TRAVELLERS IN THE MEDIA

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I volunteered to go to Zambia for 2 reasons. 1. As part of my degree in Sports Science I was required to do a module of work based learning. Now as I have been in business for years I did not want to go into a business environment for this module and as a qualified LTA community tennis coach I felt I had that covered in the UK by coaching in schools so wanted to challenge myself by coaching football.

Africa is a place I had also wanted to visit, the culture made it very appealing so the challenge of coaching a different sport in Africa was a perfect match and were better than Zambia?

I was somewhat surprised to see how little equipment the school had and lucky for me I bought some footballs and other equipment with me. To see the delight on those children’s face was worth the trip alone.

Although we had sports lessons on sand this didn’t seem a problem for the children who seemed very enthusiastic to learn and play football. The director, Mrs Chansa was one of the nicest people I have ever met. Her commitment to the school and children is simply overwhelming. Competing against the odds with very little money it was truly wonderful to be in her employ.

When I arrived at the school and saw the amount of input I could give a thought struck me. I hadn’t booked for long enough to make a real lasting difference so I sought the help of another local football coach, Hillary. (see photo) He was delighted to help and get involved and we worked together on the last day coaching football and I had his word that he would continue with the project. Since I arrived back in England we have exchanged emails and he is starting to work with the school and children so I am delighted for all of them that although the trip was short, the work could carry on and hopefully develop.

I was surprised to be asked to head up the new sports section of the new school and if it wasn’t for the commitments I have in England, I would certainly consider a long sty in a very friendly country.

Its not often I am lost for words, but on the last day I was presented gifts and asked to give a speech to the whole school. Just as well I was wearing my sunglasses!!

Without doubt it has changed my life. I have an appreciation and better understanding of human nature. To see children with less than their English counter-parts and yet twice as happy speaks volumes. Adrian Miles

Homeless World Cup

Sharon Dreyer, Travellers Volunteer Liaison, could hardly contain herself: “I am so proud of them and they are so deserving!”

Well done, Rushaad and Cheslin, and welcome home!

The Homeless World Cup is a street soccer event, which is fast and entertaining. Each match, officiated by a referee, lasts for 14 minutes, that’s 7 minutes each way with a one minute break for half –time. The standard of the players and the teams vary greatly. The policy of the Homeless World Cup is to be as inclusive as possible whilst keeping the true magic of competitive sport alive. Different qualifying or elimination stages are played throughout the week so that everyone ends up playing for a cup no matter what the ability of the team is. The better teams play for the top trophy, next best for the second trophy and so on. All players receive a medal.

This year at the 7th Homeless World Cup, 48 nations, 500 players, took part from 6-13 September 2009 at the Arena Civica, Sempione Park in Milan.

I'll re-build the school and their futures

A CARING man who spent three months teaching desperately poor villagers in Africa has vowed to return this year to help rebuild their school.

Matthew Riddell, 18, is just back from teaching for three months in Livingstone, Zambia. And his experiences have made him determined to set up a charitable trust fund in 2007 to raise the cash needed to rebuild the school, which is falling apart, for the children he grew to know so well.

The former Purbrook Park pupil said: 'When I first landed there I did feel like breaking down into tears because everything was in such a state. 'The ceiling and walls of the school I was teaching at were just falling apart, and they just joined two wires together to turn the lights on. The children were really nice though and they wanted to learn. The pupils are also very respectful of the school and that they appreciate what they have got there – every single pupil at the school helped to clean the school, either by sweeping the floors, watering the flowers, or by polishing the floors.'

Matthew, from Lone Valley, Waterlooville, travelled to Zambia with a company called Travellers Worldwide and taught about 140 pupils aged between 13 and 18. He said: 'I wanted to get some life experience before I entered into a full new career. The experience really opened my eyes to a few things.'

And Matthew has now vowed to return to Livingstone, armed with cash to help him rebuild the school that touched his heart. In the New Year he intends to set up a trust and begin a series of fund-raising events that can get the cash together. He then wants to go back and give the youngsters he taught better facilities. He said: 'Hopefully I will be able to rebuild as much of the school as possible.'

