Want to do something really worthwhile? Teach disadvantaged children in township schools in a beautiful resort town. You'll work with underprivileged communities who really appreciate your help. You can choose to work with primary or secondary schools.

"I'm absolutely loving South Africa. Knysna is much bigger and much more lively than I ever imagined, and the schools are much more friendly and receptive than I dreamed possible. I couldn't have asked for more support or a more beautiful place to live in." Gill Taylor

►SUMMARY FACTFILE
Start Dates	All year round (subject to school terms) - you choose your start and finish dates!
Duration	From 1 week and up to 1 year, subject to visa requirements
Requirements	No qualifications needed, just a good dose of enthusiasm!
Price	From £795 / US$1,195 for 1 week, ranging to £2,895 / US$4,345 for 12 weeks. Full Price List and other Currencies
What's included	►Accommodation ►Food ►Meeting you at the Airport ►Transfer to your accommodation ►Full pre-departure support ►Local in-country team support and backup ►24-hr emergency support ►Free T-shirt
What's not included	Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance), Return transfer to airport.
Who can do this Project?	All our projects are open to all nationalities. Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Our teaching programme is in the beautiful Western Cape’s Garden Route are situated in Knysna. The schools cater for many children from the poorer township community. Your help and support are appreciated by everyone, but mostly by the children! Our programme has been running in this region for many years and the impact our volunteers have had is amazing. Many of them return again and again. The result is a community that has benefited tremendously since we started.

Standards in the schools are generally very high, but materials and resources may be scarce. Even with the lack of facilities, etc., the enthusiasm of the students and staff at the schools more than make up for this. The children have a fantastic energy about them and you will be immediately welcomed in by hoards of children running up to greet the new teacher. It is often difficult to stop them smiling!

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!

WORK CONTENT
You'll normally begin your placement by assisting the teachers but, depending on your ability, you may progress on to being given complete control of a particular class or group. You'll receive a lot of help and support from the teachers and staff at the schools, but you should be prepared to use your own initiative and ask when you need something. The average class size ranges from 15 to a manageable 40.

We didn't anticipate how much there would be to do in Knysna, so our only worry is fitting it all in. Last week, after meeting all the other guys, we went out on Friday which was lovely. Pauline gave us a tour drive around Knysna, so we got to see the beautiful views of the lagoon and town.

We have been to both the soup kitchen and the orphanage. Lewis and I are keen to go to both as much as possible, and love getting to know the kids. We're going to be very muscly by the end of the month though - all of them want picking up and swinging around all the time!

Knysna has absolutely everything we could want or need, and we are being well looked after by Pauline. We're just starting to regret that we are only here for a month!

Got any questions? Please email us: info@travellersworldwide.com

TEACHING ENGLISH & OTHER SUBJECTS:
You will normally be asked to stand up in front of a class and teach conversational English - you are not expected to be an expert on grammar or literature. The important thing is to help people speak English. You may also be asked to help with other subjects but this is optional and it is only if you feel confident.

The teaching Suggestions Booklet which we provide you with has ideas for teaching English and will also help structuring lessons in other subjects. Video facilities are available in some schools and audio equipment is quite commonplace.
 
You will most likely teach in more than one school. Most of the schools are State schools, both secondary and primary. You will generally be asked to help out with any age groups. You are, in fact, very likely to be in popular demand everywhere - in and out of the classroom.
 
Please visit these links for further details on other subjects that you can teach in Knysna:

Teaching Drama & Music
Coaching Sports
Teaching Design Technology

LOCATION:
The famous Garden Route stretches along the warm Indian Ocean with natural splendors ranging from exotic white beaches to ancient indigenous forests, home to monkeys, buck and leopard and the elusive forest elephants. The Garden Route is famous for all sorts of activities from adrenalin sports such as bungee jumping, skydiving and shark cage diving, to more relaxed pursuits like hiking, quad biking in the forest or visiting one of the many animal sanctuaries in the area. Our local staff will be happy to assist you in finding interesting things to do and places to see, so make the most of it!

