Cape Town, South Africa Sports Volunteers

  South Africa

Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Starts 1st and 3rd Friday each month.

Description: Through your volunteer assistance, the children will benefit from your academic lessons (such as basic maths, English and IT) in the mornings and they will also have a structured place to play and learn in the afternoons with your sports coaching sessions. The volunteers have recently set up computer literacy clinics, which have proved very popular with the children. The main sport played is football, however, you can coach a wider range of sports.

You will be able to select the sports you are interested in coaching, whether it is football, netball, mini-tennis or cricket. You also have the opportunity to introduce other games and sports, but please note that the equipment may not necessarily be available. If you wish to coach a different sport, you can bring some basic equipment with you, which you can donate to the programme.

Children from the townships often have very little. Most children have never played football with a real ball before and normally use footballs made up of crushed plastic bags tied together. Just by being the person to organise a game with a real ball, you are already making a big difference.

Highlights: South Africa is the southern most country on the African continent, stretching over 2500km along the coast, from Namibia to Mozambique. It is one of the most developed countries on the continent, with very good infrastructure and excellent facilities for travellers.

South Africa has it all; from the picturesque beaches for ultimate relaxation, to bustling metropolises for some shopping and partying, to the safaris and wilderness that have made this continent so popular. Cape Town has long been a favorite spot for tourists. Overlooked by Table Mountain, its reputation for being a fun and beautiful city is something that is certified by most people who visit.

South Africa was originally inhabited by the Bantu-speaking people who migrated across Southern Africa. It was first marked on the 'map' in the 15th Century when the Portuguese explorers arrived on the shore of the Cape of Good Hope, making settlements and establishing trade routes. As a result of this, modern South Africa has huge diversity in all aspects of life, stemming from the traditional, tribal and European influence.

The recent history is a mixed affair. As a developed country with political ties to Europe, South Africa gallantly took part in both World Wars. However, only as recently as 1994 has South Africa ended the Apartheid regime. This was engineered by the minority White race and was a horrific and suppressing existence for all who opposed it. One can now hope for a just and democratic state.

Sadly, South Africa's diversity extends to economics, with roughly half the population living below the poverty line in shantytowns and mud huts. South Africa has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world and also the highest number of patients being treated for HIV/ Aids in the world. The government has tripled it's spending on HIV/Aids treatments, although it is doing little to reduce it's prevalence. The average life expectancy for men is just 47 years old, with women outlasting them by only four years, to 51 years old.

Cost in US$: from 1,229; 250 deposit

Experience Required: no

Age Range: Minimum age is 17 years, the maximum age is decided on potential participants health.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Written Application

Real Gap Experience's Mission Statement: We are ambitious for our company, our partners and the communities in which we work. We take our responsibilities seriously - understanding that the development of our business impacts directly on our partners, the communities that we visit and work with and that ultimately, our success is their success too.