Secondary Navigation
Main content within the page
+ 44 (0)1380 729009

Itinerary - Africa and Asia Venture

Itinerary

GETTING THERE

You will need to fly to O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. Here one of our representatives will meet you and help you with the internal transfer to your flight southwards to Bloemfontein. Kate Groch, our AV representative, will meet you there and take you on the two hour drive to Philippolis, where you will be living for the next three months.

BRIEFING AND ORIENTATION

The orientation course will take place over the next four days a couple of minutes walk away from your house and will cover the following:

• History, culture and customs of the Republic of South Africa (RSA)
• Safety, health and security
• Teaching techniques, lesson planning and practice
• Education system in RSA
• Basic Afrikaans (the main language of the area, apart from English)

You will also be able to settle into your house and visit all five schools in the surrounding area, at least two of which you will be working in yourself - so your time will be well spent!

YOUR NEW HOME

You will share a house with the other volunteers, which is located in a quiet town, not far from the local shops/bank/restaurant.  There will be a sitting room, a kitchen, a bathroom/toilet, a couple of bedrooms, and a private back yard/braai area. The water is fine to drink from the tap and you will have intermittent electricity, there is a daily two hour power cut suffered across the whole country, which you will soon get used to!

THE PROJECT

Your group will split up into twos or threes for working purposes. You will spend about 10 weeks (over two terms) teaching and your daily programme is likely to see you working with primary school children in the mornings and getting involved with the extramural activities, such as sport, music, art and drama, as well as teaching in the High School in the afternoons. Late afternoons will be spent working with the "Matrics" - the A Level equivalent age group in RSA. There will be homework to set and marking to do. You can teach in pairs or on your own - it's up to you and how confident you feel. You should have at least 15 forty-minute academic and PE/games lessons a week.

At weekends and on public holidays you will be able to do whatever you want with the other AVs. Some weekends you may want to do a bit of painting/building work at your schools or organise a sports' event; and on others, South Africa awaits! The Orange/Xhariep River is on your doorstep and towns such as Ladysmith and Bloemfontein only a couple of hours' drive away.  

IN BETWEEN TERMS - 2 WEEKS

You will have a two week break after Term 1 - the perfect chance to make a difference.

You could continue with the good works that you have already started - more building and painting, organising clubs, such as art, reading, singing ... whatever it is, you will find a warm appreciation of all that you do.   There will be a lot of enthusiastic support and ‘help' from the villagers.  

This is a great opportunity to run an ‘Easter School' for final year students to further their studies in English, maths, science and any other subject that you have been teaching.   Sports' tournaments, arts and crafts will fill the days. 

INDEPENDENT TRAVEL

This will be a tough choice for you as you head off in your groups - east or west? Mmmm...!

East. The Wild Coast, considered by many to be the most beautiful and unspoilt coastline in the world, offers the additional bonus of ever-improving weather (and suntans!) the further east and north you travel. This is rugged, virgin territory much like it was when the world began - and there aren't many places like that to see. What about some surfing lessons on the Indian Ocean coastline before heading on to the Zulu homelands and battlefields of the Boer War, and on up to Kruger National Park?

West. But then, we suspect you will find it difficult to avoid visiting at least some of the Garden Route again. Jeffries Bay (best surfing in the world?), Plettenberg Bay (whales, great whites, dolphins?), Mossel Bay (sportsmen and water sports enthusiast's paradise?), and Wilderness (rivers, lakes, endless golden beaches and adventure training capital of the Garden Route) - all provide serious temptation and must be seen

HOME

Either choice will see you getting yourself back to Johannesburg, where you will have been given an address to stay at overnight. Our representative there will get you to the airport the following evening for your flight home. If you are staying on a bit longer in Africa, that's fine, because "Once an AV, always an AV!"

Don't underestimate the reverse culture shock of returning home - it is real and can be quite a surprise! But most AVs fall in love with Africa and come back again...and again!

 

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before departure:
  • Pre-departure information, support and advice
  • A nominated member of the UK volunteer support team
  • One-to-one face to face briefing for UK applicants
  • Telephone briefing for non-UK applicants
  • References taken up
  • Comprehensive online health check
  • Advice on group flight booking or individual flight arrangements
  • Briefing for group departure from London airport
In-country:
  • In-country representative
  • 24/7 in-country backup
  • Meet and greet at airport (if arriving with the group)
  • Airport transfer (if arriving with group)
  • In-country induction course
  • Transfer from induction course to school/project
  • Accommodation (except during independent travel)
  • Food allowance (except during independent travel)
  • Management of emergencies, including lost passport, illness, etc. whilst in-country
Upon returning home:
  • Returning home advice
  • Full telephone debriefing

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

  • Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Country visas
  • Meeting of non-group arrivals
  • Accommodation for early/late arrivals
  • Medical expenses, e.g. inoculations, malaria prophylatics
  • In-country medical expenses
  • Drinks
  • Tips/gratuities - No tips/gratuities for AV staff are necessary or expected
  • Spending money
  • Extra activities that you choose to do
  • Independent travel

 

dates and costs

apply

need_help

If you need some help and want to talk about your plans to volunteer, please Get in touch 

Back to Top