Family friend Tracey McDowell, of Selsey Avenue, Gosport said: 'Matthew completely supported himself for this trip by working every hour he could while he was at college. He also saved up enough to money to buy all the things we take for granted at school, like books, pens and paper. He really is an amazing young man.'

‘On Holiday I bathe, feed and speak to elephants’

Jo Harris, 28, works with vulnerable teenagers doing preventative work in drugs and alcohol. But on holiday, she cares for elephants and tells the time by the Sri Lankan sun.

The last thing my friends would call me is a risk taker. I’m the kind of person who takes ages to decide what to buy for tea. So everyone was amazed when I announced I was crossing continents to look after orphaned elephants in Sri Lanka. I’d read about the Pinawala Elephant Orphanage in a travel book and really wanted to go. So I raised the money (I ran a half marathon and became a mad car-booter) and signed up on a one-month volunteer programme.

As soon as I arrived, I knew I’d done the right thing. Everywhere I looked there were elephants strolling through th grounds – their trunks curled, tails swinging in the afternoon sun. I know lots of people’s idea of holiday bliss is lying under a palm tree, but mine is being ankle-deep in elephant poo.

Soon I learned to bathe the elephants, feed and even speak with them – the Sri Lankan mahouts taught me the noises to make. I practiced with the baby elephants: they’d reply with a rumble that seemed to come from their belly and, once one started, the whole herd would join in. It was magical.

My friends wouldn’t recognise me. Every day I climb into my scruffiest clothes and, more often than not, get covered in mud and elephant muck. It is liberating, fun and allows me to really tune out. There are no pressures to look good.

I’ve fulfilled my dream and it’s changed me forever. Now I’m working out how to raise funds for my next trip.

Orang-Utan Rehabilitation & Habitat Maintenance

Programme: Travellers Worldwide Location: Malaysian Borneo

Situated in Sepilok in the forests of Sabah, the Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre nurses rescued orang-utan's back to health before returning them to the forest. Sabah's orang-utans are under serious threat due to destruction of habitat for logging, palm oil plantations and farmland.

"We are there to help prepare them for their eventual release into forest life" says former volunteer Janice Wallace. "And a particularly memorable moment was when we managed to get our first orang-utan to climb the rope and make it all the way to the other end and down the tree. It was so rewarding to see. We made a difference."

Volunteers impart skills to pupils

Knysna teachers and children full of praise for dedicated foreign students who teach key subjects in schools.

By PHINDLE CHAUKE
Garden Route Reporter

A GROUP of volunteers from England and Scotland has arrived to help several Knysna Schools impart their knowledge of English and various art skills to South African children.

They came to South Africa through an ongoing project by Travellers Worldwide, which donates items to the value of R1000 to each shcool per volunteer. Thembelitsha Primary School in Concordia is the most recent of Knysna's schools to host the volunteers. Thembelitsha educational specialist Siphokzi Grootboom said: "It has been only two weeks with the volunteers and it is the first time they have come to our school, but English is already improving in our pupils.

To her surprise, it was not long before they arrived a the school.

"We have seen kids at Chris Nissen improve and we are pleased to have the volunteers. They are like normal teachers, they come early in the morning. We thank Travellers Worldwide for them and we hope more will come in future because we are going to continue (the volunteers' project) after they have left," she said.

Karen Kackay, 19, also a volunteer, is a law student, but she is taking a year's break. She introduced soccer for girls at the school and is still trying to organise a team but she said she was getting difficulties in the process due to a lack of resources.

Helen Earley, 21, also a student teaching English, chipped in: "It's lovely here, everyone is very friendly." Earley has previously been to Port Elizabeth and Plettenberg Bay to share her knowledge of wildlife.

Thembelitsha pupil Musa Fini, 10, in Grade 4, aspires to be a surveyor when she finishes school and her teachers believe she has all the potential she needs to be anything.

"They (volunteers) taught us English, how to identify adjectives, which is now easy for me to do," she said.

Mabaxole Baduza, 10, also in Grade 4, wishes to follow in her tutors' footsteps and be a teacher one day. "She (Sweeny) taught us how to read and answer questions. I like reading," he said.  The four volunteers are part of a group of 26 members currently in Knysna and their days consist of five working hours at the schools, animal game parks and hospitals.

