Description

This project has a very rural and tropical feel involving various aspects of community and development work in and around the coastal town of Vilanculos. We support a number of different community development initiatives. We spend our mornings at a rural preschool and most afternoons teaching English. When you are not teaching or planning the English lessons, you will be involved in a number of other exciting and rewarding community initiatives.

The projects are always evolving so are likely to be at different stages upon your arrival. Volunteers should be prepared to be involved in a wide spectrum of project work as things progress, all of which help move the projects and the people of Vilanculos towards a more sustainable and positive tomorrow.

* Rural Pre-School Learning Centre - A Escolinha de Boa Esperanca - The School of Good Hope

African Impact first started working in partnership with the School of Good Hope in November 2007, with approximately 25 children enrolled. Since then we have been working alongside the teachers and developing it to where we now have over 70 learners on our books. The volunteer role at the pre-school is fundamental for the development of the children. You will be involved both in the classroom generating new and exciting ways to learn and interacting with the children at break time. Volunteers visit the pre-school every morning (Monday to Friday) and will teach their own class in small groups of about 8 children. Your role at the pre-school is as a teacher, preparing the children for their next step into primary school, and involves the following:

* Singing and dancing with the children in English, Portuguese and Xitsua
* Developing the children's imagination and creative skills through crafts such as painting, drawing and colouring
* Teaching basic lessons about colours, numbers, letters and knowledge of the world in English, with the assistance of a translator
* Giving the children the opportunity to let off some steam through fun games and structured physical education classes
* Helping to prepare the lunch for the children
* General upkeep of the school to keep it a pleasant environment in which to learn
* Some basic work at the preschool farm, aimed at providing a source of sustainable income for the preschool

After having spent the morning at the Preschool, you will help out the local community through a wide array of projects in the afternoons and these are outlined below:

* Orphan Care and Development

We visit a local orphanage to spend time enriching the lives of the children that live there, and are currently working on an exciting building initiative to furnish them with a new dorm so they can provide for more Children in need! As a volunteer you will be involved in the following:

1. Spend time with the Children, enriching their lives
2. New Orphan dorm Building initiative
3. Developmental playtime where the children get to learn new games and play with toys to which they wouldn't normally have access.
4. Constructive sports games such as frisbee and football
5. Giving the children the one on one care and attention that is so critical for their development

* Teaching English Project:

For two afternoons a week we currently teach English to a group of about fifty students split into groups depending on ability, ranging in age from young to middle-aged adults. Volunteers are responsible for designing and delivering the lesson plans, which are always interactive and fun with the use of flash cards, games, objects and worksheets. Volunteers encourage active participation from the students by reading out loud, role-playing, writing on the board and participating in educational games. The English lessons are free for the students and open to anyone from the community at-large. They offer an amazing and rare opportunity for the people of Vilanculos to increase their knowledge of English, which greatly increase their chance of securing employment in Vilanculos' growing tourism-based economy.

Please note that a full range of level abilities are taught in these lessons. Volunteers should arrive with a solid, strong, comfortable and confident working knowledge of English grammar basics (this is a good opportunity to brush up on your English language skills!). Your role as a volunteer will include:

* Planning fun, interactive, and challenging lessons for the students
* Conducting lessons with the help of a translator in a patient, dynamic, creative, inspirational and passionate manner
* Assigning and correction of homework assignments
* Getting to know an amazing group of individuals with an inspiring dedication to learning

* Rural Home Building:

Cyclone Favio hit the Mozambican coast in February 2007 and devastated much of the local area. African Impact was involved in the initial relief work and assisting international aid agencies. Through our local contacts we have continued with rural home-building for those who do not have the means to build for themselves (monetarily or physically). We work in close conjunction with community leaders to assess the most critical housing needs and then act accordingly.

We are currently managing to build 1 home approximately every 2 months (dependent on volunteer numbers!). They are simple and rustic structures typical of construction in the Inhambane Province.

The work is sometimes challenging but always rewarding and offers an amazing insight into rural Vilanculos as well as the chance to meet and form working relationships with members of the local community. Other building projects that we undertake include refurbishment at the preschool, such as new classrooms and amenities.

* Language Club

Saturday mornings are spent running and supporting a language club, an informal learning group open to the community surrounding the volunteer camp. The students that attend include young children, young women, and adults, all of whom perhaps have missed out on other formal learning opportunities. The language club is an amazing opportunity for these individuals to pick up some English that can help them procure employment and therefore a more stable lifestyle. Also, what better way to get to know and form close bonds with your neighbours than learning together? You will be involved in:

* Playing creative language learning games, such as bingo and pairs game to encourage fun learning
* Arts and crafts as a means of increasing vocabulary, with themes such as sea-life and the animal world
* More formal English lessons with advanced students, keen to further their education in their spare time
* Singing in English and Portuguese

* Other Community Projects:

There are a number of other community projects that we are involved in the afternoons. These include maintaining the farm at the pre-school, painting projects at the pre-school to make it an exciting place for the children to learn, beach clean up days and a cultural day once a month at one of the project's translator's family home. This is to help the volunteers get immersed and learn about traditional Mozambican culture.

Highlights

- Teaching in a local pre-school using songs, games and crafts
- Local orphanage involvement and youth development
- Teaching English and life skills to keen and motivated groups of young adults
- The opportunity to learn some basic Portuguese and Xitsua, the local Mozambican language
- Build houses for individuals and families in critical situations, using local materials and traditional methods
- Indulge your senses while you learn how to cook traditional Mozambican cuisine at a once monthly cultural day at the Orphanage
- Make friends for life with the other international volunteers on the programme

Qualifications

* No qualifications are necessary.
* TEFL qualifications are helpful.

Type of Programs

• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Cultural Exploration
• Language Immersion
• Student Tours

Languages

• English
• Portuguese

Cost in US$:

USD 1386 +

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

- Project Fee: this is financing that goes directly back into the project with which you are involved. This project fee facilitates funding for items such as teaching materials, sports equipment, supplies, etc. as well as the development of the actual programme.
- Transfer from Vilanculos Airport to the project accommodation in town
- Orientation and introductions to project work upon your arrival
- A monthly cultural day involving an insight into the traditional lifestyles of the local area, including traditional food, dancing, and singing.
- All daily transportation to and from the project
- Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at your volunteer accommodation
- Assistance in your projects by various staff and project managers
- Full support from African Impact and your coordinator throughout your time at your placement

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

People with a passion for meaningful travel and making a difference. People who are adventurous, up for anything and willing to fit in with group work and have the experience of a lifetime.

Age Range

18-70

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 2-5

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

2 working days

Year Founded

2004