More and more companies are recognising the importance of a flexible and supportive approach to career breaks helping them to attract and retain good employees.

From the employees point of view career breaks offer the opportunity to do something more for the developing world than just put coins in a collection tin; it is a chance to take a break, recharge the batteries and gain a sense of true fulfilment. Indeed career breaks are now seen as a positive element of a person's CV. Managers are becoming increasingly aware that employees who volunteer overseas bring additional benefits to the organisation in terms of skills and experience and often prove to be an inspirational force within the team

The Benefits

Attract good graduates and experienced staff

Organisations are increasingly competing for the brightest graduates and experienced staff - companies who are flexible and offer career break options often attract and retain some of the best employees. Indeed as career breaks are becoming more and more popular and employees demand a more acceptable work life balance, a company that has a positive approach to career break requests is attractive to many prospective employees.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Amanzi Travel's volunteer career break opportunities can provide a means whereby organisations can meet their Corporate Social Responsibility objectives. By supporting employees to undertake volunteer projects in developing counties organisations are contributing to the wider community on an international level - this can form a valuable part of a company's CSR policy.

Reward key personnel

What better way to motivate staff than by rewarding them with an incredible opportunity to take time out and volunteer in Africa through Amanzi Travel! This will not only provide an amazing experience for your rewarded staff but will also act as an attractive incentive to the whole workforce.

Staff Development

Embarking on a voluntary project with Amanzi Travel is an excellent way of developing the leadership and team working skills of your employees. Supporting career break opportunities is a valuable and fulfilling alternative for staff and can complement a company's investment in the more tradition methods of staff training. Quite often the difference in staff returning from a period of volunteering abroad is phenomenal!

Amanzi Travel is committed to working with corporate partners to offer mutally beneficial opportunties to their staff, working with organisation that already have a defined career break scheme as well as with companies who are keen to establish one. As a corporate partner Amanzi Travel will work with the company to promote volunteer opportunities and offer a discount to all staff members who choose to embark on a career break.

To discuss the possibilities for your organisation please contact Amanzi Travel on: Email: info@amanzitravel.co.uk

Helping the Community – with a difference! 
Amanzi Travel links a UK organisation with a community in Zambia

Many large organisations these days actively encourage their staff to develop links with local communities but Fresenius Kabi, a leading European provider of clinical nutrition and infusion therapy, has taken the idea one step further. Following a company conference in Zambia, Amanzi Travel arranged for 100 members of the Fresenius Kabi staff to volunteer with the local community at the Maramba Township, Livingstone, where they helped with a number of community development projects as well as being involved in the English classes and some sports coaching for the local children.

The shortage of space at the Linda Basic School is so great that the children have to “hot desk” and are only able to attend school for part of each day. The Fresenius Kabi team got stuck in with the painting of some newly built classrooms which will go some way to improving the educational opportunities for the youngsters in the area.

The Fresenius Kabi team also helped to build a security wall at the Maramba Clinic – a clinic offering medical support to a very wide area, particularly to mothers and children. However, many of the population carry the HIV virus which is still a great taboo in Zambian society. It is hoped that by improving security measures - such as the new wall - will encourage the local inhabitants to seek the medical attention they strongly need.

Fresenius Kabi, with their expertise in the field of nutrician are ideally placed to offer advice on malnutrician to the Home Based Care Group – a group of local volunteer women who go out into the community to offer care and advice to patients with HIV, TB and Malaria who often cannot afford to go to the clinic.

Another project undertaken was the construction of a fence, the aim of which is to reduce the conflict between farmers and the local elephant population. Particularly in the dry season the elephants raid the farmers’ crops – often resulting in the farmer losing his whole income in one night! Tragically these elephants are often shot as a result. A local Trust has found that one way of keeping the elephants away is to use chilli peppers – which cause terrible itching for the elephants if they touch them – and a new fence, smothered in chilli grease, is one way of keeping the elephants out and restoring harmony to this particular part of the African continent.

If any local companies – or individuals - would like information on how they can get involved and help, they should contact Gemma Whitehouse, Managing Director of Amanzi Travel, who will be able to offer them opportunities in many countries in southern Africa.