SA Travellers Worldwide general manager Bill Fussell said the volunteers project was started four years ago and had grown since then. he said the project had been running in Britain for the past 10 years. "They asked me to look at opportunities in South Africa and the country has become popular and one of the leading destinations.

"There are also volunteers in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, George, Plettenberg Bay and KwaZulu Natal. We are looking to extend it to other parts of the country where there is a need for volunteers," he said.

Fussell said that for Travellers Worldwide to take volunteers anywhere in the world, there were aspects of accommodation and safety which were considered.
"Our placements are normally from one to three months, but a lot of people extend their stay because they like it here.

"The initial idea was for the volunteers to teach English, but they have decided to do drama, arts, music, sports, history and mathematics. The subjects they teach are in line with the school's curriculum," he said.

British girls volunteer to make a difference

An article in Sabah's Express Newspaper about the Orang-Utan Project in Malaysia

WHAT young British women are willing to do to help Sabah's Orang-Utans may shame many Malaysian's in Sabah, few of whom care. One spent two years with four different jobs to earn the money to come and help for free. Ms Katie McDonald of England is that girl.

Why would she take such immense trouble to do just that? "I think they are absolutely amazing," she answered, in reference to the red ape. "I think they are so close to being human that we owe it to help them," said Katie. "That's why I've come all the way from England, spent two years earning money with four different jobs to come and help the Orang-Utan" she said. Katie is one of an all female corps of British young volunteers who offered their willing helping hands at the Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre, last month.

Another volunteer, Liz Marchant, from Surrey, explained why she came all the way: "They are the most amazing animal I have ever seen. They are just so wonderful I just like to do anything to help them survive."

Sam Knight, chipped in: "We just love the Orang-Utan and see what we can do to make a difference," she said. Jamie Larkin echoed the same sentiment: "Basically, everyone here including myself, just really want to make a difference and all the people here are doing such amazing things we feel we could come and make a difference."

Another said: "It's very well organised here, the rangers are so knowledgeable that we learnt a lot from them. It's been a great experience," she said. But come all the way to do this? "Well, if you don't do these things now, there is a risk that in 30 years time, you may not be able to see them," she concluded.

Plain Wall transformed into bright, colourful structure

By Lianne Harrington

Students at Sunridge Primary School have had lessons with a difference these past few weeks, swapping their stuffy classrooms for the fresh outdoors.

The once plain wall, located at Sunridge Primary School playground, has been transformed into a bright, colourful structure.

Leon Solomans, head master at Sunridge, felt that a mural would bring a positive feeling to the playground. Volunteers Liz Lunn, Cat Dunlop and Hershada Taylor took charge of the project and enthusiastically began planning its creation, asking the students for their ideas of what they felt represented their school and community.

"We wanted to give the students a chance to be creative, and to express their feelings through paint," explains Cat Dunlop. As the ideas flowed, so did the paint. Small groups of students took it in turns, during their Arts and Culture Lessons, to work outside of the classroom, contributing to the mural.
The outlines were drawn, block colours filled and final details added. It has been a gradual process, dependent on the weather, but now the mural is complete and all who were involved feel very proud and hope that the mural will leave a positive, lasting impression for many years to come. 

Jo Goatly spent two months working on an Orang-Utan reserve in Borneo.
Interview by Tim Walker.

I'd already been to Fiji to do marine conservation, and I wanted to work more with animals. I was choosing between elephants, turtles and Orang-Utans and I thought the orangs would be the ones that I could interact with best. I just thought it would be a great experience to get that one-on-one contact with the animals.

Originally, there would have been orang-utans across the whole of Borneo. The reserve where I was working is only about the size of the New Forest and there's not much more space left for orang-utans. There are two reserves in Borneo.

Villagers might keep them as pets without knowing its illegal, until the rangers come to rescue them. The rangers are all local Malaysian's, most from local villages. A couple of them are from villages that, in the past, might have hunted and eaten orang-utan without knowing it was wrong.

When they get to about six or seven and they're starting to get their independence, they get pens of their own that they're kept in at night for their safety. But they're also free to wander off during the daytime. That's the time when they'd naturally begin to leave their mother and find their own feet.

