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TEACH UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN CAPE TOWN

You'll work in a school in Cape Town that has many children from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and poorer parts of the community. Your help and support are appreciated by everyone, but mostly by the children! General facilities at the schools are somewhat limited although the school does have computer facilities and so would also very much appreciate the help of volunteers with computer experience!

SUMMARY FACTFILE
Start Dates All year round (subject to school terms/semesters) - you choose your start and finish dates.
Duration Minimum stay 2 weeks and up to 1 year, subject to visa requirements
Requirements No qualifications needed, just a big dose of enthusiasm for conservation and the outdoors.
Price From £845 / US$1,345 for 2 weeks, ranging to £2,595 / US$3,895 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 Two free T-shirts.
What's not included Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance), transport to and from the projects, return transfer to the 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 project is located in a suburb, called Observatory, situated at the bottom of Devil’s Peak (so named because of its shape). This peak makes up the left-hand formation of the famous Table Mountain, so named ‘tablecloth’ of clouds that cascade down its slopes. The view of the peak from the school is quite spectacular.

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:
Our Cape Town teaching placement is located in one of the Southern Suburbs called Observatory and is conveniently positioned only a 10 minute walk from your accommodation.
Cape Town has everything to offer with its stunning beaches, great surf, penguins, great nightlife and of course Table Mountain!

The average class size is between 28 and 40 and sometimes classes will be split into smaller groups when you are teaching and more often than not you will be needed to take small groups of children or individuals out of the class and work with them privately.

Classes tend to last between 30 - 60 minutes. Standards are generally very high and the enthusiasm of the students and colleagues more than makes up for any hardships they may experience.

Observatory Primary mainly caters for the poorer African children that come from the township areas of Cape Town. These are the most needy and make up 98% of the school's children. You can also coach sports as well as English teaching and language enrichment, music, art or any other subject that you have particular knowledge in.
Observatory Junior is a multi-cultured and racial school and mainly has children at the school between 5 - 13 years of age. English is not the children's mother tongue, but their general standard of language is about Fair to Good.

The school also runs the SHINE Centre – (Support and Help In Education). This is a volunteer programme with local and international volunteers who assist their learners with numeracy and literacy. This Centre has been running for approximately 4 years and is fully sponsored. Volunteers interact with learners on a one-to-one basis according to the times and days that the volunteers are available. They interact with the same learner/s throughout the year.
 
This is an excellent outreach programme and they always welcome new volunteers to give their assistance. You will have the opportunity to get involved in this programme if you wish to, in addition to the main stream teaching programme. The students have a never-ending enthusiasm and energy, which is amazing considering the hardships they may experience at home.

“I loved the teachers and the children there, and felt very much at home. Teaching art in afternoons was excellent, I loved having the freedom and responsibility of looking after my own class and arranging the lessons myself, planning and providing lessons and materials that otherwise the children wouldn’t have access to." Hannah Cooke

SCHOOL TERMS IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Dates for the 2010 school terms (semesters) are given below.

  • Term 1: 13th Jan – 26th Mar

  • Term 2: 12th Apr – 9th June

  • Term 3: 13th Jul – 23rd Sept

  • Term 4: 4th Oct – 10th Dec

Dates for the 2011 school terms (semesters) are given below.

  • Term 1: 19th Jan – 1st April

  • Term 2: 11th April – 24th June

  • Term 3: 18th July – 30th Sept

  • Term 4: 10th Oct – 9th Dec

Teaching 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.

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.

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:

  • 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.
   

South Africa, Sun, Surf and Sea, where you can do voluntary projects in teaching, care work, work experience, conservation, sports, and much more!
Volunteer Andrew getting squashed in a crowd of children
Volunteer Andrew getting squashed in a crowd of children



Click here to see the Cape Town Projects Photo Gallery


Claire working in the SHINE project

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Volunteer Feedback
Photo Galleries
Knysna Diary
Wildlife Rehabilitation Diary
eMakhosini Diary
Wildlife Expedition News!

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

Safaris and Tours
Photography & Photoshop Courses
1-Week Wildlife Rehabilitation
1-Week Zulu Culture Tour
1-Week Whales Sharks Dolphins
7-Day Surfing Course
10-Day Paragliding Course

ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING IN CAPE TOWN

Nestled under the mountain near the city, is the trendy and arty suburb of Observatory, the student Mecca of Cape Town. We have chosen this location as an accommodation base and make use of 33 South Backpackers Lodge, where you will be staying. It’s distance from the projects, safety conscious attitude and very friendly staff make this the ideal home away from home.

33South is not just a backpacker’s lodge, it’s an experience! With secure access, 24hr managers on duty, they uphold a very high safety and security standard. The night manager is also a lovely welcome ‘home’ after a night out... and bakes fresh muffins for your breakfast!

The staff are very friendly and will always help you where needed. They can answer any questions and can even help when you need some TLC because you feel a bit homesick!

33South has differently themed rooms from the township vibe to old Victorian and even a ‘harbour’ room complete with seagulls and fishing motifs. Hotel-quality bedding is provided and towels are available on request. The rooms are serviced once a week and lined/bedding is changed.

The back of the house has a beautiful palm-tree covered terrace, where you can soak up the sunshine and enjoy a real South African “BRAAI” (BBQ). There is even a private bar, chill-out room where live musicians play on Friday nights!

The lodge is also situated in the heart of Observatory and a short stroll away from a large supermarket, internet café, pharmacy and Laundromat. The perfect home away from home.

Food: A healthy self-serve breakfast of cereals, toast and tea/coffee is included every morning, and you will be given a food allowance to buy your own food for lunch/dinner. The lodge is also equipped with a self-catering kitchen, with all the necessities to cook a good meal.

PLEASE NOTE: The World Cup kicks off in June 2010 in Cape Town and accommodation surcharges WILL apply during this period.  We can advise you on the extra cost closer to the time.

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.

TRAVEL:

You'll fly into Cape Town where you'll be met at the airport by one of our staff. From the airport you'll be taken to your work and your accommodation and introduced to your hosts. You'd be well advised to prepare yourself for an almost overwhelmingly friendly welcome!

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 by Murray Rogers Travel Limited, ATOL No. 6856. 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.

VISAS: For many nationalities, visas are not required for a stay of 90 days or less. If you’re not sure whether you need a visa or not, please visit http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/visa_schedule.asp to see whether your country is exempt. If you do need a visa, we will assist you and help make the visa process as easy as possible.  

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.

To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.

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!

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Elephant and baby in the wild in South Africa Adventure voluntary projects



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Last modified: July 30, 2010