Applying is easy. Simply download the Application to Volunteer with RIPPLE Africa form, fill it out, and e-mail it back to us.
Please note: RIPPLE Africa’s volunteer placements are extremely competitive. We can only accommodate 10-12 volunteers at any given time, and we have a limit on the number of healthcare volunteers we can accept. Some volunteer placements fill up many months in advance. To ensure the best possible chance of acceptance, we strongly recommend that you submit your application at least two months before departure. It is also worth noting that we do not accept volunteers on a “prospective” basis. Volunteers are expected to pay their non-refundable deposit of £300 within two weeks of being accepted, so do not apply unless you are serious about volunteering. Please ensure that have read the Costs to Volunteer section, the Frequently Asked Questions page, and have thought very seriously about volunteering in Malawi. We are happy to discuss any questions you may have before you submit your application.
Following receipt of your application, we will assess where your skills best fit in with our projects, and we will contact your referees. This process can take up to two weeks, although we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as we can. Once we have processed your application in full, we will e-mail you to let you know if you have been accepted. Your acceptance e-mail will also include a formal offer of placement, and will also include the Volunteer Handbook comprising a volunteer agreement, a checklist of things to do before you go, a list of what to take with you, instructions on how to get to Malawi and to Mwaya in particular, and more. If you choose to fundraise for RIPPLE Africa, now is also the time to get started on your own personal JustGiving page.
Important Note: Please do not book your flights until you have received a formal placement offer from us.
To confirm your placement, you will need to pay your non-refundable deposit of GB£300. The remaining balance is due four weeks before departure (please go to the Costs to Volunteer page for the current rates).
The time leading up to your placement is a fantastic time to fundraise for RIPPLE Africa. Your enthusiasm and excitement will be infectious, and fundraising is a great way to involve your family and friends in your imminent life-changing experience in Malawi! Further, your time in Malawi will be all the more meaningful when you are able to see in person all the great work you’ve helped to fund. There are lots of great ways to fundraise, and we have lots of tips and resources to help you. Read our Start Fundraising! page to get started now!
Please note: We do need to clarify that if you want to start fundraising, you need to understand that you are fundraising for the charity, not for your own costs. You are solely responsible for paying the deposit and balance for your volunteer placement. We do not agree with volunteers fundraising from family and friends to pay for the cost of their placement, and you should not use your JustGiving fundraising page for this purpose. This is because your volunteer fee largely goes towards covering your own accommodation costs, so you would essentially be asking people to donate to YOU AND YOUR ACCOMMODATION in Africa. Ethically, this is very different to asking people to donate to the charity itself. If you do want to use your volunteering experience as an opportunity to fundraise, we really welcome you to do so! Have a look at our Start Fundraising! page to learn how!
To see all of RIPPLE Africa's videos, please go to the YouTube RIPPLE Africa Channel