We also had a couple of fully grown wild males. One of them, Samud, was taken to a zoo. That was sad, because the adult males really are awesome animals. And because there's no space left for them elsewhere on the island, they are put in a zoo. But there's an amazing zoo on the island, and Samud is now the dominant male in their brilliant orang-utan section. It ended up always being me that fed him because a lot of the other volunteers found him too aggressive, so I was sad when he left - we'd made friends.

Sometimes we'd be doing outdoor husbandry, which is in the later stage of their development when they're learning to venture into the jungle for a couple of days, and that would involve going out into the wild and nest-spotting to monitor what they were doing.

Nanong was a really fat young orang-utan whom I saw teach herself to make nests. She would sit at the top of a hill and roll down so we called her roly poly bird. And having a pot-belly actually meant that she was really healthy. Ampall was another young orang, but he was recovering from Malaria, so he was thin and quite slow and lethargic, like a little old man. He was weal but he was a success story as he was recuperating.

Conversational English Promoted

Exchange students from the UK are currently visiting South African Schools to promote conversational English. It is the first time ever that a British Development project was started in the country. Two of the students, Anna Costin and Stuart Harvey, are currently in George. According to the co-ordinator of the Safer Schools Project of the Department of Education in the Southern Cape, Mr Anton Titus, the students aim to develop the language. The project is also about promoting English all over the world. The students come to South Africa on a voluntary basis. Travellers Worldwide (a UK based company) initiated the project. The UK students present after school activities and help with any curriculum needs as well as extra mural activities. The students stay in the neighbourhoods where the schools are. Mr Titus said the Department of Education is passionate about development and will try any idea to promote effective learning. He thanks Travellers Worldwide for the wonderful initiative he know will lead to enhancement of quality education, as well as all the students who volunteered to help. He is also grateful to all schools who took ownership in their development. Anna and Stuart seem to like the country. Anna, a student who does the voluntary work in her summer vacation and Stuart, a travellers this his studies start next year, find the different cultures something to adapt to and say that there is still a lot of segregation and racism in the country.

Fife man becomes leader of the pack

THEY SAY dogs are a man's best friend, but a north-east Fife man has built up a remarkable relationship with two cats - a pair of lion cubs bred in a Release into the Wild programme.

Neil Munro recently returned to Zimbabwe to be re-united with the two young lions he befriended when they were five months old.

Despite having grown considerably, 18 month old Casper and Cleo were just as affectionate as they were when the retired university lecturer last saw them a year ago.

Mr Munro (66), who lives in Falkland and worked at Abertay University, went to Antelope Park in Zimbabwe in November 2004, as a World Wildlife Fund approved lion breeding programme volunteer. There he met brother and sister Casper and Cleo.

Mr Munro said, "They were anti-social and actively disliked by the other volunteers, who were quite frightened of Cleo who could be very aggressive." As the only parent among the volunteers, Mr unro appreciated the siblings' dependency on and devotion to each other.

He spent weeks sitting with them in their enclosure and in the bush when on walks, and, significantly, he experimented with taking their bottles of milk and feeding them on the walks. First Casper and Cleo began to accept Mr Munro and then the other volunteers as members of their pride and they became very sociable.

Mr Munro said, "By February 2005 Casper and Cleo had become so good at walking with tourists that they were taken to Victoria Falls to raise funds for the programme." Around that time Mr Munro returned to Fife, uncertain whether he would see the lions again. However, eight months later Cleo killed a baboon so she was no longer allowed to walk with the tourists and she and Casper were taken back to Antelope Park in December.

This meant Mr Munro would be able to see them again, so he returned to Antelope Park for a week. Not only did they remember him, but they welcomed him back to their enclosure with the lion greeting of rubbing heads.

Mr Munro said, "Casper and Cleo were effectively full height, with only some layers of muscle to develop. They are an impressive pair indeed." Mr Munro hopes to see them again, particularly when they are installed in their 'stage two' enclosures. They will have at least 5000 acres to roam, with abundant game to catch, and will be able to bring up their own cubs with no human contact.

Foreign Volunteers nurse nature

TWO newborn grysbokkies that were injured in Jeffreys Bay area are living out their life at the nearby bird and animal sanctuary, African Dawn. One was found badly injured in a snare in Jeffreys Bay. "It shows that snares do not have an age limit," said Percy and Sandy Hickman of African Dawn.

