African Angels Creche Project

Background
African Angels is a not for profit organisation based in Chintsa, South Africa, who seek, receive and distribute sponsorship for the education of African children (the Angels) identified as needy and unlikely to receive a continuous and good quality education (early childhood to matriculation) unless sponsorship is received.

VA32 has linked with African Angels to provide a volunteer placement in a pre-school providing extraordinary opportunities for significantly disadvantaged rural children.

About African Angels (Registered Trust IT453/2007)
African Angels was formed in 2007 by Lou Billett, an Australian now living in South Africa, and Tracy King, the owner of the King’s Playschool in Glen Eden in this project. A trust has been established in South Africa, with 3 trustees, Lou Billett, Tracy King and Peter Meier.

As of August 2007 there were 15 rural children aged 2 to 6 years attending the King’s Playschool. The children live in one of two informal settlements in either Glen Eden or Chintsa East, though the majority of Angels come from the Glen Eden settlement.

African Angels’ underpinning philosophy revolves around the belief that the most effective way to drive positive change in South Africa, is to ensure children receive a good quality and continuous education in Africa, from pre-school to matriculation. In most cases with families living in informal settlements or ‘townships’, this cannot be achieved without additional financial aid from sponsors.

A partnership approach has been designed between parents and the pre-school, where parent(s) must contribute a nominal fee each month, and more importantly must ensure their child arrives for school each day, is picked up on time, and has a packed lunch. A hot meal is also provided at school. School fees are covered by the sponsor. Unlike other organizations, 100% of sponsor’s contributions are used to pay for school fees, with the African Angels organization fund raising to pay for running costs such as domain hosting and administration fees.

VA32 and African Angels’ Volunteer Opportunity
VA32 volunteers have the opportunity to work within the Angels’ class, with their teacher, and provide teacher support, notably around the week’s learning themes, using them to develop the learners’ mastery of the English language.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to work closely with the Angels in a supported and professional classroom environment in a team teaching / supportive role from 8.00am – 12.30pm, and then in a one to one teacher role with an Angel until 2:00pm, Monday to Friday.

There are a discrete number of Angels drawn from the Glen Eden community which has enabled Tracy and her team to form close relationships with the parent(s) of the Angels. Olivia, the Angels’ teacher lives in the Glen Eden settlement, and so providing the platform for volunteers to develop a unique and empathetic understanding of life in a rural, informal environment.

Volunteer Profile
A minimum age of 18 applies for all VA32 placements. Early childhood teaching experience or a background in education would be of benefit to the volunteer but is not essential. Volunteers must have excellent English language skills and the desire to work with children aged 2 – 6 years. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum placement of 4 weeks on the Angels project to ensure a sense of security for the children.

Orientation:
Orientation is designed to provide a fun and insightful experience to introduce our organisation, projects and beautiful & diverse country to volunteers. It provides time for them to settle into their new, and at times challenging, environment as well as allowing them to develop their working relationship with the co-ordinating team and other volunteers, understand our support structures and become familiar with the workings of VA32. It includes a 2 Day Wild Coast Adventure Tour before being placed into the project for a school specific orientation.

Topics and activities covered in orientation & on tour:
Socio-political & historical developments of South Africa
Culture & traditions of the amaXhosa people – overnight in a rural Xhosa village
Fauna & flora of the Wild Coast
Coastal dynamics of the Wild Coast
Estuarine systems explored
Adventure tour includes a “kloofing” (cliff jumping) experience

Project specific orientation:
Project overview by facilitating team
Teaching methodology explained
Lesson preparation and delivery unravelled
Introduction to schemes of work/ lesson plans and structure
Visit to the creche

2010 Rates
4 Weeks - 16,209 ZAR (additional weeks 3,463 ZAR per week)