Laylaa

& Marco

Information de voyage

Actuellement, nous sommes

Les activités qui nous intéressent :

We are confirmed until end February 2025 with hosts in Drakensburg, South Africa. We are willing to travel to all parts within our home country, please scroll through our profile for all we can offer!

Description

Marco:

My purpose is simple: Be useful!
My personality (ISTP) and work ethic (efficiency focused) forms the basis of my volunteering contributions. During off time, I'm an energetic adventure seeker who lives to the fullest.

When a host or owner asks me to assist with a specific project or aspect of the business, I like to apply my goal driven mentality towards progress and satisfactory results.

Laylaa:

I am a charismatic conservationist with a vocation to reconnect humanity with the natural world through compassionate communication.

My passion for the sustainability of the natural environment guides my daily life and I desire to contribute to a brand, household, organisation, project or community that has the same values.

I am a systemic thinker who organises my day-to-day habits and tasks to ensure short and medium term goals are accomplished while building toward my long-term vision.

My personality as an Enneagram Type 7 / Meyers-Briggs ESTP makes me resourceful, adaptable, and courageous. New experiences excite me, challenges stimulate me and the opportunity to problem-solve is met with great enthusiasm.

Centres d’intérêt

Sports nautiques

Mode et beauté

Soin des plantes

Danse

Montagne

Jardinage

Cuisine et alimentation

Dev. durable

Ferme

Nature

Plage

Randonnée

Dev. personnel

Yoga / bien-être

Animaux de compagnie

Activités en plein air

Fitness

Bricolage / artisanat

Cyclisme

Livres

Sports d'aventure

Animaux

Langues parlées

Afrikaans: Courant
Anglais: Courant

Compétences et connaissances que nous aimerions partager ou apprendre

Nous avons des connaissances :  

Jardinage

Éco-projets

S’occuper des animaux

Préparer les repas / cuisiner pour la famille

Langues

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Nous pouvons apprendre aux autres:  

Bricolage et projets de construction

Entretien général

Accueil / tourisme

Aider dans une ferme

Aider à la maison

Aide informatique / Internet

Home sitting

Quelles sont vos compétences ?

We are a charismatic couple from South Africa with experience in Hospitality, Tourism, and Retail.

Marco:

My hands-on approach to learning was the reason I decided to leave public schooling and start what I was really passionate about.
Even though I consistently achieved (A) grades, I wasn't interested in finishing secondary schooling as there were more opportunities in the 'real world'.

My working career included the following, from most to least recent:

1. Volunteering since May 2024 at lodges and guesthouses;
2. 4-Star guesthouse management and farm maintenance;
3. Retail store management;
4. Business admin and sales;
5. Dog training and care at a kennel;
6. Exotic animal care at a pet store;

Work experience:

-S.A.
Several volunteer positions over the last 8 months averaging 2 months per lodge. Responsibilities included:
1. Daily task planning and delegation;
2. Guest relations, bookings and admin;
3. Vegetable gardening and upkeep;
4. Business systems evaluation and upgrades;
5. General maintenance and workshop organisation;
6. Multi-day remote horse outrides with guests and complete catering for up to 16 people.

-Ireland
A volunteer position for 3 months at a lodge on the Aran Islands. Responsibilities included:
1. Full Irish breakfast preparation for up to 20 guests;
2. Shuttle driving of guests and full check in process upon arrival;
3. General maintenance of rooms, bathrooms and appliances;
4. Housekeeping throughout the 8 guest rooms;
5. Guest relations - Familiarisation within area and local attractions, assistance with travel plans;
6. Maintenance of up to 35 bicycles and 6 kayaks;

-Guesthouse management and farm maintenance
A beautiful 4-Star guesthouse situated on a remote farm with my wife, Laylaa. Working closely with the owner to host international guests, upkeep of the 8 guest rooms and large main house, maintenance of the farm and managing 5-8 colleagues.
Guesthouse Google review score: 4.8/5. Booking.com review score: 9.1/10.1.
Location: Klein Karoo.

-Retail store management
Promoted to oversee and delegate to 5 colleagues, achieve sales and customer service targets and meet business admin requirements. Financial planning and operational efficiency were core responsibilities.
Store Google review score: 4.3/5.
Location: Johannesburg.

-Business admin and sales
In the form of a retail store, interacting with a large amount of customers daily and meeting customer service expectations for the store. This position included face to face sales as well as corporate client sales, all financial and operational admin and strategy planning towards turnover growth.
Location: Johannesburg.

- Dog training and care at a kennel facility,
I truly loved this as it included dog care and training, puppy socialising, purebred breeding, dog shows and adult guard dog training.
Location: Johannesburg.

-Exotic animal care at a pet store,
Care of chinchillas, Burmese pythons and red tailed boas, iguana, koi fish, 30 exotic parrots and a variety of other animals. My duty was animal care and store sales.
Location: Pretoria.