The other grysbokkie was found near a building site in Aston Bay. They are being rehabilitated at the sanctuary. Both are still being hand fed, as they are only a few weeks old. "The two are inseparable," said the Hickmans.

African Dawn has a number of volunteers who each look after an animal. They two grysbokkies are in the capable hands of Shawna Joplin, who is from America. Volunteers come to the sanctuary from all over the world, but mostly from England, Australia, Germany, America, Wales, Switzerland and Canada.

"Most volunteers plan to stay for one or two months, but when they get here, they change their flight tickets so they can stay longer," said Percy. The volunteer programme was started in February this year. It is a working and learning experience. They learn about South African animals and how to care for them, especially injuries due to snares, bite wounds and being knocked down by vehicles.

The sanctuary has a variety of birds and animals, which the volunteers are exposed to. They also learn how to treat birds with injured wings. According to Percy and Sandy, some of the volunteers are interested in making a career out of caring for animals. "After their experience at the sanctuary, they have a better understanding of working with animals," said the couple.

One of the girls from Germany went home to do a veterinarian course after her stay at the sanctuary. There are currently nine volunteers who all stay on the premises. Shawna Joplin, 23, is from California in America. "Our working holiday has been great," she said. "We all get along really well and have even learnt a bit of Afrikaans. We do everything from hand raising to building enclosures, and we also go on day trips." She jokes that she can dig holes faster now than before from all the bird and animal enclosures they have been building.Back home she is a horse riding instructor and student. She decided to take a break from her studies to travel.

Katja Kienecke, 19, said she enjoyed the peacefulness of the sanctuary and being in nature. When she goes back home to Germany, she is going to study physiotherapy.

Percy and Sandy said they got a lot more done with their helpers. "The volunteers are very dedicated. They make sure a project is finished before they have to go back home," said Sandy.

Hands that heal

When Lisa Godfrey and Celia Craig decided to effect a change in the lives of needy children, it was the beginning of a movement that aimed to make life worthwhile.

Alexandra Phillips

The Grace Kennet Orphanage, Ellis Nagar, and the YMCA Boys Orphanage, Muthupatti, have received much needed donations over the festive period. The aid came in the form of both financial support and vital equipment after six months of fundraising in England.

Lisa Godfrey, who headed the effort, had visited Madurai last December to assist in the orphanages and was greatly moved by the level of need in both the institutions. After buying as many resources as possible during her stay, she returned to England with the feeling of dissatisfaction that spurred her into starting a fundraising campaign.

Ten months later she travelled back to India with fellow nurse and good friend, Celia Craig, to oversee the mobilisation of funds and supplies, with the assistance of Robin Dante, Narimedu. 

Money inflow: The YMCA boys home, accommodating 54 fully or partially orphaned boys, relies entirely upon local funding and donations to support the inmates through school and provide food, dormitories and function areas. The nurses afforded from their efforts six new ceiling fans, 25 new chairs, 35 shirts, sports equipment, stationery and groceries for the next few months, as well as paying the boys' tuition fees for a year. Secretary V Selvin Raj stressed the importance of such donations and expressed immense gratitude to the two women. The Grace Kennet orphanage similarly benefited from Lisa's visit last December, and appreciated further aid this year in the form and new nappies and materials, toys and 10 new cots.

Heart to help: It is not difficult to see why these two women are so committed to helping these children. Without familial support, orphans are not only deprived of the items necessary to live - food, water clothing and somewhere to sleep - they are also deprived of an education. By investing in such projects, young people are not only granted the chance of life in the present, but also the promise of a future. The nurses are returning to England at the end of the month and hope to continue their hard work through establishing a child sponsorship scheme. The focus is undoubtedly upon providing the schooling and support necessary to build a brighter future for the next generation.

The Denture Venturers

Sixty something, Margaret Fleck realises there’s a lot more to life than catching a free bus ride to bingo. In fact, she’s decided to catch a ride to Brazil instead. One of a growing number of older adventure seekers, who are radically altering our perception of the typical gap year traveller, the South Shields mother of three and grandmother of six has just embarked on a three month trip of a lifetime to a little known area of Brazil. “I’ll be teaching English to the locals in a small village called Foz du Iguacu,” says Margaret, admitting that until recently she didn’t think that such a trip would be possible for people like her. “I thought it was something that students did, and although I was always envious of younger people who went on these sorts of holidays, I never imagined that there were groups out there supporting older people like me.”

