The world without computers today seems unfathomable, yet the reality to the kids in rural Wild Coast Schools is just that! Be a part of the amazing experience of bringing computer literacy to this beautiful coastal region of South Africa and enable our kids to have a chance at a realistic future, by teaching them the skills that they need to progress. As well as teaching in our rural Wild Coast Schools, volunteer teachers are involved in running arts initiatives, sports developments and community development initiatives. The Wild Coast Schools Project is the worlds first volunteer project to be awarded the Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) mark. Read more about what it mean to be Fair Trade accredited.
Volunteer Teaching Project Highlights
- We always ask our volunteer teachers what the highlight of their experience was and their top highlight is always...THE KIDS!
- Volunteer teaching in the Big Green e-Machine, our mobile computer lab, in schools that do not have the infrastructure or space to support a permanent lab.
- Living in the stunning Chintsa and the beach lifestyle that comes with it!
Why Volunteer Africa 32°South?
Our motivations at VA32 are:
1. To become recognised as the leading volunteer organisation in education, conservation and social transformation projects in South Africa.
2. To provide the best possible experience to all participating volunteers.
3. To constantly strive for improved projects - taking 5 years of feedback has helped us shape this upgraded project.
The Volunteer Africa objectives on the Wild Coast Schools Project are to:
1. Equip rural and peri-urban schools with networked computer labs (a multi-phase project).
2. Continue developing appropriate teaching aids and support structures for both teachers and learners.
3. Teaching basic computer skills, with volunteer support.
4. Deliver “teaching excellence” through leading by example in under resourced schools.
5. Constantly improve learning environments in our Wild Coast schools.
The rural schools of South Africa have found themselves in the restrictive scenario of “equal education” policies in a country consisting of vastly different levels of development. One of the major areas to be overlooked is that relating to the provision and teaching of 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. In the few schools that have electricity, very few have computers, and those that have computers have been left to develop in a vacuum with inappropriate and non-existent support structures. Volunteer Africa is committed to sourcing schools with computers and putting into place the necessary teacher training and continued support for these schools to allow them to produce competitive learners for the demanding technological world of adulthood.
Volunteer teaching in Africa is a challenging and exciting arena. Volunteer Africa is appealing to the international volunteer community for their support in attaining of the above targets.
Volunteer Africa currently works with six rural schools: managing four permanent labs, a mobile computer lab, 150 computers and teaching over 1000 learners from pre-school to high school. Computer literacy is closely linked to Environmental Education through our innovative & structured teaching modules.
As a volunteer teacher you only need basic computer literacy skills, a lot of energy, enthusiasm and a free spirit of sharing. Our strong and professional team of facilitators ensure that you are well supported, guided and mentored to be of optimal value to the learners.
Project Tasks
- Volunteer team teaching as well as lesson planning and preperation. Our Volunteer Africa co-ordinators will assist volunteers with lesson planning according to our Scheme of Work.
- Volunteers run and provide teaching in theBig Green e-Machine which currently reaches two rural schools.
- Volunteers drive the Sports Development Initiative two afternoons a week with assistance from Tobz & Milton - our local support staff.
- Volunteers provide support to a local orphange where their enthusiasm and time is vital for the young children in this under-staffed childrens home.
The Big Green e-Machine!
This amazing mobile computer lab is a highlight for our volunteer teachers as well as the Volunteer Africa staff! Converted from an old land-rover and donated by local tour operator African Heartland Journeys, the lab has it's own personality as it cruises around our rural Wild Coast Schools to teach the fun-loving children of several remote schools who do not have either the space or infrastructure for a permanent lab. Watch our movie "A Day in the Life of the Big Green e-Machine" (below) to see how this initiative works or click here to see a slideshow of our volunteers teaching in the lab.
Community Development Initiatives
Wild Coast Schools teaching volunteers take part in Community Development Initiatives in the afternoon. These initiatives change over time according to what issues are being addressed in Chintsa at any one time. Current initiatives include a Sports Development Initiative with local Chintsa children on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Volunteer teachers drive this initiative forward with the help of Tobz & Milton - our local Chintsa staff, who use the Dragon Sports Development Program to plan drills and activities for each sports session. The program strives towards creating a formal sporting framework where new sport’s disciplines, teamwork and the understanding of sport etiquette are developed. Sport is able to teach 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, in a country such as South Africa.
Volunteers also support a local orphanage to help children with their homework and spend some valuable one-on-one time with the children there. Our volunteers recently started teaching computer skills at the orphanage as these young children have no access to computer literacy in school.
Previous initiatives have included evening adult computer literacy classes, project clean-up in which volunteers assisted in cleaning up historical waste grounds in the Chintsa village and instilling a sense of pride and ownership with the village community. Visit the Volunteer Africa flickr profile to see our current and past Community Development Initiatives in action.
*This daily guide is to be used as a basic guidline only, all volunteer projects should be approached with flexibility- there will often be changes...you don't come to Africa to live a "typical day" do you?!
A "Typical" Day on the Volunteer Teaching Project!
Your days as a teaching volunteer will run typically from 8am - 5pm. Volunteers are awake in time to eat breakfast and walk to the Volunteer Africa office to leave for school at 8am sharp. They are dropped off at their respective rural schools where volunteers will immurse themselves in teaching and project tasks. After school (between 12.30-1.30pm) volunteers are picked up and taken back to Chintsa where they have time to have a break and some lunch. Teaching volunteers take part in several Community Development Initiatives in the afternoons throughout the week, all of which involve the local Chintsa children and community. Although these initiatives change over time Volunteer Africa guarantee a structured programme of initiatives with long term progress and community development in mind. Evenings are free time.
