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Calling all sports people! Make a difference by coaching in Africa. Many projects and different sports available. No qualifications or previous experience necessary, just enthusiasm required!

12 different sports in different locations, the choice is yours...

-> FIVE different Sports Projects available, located in...
-> THREE different regions, all with their own special attractions
-> THREE exciting and very different experiences!

REWARDING SPORTS PROJECTS WITH UNDERPRIVILEDGED CHILDREN:

For sports lovers everywhere - If you feel more at home on a pitch than in a classroom and you want to make a difference to underprivileged children, there is no better way to volunteer then sharing your passion with equally enthusiastic children under the sunny skies of South Africa!

You don’t need any qualifications, just a love of sport and an enthusiasm to share what you know.

LOCATIONS & PROJECT OVERVIEWS:

1. Teaching in the popular tourist city of Cape Town:

You'll assist at a school located in the foothills of Table Mountain. The children at the school come from Cape Town's townships and are from poorer backgrounds. Cape Town has everything to offer with its stunning beaches, great surf, penguins, great nightlife and of course Table Mountain!

The school has fairly good sports facilities with a football field, basketball and netball courts, indoor hall which can be used for sport, and cricket nets. The school is also situated close to an outdoor swimming pool where swimming volunteers will be coaching the children. You can coach one particular sport or a number of sports, depending on your choice. As Physical Education is part of the curriculum in South Africa, lessons take place during life orientation classes.

Many of the teachers don't have any training or knowledge of sports coaching, so you'll probably take most of the sports lessons. You may coach on your own or possibly with other volunteers, you may even have a teacher to help you. If so, you can also teach the teacher how to coach a particular sport so that hopefully they can actually confidently take a sports lesson themselves.

2. Teach Sports in the beach resort of Knysna on the renowned Garden Route:

South Africa goes to Knysna for its holidays! It has some of the most beautiful beaches and coastline in the world. You'll help the poorer African and Coloured children in the local community, in Travellers' long-term programme where volunteers have benefited the children for many years. This is a very sociable placement where you'll share accommodation with our other volunteers in a house where monkeys bring their babies onto the verandahs!

Here you'll double your experience by combining this sports project with teaching other subjects in the schools. An excellent opportunity to mix sports coaching with teaching for an all-round, varied and exciting experience!

3. Teach Sports in a rural Zulu Village in eMakhosini ("the Valley of the Kings") in KwaZulu-Natal:

This is a truly unique teaching location in the heart of Zulu country... African culture, the rural life and the seemingly endless wild landscapes in the very heart of the historical Zulu Kingdom. This is a project rich in cultural experience!

The village school has very little in the way of sports facilities, which is such a pity because the children are crazy to learn! You'll need to use your imagination and initiative, but the rewards will be tremendous - a huge satisfaction factor! Here you'll double your experience by combining this sports project with teaching other subjects in the schools. An excellent opportunity to mix sports with teaching for an all-round, varied and exciting experience!

A typical class at the school is between 30 – 60 and as part of the Life Orientation classes you will be given around 20 of the children from a class for a number of periods during the day. Here you can coach sports and even simple things, such as how to hold a cricket bat, how to bowl, how to throw and kick a rugby ball properly… an opportunity they haven't really had before.

On all our Sports coaching projects there's a good balance between coaching and personal time. You'll most likely coach Monday to Friday for between two and five hours, leaving your evenings and weekends free for travel, relaxation and fun! We provide you with free coaching manuals which we've produced in-house to help you make the most of your placement.

4. Coaching Cricket Course in KwaZulu-Natal:

Coach underprivileged children at local outreach schools. Train, Play and Gain an ICC level 1 cricket coaching qualification. Receive one-on-one coaching from a former international cricketer!

The cricket course takes place in Pietermaritzburg, capital of the KwaZulu-Natal province which is renowned for developing such international cricket notables as Kevin Pieterson and Jonty Rhodes. This project is diverse in that it covers a number of areas:

-> You will gain a level 1 coaching qualification.
-> Receive one-on-one coaching from former Zimbabwean international cricket player Neil Johnson.
-> Coach underprivileged children at local outreach schools.
-> You will be able to join a local club where you will coach the junior teams, train with the seniors and play during the weekend.
If you love your cricket and want to get fully involved, then this is the placement for you.

5. Sports Work Experience - Manage, coach, develop and play sports in a Sports School:
T
his placement combines coaching in a variety of sports with gaining valuable work experience in a well set-up and organized Sports School. The experience you gain on this project will be an excellent entry into your CV, making you stand out in the crowd of job seekers.

The Sports School is based in Knysna, a beautiful beach resort on the Garden Route that surrounds the famous Knysna Lagoon. You'll assist with the administration of the school, organising sports festivals, developing sport, coaching sports and playing a variety of sports.

You may be able to coach a variety of sports including: Archery, Bowls, Cricket, Cycling, Football, Golf, Hockey, Squash and Tennis. You can also get involved in a number of different roles:

-> Sports Administration & Management
-> Organising Sports Events
-> Sports Development
-> Grounds Management
-> Maintenance

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILST ON THIS PROJECT:

Add to your travel experience in Africa by doing some additional exciting activities, such as:

-> A 5- or 7-day Safari from Cape Town up the renowned Garden Route:
taking in Dolphin and Whale Spotting, visits to many tourist attractions, such as a visit to a brewery(!), the Bloukrantz Bungy Jump (reportedly the highest in the world), and a guided tour of the Cango Caves.

-> Surfing Courses:
In the buzz city of Durban.

-> Paragliding Course:
Soar over the impressively beautiful Drakensburg Mountain. You'll get a licence at the end of the course which qualifies you to do solo paragliding around the world.

-> 5-Day Bush Survival Course:
This is a fantastic experience and opportunity to see lots of wild animals in their native habitats in Game Reserves. You'll learn a lot and you'll really enjoy learning some bush skills in the great outdoors!

This project can also be combined with any of our other projects in South Africa. That way you’ll get a good knowledge of two or more very different regions of the country.

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

Talk to us - We're there to help you. Most of our team are ex Travellers volunteers and are ideally qualified to offer advice and guidance because they know what you're looking for. They'll help you find your perfect project - and then make it all happen!

If you’d like more information about this or any of our projects, please email or call us! If you’d like to apply for this project, please go to our website and complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen.

It’s as easy as that.

OUR PARTICIPANTS SAY:

"All the kids are so keen to play sports, and there are so many amazing athletes among both the boys and girls. It's so refreshing to see every kid wanting to play, there are no kids with sick notes wanting to get out of PE! The kids just roll up their trousers, kick off their shoes and they are ready to play. The school does have some sports equipment, there are footballs for the boys and some for the girls to play netball with.

Currently after the second break at 12.15 there are no lessons and the kids clean their classrooms. The kids usually finished this early so I would take it in turns to take the boys to play rugby and the girls for netball. Any future volunteer should not neglect sports for the girls as they always seem to miss out. They are just as eager to play sports as the boys and are all very talented on the netball field."

Duration

Available all year round. Our placements are very flexible, you can choose your own start and finish dates.

Start Dates

Flexible start and finish dates you choose. Our placements are flexible and can be tailored to match your preferences. For availability please contact the office.

Costs / Benefits

Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £845 for two weeks. You can participate for up to one year, subject to visa requirements.

Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. All meals are provided, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).

You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.

Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.

Requirements

No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm! Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 17 years old upwards, and all nationalities. This placement would suit anyone who wants to make a real difference, wants first-hand experience of a different culture and has initiative.