Travellers was approached by a
volunteer who wanted a placement that specialised in "theatre in education"
and/or "theatre in the community". This seemed like an excellent idea to us because it was
potentially one that could have a dramatic impact on the local community (please
pardon the pun!)
We are looking for
volunteers to continue teaching Drama and Music in the schools in the community.
It's a fun way to really make a difference to the children and it will
have a very strong impact on you as well. Here's what one of our
volunteers had to say:
South Africa is FANTASTIC!
Teaching is incredible. I've been excited every day to go to school. The
kids are so ready to learn music and drama. I've been doing a mix with
them. I bring my guitar to school every day and have taught most of my
classes four of my favorite songs. Two by a band called Old Crow
Medicine Show and the other two by The Grateful Dead. I've also been
teaching the older kids some stage combat. I find it a little bit harder
to get into serious drama with them but I am going to try later on this
week. All in all everything is wonderful. Thank you for this
experience!"
Richard Adler
People from all backgrounds can
participate in drama, developing essential skills by learning to express
themselves and gain self-confidence. Theatre can be aimed at young people, old
people, disadvantaged people, sick people, homeless people- to educate and
inform or simply to entertain.
This can take the form of productions for
schools, orphanages, old people's homes, plays for the education of local
children, theatre workshops for disadvantaged children.
We would like the volunteers
on the project to include the following:
Organising and putting on drama workshops in various
local schools around George and Knysna. This would
involve energising warm-ups, improvisations, dance-drama and devising pieces
of theatre in small groups.
Organising an after-school drama club
(and possibly even during lunch break) or drama sessions
during school-time for pupils.
Helping the local school children to put on a small-scale
productions so that they can all been involved in some aspect of it
(either acting, creating costumes, masks, set or make-up).
Please note that these may not always take place during your project - it will
depend on what's happening when you're there.
Devising
and performing educational pieces of theatre (on issues such as
bullying) for the school children at any available venues (town hall/school
yard/wherever!).
Alongside the drama, volunteers
could also help out with conversational English
classes (and any other subjects where needed).
It may also be possible to incorporate drama lessons into the English classes,
perhaps once a week.
The project may possibly be
extended to involve local unemployed people, or street kids, or even elderly
people or children's orphanages. These are just a few ideas and it may be that
some volunteers will have more ideas that will help to make this project a
worthwhile one that will benefit the community for a long time to come.
Who can take part?
It is hoped that the majority of
volunteers participating in this project will have some drama experience
and/or be involved in drama in some form. You could
be studying it as an A-level subject or perhaps
involved in school or amateur productions.
Perhaps you have some ability to produce
costumes or props?
Do you have any skills in set design?
Stage make-up?
Music?
Or an ability to design programmes,
tickets, produce scripts on computer?
Do you think you could write short
scripts for productions?
An ability to encourage local companies
and institutions to donate used costumes or props would be very welcome!
SCHOOL TERMS IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Dates for the 2008 school terms (semesters) are given below.
1st Term 11 January to
20 March
2nd Term 14 April to
27 June
3rd Term 16 July to 21 September
4th Term 1 October to
30 November
Dates for the 2009 school terms (semesters) are given below.
As an added
bonus to your project you will also have the opportunity
to provide help and support to the local community through the various
afternoon activities we have to offer. This is an excellent way to emmerse
yourself into the African culture, but most importantly to give a caring
hand to the local community. The activities could range from helping out at;
The local
orphanage - Make the afternoons fun and exciting for these lovely
children by playing games, helping them with home work and just being
there to give them the attention that they so crave.
The art centre for children - You could
make a great impact in their lives by helping them to express their
creative side and enjoying an afternoon full of art and crafts. This is
such an exciting opportunity for children, so why not be a part of it
too!
The soup
kitchen - Soup kitchens have been set up to provide a meal for
the poorer children in the community and often this will be the only
decent meal a child has during the day - any support given is greatly
appreciated by all.
After
school drama or sports - Take some time out after school to set up after
school sports or drama clubs, the children love it and it's a great way
to get to know them better in a relaxed and fun environment(If
you'd like to set up a drama or sports club, please let us know when you
apply so that we can arrange it with the school before you arrive.)
Other
community projects - In the past volunteers have helped to paint the
outside of a crèche that was in desperate need of a lift, the crèche is
now looking very cheerful with brightly coloured walls. A jungle gym was
donated to this orphanage and volunteers also helped to put it together
for the crèche too!
You could be
part of these excellent and worthwhile projects so why not volunteer in
Knysna!
Accommodation and Living in South Africa
Volunteer house in Knysna
Monkeys in the garden of one of
the volunteer houses in Knysna
Knysna: You will
more than likely live in one of our
volunteer houses with other Travellers
volunteers. You will either have your own room or will share a room with one or
more other Travellers volunteers. It will depend on how many people are there at
the same time that you are. These are comfortable
houses with good facilities and
most have a beautiful view of Knysna Lagoon. You will
be provided with a food budget and will need to prepare and cook your own meals.
Plettenberg Bay: You will more than likely live in a loely and very
friendly backpackers hostel with
other Travellers volunteers. You will share a
room with one or more other Travellers volunteers. It will depend on how many
people are there at the same time that you are. The
backpackers is very conveniently located,
close to the beach with good facilities, including a bar and pool table.
George: Here you have
the opportunity to live with a local family and truly immerse yourself in the
local culture. Many volunteers prefer this option because it enables them to
'become one of the family'. Most of our volunteers remain good friends with
their families long after they've returned home.
When accommodation is limited,
we occasionally place volunteers in a local Guest House
which is very comfortable and convenient for access into town.
** Please note that occasionally the houses that we use may change owing to
availability, so the facilities you can expect may change accordingly.
There are several good, inexpensive
steak houses and lots of good Chinese, Italian and other ethnic restaurants.
"Thank you so much for all the time and effort you have put into making this a
fantastic stay for us. We will never forget this experience!" Cat
Dunlop and Liz Lunn
To read about the extensiveSupport & Backup we provide in our countries,
please click here.
TRAVEL:
You have the option to arrange your
own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would
like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights
and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will
be fulfilled for you by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd., ATOL No. 6856. (Read
more about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.) Where possible, we arrange for two or
more people to travel on the same flight and we will let you have the names and
telephone numbers of other volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to
each other or even meet up before leaving for your placement.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets
because many of our volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in
their destination country. Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within
the limits of your visa and the level of your air ticket, of course. If you
choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get a changeable
ticket. We meet you at the airport regardless of whether you make your own
travel arrangements or not.
We can also arrange your flight
dates to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling
around and sightseeing - this is a fascinating and wondrous country!
VISAS:. In countries where
visas or immigration documents are required, we'll send you all the necessary
forms and information and make the process very easy for you.
To
read about the extensiveSupport & Backup
we provide in our countries,
please
click
here.
Read how our volunteers have
made a difference to the children in the
schools
PRICES:
To see the Prices of this project and all
our other projects in South Africa, please
click here
Prices
include
Food & accommodation while on your project,
unless otherwise stated,
2 T-shirts, if required
for your project
All support and backup
during your programme
Meeting you at the
nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.
.
+44 01903 502595