Weekends & Free Time
The Weekend is your own time. There is plenty going on in Chintsa thanks to African Heartland Journeys who offer surf schools, beach horse trails, quad biking, canoeing and tours to meet the infamous Mama Tofu in her traditional Xhosa village. If you want to get out of Chintsa you're in the perfect spot to begin your adventure! To the north is the Wild Coast, birthplace of Neson Mandela this stunningly rugged coastline is also home to the rural amaXhosa tribes. To the South is the Garden Route with awesome surf, beautiful beaches and the worlds highest bungy bridge- perfect for andrenaline junkies! The Volunteer Africa team will help you to organise your weekend away with all bookings and car rental, making your experience as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Volunteers stay in the Volunteer Africa "vollie" house in the stunning beach village of Chintsa. Rooms are shared between 2-6 people. The vollie house is situated only 3mins walk from the beautiful Chintsa beach.
Facilities include:
Communal kitchen & living area
All mod cons. including washing machine
Hot & cold running water
All bedding
Meals
Three meals a day are included in the volunteer project fee. Breakfast is self-serve in the communal kitchen where cereal, bread, jams & spreads are all provided. House Manager Noms prepares a packed lunch for every volunteer, which includes a fresh sandwich and a piece of fruit to keep you going throughout your school day. Dinner time is a friendly affair with all of our teaching volunteers coming together. Noms delicious home-made meals are a highlight for many volunteers! A typical weekly menu includes: Bangers & Mash, Roast Chicken, Burger Night, Lasagne and Spaghetti Bolognaise. On Friday nights we celebrate what it is to be South African with Braai Night (that's a barbeque!). Vegetarian options are available on request.
Nici - Project Co-ordinator
The main point of contact during your stay with Volunteer Africa. Nici lives in the vollie house and is happy to offer her help and advice in anything project and Chintsa related.
Nomakwezi (Kwezi) - House Manager Kwezi runs the volunteer house in Chintsa. This fun, young motherly character keeps the house clean and tidy, cooks delicious meals and generally keeps the place running smoothly.
Thobela (Tobz) – Supporting Staff Tobz lends a helping hand in the practical logistics of the program. Driving, airport pick-ups/ drop-offs and generally making sure you're in the right place at the right time! Tobz also takes a lead role in running the afternoon Sports Development Initiative.
Milton (Miller) - Supporting Staff
We call Milton Superman! He's a handy guy to have around! As well as seeing him working his magic on maintaining the vollie house he joins Tobz in running the afternoon Sports Development Initiative.
Karen - Bookings & Travel Logistics
A part of the VA32 Team from it's beginnings & highly experienced in the travel industry. Karen will guide you through the booking process, happily answer any questions you may have & be your main point of contact with VA32 before your arrival
You're bound to come across other members of the Volunteer Africa team during your time in Chintsa - visit about us to see who else is involved!
The Volunteer Teaching Project opens on 10th January 2011. Project start and end dates are every Monday thereafter. A minimum of two weeks is required for each placement. The Volunteer Teaching Project will close on Sunday 4th December 2011.
As of 2011 only arrivals on Monday and departures on Monday can be accommodated, if your arrival is on any other day of the week there may be an additional fee to consider.
Please attempt to fit placements into the set days & dates provided as this assists Volunteer Africa to ensure a streamlined and efficient experience for all teaching volunteers.
What's Included in the Project Fee?
- Airport transfers on arrival
- 3 meals per day whilst on project
- All accommodation whilst on project
- Highly skilled & knowledgable project co-ordinators
- 24 hour support
What's not Included?
- Airport transfers if your arrival is not on a Monday
- Accommodation & meals when you are not on site
- Insurance
- All Flights
E-mail us: info@volunteerafrica.co.za Call Us: +27 (0)43 738 5523 Skype Us: volunteerafrica32
Or click here to fill in our online enquiry form!
Please tell us your full name & contact details as well as the dates you would like to join the Wild Coast Schools - Volunteer Teaching Project. On receipt of your e-mail we will be in touch with answers to any questions you may have, the full volunteer teaching project pack and our Volunteer Africa application form.
- Please note that to confirm your booking we require a 35% deposit of the total project fee, the remaining balance is due one week prior to arrival.
- Volunteers must be aged 18+ to take part in the project.
- Volunteers require a basic level of spoken English.
- Volunteer teachers require a basic level of computer skill.
- It would be of benefit for the volunteer to have a background in education or teaching to allow the maximum impact to the project objectives although more importantly, they must have a lot of energy and enthusiasm to put into volunteer teaching.
- Volunteer teachers are asked to commit to a minimum placement of 2 weeks on the teaching project to allow a sense of security for the learners and facilitate the building of productive relationships. There is no maximum time: the longer you stay, the stronger you become.
Flights & Logistics
The nearest airport to Chintsa is East London (ELS) Airport. International volunteers must fly via Cape Town or Johannesburg International Airports and get a domestic flight to East London from there. If you need assistance or advice on booking flights
e-mail info@volunteerafrica.co.za.
If you're already in South Africa or plan to arrive by any other means of transport, our Location Page will tell you exactly how to find us!
