Description

Volunteers in this program will contribute to the community of Vilanculos through a variety of initiatives. The project in Vilanculos, Mozambique has succeeded in facilitating HIV testing and awareness for over 400 members of the community. At the rural preschool, past volunteers have built a new classroom, a large vegetable garden, a kitchen, a toilet facility, and a new shady veranda for the children's eating area. Volunteers will also be working with the town's primary and secondary schools, orphanage, home builders, and more. 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 hopeful future.

Highlights

HIV Educational Workshops:

Volunteers will work with community leaders to plan and run HIV/AIDS workshops in order to educate the community about the dangers of the disease.

Rural Pre-School Learning Centre:

Volunteers visit the pre-school every morning to assist the local teachers and educate the children in creative ways.

We are currently teaching English to a group of students ranging in age from young adults to middle-aged adults. Volunteers are responsible for creating fun and interactive lesson plans. Volunteers encourage active participation from the students by reading out loud, role-playing writing on the board, doing written work, and playing games.

Participants visit the orphanage once a week. The orphanage is also the site of our once-monthly cultural immersion days (local cooking and song and dance!)

In February of 2007, cyclone Favio hit the Mozambican coast and devastated much of the local area. The community has rebuilt much of the infrastructure since then, and volunteers will assist with rural home-building in the community. The project is currently able to build a home every 2 to 3 week. Other building projects that we undertake include refurbishment at the preschool, such as new classrooms and amenities.

Language Club:

Saturday mornings are spent at the language club, an informal learning group open to the community just up the hill from the volunteer camp. Here, children and adults of all ages who may not have the opportunity for formal education can come to learn and practice English in fun and creative ways.

Qualifications

- Good level of English
- Min age 17
- Flexibility and open mindedness
- High level of independence and emotional strength
- Motivation to work with children
- Full travel &medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

1,385

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support

Program Fees Include:

- Accommodation: Fully furnished bungalow at project beach camp
- Food: 3 meals a day
- Airport pickup: Included on arrival and departure day
- Orientation kit: Full project and travel details will be sent following registration
- Training: Pre-departure preparation and In-country orientation
- Support: Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18 years+

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Other

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview

GoEco - Volunteer Abroad's Mission Statement

(1) Encourage ecological and volunteer tourism that promotes sustainable development (2) Enable travelers to experience different and more rewarding kinds of tourism. (3) Encourage travelers to volunteer for the benefit of others and thus to serve as a good-will ambassador to other countries in the world. (4) Encourage travelers from all over the world to come to Israel for ecological and community-based projects, in both the Arab and Jewish sectors, and experience firsthand the unique cultural and natural diversity in this region. (5) Support environmental and humanitarian projects that promote understanding and good will between ethnic societies in Israel. (6) Conduct further research in the field of ecological tourism, such as the 'Ecological Footprint' as a tool for sustainable tourism development. (7) Establish an in-depth and up-to-date data base of the relevant projects worldwide. (8) Create a platform from which to explore the various organizations that support the environment and actively encourage volunteering.

Year Founded

2005