Volunteer - Community Pre-School Project

This project is ideal for energetic and creative people who love small children aged 6 months—6 years and want to help teachers in a traditional educational environment. Located in and around Chintsa, a stunning little coastal village on the East Coast of South Africa, halfway between Cape Town and Durban, you can help make a difference.

Volunteers work in one of the preschools assisting the teachers in the classroom; helping to run lessons, giving the children one-on-one attention, working in smaller groups, developing resources and taking part in creative play.

With up to 45 children in one classroom and only one or two teaching staff, teachers desperately need extra support to provide the best possible foundation of education and care for the tiny learners. All of the preschools are very poor, under resourced and full of children from infants to six years old.

Volunteers work alongside teachers and community volunteers to fulfill the daily needs and requirements of the pre-schoolers. Project tasks include:

• Leading activities and reading with children one-to-one and in small groups
• Assisting teaching staff in delivering lessons and preparing lesson materials
• Creating and facilitating activities in art, song, dance and structured play
• Assisting teachers in resource development
• Attending to the children's needs during meal and nap times

 Volunteers also take part in afternoon community development initiatives including:

• Sports Development - The sports development initiative relies heavily on volunteers to drive this program forwards. Twice weekly volunteers run sports sessions in the village; drills, skills practice and games in football, rounders, rugby, volleyball, netball, cricket and any other sport which appeals. 

• Children’s Home of Safety Project - Volunteers visit a local Children’s Home of Safety one afternoon a week where extra hands are desperately needed to help the fulltime staff in this under-staffed, under-resourced children’s home. Typical activities involve playing sports with the children, structured play, reading and helping children to complete their homework.

• Gardening Initiative - Monday afternoon is reserved for gardening! The local community and volunteers assist in helping to care for the plant and vegetable gardens at Chintsa East School and teach the children how to look after and harvest their plants, flowers and vegetables.

The "Project Contribution" included in your overall fee will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the project during your actual volunteer stay on the ground.

All of our Projects require you to be in good health, be reasonably fit, and on this particular Project, a minimum of 18 years old.

PLEASE NOTE THIS PROJECT RUNS EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER YOUR OASIS OVERLAND TRIP.

Prices

A £300 deposit is required to book this project. Please note the average weekly price reduces for every extra week booked. All prices are in Pounds Sterling (£GBP) and are per person (pp). Once requested your volunteer project cannot be refunded or exchanged.

No. of Weeks & Cost

2 weeks  -----  £587

4 weeks  -----  £1000

Additional weeks ---- £227

Dates

Please contact Oasis Overland in regards to Start dates for this project

Advertised price based on 2 week project, please ask for a price if you have more than 4 weeks to spare. 

Included

• Shared Accommodation in volunteer house
• Project donation
• Orientation programme
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure (Monday arrivals only) - East London Airport
• 3 meals a day are provided whilst on project (prepared and served in volunteer house)
• Transport to and from daily projects
• Support and guidance of experienced on-site project co-ordinator

NOT Included

• Flights
• Visa costs
• Travel & Medical Insurance (must cover volunteer work)
• Costs and items of a personal nature, snacks, drinks and meals outside of project
• Email, Wi-Fi and telephone calls made during your placement
• Any activities and excursions outside of your planned itinerary

During your stay you will have the opportunity to enjoy excursions in and around the area. The house is within a few minutes walk of the beach & volunteers will have access to canoes, boogie boards and beach accessories. A Local tour operator also runs a surf school, beach horse rides, game drives and quad biking. Additional sight-seeing can be arranged directly through your project.

Project Orientation

• A pre-project familiarisation and introduction to the local area of Chintsa
• Volunteer routine and house familiarization also about life and what to expect in South Africa
• Introduction to the preschools and teachers, lesson & resource preparation and available resources
• Overview of the volunteer project, roles and responsibilities

Accommodation and Hours

Volunteers stay in shared accommodation in a serviced and catered house overlooking Chintsa beach (single accommodation available upon request and for an additional fee). The volunteer house is located just 3 minutes walk from the main part of town where there is a small choice of local restaurants, a liquor store, our office and internet cafe, a general store with ATM and two restaurants. A short walk across the beach is a fun and funky backpacker hostel which offers volunteers a place to relax at the weekend with volleyball games, boogie boards and a divine swimming pool.

