PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHING / EDUCATION:
The Stay Africa! Primary School Teaching / Education programme is focused on assisting trained/qualified local teachers, in their day-to-day duties, to achieve their aim of educating and empowering children living in disadvantaged communities.
Due to the lack of funding, resources and infrastructure, the lack of basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills is a massive problem in Cape Town, predominantly in poor communities locally known as “townships”! These areas are often heavily overpopulated (locals and migrants) and the few schools that exist here, simply cannot cope with the high number of children. As a result, many schools in the middle-income areas of the city, have opened their doors to assist – the children are bussed in every day and many schools also incorporate feeding schemes in order to avoid these children learning on an empty stomach.
While this is a great help to these children and communities, it has adversely resulted in high teacher-student ratios. Most classes now operate at a ratio of 40-45 children for every one teacher, and in addition to this, the children coming in from different communities often have very different learning abilities, and many require special individual attention! This can be extremely challenging for teachers, and this is where our volunteers come in.
VOLUNTEER DUTIES:
- Assist the local teacher with everyday in-class duties
- Lesson planning and execution, according to the school programme
- Help students that are struggling to understand the lesson
- Substitute for main teacher when required
- Occasional admin duties
- Educational games, songs, activities
- Assist with fundraising and annual functions/events
WORKING HOURS:
Volunteers work according to the assigned school hours, approximately from 08:00 – 14:30.
Working with primary school children can be really hard work, but this can also be the most rewarding. You will literally get to see the children improve their reading, writing, math and social skills, from one day to the next.
*Please Note: This program is not available during the annual South African school holidays
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Placement in a suitable project and accommodation
- Placement inventory information prior to arrival in South Africa
- Transfer from the airport to the StayAfrica Volunteer house
- Dormitory accommodation for 1 night during Orientation
- Transfer to StayAfrica office for Orientation
- Orientation Programme, including Welcome Session and Orientation Session
- Breakfast, Mon-Fri and accommodation at volunteer House
- Assistance with Bookings for tours and activities
- 24-hour support whilst in Cape Town
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
- Flights and Insurance
- Meals during Orientation days
- Lunch, dinner and weekend meals are excluded for volunteers placed at the Volunteer House
- Evening activities
- Transport to and from the City and to and from projects
- Airport shuttle back to the airport after completion of Programme
- Additional cost for special dietary requirements
- Visa (if applicable)
“Those who travel broaden their horizons… Those who volunteer and travel broaden the horizons of others.” – Unknown.