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Last replied
19 Jan 2025
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Description
We have space for volunteers for next school term from mid February to mid March. If you are available to help Xhosa kids learn to read in English, we need your help.
Our education centre is based in a rural village on the Wild Coast, Transkei, Eastern Cape, South Africa. We need volunteers to assist us with our English one-on-one reading programme in surrounding junior schools for a few hours in the morning.
In the afternoons volunteers give fun interactive English or beginner math lessons at our centre. A TEFL background would be valuable but definitely not essential. You need to be able to communicate in English.
The local people are friendly and you will be made to feel very welcome. You will have lots of free time to learn about Xhosa culture and interact with the local people.
Rural life here is simple and the beautiful scenery and easy going lifestyle is relaxing and feeds the soul.
If community work and a desire to share knowledge is what you want to do, then you can be effective in making a lasting difference to someone's life. Come and experience a cultural exchange that will be a rewarding gift and make memories to last a lifetime.
As we are a charity organization supporting schools, we charge a minimal fee which covers accommodation and a hearty South African fusion dinner. Payment can be made on a weekly basis.Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity WorkTeachingHelp around the houseHouse sittingUN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
By living in the village with us, volunteers will have a first hand opportunity to learn about the fascinating traditional Xhosa customs.
Help
A school day starts at 8 and ends at 12 midday as well as an hour at our centre in the afternoons when students visit us every afternoon for extra lessons.
We will supply you with access to lesson plan material as well as orientate you to make sure that your stay with us is comfortable.
We need volunteers who are able to commit to a school term at a time. This is usually 6 - 8 weeks depending on the time of year.Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We offer a South African / Xhosa fusion supper. Unfortunately we cannot cater for vegetarians or people with special dietary requirements.
Volunteers will sleep in a comfortable traditional Xhosa rondavel (roundhouse). We have electricity and running water. We are 4km from pristine beaches. It is a malaria free area but mosquitoes can be a nuisance so bring anti mozzie repellent.What else ...
Transkei's beauty is in its rolling grass hills dotted with huts and an endless coastline of pristine beaches. It get quite hot in summer, (November to April) and winters are very moderate. Weekends you are free to explore the area and we will gladly show you around.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (35)
We hope to see her come back in the… read more
I was able to do a lot of different things. In the mornings, I worked with children in the primary school, teaching English and music. They were really motivated and happy to learn. In the afternoon, I did a lot of different… read more
I would recommend volunteering at the… read more
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(4.8)
We hope to see her come back in the… read more
I was able to do a lot of different things. In the mornings, I worked with children in the primary school, teaching English and music. They were really motivated and happy to learn. In the afternoon, I did a lot of different… read more
I would recommend volunteering at the… read more
Laura was game, ready to get out there and have fun with the kids and she was a great addition to our team. Laura was more than happy to keep busy with the children and created after school sports activities such as netball with the high school… read more
I spent 1 month with Debby and Theo and had a really amazing time. I worked as a PE teacher for the 2 junior schools in the village of Ngcizele. The students were a dream to work with - they were motivated, excited and so grateful to have sports back in their timetable. In the afternoons I worked in the education… read more
The Transkei and the surrounding nature is absolutely beautiful. I stayed for seven weeks with Debby & Theo and it was exactly the experience I was looking for. I loved their knowledge about the Xhose culture, the conversations we had at supper and all the games we played! And for sure I… read more
We were sad to see him leave as he was such a pleasure to have around. His calm personality and gentle mannerism were contagious.
I would recommend him to future hosts especially those who enjoy… read more
When I met the two guys I directly realized that the time there will be nice and fun. I loved the casual conversations with the two of them in the evenings, playing darts or other games and just having a good time. Besides everyone who has been with… read more
My time at Debby and Theo's place was really amazing. It was a bit different then a normal stay there because I arrived in the summer vacation so I dindn't teach at the school. Despite that Theo and Debby did their absolute best to make me have some time with the children in their after- school… read more
To begin with, the accommodation and the surrounding nature is absolutely wonderful. We were immersed into the village lifestyle and lived in the middle of nowhere, which made us appreciate the beauty of nature. The program was well… read more
One week wasn't long enough to get seriously involved in our reading programme, however she didn't mind filling in wherever there was a gap and was more than willing to help out with whatever… read more
He was a great house guest, helped out whenever asked and never tired of packing bricks. We enjoyed his company and would recommend him as a volunteer.
I'm sure we will stay in touch.
It’s been a wonderful time that I will never forget! Debby and Theo made it easy to get comfortable in a new environment straight from the start. During my stay I never felt bored, I rather enjoyed the relaxed life without being on my phone or streaming videos… read more
We taught english phonics to the grades 1 to 3 (sometimes math to grade 6's) at the local school, from 8 to 12 o'clock every weekday. Afternoons we would often go to the nearby education centre for one hour of extra classes with kids who wanted. Most kids speak the local… read more
We threw him into the deep end by sending him off to the high school to teach maths (which was his passion) and even though he didn't have any teaching experience in a classroom environment, he rose to… read more
I felt very welcome in their home and was fortunate to be part of a great team of people from all over the world. Living together with Debby, Theo and other volunteers was a very interesting and enriching part of the experience. The Transkei truly is a special place. A great… read more
We feel fortunate to have met this unique family who are travelling together for a year, each with their own life story. We… read more
We could rely on her to come up with creative ways to work with the children who loved the opportunity to make fun Christmassy things and she brought a… read more
Debby and Theo are great hosts, they make you feel welcome from the second you step off the bus. They live in a simple, functional, cozy house surrounded by stunning and beautiful scenery. The volunteers stay in separate huts that are made in the traditional Xhosa way. They are very comfortable and… read more
In the mornings you usually either help at Manyano or Soga Junior School to teach reading and writing in English to the children. There is a special programme you follow for this which starts at phonics level and becomes more complex with time. Especially in the beginning the programme… read more
Debby and Theo are excellent hosts that make you feel at home while teaching you a lot about the Transkei and it’s people. Everyone says Theo’s food is great but spending time with them is even better!
I taught at both the elementary school and the high school. The students are eager to learn… read more
Working with the kids was easy for David once we started classes and he was keen… read more
I helped get the Education Centre ready. My tasks were painting, cleaning, organizing and setting up books in the library. I am glad that I was there on… read more
It was such a pleasure having them as they were an extremely easy going couple and fitted in so well. They never complained, never found fault and were always ready to give a hand.
Wouter helped us with various building jobs and did a wonderful project of… read more
Wouter helped Theo building the house and the future volunteer-rondavels. He enjoyed working outdoors (digging, chopping wood, gardening etc.) in the beautiful Transkei surrounding and seeing the place slowly turning into a truly… read more
They did not stand back when when there was work to be done and we had fun sitting chatting in the evenings after supper on subjects ranging from Canadian ice hockey to the Anunnaki. They are both worldly wise and friendly by nature and we… read more
We helped with the… read more
I taught English in a local junior school where I witnessed a high proportion of students struggling… read more
I taught mathematic and physic lessons to the High school. Students are so happy to have a foreigner to help them. With them, I was able to… read more