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Laylaa:

Education
2011-2013
LoneHill Cambridge International Academy, AS Level and *IGCSE

SUBJECTS: Geography, Afrikaans, English, Business Studies and *Mathematics

2014-2016
Vega School, BBA in Brand Building and Management*

MODULES: Brand Strategy, Critical Studies, Creative Development, Business Communications and Digital Media, Organisational Studies, Channel Planning, Economics, Innovation and Business Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, Finance in Brand Building [*Graduated with Distinction]

2017
University of Witwatersrand, BA Honours in Geography

MODULES:
Environmental Policy and Practice, Integrated Environmental Management, Local and Regional Economic Development

RESEARCH PAPER:
Greenwashing in the Ecotourism Sector: The Case of Luxury Ecolodges in
South Africa and Botswana Supervisor: Jennifer Fitchett

Work experience
The Retreat at Groenfontein (Klein Karoo, South Africa)
> Guesthouse Manageress
May 2022 - Feb 2024
» Receiving guests
» Interaction with guests throughout the day
» Involved with planning and execution of menus
» Managing groceries and supplies
» Directing and organising staff in the kitchen and rooms
» Checking and maintaining standards of the guest rooms
» Strong administrative skills from assisting with the general day to day admin and
processing.
» Familiarity with Nightbridge and Microsoft office, particularly Excel for reporting

Chartfield Guesthouse (Cape Town, South Africa)
> Internship, Senior Intern
Apr 2021- Apr 2022
» Front Office and Guest Relations
» Breakfast and Food & Beverage
» Administration and Marketing
» Training and Mentoring Staff
» Housekeeping and BOH
» Conferences and Events

Daily Dish,
> Remote Work Customer Care and Sales
Jun 2018- Nov 2019
» Improved customer aftercare to elevate brand loyalty
» Managed online and telephonic customer service
» Webchat agent for enquiries, sales and support
> Graphic Designer
Apr 2018- Nov 2019
» Produced content for print, digital and social media
» Conceptulised and executed packaging
» Strengthened UX and website design

Biomimicry for Africa Foundation
> Brand Strategist
Sep 2018- Apr 2019
» Compiled an in-depth brand and PESTLE
analysis report for brand development
» Spearheaded the formulation of the
brand identity and corporate image
> Web Designer
March 2019
» Developed an interactive website
https://biomimicryforafrica.wixsite.com/biomimicryforafrica


Volunteer Experience in Ireland

Aran Walkers Lodge (Inis Mor, Galway Bay)
» Housekeeping of rooms and public areas
» Continental breakfast set up and service
» Check-ins and check-outs

CECAS / Centre of Excellence for Climate Action and Sustainability (Leap, West Cork)
» Maintaining an outdoor permaculture vegetable and herb garden and greenhouse
» Ensuring hygienic and comfortable communal spaces
» Meal service: breakfast, lunch and dinner for group events, workshops or tour groups
» Deep cleaning and minor repairs
»Check-ins and check-outs
» Housekeeping and laundry

Volunteer Experience in South Africa

SeMoer Wedding Destination
» Accommodation assessments and reporting
» Wedding set up and decorations
» Floral arrangements and table setting
» Bar service and meal prep
» Systemising decor and equipment

The Nest Hotel
» Deep cleaning and systemising linen room
» Decluttering storage spaces
» Graphic design: Hotel Map

Khotso Backapers Lodge and Horse Trails
» Reception and administration
» Event set up and hosting
» Deep cleaning and organisation of storage spaces
» Room/unit checks and quality control of accommodation
» Breakfast and dinner set up and service, kitchen assistant
» Responsible for maintaining vegetable garden and polytunnel

SANParks Honorary Rangers
> Honorary Ranger
Oct 2017- Feb 2020
» Snare Patrol and Alien Plant Species Removal
» Hosting guests in rustic camps and glamping
» Assisting with Public Awareness & Education
» Organising and hosting birding weekends

The Spider Club of Southern Africa,
> Public Relations
May 2016- Present
» Operating exhibitions with live specimen
» Facilitating guided spider walks

Better SA,
> Part-Time Volunteer
Jul 2018- May 2019
» Walking dogs at Woodrock Animal Rescue
» Supporting staff of Husky Rescue

Âge

27 & 33

Autres infos...

Marco:

> Motorbikes & Bicycles
> Reading Non-fiction (business & personal development)
> Snake & Scorpion Identification
> Weightlifting & Fitness
> Hiking & Trail Running
> Healthy Cooking & Nutrition
> Sustainable Farming & Vegetable Gardening

Laylaa:

» Yoga & Pilates
» Meditation & Pranayama
» Spiders & Bird-Watching
» DIY & Personal Care
» Audiobooks & Podcasts (self-awareness & psychology)
» Crosswords & Puzzles
» Ecopsychology & Mental Wellness

Informations complémentaires

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  Fumeur

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  Permis de conduire

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  Allergies

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  Régime alimentaire spécial