Join the Book Bus crew

Wanted! Book Worms with adventurous spirit to join our literacy outreach projects
in Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador

If you enjoy working with children and are addicted to books then read on to see how the Book Bus can take you to a world beyond your own. We welcome aboard individuals, friends and couples and, with previous volunteers' backgrounds ranging from teacher to banker to plumber to journalist, there's never a dull moment on the Bus.

Age is certainly not a limiting factor when joining the Book Bus crew. We have hosted a family with 2 children aged 9 and 11 and at the other end of the scale we have welcomed the wisdom and experience of retired folk in their mid to late 60's; in fact, it's not unusual for us to have 3 generations on the bus at any one time.

We make the Book Bus lifestyle as comfortable as possible. For example, when done properly, outdoor life in Africa offers a great living experience! Our permanent camp in Livingstone offers comfortable camping with large walk-in tents, hot and cold water and a relaxing pool for afternoon dips after school.

Each of our destinations offers its own unique attractions in addition to the Book Bus project. Whether you join us for 14 days or up to 4 months, your participation can transform a child's life, and your own, for ever.

Literacy in motion.

Reading isn’t just one of life’s great pleasures, it is an essential life skill; it improves literacy, develops a positive attitude towards learning and is crucial to the academic and social development of young people. Despite the importance of literacy, large class sizes and lack of resources mean there are few reading opportunities for many children in developing countries such as Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador

The Book Bus supports schools by providing mobile library facilities and volunteer story-tellers to help children become confident and literate readers for life. Working mainly with rural schools, our volunteer crew divide huge classes into small groups and inspire the children to read by personalizing the reading experience through story-telling, individual interpretation and creative arts. This simple and effective support is sustained by provision of books and resources to each school library.

The Book Bus volunteer programme is operated in partnership with VentureCo Worldwide, experts in expedition logistics and adventure travel to Africa, Asia and South America. Find out more viewing our volunteering destinations in Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador.

Where we work

Ecuador: Book Bus volunteers work with schools in the Amazon, Andes and coastal regions of Ecuador. Help us reach out to the children in these remote parts of South America.

Malawi: The Book Bus in Malawi visits schools near Blantyre in the south of the country. The nearby Majete nature reserve is one of Africa's best kept wildlife spotting secrets.

Book Bus Safari: Join us on a unique overland safari in Malawi and Zambia as the Book Bus travels to remote schools via national parks, hidden lakes and colourful festivals.

UNHCR Refugee Settlement, Zambia: A unique volunteer opportunity to work within a UNHCR refugee settlement in North West Zambia. Help displaced children from Angola, Rwanda and Congo rebuild their lives through literacy!

Livingstone and Victoria Falls, Zambia: Volunteer with disadvantaged children in schools near the Zambian town of Livingstone... near the mighty Victoria Falls.

The Book Bus
Improving Children’s Lives, One Book at a Time