Hours are normally between 08:00 until 17:30 - 18:00 followed by dinner, although this can vary depending on season. Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sundays 'off' to explore the area.

Transfers

You will meet you at East London airport and transferred to Chintsa to start your project on Mondays only.

Insurance

It is a compulsory requirement that you have adequate travel insurance before you join any Oasis Trip & at the very least are insured for all necessary medical & repatriation costs incurred overseas with a recommended sum insured of £500,000. It is also wise to leave a copy of your insurance policy with a friend or relative for safe keeping.

Please ensure that your policy covers you for Volunteering work and activities.

We believe that your safety and holiday enjoyment are very important. It is a mistake to think that "it will never happen to me". It is also very important that you are covered for all the activities that you may wish to undertake while on our trip.

For further information on the insurance we offer, the activities covered, costs and how to book - please check out the Insurance section of our website.

Visas and Vaccinations

Most nationalities do not require a Visa for South Africa, but it is advisable to contact the relevant Embassy in plenty of time before the trip departs to check the current visa requirements.

As we are not medically trained - we are unable to give detailed or professional advice on vaccination requirements, therefore please consult a reputable travel clinic or GP for advice on any medical issues. We suggest allowing 8 weeks to get all your vaccinations. For more information visit: www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk or  www.nomadtravel.co.uk  Oasis travellers receive a 10% discount on vaccinations, medical kits, clothing and camping equipment from the Nomad Travel Clinic - you will receive your discount code on your booking receipt. Medical advice should also be taken regarding Malaria risks.

Clothing and Equipment

Please see our full list of Clothing and Equipment, in the Essential Trip Information on each trip page, for the Overland trip that you are undertaking before or after this project. This should more than cover the items you will need for your Project. You will also receive a full Welcome Pack from our Project Provider, after booking, that will list any other items.

Responsible Travel

Before you go

• Remove unnecessary packaging before you go - waste disposal facilities are often stretched in the places we visit.
• To avoid unnecessary pollution of local water supplies take environmentally friendly toiletries with you.
• Why not invest in a wind-up or solar-powered torch or media player before you travel or at least rechargeable batteries.
• Learn some of the local language and read up on the local history / culture before you go. You'll get so much more out of your trip. Why not pack some pens / pencils exercise books in your rucksack and they can be donated to a local school or project while you're away.
• Take a sturdy water bottle with you from home that you can re-use throughout your trip.

While You're Travelling

From experience gained in running trips, we have developed our own practical and a manageable environmental policy.  We welcome your input on this, plus any new ideas you may have, to improve our existing procedures. As a guide here's a few tips to bear in mind.

• Don't waste water. It is a scarce resource in many of the places our trips visit.
• Never buy endangered species or endangered habitat products. Apart from the fact of it being illegal it also encourages the trade to continue.
• Look after and preserve the areas we visit. Be careful about stepping on coral reefs or trekking on undesignated tracks.
• Buy locally made crafts and products helping to support the local economy.
• Don't feel when bargaining that you have to get the cheapest price possible just for the sake of it. Pay what the item is worth to you.
• Try the local food and drinks - this will help to support local farmers and food sellers. Sitting in a local cafe is also a great way to meet local people.
• Dispose of litter appropriately on your trip. This includes cigarette butts. Not only does litter look unsightly it can be lethal to wildlife.
• Where any toilet facilities exist, however unsavoury they might seem to you, they should be used. Where they do not, always bury your waste and make sure it is never near, (at least 30m) from a water source.
• When game viewing do not encourage your guides to get too close to the wildlife so that their natural behaviour is impeded.
• Respect local customs, traditions and beliefs of the people in the different regions that you travel through.
• Do not take photos of people, ritual events or special places unless you have asked first. Dress appropriately according to local codes and show respect around religious festivals.
• Recycling is almost non-existent in many of the areas and countries we visit - we do the best we can with limited resources & space on our vehicles.

For books dedicated to travelling more responsibly & ethically see: www.tourismconcern.org.uk

Please note that you will be required to fill out an application form prior to being accepted on the Project.  You may also be asked for references.

This Project can be combined with any other African Project.