Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

The cost of this trip for each volunteer is a tax deductible donation of $850.00 to Global First Responder.  Volunteers are also responsible for purchasing their international airfare.  

About the trip: Join Global First Responder in Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo, to provide medical and dental care, health education, and a community garden at a local school.  Your team will work in partnership with local medical providers to provide 5 days of clinic in an area that is underserved.  Housing for this trip will be in a nearby hotel and some dinners will be “on your own” so that you can try local cuisine and join other members of your team to relax and build new friendships and colleagues.

English is the official language of Zimbabwe and communicating with your patients or getting around on your own is easy!  The weather is great at this time of year with daytime temperatures in the high 80’s/low 90’s and cool mornings and evenings.  Tourism is also slowing down, making your after trip travel even more enjoyable.

Sustainability: With your help, GFR provides health education to all patients.  GFR also takes pride in providing infrastructure in the places where we work.  In Bulawayo, your team will begin a project partnering with a local school, starting with a community garden and continuing in future trips to improve sanitation and the school building itself.

Arrivals and Departures:  This trip officially starts on October 15 with lunch, followed by clinic preparation time. Please plan to arrive in Bulawayo (airport code BUQ) no later than the morning of October 15, 2022.    Clinics will be held from October 16 – October 20.  You will have a free day on Saturday, October 21, with time for resting, shopping, or sightseeing on your own.  Your trip will end  on October 22 after breakfast.  If you need to get home, you are free to fly out on Saturday as needed.  Please see the “After the trip” section for some ideas to extend your trip!

What’s Included: This trip includes lodging, transportation, snacks, water, and most meals from October 15 (lunch and dinner only) to October 22 (breakfast only).  Some dinners will be “on your own” so that you can explore and join your teammates in small groups to find the best local places!   GFR provides the funds for all supplies and medications required for clinic and special projects.

What’s Not Included: Your international airfare, pre/post trip travel costs and expenses, airport transfers, and some dinners are not included in the cost of your trip.  Visas and Insurance costs (international malpractice if you are a provider, travel insurance, and medical evacuation insurance) are not included in your trip fee.

Cost: The cost of this amazing trip is approximately $850.00 per person plus airfare.  You are responsible for purchasing airfare that meets the required arrival and departure times.  We highly suggest arriving on October 14 to give yourself extra time for delayed or cancelled flights .  We recommend that you purchase trip insurance from a reputable carrier.  This trip is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.  You or your donors will receive a tax receipt upon making your donation.  As we get closer, if the cost of your expenses goes down, we will let you know.  We do not anticipate costs going higher than $850.00 per person.  Payment is never required until 30 days before departure.

How is your cost calculated?: At Global First Responder we strive to keep your costs low and our quality high.   We value your participation and willingness to volunteer your time and expertise. Everyone at Global First Responder is also a volunteer, donating their time to administrative tasks and paying their own way to participate in medical and construction missions around the world and here at home.  The fee you pay covers the actual cost of your expenses in country including lodging, transportation, meals, and translator fees and expenses.  At GFR, no one is paid a salary and everyone is a passionate volunteer, doing our part to help drive our mission of “One World, One Family”.

After the trip: Zimbabwe!  October is a great time to visit Zimbabwe as there is almost no rain, fewer mosquitos, and Victoria Falls doesn’t have spray blocking the view!  From sunny beaches to wine tasting to Big 5 safaris, Zimbabwe has a lot for you to explore!  It is a great time for a safari because the vegetation is low and it is easy to see animals as they concentrate around watering holes.  If you love history, take a trip to see Great Zimbabwe – The ruins of Great Zimbabwe – the capital of the Queen of Sheba, according to an age-old legend – are a unique testimony to the Bantu civilization of the Shona between the 11th and 15th centuries.

 

Click here to apply for this trip: I WANT TO JOIN GFR IN ZIMBABWE!     PLEASE NOTE:  We apologize, but this trip is full.  This link takes you to our waitlist.  You will receive all information being sent to the team and will be notified as soon as possible if there is room for additional team members.

If this is your first time applying in our new application system, please create a login and password.  You may use this login and password for all future trips you apply for (and we hope to see you on LOTS of GFR trips!!)

 

ITINERARY

This itinerary is subject to change as we get closer to departure.  You will be kept informed of significant changes.

The dates of this trip are EXCLUSIVE OF TRAVEL!  You will need to arrive in Bulawayo (airport code BUQ) no later than the morning of October 15.  We highly recommend that you plan to arrive on October 14 in case of missed connections.  The trip officially starts with lunch on October 15 – costs on August 14 or earlier are “on your own”.  The trip officially ends after breakfast on October 22.

October 15, 2023 (Sunday):  Arrivals and Team Preparation.  Arrivals prior to lunch.  The team will have lunch together and you will get settled in your hotel. Today is a preparation day for the team.  You will help organize supplies, the pharmacy, and get to know your teammates!  Lunch and dinner are included.  

October 16, 2023 (Monday):  Clinic.  Breakfast and lunch is included, dinner is on your own.  

October 17, 2023 (Tuesday): Clinic.  Breakfast and lunch are included, dinner on your own.

October 18, 2023 (Wednesday): Clinic and Provider Education.   Today your team will have a dual role.  Your team will provide a full clinic in the morning followed by an adult  screening clinic for hypertension and diabetes in the afternoon.  The screening clinic will include blood pressure checks, blood glucose checks, and pregnancy tests by request.  All patients will receive general education on these chronic diseases and patients who have a positive test result will receive specific education and referrals to local providers.   In addition, some members of the team will partner with local health care providers to share medical knowledge in the afternoon.  Breakfast and lunch are included, dinner is on your own.  

October 19, 2023 (Thursday):  Clinic.  Breakfast and lunch are included, dinner is on your own.

October 20, 2023 (Friday): Clinic. Breakfast and lunch are included and GFR will host your team thank you dinner tonight!   

October 21, 2023 (Saturday): Free Day.  Today is a free day for the team!  Breakfast is included, lunch and dinner on your own.

You can spend the day resting, shopping, doing some local sightseeing on your own or you can depart early if that better fits your schedule.  The hotel van or a local taxi can easily take you to some great shopping areas or local markets.   Matobo National Park is about 35km from Bulawayo and 4-6 hour tours with hotel pickup are easy to arrange.  You can schedule an early morning walking safari to see black rhinos and white rhinos, some of the many cave paintings, and amazing rock outcroppings and landscapes!   

October 22, 2023 (Sunday): Departure Day.  After breakfast, take some time to say goodbye to your teammates!  We thank you for your time, skill, effort, and sense of humor!