Volunteer in Schools in South Africa with People & Places

Name: Volunteer in Schools in South Africa with People & Places
Brand: People and Places
SKU: 22399
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

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Location

South Africa
- Port Elizabeth

Project Types

Service Learning Youth Education Teaching Computer Literacy Professional Development

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Program Details

Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Timeframe

Year Round

Housing

Guesthouse Host Family

Pricing

Starting Price

1313

Price Details

11700SAR (650 GBP) - direct costs in South Africa (transfers, accommodation, orientation, information packs etc)
4500 SAR (250 GBP) - project management, liaison & supervision in South Africa
2750 SAR (153 GBP) - project donation in South Africa
£260 - recruitment, matching & project development in UK

What's Included

Accommodation Airport Transfers Meals SIM cards Transportation

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Jul 06, 2018

Last Reviewed: Apr 04, 2013

Wish List

1 traveler is looking at this program

About Program

Join People & Places in South Africa as a school support volunteer. Participants in this program will support educators at ten under-resourced primary schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay township. These schools and their staff members are especially in need as the education system in the Port Elizabeth region continues to undergo post-apartheid transitions.

Get hands on experience not only teaching, but interacting with these students through every aspect of their school life - among them . . . nutrition, technology, and life-skills training.

Learn more about school support volunteer programs with People and Places in South Africa on their website!

This program is no longer offered. View more programs from People and Places.

Video and Photos

People & Places Volunteers in South Africa

Program Highlights

Work alongside local people and share your skills

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Program Reviews

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Impact 5
Support 5
Fun 5
Value 4
Safety 5

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My husband and I are about to return for our 5th volunteer visit to a rural South African school through People and Places. I cannot underestimate the quality of this provider. P&P is one of the most ethical companies I have ever come in contact with. They care deeply about running programs that enable sustainable change for the people whom the volunteers serve. Throughout the volunteer process, we felt that P&P was knowledgeable, ethical, caring and supportive. They work with local partners around the world who are equally impressive. We had no intention of making this part of our life's work, but we now feel that South Africa is our second home. I credit P&P for making this such a meaningful program for us, as well as the teachers, students, and families in the township we serve.

What would you improve about this program?

I take the responsibility of writing an honest review very seriously because others will depend upon my words. Truthfully, in my years of working directly with P&P, I cannot find a flaw in their program. This is one great program.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you decide to volunteer with People and Places in South Africa?

My wife did a lot of research into the subject and was impressed by the awards that P&P had received for Responsible Tourism – especially as these were tied in with Virgin, who I believe are an excellent travel company.

Once we had made contact, we had frequent Sunday afternoon calls from P&P. These satisfied my concerns about whether the cost of the “holiday” was money well spent or should I simply send a donation. I was also concerned about living on a township but any fears were quashed and I certainly felt a little foolish when I arrived at Mickey’s house and met her and her family.

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

We would be picked up at about 7.30 and taken to our respective schools were we arrived in time for morning assembly. This turned out to be one of my favourite parts of the day – listening to the wonderful singing of the students (and teachers).

Initially I co-taught with another of the maths teachers. In the second week I was asked to deliver lessons so that the local teachers might gain some new ideas. I was always careful to stress that my way of teaching might not be the best. I am a strong believer in student participation and some of this rubbed off on the local teachers who, by weeks 3 and 4 made the students move around the class and become more active.

At the end of each day, I would have brief conversations with the teachers as a sort of “de-brief” of how the day went.

Every Thursday we met with the Head Teacher and local P&P representative to assess the progress that was being made and whether it could be improved.

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What made this experience unique and special?

I had travelled to South Africa a few years earlier and tried to get a sense of what it was like to be a local. Living on a township with local people helped me, in some small way, understand what it’s like to live in SAfrica years after the end of apartheid. Despite there being a lot of poverty among the local people, the students were always happy to see me. I came away with a lot of happy memories!

How has this experience impacted your future?

As a teacher in a secondary school which has part of its cohort from estates where drugs and gangs are common, I am able to put into context how lucky we are. I entered teaching to work with students that need a break. The trip to SAfrica re-enforced that desire.

About People and Places

Volunteering responsibly cannot and should not replace the traditional holiday. It will be emotionally exhausting and mentally challenging - but it can also be a profound and life-enhancing experience if you are well-prepared, well-matched with your host community and well-supported in your endeavors. So, we would ask you to take some time to...