact will be sustainable long beyond our visit.

The Medical Team

Typically, the Canadian team includes 2-4 physicians, 3-4 nurses, and 2-4 allied health providers and volunteers. Your role will depend on your area of skill or interest.

• Physicians: you will be working in the consultation area
• Nurses: We often find great demand for your expertise in the medication area.
• Pharmacist: you will be in charge of the medical supplies and distributing medication
• Allied health professionals: Social workers, dietitians, and physio / occupational / res.piratory therapists, – your areas of specialty are always needed!
• Non-medical volunteers: If you have a heart to help children and their families, we will gladly find some enjoyable and rewarding tasks for you too!

Medical Supplies

Medical supplies and medicines will be purchased or donated and coordinated by Dr. Neal Stretch. If you have access to any of these supplies, please let us know. We will also be collecting vitamins and toothbrushes.

Past Zambia Trip Gallery

Money Matters

Trip Price

$5,500 CDN

Payment Schedule

1. $500 non-refundable deposit is due with your application (per person)
2. $1,500 is due by July 15th, 2024
3. $3,500 is due 30 days before departure

Note: Prices are guaranteed only with full payment, as taxes and fuel surcharges can be added by airlines until full payment is received.

Payment Options

1. Reach out to us via phone to make payment for your trip. We accept both e-transfers and credit cards.
   • Toll free: 1-888-702-9805
   • Office: 905-389-1118
   • Corrie’s cell: 289-339-8650 
2. Set up a fundraising page on JustGiving to have your friends and family support your trip. For every donation, your supporters will receive a tax receipt.

Fundraising

International Needs Canada will help you set up a fundraising page on JustGiving so you can encourage your friends and family to support your trip! They will receive separate tax receipts for any amount they donate to the cost of your trip.

Tax Deductibility

The entire trip is tax-deductible since International Needs Canada is a charitable organization. International Needs provides tax receipts for all funds donated to your trip. Please note that only the medical trip portion will be receipted, not the optional safari add-on.

Important Details

Vaccinations

Please visit your health care provider or travel clinic well in advance of your departure date to receive the required vaccinations and medications for the country(ies) you’ll be visiting. Visit the government website for recommended and required immunizations by country.

Passport

You will need a valid passport that expires no sooner than six months after the date of your return. If your passport has less than six months left until expiration, most countries do not allow you to travel. To avoid travel restrictions, we advise you to renew your passport well in advance.

Medical Insurance

You must purchase extended medical insurance over and above provincial coverage, unless you have extended health coverage from your place of employment. A package including cancellation, medical, and COVID coverage is usually less expensive.

Child Protection

As we will be visiting children, you will need to:

1. Sign and return a copy of our Child Protection Policy. 

2) Submit a valid police check. Please visit your local police services or submit your request online through www.backcheck.net/inc/.

Travel Details

Climate in Zambia

May to August – cool and dry season 
September to November – hot and dry season
December to April – warm and wet

Language

Everyone on the team will have a translator during the clinics, as many of the patients do not speak English. 

Packing List

• Clothing (see dress code below)
• Comfortable footwear
• Toiletries 
• Medications – Important: all medications for personal use need to be packed in your hand luggage in their original containers. 
• Personal items
• Small items to entertain the kids at the clinic e.g. bubbles, soccer balls & pump, stickers, paint

Luggage Allowance

On past trips, domestic flights in Zambia have allowed us to bring just one bag per person to a maximum of 23kg, which means if you had extra luggage, or if your bag was heavier than 23kg, you would have been charged for the difference.

• We have also asked our medical team to bring an additional bag with medical supplies for the clinics (we paid for the extra bags).
• We have also experienced delays with luggage transfer, so we recommend you pack essential toiletries and 2-3 days’ worth of clothing in your carry-on luggage. 

We will confirm all these details at a later date.

Water

We advise extreme caution when consuming tap water, ice cubes, and fresh produce that would have been washed with local water, which is often taken from wells and not treated thoroughly. Do not use tap water for brushing your teeth. Drink bottled water and beverages only after checking for proper a seal. 

Meals

All meals will be provided except while in transit. Alcoholic beverages are not included. 

Tipping

It is appropriate to leave $1 US a day for the cleaning staff at your hotel. If your luggage is brought to your room, tip $1 US per bag. This is their livelihood, so give them the opportunity to carry your bag. We recommend tipping in Zambian Kwacha (the local currency) instead of US dollars if possible. You can typically exchange cash at the hotel.

Electricity

230 Volts – you will need an outlet adaptor C, D, or G if you plan to charge your phone or use any electrical devices from home. 

Currency Conversion

Convert $1 Cdn to Zambian Kwacha

A Few Important Rules

Dress Code

Many places we visit have an expectation of modesty when it comes to clothing and appearance. Here are some guidelines:

• Long pants only (no shorts in public)
• No spaghetti straps or revealing tops
• Modest dress is recommended for clinics and visits to villages or schools
• Skirts need to cover to at least the knee
• Capris and pants are fine
• Skirt or dress when attending a church service
• Do not wear flashy jewelry, which may be offensive to the disadvantaged people we will meet.

Photography

Please do not photograph people without first asking their permission to do so. Sometimes a small tip is appropriate, though not at the school and villages where we are visiting. Do NOT take photos in airports or customs and immigration areas. 

Gifts

International Needs has a strict policy on gift-giving. Many of our trip participants want to bring gifts and other items so they can make a bigger difference in the communities we visit. Thank you for your heart and generosity! However, these gifts often have unintended negative consequences. Therefore, all gifts must be approved in advance. Feel free to request a copy of the gift policy. 

Cancellation Policy

Deposits and payments are 100% non-refundable at all times or as stated in the terms provided by the airlines. We highly recommend you purchase cancellation insurance to cover yourself in case of illness to you or a member of your immediate family.

Responsibility Disclaimer

International Needs and the Travel Agent have made arrangements and act solely as agents for such services and cannot be held responsible for the acts or omissions on the part of suppliers. They are not liable for any injury, damage, default of any firm or person engaged in conveying passengers, carrying out travel arrangements, strikes, war, or any other causes beyond their control. 

More About Zambia

Capital City: Lusaka

Official Language: English

Population: 16 million

Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS: 1.2 million

Zambia is the largest producer of copper in Africa and is home to Victoria Falls—one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. Roughly the size of the province of Alberta, Canada, Zambia has a population of 14.5 million people with an average life expectancy of 51 years.

Zambia has great agricultural potential and many large-scale farms have been established. The country is politically stable with a relatively transparent government. However, more than 60 percent of the people live in abject poverty and the death rate (due to HIV/AIDS) is one of the highest in the world.

Zambia has experienced more than a decade of food production decline which has resulted in widespread hunger, especially in rural areas. Perhaps the biggest cause of food insecurity is the HIV/ AIDS crisis. It has decimated the farming sector and left many orphans and widows with no means of earning a living.

ZACTS OVC Primary School is an International Needs school for orphans and vulnerable children, located in the Muzabula area, north of Solwezi. The people living in the area are subsistence farmers with large families, many of them supporting children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The school opened its doors in January 2012 with 3 classrooms and 60 children, and today, has grown to support over 1,200 children!

Since 2018, the school has been running a farm on its property to raise funds for operations and provide nutritious food for the students. They grow vegetables like cabbages, tomatoes, onions, egg plants and maize. They also have a broiler chickens and dairy cows.

There is currently a child sponsorship program in place which also helps support many of the children in the school, as well as their families.