WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into Africa and the many diverse cultures in South Africa

• The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged children and knowing that you made a difference to them.

• New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.

• An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market

• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

If you know sign language, you could work with the totally deaf children - or you could actually teach sign language to those learning how to sign! You may, at first, spend a bit of time in each class, and then decide where you would like to go on a regular basis. The children follow the normal Grade 1 - 7 lessons and if you would like to teach any specific lessons, the school would be happy to arrange this.

Once settled in with the classes you'd like to be involved with, you'll be given a timetable to follow for the duration of your placement.

School starts at 8am and finishes at 2.15pm. There are breaks at 10.30 and 12.50. Lessons are 30 minutes long and all teaching is done in English.

Sports: Some time during the school day is spent outside, playing games, but they have no formal sports. The kids love playing football or netball, but unfortunately the school doesn't have a formal sports timetable. If you'd like to coach children in any sport, it would be very welcome and the children would be encouraged to participate. If you do choose to do this, you can arrange to coach groups of children during their “Life Orientation“ lessons. 

During the summer, the children go to the local Observatory public swimming pool right next to the school – it's an outdoor pool and a very popular “sports” outing, which the children love!

SCHOOL TERMS IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Dates for the 2012 school terms (semesters) are given below.

• Term 1: 18th Jan – 30th Mar

• Term 2: 10th April – 22nd June

• Term 3: 16th July – 28th Sept

• Term 4: 8th Oct – 7th Dec

Teaching assistance is not available during school holidays, so if you're planning to participate in a placement, please take the above school term dates into account when planning the timing of your project. On the other hand, if a holiday falls during your proposed placement, you could use this time to do any independent travelling and sightseeing. This is the choice that most of our volunteers make to gain some additional experience and knowledge of the region or, indeed, the country.

Nervous about going somewhere new? Or about teaching? Read Adrian Tate's description of his arrival in South Africa to teach Sports.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:

• 3-DAY GARDEN ROUTE ADVENTURE: Price: £260 / US $390
• 5-DAY WHALE AND WILDLIFE SAFARI: Price: £365 / US $550
• 7-DAY ADVENTURE WILDLIFE SAFARI: Price: £450 / US $675
• 1-WEEK WILDLIFE REHABILITATION: Spend a fantastic week working hands-on with abused, abandoned and orphaned animals. Price: £375
• PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES:
  • Beginners Compact and DSLR Cameras:  3 hours. Price: £85
  • Digital SLR Course, 12 hours. Price: £345
  • Image Editing, Adobe Photoshop CS Intro Course, 8 hours, Price: £195
  • Image Editing Software, Adobe Lightroom, 6 hours, Price: £160
• 1 WEEK ON THE WHALES, SHARKS AND DOLPHINS PROJECT: Price: £345, includes accommodation, transfer from Cape Town to the project, but excludes food.