Family Project Zambia 2026

Dates

July 16 - 27, 2026

Location

Zambia

Participation Fee

$1,900

Overview

Each year, families from around the world join Maranatha on projects designed specifically for families and people of all ages! We are excited to be returning to Zambia in July for the second Family Project of 2026.

In the little community of Mwami (Ma WAH me), the Adventist Church has a small hospital that serves the entire region, plus a nursing school, an elementary school, and a secondary school. While elementary school isn’t that common for children in the bush, a secondary education remains even more rare. But a secondary school opens the way to a better life in the bush or to options beyond it.

Scope

School Construction
In October of 2025, Maranatha dedicated a large, newly constructed school in memory of Lisa Mack and funded by her family. This will greatly expand the opportunity for secondary education in the entire area, starting with the new school year that begins in January of 2026. In addition to these 13 new classrooms, science labs are needed for accreditation. Our group will construct these classrooms so the school can be accredited to teach all required subjects for a secondary education. The framework and roof for these new buildings are already standing and have been functioning as Maranatha’s shop for fabricating the steel for many 1-Day Churches Maranatha has erected in Zambia, as well as for the new Lisa Mack Education Center.

Medical and Dental Ministry
Maranatha volunteers and a team from Adventist Health will collaborate on this mission trip. Health care providers and dental personnel who are part of the Maranatha group can join the Adventist Health team at the Mwami Hospital for some or all days of this project.

Children’s Ministry and Outreach
Our children’s ministry outreach will focus primarily on the school; students are eagerly anticipating our arrival to join them in classes, recess, and other interactions at both the primary and secondary schools.

Day Camp For Our Volunteers Ages 12 and Younger
Maranatha’s Family Projects are designed to be family-friendly and accommodate volunteers of any age. One unique feature of a Family Project is a “Day Camp” for children ages 12 and under. Children under five must have a parent with them at all times. Parents with kids ages 5-12 have three options and can vary their decision day by day.

Have your child join the Day Camp and stay to help with the activities of the day.
Drop your child off at the Day Camp for the day while you join other areas of the project.
Keep your child with you on your work crew throughout the day.

Thursday, July 16

Arrival in Lilongwe (LLW), Malawi and drive to Chipata, Zambia

Friday, July 17

Orientation and First Workday

Saturday, July 18

Worship with a local congregation

Sunday, July 19

Workdays

Saturday, July 25

Worship Service and afternoon drive to Moponi Safari Lodge and South Luangwa National Park

Sunday, July 26

Morning Safari in South Luangwa National Park and afternoon ride to Lilongwe, Malawi

Monday, July 27

Departures from Lilongwe (LLW), Malawi

ARRIVALVolunteers will arrive in Lilongwe, Malawi (LLW), on Thursday, July 16, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.Please wait for confirmation from Maranatha before purchasing your airfare to ensure there is still space on the project and to ensure you book the right flight.

DEPARTUREVolunteers will depart Lilongwe, Malawi (LLW), Monday, July 27 before 6pm.

Uncle Chipeta’s Lodge

VIEW ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Our group will stay at Uncle Chipeta’s Lodge in Chipata, about 45 minutes from the job site. It’s clean. There’s hot water and cold water for showers, plus air conditioning and heat. They are sharing their kitchen with us, and we have a dining room and a separate meeting room for our evening worship. Families will be roomed together. Individuals should plan to stay in double-or triple-occupancy rooms with at least one or two roommates.

Large families that cannot fit into one room will be placed near each other, usually in side-by-side rooms. In some rooms, an additional mattress can be added on the floor for one of the children. If you have a strong preference for a room to yourself, a $200 surcharge will be added to your participation costs. Please let the Maranatha office know in advance it you would like this.

Travel Information

Volunteers will purchase their own plane tickets to and from Lilongwe, Malawi. The posted dates are the arrival and departure dates for the project. You may need to leave home a day or two before the advertised start date to arrive on the correct date. Maranatha representatives will meet volunteers upon arrival in Malawi.

Travel Resources

Butler Travel:
503-879-5005 or by email info@butlertravel.com

South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa National Park is a world-renowned game reserve located in eastern Zambia. The Luangwa River is full of hippopotamuses and crocodiles and is a major water source for the park’s large populations of giraffes, elephants, zebras, and cape buffaloes. Lucky visitors often spot lions, leopards, hyenas, and much more!

You will be staying at the Moponi Safari Lodge, located right on the edge of the Luangwa River. During the dry season, many animals come to the river to drink. There’s also a watering area just to the side of the lodge where guests can enter a protected area to view the animals from ground level. You’ll also hear animals outside of your chalet during the night (it’s safe as long as you’re inside). But the Mopani Safari Lodge has a limited number of beds, so we plan to have our volunteers split into two groups. The first group will be there on Sabbath afternoon, evening, and night, and on Sunday morning, then ride in buses all the way to Lilongwe to spend the night and fly out on Monday, July 27. The second group will be at Mopani Safari Lodge on Sunday afternoon, evening, and night, and on Monday morning, then ride in buses all the way to Lilongwe to spend the night and fly out on Tuesday, July 28.

*Before you book your flights, please check with the Maranatha office to see which group you’ll be in so you get to the airport on the right day.

Contact Us Want to speak with someone at Maranatha directly? Please call our office at 916.774.7700 to speak with a volunteer specialist. Alternatively, you can send us an email.

Thank you for your interest in one of our mission projects. You have been added to the interest list, and you will be notified via e-mail as soon as more information is available and registration has been opened. Typically registration is open three to six months in advance of the project dates; although, sometimes it can be delayed as we lock in accommodations and budgets. Thank you for your patience.

Please note that putting your name on the interest list ensures that you will be notified when registration is available, but does not guarantee you a place on the project. You will still need to complete the online registration form to reserve your spot on the trip.

Feel free to contact us at anytime to find out the current status of this project.