'I've just had a great time, thanks so much for helping me be a part of life here in Knysna. The kids really are great and they are so excited to learn. The memory of them performing "I'm going on a bear hunt" will stay with me forever as will their pride as they declared that they were the "mighty Thembelitsha!" Mary Stokes

The town of Knysna is just 20-30 minutes drive away from Plettenberg Bay (better known simply as Plett). Plett is a bit smaller than Knysna, but equally stunning.  It's pure white beaches stretch as far as the eye can see and there is a lot to do, from whale and dolphin watching, to hiking trails and awesome nightlife.

If you're a little unsure about the idea of standing in front of a class and teaching, you can, before you leave, enroll in a 1-day intensive open teacher training course (optional) to help you teach if you have no previous experience and would like to gain a little teaching knowledge.

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:

• 5-DAY OR 7-DAY SAFARI from Cape Town up the renowned Garden Route: taking in Dolphin and Whale Spotting, visits to many tourist attractions, such as a visit to a brewery(!), the Bloukrantz Bungy Jump (reportedly the highest in the world), and a guided tour of the Cango Caves.
• 1 WEEK WHALES, SHARKS AND DOLPHINS Project: This is an extraordinary and exciting project in a beautiful location, surrounded by white beaches and blue ocean. And two hours from the world's third favourite city - Cape Town. What more could anyone want?
• SURFING COURSES: In the buzz city of Durban.
• PARAGLIDING COURSE: Soar over the impressively beautiful Drakensburg Mountain. You'll get a licence at the end of the course which qualifies you to do solo paragliding around the world.

• The Soup Kitchen - Help out at the local soup kitchen which provides meals to the local underprivileged community.
• 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! There may be other similar projects available at the time you're there that you might want to participate in.

Your Travellers Project Co-ordinator on the Placement:
Once you apply for this placement, all your arrangements will be taken care of by Elizabeth Tratt (better known as Liz J), Travellers UK-based Project Co-ordinator for teaching in South Africa. She'll liaise with you to discuss your needs and will be able to answer all your questions. Once you're in South Africa, you'll be well looked after by our South African team, but Liz will remain in touch with you throughout your stay.

SUNRIDGE SCHOOL (mural painted by one of Travellers' volunteers)

Volunteer house in Knysna

Monkey family with baby on the verandah of one of the volunteer houses

Thanks to Travellers volunteers, these orphans had their first trip to the circus

Knysna: For this project you will live in our volunteer house with other Travellers volunteers. You may 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. This is a comfortable house with good facilities and a beautiful view of Knysna Lagoon. You will be provided with a food budget, so that you can buy your own groceries and cook and prepare your own meals at the house, this makes for a great social event.

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 house that we use may change owing to availability.

There are several good, inexpensive steak houses and lots of good Chinese, Italian and other ethnic restaurants all over South Africa. Seafood, of course, is often fresh and plentiful.

On Arrival, your Introduction to the Country:
When you arrive you will be welcomed by a member of our South African staff who will take you to your accommodation and introduce you to everyone. During your first few days you'll be given an induction so that you can learn about the country and its culture, as well as other useful information, like how to use the transport system, banks, safety issues, tipping, and lots more.

"The area is beautiful and travelling is easy. The house we stay in is lovely and the Travellers workers are such kind, loving people which really makes it feel like a home away from home. What with all the other volunteers and the Travellers staff, it really does feel like our own little family ... well, our own very big family, I suppose!!!!" Luke Brennan

Be inspired by one volunteers story of her time in South Africa and the subsequent links she developed when she was back home. Sarah Cowan's heart warming story

TRAVEL:
To read about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country, please click here.

Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
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Suite 2A, Caravelle House, 17/19 Goring Road, Worthing,
West Sussex, BN12 4AP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1903 502595    Fax: +44 (0)1903 708179
Email:info@travellersworldwide.com