ZAMBIA, AFRICA ENCOUNTER (2-WEEK)

Dates: July 9-22 (Monday - Sunday)
Cost: $1,800 USD, $1,890 CAD
This is a NON-SMOKING site.

>>>ATTENTION! eQuip RECIPIENTS (eQuip is a resource for leaders of partnering churches)
Be sure to check out page 10 of the November/December issue of eQuip for a coupon good for $25 off the registration fee to send one of your student leaders to go on a Youth Unlimited ENCOUNTER experience in 2009. See coupon for details.

General Description: The Zambia ENCOUNTER is for committed Christians between the ages of 17 and 24. There are about 1 million orphans in Zambia from the AIDS pandemic and the Christian Church in Zambia does not have the resources to adequately care for and minister to the orphans. Youth Unlimited is partnered with Every Orphans’ Hope – a Christian ministry to the orphans of Africa (www.everyorphan.org) – and with local churches to conduct the Bible Camps and provide ongoing physical and spiritual care to orphans through a sponsorship program.

Facilities: We will stay in a guest house, which is a rooming house operated by a church to train people in hotel management and culinary arts (we have great food and bottled water). The weather will be dry with temperatures as low as 50 F at night and about 80 F during the day. August is late winter early spring in Zambia, which is south of the equator.

Work Sites: The ENCOUNTER team will host a Bible Camp for 250-300 orphaned children. You will be partnered with a Zambian Christian to lead a small group of 10 to 15 orphans during the Bible Camp. You will have an opportunity to talk with each child in your group about the hope that God offers through the sacrifice and grace of Jesus. God has worked through others just like you to change the lives of many orphans for eternity! After the Bible Camp the ENCOUNTER team will help Every Orphan’s Hope maintain their orphan homes that house 5 to 8 orphans and a house mother.

Transportation: Registration fees do NOT include airfare to and from Zambia. As an all-inclusive site, transportation will be provided for you once you arrive at the site. YU will arrange for flights from your central point of departure (New York, NY or Washington DC) to Lusaka, Zambia for you and the other participants, but again the price of airfare is in addition to the registration fee. The transportation fee (airfare) typically ranges from $1,800 to $3,000 USD depending on availability of steeply discounted seats and will also include the cost of your Visa to enter Zambia (Approx. $135 USD/$55 CAD – The nation of Canada has a special arrangement with the government of Zambia.). You are responsible for securing your own transportation to/from the central point of departure (either New York, NY or Washington DC) to meet up with the rest of the team. The team will meet on July 30^th at the central point of departure for orientation. You’ll then travel together to Lusaka, Zambia on July 30^th arriving in country on the 31^st. You'll return from Lusaka to central point of departure (either New York City, NY or Washington D.C.) together on August 11^th and continue to travel home on that same day. 

Youth Unlimited will also have several ENCOUNTER interns in Zambia for about two months (starting in mid-June through the August SERVE) helping Every Orphan’s Hope prepare and coordinate with the host churches in Zambia for several Bible Camps plus a large national event hosted by churches throughout Zambia the first Sunday in October, in celebration of Orphan Sunday in Zambia. ENCOUNTER interns are between 16 and college age Christians that are looking for a more in-depth missions experience including training and mentoring during the ENCOUNTER. If you or someone you know might be interested in the 2-month ENCOUNTER contact missions@youthunlimited.org

Other Info: Other expenses that are not covered by YU in the registration fee include your passport application ($85 USD), inoculations/vaccinations ($100-$200 USD estimated for recommended inoculations at county or provincial health department), souvenirs (estimate $50-100 USD), and food and lodging in London or Johannesburg if there is an overnight stay on the way to or from Zambia (estimate $100 USD/night). Note that we've had many flight itineraries require an overnight stay in London or Johannesburg.

The ENCOUNTER Team will have about 6 conference calls starting in February to prepare for our ENCOUNTER experience.

Youth Unlimited will also have several ENCOUNTER interns in Zambia for about two months (starting in mid-June through the August SERVE) helping Every Orphan’s Hope prepare and coordinate with the host churches in Zambia for several Bible Camps plus a large stadium event planned for orphans the first weekend in October in celebration of Orphan Sunday in Zambia. ENCOUNTER interns are between 16 and college age Christians that are looking for a more in-depth missions experience including training and mentoring during the ENCOUNTER. If you or someone you know might be interested in the 2-month ENCOUNTER contact missions@youthunlimited.org .

Important Web Links
U.S. Consular Information Sheet:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1062.html

Canadian Consular Information:
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=333000

Center for Disease Control -- for recommendations about vaccinations and other preventative health measures
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationZambia.aspx

Ministry Web Site: www.everyorphan.org
Facebook Group: Not available 

What are people saying about this site? If you have stories, comments or feedback you’d like us to share about this site, please contact missions@youthunlimited.org