South Africa Wild Coast Teaching Volunteers

  South Africa

Rural Areas

Dates: Contact us for the specific dates.

Description: You will be working closely with local children in the rural community schools, helping them to develop important computer literacy skills, sports programmes and a variety of new development schemes.

The weekly project areas covered as a volunteer will be:

1) Computer Literacy Skills Development
One of the major areas to be overlooked within rural schools in South Africa is the technology fields. Computer Literacy, considered in today's developed societies as a basic human right, is only in its infancy in the Wild Coast region. With your help, this programme will be putting into place the necessary training and continued support for these schools to allow them to produce competitive learners for the demanding technological world. Without these basic skills, equality in education (something the country is striving towards) will not be achieved.

You do not need to be a computer genius to take part in this project: The programme over the years has developed a structured IT learning syllabus for you to focus upon in your lessons, but any extra skills you can bring will be extremely valuable. You will find that the enthusiasm, smiles and willing attitude these children convey for you will make your experience tremendously enjoyable and worthwhile, leaving you with a deep sense of positive achievement.

2) Interactive Sports Development
The sports programme is a new and exciting drive to introduce and develop on-going growth and appreciation in the sporting arena in the communities of the Wild Coast. For the most part, the local schools lack the resources and the capacity to provide effective sports programmes, which is why they need your help.

You will typically work on the sports initiatives for 2 afternoons a week and the children are invited to freely attend: Most of whom jump at the chance to interact with you and play outside with their fellow classmates. Volunteers have taught the children a variety of various sports and team exercises in the past. You will be helping to develop new sport's disciplines, teamwork and an understanding of sport etiquette in the schools. Sport offers a means to encourage not only a healthy lifestyle, but also develop necessary social skills and peer understanding that is essential to the stability and well being of society, not to mention the opportunity for children from extremely difficult backgrounds just to play with their friends!

3) Local Development Schemes
When this programme first began, the local schools were in extremely deprived conditions: Many without electricity, running water or local transport, creating many problems with sanitation, education and the safety of its children. Since the development schemes came into play, and volunteers started coming into the schools, there has been a tremendous impact on the development of the facilities at the schools. You will need to go into the schools with a flexible attitude and prepared to help in any way possible.

Highlights: South Africa is the southern most country on the African continent, stretching over 2500km along the coast, from Namibia to Mozambique. It is one of the most developed countries on the continent, with very good infrastructure and excellent facilities for travellers.

South Africa has it all; from the picturesque beaches for ultimate relaxation, to bustling metropolises for some shopping and partying, to the safaris and wilderness that have made this continent so popular. Cape Town has long been a favourite spot for tourists. Overlooked by Table Mountain, its reputation for being a fun and beautiful city is something that is certified by most people who visit.

South Africa was originally inhabited by the Bantu-speaking people who migrated across Southern Africa. It was first marked on the 'map' in the 15th Century when the Portuguese explorers arrived on the shore of the Cape of Good Hope, making settlements and establishing trade routes. As a result of this, modern South Africa has huge diversity in all aspects of life, stemming from the traditional, tribal and European influence.

The recent history is a mixed affair. As a developed country with political ties to Europe, South Africa gallantly took part in both World Wars. However, only as recently as 1994 has South Africa ended the Apartheid regime. This was engineered by the minority White race and was a horrific and suppressing existence for all who opposed it. One can now hope for a just and democratic state.

Sadly, South Africa's diversity extends to economics, with roughly half the population living below the poverty line in shantytowns and mud huts. South Africa has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world and also the highest number of patients being treated for HIV/ Aids in the world. The government has tripled it's spending on HIV/Aids treatments, although it is doing little to reduce it's prevalence. The average life expectancy for men is just 47 years old, with women outlasting them by only four years, to 51 years old.

Cost in US$: from 2,099 ; deposit of 250

Experience Required: no

Age Range: Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants health.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Written Application

Real Gap Experience's Mission Statement: We are ambitious for our company, our partners and the communities in which we work. We take our responsibilities seriously - understanding that the development of our business impacts directly on our partners, the communities that we visit and work with and that ultimately, our success is their success too.