Book Bus

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

You can transform a child’s life, and your own, by joining the Book Bus crew
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 of all ages and, with previous volunteers' backgrounds ranging from teacher to banker to plumber to journalist, there's never a dull moment on the Bus. Each of our destinations offers its own unique attractions in addition to the Book Bus project

Improving children's lives, one book at a time.
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

With class sizes in these countries of up to 150 pupils per teacher it is difficult for school staff to spend enough time with each child. 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.

Find out more on each of our 5 projects below:


  • Ecuador 14 or more days 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. More Information
  • Livingstone/Victoria Falls, Zambia 14+ days Volunteer with disadvantaged children and become a story teller in the Zambian town of Livingstone...near the mighty Victoria Falls More Information
  • Malawi 14+ days 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. More Information
  • Meheba UNHCR settlement, Zambia 21, 42, 63 days 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! More Information
  • The Safari - Zambia & Malawi 14 days 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. More Information
  • Book Bus Adventures Combine the Book Bus project with an group tour and explore the other side of Africa...from a week long trip through Zambia, Botswana and South Africa to a month long adventure to Kenya and Rwanda to see the Gorillas....check out these itineraries. More Information
  • Book Bus extensions & Stop Over options Flying via Johannesburg or Addis Ababa? Why not make the most of it with one of our stopover packages or extend your trip with our pre & post project accommodation & activities More Information
  • School Expeditions Unique school expeditions on board the Book Bus More Information
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