The trauma of being widowed a year ago left Margaret feeling that she needed to do something positive, to turn around what could have been a life-sapping event.

Surfing the Internet one day she stumbled upon the Travellers Worldwide website, which is one of a growing number of companies supporting career and mature gappers. The company offers supported travel to a variety of far flung destinations from Borneo and Brazil to Ghana and Guatemala.

Whether you fancy teaching English to a group to a group of Kenyan schoolchildren or helping to look after abandoned baby elephants at a Sri Lankan sanctuary, organisations like these are increasingly filling long-cherished dreams. And as placements are flexible lasting two weeks to one year, gappers can choose to swap their annual fortnight in Tenerife for a fulfilling experience or else commit to a potentially life-changing lengthy stay.

“The possibilities are endless,” says Margaret. “There’s now no barrier to travelling when you’re left by yourself.”

Not that she didn’t challenge herself already, with shifts as a district nurse, amateur dramatics and her work as secretary of the local University of the Third Age. Now Margaret is also busy getting to grips with the Portuguese language.

“Anyone thinking about doing this should just go for it. There’s bound to be a feeling of the unknown, but it’s also very exciting and good to know I’m giving something back,” Margaret says.

She is far from alone. According to a recent report by market researchers Mintel, of the 520,000 Britons who take a gap year abroad each year, some 90,000 are taking career breaks and 200,000 are over 55. Only the remaining 230,000, less than half the total figure, are ages between 18 and 24 – the group that pioneered the idea of the gap year.

A spokesman for Mintel explains that as older gappers have already spent many years working, they generally have more disposable income to spend on travel, volunteering, courses or expeditions than pre- or post-university gappers. So called “denture venturers” also have more experience and can often get more out of the experience than students, who may just choose to spend six months with a bad hangover lying on the beach.

For the younger “career gappers”, dissatisfaction with lacklustre jobs is no longer borne like a modern servitude. “Many people are realising that not only do they not want to be a fully paid-up member of the rat race, they want a total change. The best thing about it is that people know they can make their dreams a reality. They can work hard then take time off, and usually they have no regrets about it,” explains Tom Griffiths, founder of Gapyear.com.

Companies are being forced to change their attitudes to employees who want to take time out. “Employers are stuck because they are faced with their most valuable workers suddenly heading off. But worldwide travel develops you and your thinking, which is very important in today’s global marketplace,” Tom explains.

For one forty-plus couple, a career break to Sri Lanka five years ago looks like it could develop into a whole new way of life. Ian and Kathryn Merrick, in their mid forties and fifties respectively, spent three months teaching 5-18 year olds near the remote National Park of Handugamuwa in the Matale district of Sri Lanka.

“The area was very rural and the villagers make their own entertainment so there was very little to do once it got dark. It’s unwise to leave the house because of the danger form snakes and elephants,” says Ian. “This sort of trip is ideal for people who are a little bit older, but it would probably not suit gap year students looking for a party atmosphere. The voluntary teaching can be both frustrating and rewarding but free time not teaching can be spent doing anything from swimming, visiting the local town, cycling or just lazing in the sun with a book.”

The Merricks made many friends in Sri Lanka, and kept in frequent contact with over the years. After the tsunami struck, they went over to help for 3 weeks in January 2005. “It was heartbreaking, a complete scene of devastation,” Ian admits.

Now the Merricks run a walking centre near Derwent Water in the Lake District, but they would like to return to Sri Lanka, this time for good.

“As soon as we can, we plan to move out there and set up a school. Our experiences in Sri Lanka have not been a holiday, but seem to us more of a vocation.”

Jennifer Perkes, co-founder of Travellers Worldwide says: “At a time when society tries to label people as no longer useful because of their age, our volunteers choose to go out there and prove exactly how useful they are. If you see the wonderful work they do, you couldn’t help but agree that their volunteering contribution is nothing short of extraordinary.

“They take a lifetime’s experience with them and make a significant difference to the quality of life of the underprivileged or abused and, in the case of animals, to the threatened or abandoned. How many of us can claim to be that useful – at any age?”

