Immerse yourself in a truly traditional African cultural experience in the heart of the Mukuni Chiefdom, where you’ll engage with the rich heritage of the Leya people. During your stay, you'll volunteer in the local community—either at the village clinic, a primary school, or through general community support—while living with a host family and experiencing daily life firsthand. Our African Cultural Experience can be joined as a 2-week (or longer) volunteer project, or as an optional 1-week cultural add-on, either as a standalone experience or combined with our other volunteer projects in Livingstone town.
Mukuni Village is the traditional seat of the Leya people and home to Chief Mukuni, a respected and influential traditional leader with both cultural and political influence. The village offers a deep cultural immersion opportunity for volunteers, with vibrant ceremonies and daily life rooted in centuries-old customs.
There are roughly 600 homesteads in the broader area of a population of 12 000 with many headmen and elders in different zones- some of these areas we do not place volunteers as they are too rural.
The Leya people are an indigenous ethnic group primarily found in the southern part of Zambia, including around Mukuni Village, which lies near Livingstone and the Victoria Falls. Mukuni Village is one of the oldest and most prominent Leya settlements, and it serves as the royal seat of the Mukuni Chiefdom. The Leya are part of the broader Toka-Leya ethnic grouping. They speak ChiLeya although many also speak English and ChiTonga, especially in school and formal settings.
They are mainly subsistence farmers and artisans, known for their warm hospitality, vibrant dances, and deep respect for community life and ancestral customs. Under their chief they have become heavily invested in wildlife tourism, social upliftment their crafts and the environment. Village life is communal, with strong emphasis on family, respect for elders, and cultural traditions. Houses are typically made from mud and thatch, and daily life is centred around small-scale agriculture, craftwork, and social rituals.
The Leya people maintain traditional spiritual beliefs, often honouring ancestors and practicing rituals that connect them to the land and nature. At the same time, Christianity is widely practiced, often blending with indigenous beliefs. Initiation ceremonies, music, dance, and storytelling are important cultural expressions.
Despite being a cultural hub, the village faces challenges such as poverty, limited educational resources, and health care access — areas where volunteers often assist. As a volunteer, you may not only support a local school, clinic and community initiatives but also have the unique opportunity to witness or assist with cultural events and tribal duties, depending on your dates and the level of cultural immersion you want to experience.
Week One: Cultural Orientation Week
This first week is a unique introduction to life in Zambia and can be enjoyed on its own as an African Cultural Experience, or combined with additional volunteer weeks helping in Mukuni Village or in Livingstone town.
Monday – Volunteers arrive at Livingstone Airport, where they are met by our local team. The day includes a warm welcome, an introduction to Livingstone and Zambia, and an overnight stay at the volunteer house in town to rest and prepare for the week ahead.
Tuesday to Friday – Volunteers are taken to Mukuni Village, where their cultural orientation begins. Highlights include a visit to the Royal Palace, meeting their host family in the village, learning about daily village life, and participating in community chores and activities. On that Friday evening, volunteers return to the volunteer house in Livingstone.
Saturday to Sunday – The weekend is free for volunteers to relax or take part in optional local activities and excursions, including visits to Victoria Falls, game drives, or cultural markets for their own cost.
The following Monday – Volunteers either return to Mukuni Village to begin their placement in helping in the local village school, clinic or community if they have chosen to take part in longer than 1 week, or they head to the airport for departure, depending on the duration of their stay.
Week Two: School, Clinic or Community volunteering within the Mukuni chiefdom
Education Support
- Assist in the Mukuni village primary school classroom with Grade R to Grade 7
- Help with English, Maths, Natural & Social Sciences, Business Studies, and Computer classes
- Create lesson plans around the Zambian syllabus, tutor small groups, or run literacy support sessions
- Run after-school clubs and activities in art, sports, drama, art, girls club or environmental education. Or help the children with the school vegetable garden.
- Organise cultural exchange activities, music, or storytelling workshops to engage the learners and inspire them.
- School terms for 2025 First term: 13th of January to the 11th of April 2025; Second term: 12tyh of May to the 8th of August 2025; Third term: 8th of September to the 5th of December 2025. 2026 school term dates to be confirmed
Community and Culture Support
- Visit the royal grounds and learn about the structure of the Chiefdom and the many social upliftment endeavours.
- Work with local women’s groups or elders on language exchanges, or gardening. Helping improve their conversational English, literacy and numeracy is always appreciated.
- Help the local craftsmen with their woodwork while learning practical skills. Makishi masks, animals and household items are crafted from wood for sale whether ornamental or functional. Volunteers can also help with the painting, pyrography or pattern design if artistic
- Volunteer with a background in dance or dressmaking can assist with the local youth cultural dance group
- Help your host family with cooking and gain insight into traditional Zambian meals preparation
- Support community clean-ups or village improvement projects
- Join or assist with preparations for the three annual traditional ceremonies (when applicable)
- As the Leya are subsistence farmers, you can help with their crops like maize, millet, and vegetables or their livestock.
- Help with basic household tasks in host homes (if staying in or near the village)
Clinic Support
- Support nurses and healthcare workers with non-medical tasks such as organising patient files, prepping basic supplies, or guiding patients between areas.
- Help deliver basic health education to patients and community members on topics like hygiene, nutrition, malaria prevention, TB and HIV awareness, and maternal health
- Under supervision and if appropriately trained, assist with tasks such as taking temperatures, blood pressure, and recording basic patient information.
- Assist during under-five clinics or immunisation days by helping with registration, child weighing, or crowd control
- Help with general clinic upkeep, such as organising supplies, keeping waiting areas tidy, and assisting with small improvement tasks when needed.
To get the most out of your experience and possibly take part in a ceremony, we recommend volunteering around the dates of these important three traditional ceremonies:
Bene Mukuni Ceremony 25th to the 26th of July 2025
A 2-day festival commemorating the Toka-Leya people’s ancestral migration. Expect traditional dress, music, drumming, Makishi dances, and royal processions.
Volunteer Role: Assist with setup, help with crowd coordination, and support youth groups performing dances or storytelling.
Chandaule Ceremony (Date TBA – usually mid-July)
A rain-giving ceremony held to thank ancestral spirits for seasonal rains and ensure blessings for future harvests.
Volunteer Role: Prepare ceremonial spaces, support elder activities, help children create crafts or decorations.
Basilombelombe Ceremony (Date TBA – December)
A spiritual blessing ceremony that draws from the mist (“spray”) of the Victoria Falls to mark a fresh start for the new year.
Volunteer Role: Assist with logistics, prepare offerings or symbolic items, and observe respectful customs.
