South Africa Volunteering

You’ve landed in South Africa! Touch down at Port Elizabeth Airport, where you’ll be met by the local team and taken to the place you’ll be calling home for the next few weeks. Drop your bags, meet your new volunteer family and start settling into the South African life that Katie knows and loves. She’s been right where you are now, arriving for her own volunteering experience with no idea just how much the weeks ahead would bring. Tonight, there’s nothing you need to do except get to know everyone, make yourself at home and get excited for the journey ahead. Katie’s done it, now it’s your turn…

“Get ready to dive into the world of volunteering.” Katie’s words feel pretty fitting as you begin your first few days in South Africa! Before heading into the schools, you’ll get to know the people and places behind the programme, meet the United Through Sport team and learn more about the work they do in local communities. Alongside your fellow volunteers, you’ll take part in team-building activities, teaching and coaching workshops, and practice sessions to help you feel ready for the classroom or sports field. You’ll also visit a local township to learn more about the culture and communities you’ll be spending time within. By the end of your induction, you’ll have met the team, learnt the ropes and be ready to see what the next few weeks have in store!

School days are officially here! You’ve had your introduction, met the team and now it’s time to see what volunteering in South Africa actually looks like. Whether you’re more comfortable with a reading book or a football, there’s plenty of room to try something new, and you can switch between teaching and coaching throughout your stay. Katie’s been in these schools herself, so this is your chance to follow in her footsteps and find out which part of the programme you enjoy most. You might arrive thinking you’re definitely a sports person and discover you love teaching, or the other way around. That’s all part of the fun! **English Teaching | Monday to Friday, 8am to 1pm** If you’d like to spend your time in the classroom, you’ll work with children of different ages and abilities across 3 to 4 schools throughout the week. Most of your time will be spent one-to-one, helping students with their English using reading books and workbooks provided by the programme. Some children will need a little extra support, while others might surprise you with how much they already know. You’ll need to be flexible, patient and ready to adapt to the person sitting in front of you. And if you fancy challenging yourself, there may be opportunities to teach a whole class with support from the team. Before you leave home, you’ll receive an online Teaching Young Learners Qualification to help you prepare. So even if you’ve never taught before, you’ll have a chance to learn the basics before your first day. **Sports Coaching | Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm** If sport is more your thing, you’ll head between 3 to 4 schools each day, spending around an hour and a half at each. You’ll usually work alongside two or three other volunteers, sharing ideas and helping each other run the sessions. Football, rugby, hockey, netball, basketball, cricket, tennis, dance, swimming and ultimate frisbee could all be part of your week. You don’t need to be a professional coach. If you can bring some enthusiasm, explain a game and encourage everyone to join in, you’re already off to a good start. You’ll work with children aged around 8 to 14, with a mixture of abilities and experience. Sessions usually begin with games and a warm-up, followed by skills and a match or two. Not every school has the same equipment or facilities, so being able to think on your feet is part of the experience. Sometimes the simplest games end up being the most fun anyway. **When the School Day Finishes** The best part about spending several weeks somewhere is that you have time to discover your own favourite places and routines. After volunteering, you can head back to the accommodation for a swim, play pool or ping pong with the other volunteers, or spend the afternoon exploring Port Elizabeth. Head to the beach, give surfing a go, browse the shops or ask the local team where they recommend visiting. Some afternoons might turn into plans with the whole house, others might be exactly what you need after a busy day in the schools. And that’s what makes this kind of travel so special. You’re not just visiting South Africa, you’re getting the chance to spend time there, meet people and find out what it’s like to be part of something different from your usual everyday life.

You’ve spent the week in the schools, now it’s time to see what else South Africa has up its sleeve! Weekends are your chance to get out, explore with your volunteer family and say yes to something you might not usually try. Katie’s a big believer in pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and there are plenty of opportunities to do exactly that here. Depending on the length of your programme, at least one weekend activity is included. You could be heading to Jeffreys Bay for an overnight stay in the surf capital, spotting wildlife at Kragga Kamma Game Reserve or visiting Bloukrans Bridge, home to one of the world’s highest bridge bungees. Other possibilities include a Sundays River boat trip and BBQ, or a bushcamp evening with dinner under the stars and a traditional African dance performance. Your included activity will depend on the schedule and availability, with the details confirmed once you arrive. Fancy Something Extra? When there isn’t an included trip running, you can make your own weekend plans. If you’re feeling adventurous, there are optional activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, shark cage diving, safari and game reserve drives, surfing, dune boarding, zip-lining and canoeing. Whether you’re keen to try something completely new or already have a few things on your South Africa bucket list, there’s plenty to choose from. And if your ideal weekend involves doing absolutely nothing? That works too. Spend the day on one of Port Elizabeth’s beaches, head to a nearby shopping mall or stay at the accommodation for a proper pool day. After a busy week, sometimes a chilled weekend with your volunteer family is exactly what you need. Katie often talks about the chance to “Meet & Make Friends For Life”, and weekends like these are a big part of that. Whether you’re sharing a new experience, exploring somewhere together or just spending the afternoon by the pool, it’s the people you meet along the way that make the memories even better. _All optional activities are available at an additional cost._

Katie’s pick would be simple: don’t just choose what feels familiar. Give the other stuff a go too! By week two, you know your way around, you’ve met the kids and those first-day nerves are long gone. So, what are you doing next? If you’ve spent week one teaching English, give sports coaching a go. Been living your best life on the sports field? Head into the classroom for a few days instead. You can move between projects, so make the most of being able to experience both. There’s also the chance to spend time with preschool children from disadvantaged communities. Expect a slightly different kind of school day, helping with classroom activities and mealtimes, then getting involved with games, songs and whatever else the little ones have planned for you! This is your chance to make the programme your own, whether that means discovering a new favourite project or getting a little bit of everything into your South Africa routine.

No alarms, no school, just two days to spend however you fancy! After a busy week of volunteering, you might be ready for a proper beach day, a little shopping or absolutely nothing beyond the pool. If you’re feeling more adventurous, have a chat with the local team about what’s happening nearby. They can recommend activities and help you make plans, whether you want to explore somewhere new or get a few of your volunteer family together for the day.