To Read more about Ian and Kathryn Merricks trip to Sri Lanka, Click Here

Amazing Grace!

By Letitia Hardy

At 19, amazing Grace Brown left Brighton and headed south to help poor kids in poor schools in the sizzling heat of Accra. Her mission was to teach English in the capital city of West Africa’s Ghana, known also as the land of Akwaaba, meaning ‘welcome’!

“I was determined to travel before further studies and sought the support of an overseas voluntary work provider to help me arrange a structured placement. My mother is South African and I was keen to see more of Africa and also, as a pre-English Lit. major, I thought teaching would be good for my CV.

On the October afternoon of departure, I met up with a fellow volunteer at Heathrow airport and the next thing I knew I was driving through a hot African twilight. I had arrived in Ghana at night time and couldn’t believe how busy it was everywhere! Driving through the city in the back of a taxi there was just so much going on from people playing drums and other live music on the sides of the streets to road side market stalls catering for the people still out and about. There was traffic and noise and new smells. It was brilliant.

I had never done any teaching before and I hadn’t needed qualifications for the project. As a native English speaker and an enthusiastic volunteer I was qualified enough to help. The school was pretty basic. There was no electricity and the whole building was one long hall separated by makeshift boards, that didn’t reach the floor or ceiling, into classrooms. It was full of kids and it was raucous! 

Looking back, my first lesson was terrible! I had been given the text book as I arrived and didn’t know what I was doing. However soon after this I got the hang of it, I would get the text book the day before and have time to prepare my lesson. I would teach three 2 hour classes a day. As time went on I got to know the kids in my class better and developed relationships with them. They were probably the best part of my placement, they were so funny. I have never seen such naughty children! You couldn’t help but be fond of them though and you couldn’t be angry with them, so you just learnt to laugh.

I would teach 30-40 kids per class. Although there would always be a local teacher in the class with me, they would sometimes give me the text book and promptly fall asleep! I was responsible for the lower half of the school which meant I had the nursery kids who I would play with, right up to 10 year olds, who I taught. As my time came to an end I knew the 2 months wasn’t long enough.

It’s difficult to gauge how much difference I made. We used the same text book as the teachers would however I think the volunteers cared more and we held the attention of the class better, they were intrigued by us.

A routine developed and my free time would be spent sitting around and chatting with the other volunteers, sharing experiences, highlights and hardships of the day. Home was a hostel and this mutual support from other volunteers made being away from friends and family much easier. Sometimes we would go to a local bar or we would rent out a film out and watch it in this nearby air conditioned room. Weekends would be spent travelling to local sights, such as waterfalls, botanic gardens and the stunning empty beaches just outside of Accra which were perfect, palm trees and all. As westerners, we would get hassled into buying things at the beaches in the city, but the ones just out of town were peaceful and you could swim in the sea.

The biggest challenge for me was the teaching. I was apprehensive before I started but I did it and I enjoyed it. I learnt such a lot from the experience and it increased my self-confidence as I realised that I could do something I had never done before. The highlight was definitely the people I met. Some of the volunteers came down to stay in Brighton this weekend and I reckon some lifelong friends were probably made out in Ghana.”

The Avon and Gloucestershire Express is very pleased to announce that Travellers Worldwide has been awarded the Special Services Award for 2006 in recognition of all its hard work in helping people around the globe. We are really pleased to be giving this organisation this nationally recognised award as it is only presented to organisations that have a history of achievement in the field of community relations, so a big well done to Travellers!

Travellers was set up 11 years ago to help communities in the developing world and to offer people everywhere the opportunity to live and work abroad on flexible and safe projects. Travellers offers volunteers the opportunity to help in worthwhile communities in over 17 destinations in a variety of roles; from teaching English in South America, raising orphaned orang-utans in South East Asia to care work in Africa. There are a huge variety of placements available, including many teaching placements, conservation projects, ecological research, language courses and cultural specific experiences such as Capoeira in Brazil, Tango in Argentina or Buddhist Meditation in Sri Lanka. There is also the opportunity to gain real work experience in fields such as journalism, law and medicine.

