In 2012, there will be ten volunteers working in pairs to assist in four secondary school placements and one combined school, focusing on assisting grades 7-9 (roughly equivalent to years 7-9 in the UK). There is also an established after school placement at the local SOS Children’s Village located in between Lekazi and Nelspruit. Volunteers will visit this organisation twice a week helping out with homework, playing football or just getting to know the children and finding out about their lives.

In previous years, volunteer accommodation has been in a hostel in Nelspruit, but in 2012 volunteers will be accommodated in a self-catering guesthouse within Lekazi itself. This homely abode is run by lady called Thembe (an educator at one of the Lekazi project schools) who has lots experience working with Tenteleni. The accommodation consists of dormitory-style rooms, a kitchen and an outside area perfect for relaxing after school or for a traditional South African braii (bbq). Situated within a safe area of Lekazi and in walking distance of the central shopping area and internet cafe (with variable connection) this will fast become a home-from-home for volunteers!

The two Project Coordinators (PCs) will provide support to the volunteer group; organising and leading training week; managing the budget; meeting with project partners as well as helping out the SOS Outreach team in Lekazi. They will also have the use of a car so they can easily visit the schools and in-country partners.

The project is eight weeks long. The first week will be training (delivered by PCs), which will refresh and build on what volunteers have received in the UK. Then volunteers will spend seven weeks working in schools.

Any questions? Contact Harriet Knowles, Lekazi Communications Officer: safricacomms1@tenteleni.org.uk.

Accommodation

Volunteers and Project Coordinators (PCs) will live in simple guesthouse accommodation in Lekazi itself. The volunteer group will occupy the whole guesthouse during the project and will be responsible for cooking and cleaning for themselves. The rooms sleep 4 in basic en-suite bedrooms with either double beds( to share)or bunk beds; if anyone is uncomfortable sharing a double bed they should raise this at the interview stage, although we recommend volunteers bring sleeping bags to prevent any disputes over duvet stealing!

The move to accommodate volunteers within the township for 2012 has been agreed only after extensive research and consultation with our in-country partners. This includes the local police force, located round the corner from the guesthouse and other influential community members. These partners have given Tenteleni advice  and support on how to integrate within the community but also on how to stay safe; therefore although there will be opportunities to explore the township and take part in community life, volunteers will be expected to follow project rules with regard to health and safety.

Transport

Each morning volunteers will take a private minibus to their schools where they will be met by their teachers. At the end of the day they will be picked up and either taken back to the guesthouse or to their non-formal placement. PCs will have the use of a car.

Food

Volunteers will be self catered, taking it in turns to cook in the guesthouse in small groups, having access to a supermarket and open-air market within walking distance. Home comforts are available but it is also an opportunity to try cooking local, traditional food.

Formal Education Placements

Of the five school placements on the Lekazi project, three are brand new for 2012, meaning volunteers have an exciting opportunity to establish Tenteleni and the volunteer role in new settings. The placements are:

Masihambisane Combined School (2 volunteers)

Lekazi Central High School (new for 2012, 2 volunteers)

Thembeka High School (new for 2012, 2 volunteers)

Sitintile High School (2 volunteers)

Kalaphani High School (new for 2012, 2 volunteers)

These new placements are the result of a decision to shift the focus of the Lekazi project from a predominantly primary school project to one that focuses on working with older learners in a secondary school setting. Learners in grades 7-9 will have a higher level of English and volunteers will be assisting educators to teach a challenging curriculum across a number of subjects, depending on their strengths and preferences. Volunteers will also be encouraged to take part in life skills classes, where there is much more scope for open debates in secondary schools compared to primary schools. This project is ideally suited for volunteers who enjoy working with young people (ages 12- 21) and can confidently engage with some of the challenging social issues which learners may face in their school and community; the impact of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, substance abuse and youth unemployment.

Non-Formal Education Placements

SOS Children’s Village, Kamagugu

SOS Children’s Villages is the world’s largest orphan charity and has approximately 500 villages worldwide. The charity aims to build a family and community for orphaned children who have nobody to turn to. The village was built in Kamagugu as the area was home to a number of child headed households. The village consists of 10 houses which all together house up to 100 children. Tenteleni volunteers work closely with the house mothers to assist the children with the homework, and organise extra-curricular activities and games when appropriate. For more information please visit their website: www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk

SOS Outreach, Lekazi

The SOS Outreach team run under the umbrella of SOS and support vulnerable children by running a family strengthening programme. In between supporting their volunteers, Project Coordinators will seek to form close bonds with the team and assist them in running their life skills sessions with young people within Lekazi.

The volunteer role is Assistant Educator. In practice, this involves:

• Assisting staff in the planning and delivery of lessons in school.
• Facilitating small learning / reading groups for students with additional needs.
• Initiating extra-curricular activities such as sports, music or drama.
• Assisting in school initiatives – such as library schemes, debating competitions, sports clubs etc.
• Linking schools with other organisations to support educational opportunity and youth welfare.
• Promoting education and youth welfare within the non-formal education placements.
• Assisting children within the non-formal education placements with their homework, and engaging in informal play activities.

Additional Information

Lekazi volunteers work in pairs. This enables you to get involved in the areas and lessons you are personally interested in. You will work alongside a variety of educators, helping to plan lessons and offering classroom support. Each school and educator is different so you can make the programme work for you and your school.

School starts early so to avoid the heat of the day. Therefore, you will be getting up around 6am to grab breakfast before your short bus journey. The bus will drop you off at 7.30 ready for assembly, often held outside, and lessons.

Lessons are often an hour long, which means an early lunch at 10.30am. This may seem early but after the early start you will be ready for it! Volunteers eat lunch with the educators so this is the perfect chance to get to know everyone and to try the traditional food. Most schools serve ‘pap’ - a sub-Sahara African staple (something between rice and porridge) and either meat or beans. After lunch you will have two more hours of classes before the end of school at 1.15pm. This is an excellent opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities or even organise your own such as sports, reading or homework clubs.

The bus will then collect you from the school gates. Two days a week you will be taken to the SOS Children’s home close to Nelspruit for a few hours to help with homework or just to have fun and get to know the children. The other three days you will be taken back to the guesthouse. You then have an opportunity to visit the shops, do some lesson planning, or just relax, taking in the events of the day.

Project Coordinators will have the chance to take up their own non-formal placement by helping the SOS Outreach team to run life skills sessions with young people within Lekazi.