An important area that Travellers works in is teaching. Countries in the developing world have little access to proper education and the voluntary assistance provided makes all the difference.  Volunteers do not need qualifications or previous experience, just enthusiasm and any training needed is provided on the placement or pre-departure. Volunteers are desperately needed on many of the projects because the schools generally have a lack of teachers, high illiteracy rates and poor funding.  Travellers work with schools, orphanages, social care centres and adult learning centres all over the world, and always with the objective of helping the local community. The children benefit enormously from your efforts, both academically and socially. Teaching children is hugely satisfying as well as fun and you leave knowing you have achieved something worthwhile, both for yourself and for the local community.

Volunteering to work abroad can not only help the good causes you will be working towards, it can also be of enormous benefit to yourself. Partaking in Travellers schemes will look extremely impressive on your C.V. and participating in a work experience scheme could give you valuable practical experience to excite future employers. These placements are also available to career breakers or the retired, looking for an experience of a lifetime and a valuable break from normal reality.

It is not always easy to see how volunteering your time helps, but the continued efforts of volunteers over the years does make a real difference to communities in the developing world. Some of the donations have an obvious and very dramatic effect - like the new classrooms built in poor schools in South Africa that have enabled more children to receive an education (which they hadn't previously been getting). Travellers makes many donations many on a continuous basis such as arranging school trips for poor schools, school uniforms for the most underprivileged of the children, and many more.

Travellers caters for anybody aged 17 to 100 with a spirit of adventure and a keen sense of fun. Programmes are designed to be flexible, ranging from a short two-week experience, to a year teaching football in a school in Russia. The organisation also offers full back up for all volunteers and 24/7 support. You will not be stuck on the other side of the world without a lifeline. Volunteers are provided with food and accommodation as well as introductions into the local environment, language and culture. The placements tend to be sociable also, and lifelong friendships will inevitably made.

For more details on placements, work experience and support, or for a brochure visit www.travellersworldwide.com or call 01903 502595

Anne's Happy Birthday with needy children

Published in the Isle of Man Examiner

By Rebecca Richardson

Like many, Anne Cain thought about celebrating her 50^th birthday with a relaxing holiday.  Instead she quit her job and took on voluntary work in India. She said afterwards: ‘I would recommend it to anyone.  It was wonderful’. Anne worked as a bookkeeper for Corkill Removals for four and a half years.

She fancied a change in direction and at the same time wanted to do something special to celebrate her big day. ‘I thought about a cruise, but instead decided to spend that money and do something worthwhile’, said Anne, of Willaston. She learnt of the organisation Travellers Worldwide, which places people on short voluntary projects in some of the world’s neediest countries.  Anne said ‘I have always fancied visiting India for a holiday so I thought it would be nice to go there’.

She spent 10 wonderful weeks helping needy children in the southern city of Madurai. Her first month was spent helping school children with their English pronunciation. She said ‘The children were keen to learn and their English was quite good’. One of Anne’s personal objectives was to gain more confidence from the trip, so it was to her horror that she was asked, on her second day, to announce events during the school’s annual prize day.  

Anne spent another month helping at the Grace Kennet Foundation orphanage which cares for newborns through to four year-olds. Anne stayed in accommodation provided by Travellers Worldwide and had all her meals and transport provided. While she spent the working week on her placements, at weekends she travelled to see the sights.

Anne’s two children, Cath, 23 and David, 18, were enthusiastic about her trip although she admits some relatives thought she was having a midlife crisis. ‘However, they have all enjoyed it since I have come back and told them about it’ she added.

It is Anne’s hope that others in their 50’s might take part in voluntary work. She said ‘I wanted to give myself more confidence and going out on my own and not knowing anyone, I think it has done me good and made me more outgoing. I got great satisfaction from helping the children’.

Mammoth Vacation

Most people wouldn't think of raking elephant muck as their ideal vacation activity, but then they probably haven't experienced Dumbo kisses.

Travellers worldwide arranges for a Sri Lanka vacation that revolves around volunteering at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage which houses abused and orphaned elephants.

You'll stay with other volunteers in the nearby town of Kegalle (a 25 minute drive from the orphanage), and your daily activities might include washing baby elephants in the river, keeping them entertained, feeding them milk and leaves and, of course, muck duty.

Prices begin at $1,918 for two weeks, including meals by a live-in chef and transportation within Sri Lanka.

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