Volunteer to help care for orphaned and vulnerable children in Swaziland. With the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence, many of Swaziland’s children have lost their parents and thus face food shortages, lack of adequate shelter and care, poverty and lack access to education. All Out Africa established and supports six Neighbourhood Care Points (NCPs) in Swaziland each of which hosts between 30 and 80 children. The role of these NCPs is to provide pre-school education, food, support and guidance to vulnerable and orphaned children in their communities.
The NCPs enable these children to remain living with
their extended family by providing free education, meals
and support to relieve financial pressure on an already
stretched family support network. This concept established
by UNICEF has been a much needed response to the HIV/
AIDS crises in Swaziland where one in three children are
vulnerable. These NCPs provide safe environments within
the community for these children to grow and thrive
during their early development and offer a foundation for
the child’s education.
The Child Care Project gives you the opportunity to assist these vulnerable children working with our local staff and community volunteers in a number of different ways; by assisting with pre-school education and facilitating the All Out Africa syllabus of activities, providing meals, helping to guide the children, while giving them care and adult support.
VOLUNTEER ROLE
As a volunteer on the Orphan Care Project you will be working with existing Neighbourhood Care Points (NCPs) in the local community. Your role is to assist our local staff and community volunteers with teaching of the syllabus, which includes maths, reading, writing, arts & craft, storytelling and physical activity. You will also participate in weekly sports days held at the NCPs, and assist with serving breakfast and lunch. Generally it’s also a great opportunity to bring fun and laughter into the children’s lives.
Some of the activities you will get involved in may include:
7:00 Wake up to see the sunshine, jump in a hot shower and get yourself started for the day with breakfast!
8:00 Travel to your placement and get ready to begin your day
8:30 Participate in your project assisting with activities on the syllabus
13:00 Time to either return to your accommodation for lunch, or eat the packed lunch you made that morning!
14:00 Begin your afternoon’s work with a full stomach and enthusiasm – this may involve returning to your morning building placement or having the opportunity for additional projects including local language lessons and assisting at homework clubs
16:30 Return back to your accommodation and share your day’s adventures with other volunteers, maybe even a quick swim in the pool!
18:30 Enjoy a delicious evening meal and relax......
Your evenings and weekends will be free time to explore the Kingdom of Swaziland! You will be staying in beautiful Ezluwini Valley, which translates to the “valley of heaven”. The area offers many amenities nearby such as a shopping centre with restaurants, shops, grocery stores, night life and a movie theatre! Swaziland also boosts many nature loving activities such as hiking and game parks for a chance to see African wildlife up close and personal. Your program includes some additional cultural activities to help settle you in to your new destination, such as local market tours, a cultural village and walking tour to name a few.
INCLUDED IN THE COST
(Airport transfers on ARRIVAL day is what is included as a part of your project fee. If you arrive on another day, additional charges may occur.)
ARRIVALS
Airport transfers on ARRIVAL day is what is included as a part of your project fee. If you arrive on another day, additional charges may occur.
DEPARTURES
When you are returning home, the transfers leave in the morning, so please organise for your flight to depart OR Tambo after 15:00, or alternatively you will have to travel the day before and spend a night in OR Tambo.
When you arrive a member of All Out Africa staff will request your flight departure time and will organise a transfer for you from Swaziland to OR Tambo.
Lidwala Lodge located in the Ezulwini valley (known as the valley of heaven) in central Swaziland. This is the cultural heart of Swaziland and is where most of the tourist activities are based, and is also where the Royal Palace, houses of parliament, national sports stadium and national museum are located within a scenic semi-rural setting. The Lobamba, Ezulwini and Mahlanya communities are scattered within a few kilometres of this area. It is conveniently located less than 2km from many of the areas main facilities & attractions and is within 5km of the social projects that All Out Africa coordinates.
You will be accommodated in a dorm room with bunk beds with communal bathroom facilities. Bed, mattress, sheet and pillows will be provided, but note if you plan to go on tours on home stays during your time in Swaziland then a sleeping bag maybe required. The lodge has a large deck area, outdoor pool, TV lounge, WIFI, and a communal kitchen to prepare meals. The lodge is surrounded by a spacious garden with plenty of trees and boulders (hence its name), a communal barbecue (braai) and campfire area. Often you can see monkeys roaming around the garden and the many plants attract a wide range of birds.
Volunteers, interns and students receive 3 meals a day when joining an All Out Africa experience. These meals are eaten together on the communal decking area.Breakfast is self-service from a selection of items including cereals, bread, fruit, yogurt, eggs and spreads. Lunch too is self-service from items such as bread, ham, cheese, salad and fruits. Dinner is a cooked meal which clients may assist with cooking on a rotational basis. Types of dishes served include pasta, stir-fry, braai (BBQ) and stew.
Vegetarians and most food allergies can be catered for. In order to fully support you during your experience, please advise us at time of booking if you have any food allergies or preferences, so we can cater for these in our meal plans. We will do our best but be prepared your food selection may not be as varied as other participants. If your food allergies/preference are quite restrictive, we may require you to pay an additional fee to allow us to cater for you.
Start date for this project is the first Monday of the month throughout the year, with the exception of December when the project is closed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
All our volunteer projects commence on the first MONDAY OF THE MONTH, as this is when All Out Africa staff can personally collect you from the airport. If your project/ expedition begins in Swaziland and you are traveling from abroad you will need to fly into Johannesburg.
Airport transfers on this day is what is included as a part of your project fee. If you arrive on another day, additional charges may occur.
The bus leaves for Swaziland once all participants have arrived or at 14:45 at the latest, so please ensure you book a flight that arrives before the shuttle departure (allowing time to collect bags and pass through immigration).
If you flight arrives at a later time you will need to arrive a DAY EARLIER and stay overnight in Johannesburg. For these instances, we recommend that you book with our trusted backpackers in Johannesburg, Doves Nest Guest House.
Dove’s Nest will pick you up at the airport and transport you to the guest house, and return you to the airport to meet our staff on the arrival day. If you need assistance making your booking, please let us know.
When you are returning home, the transfers leave in the morning, so please organise for your flight to depart OR Tambo after 14:30, or alternatively you will have to travel the day before and spend a night at Doves Nest Guest House.
*Overnight accommodation in Johannesburg is not included. Payments will need to be made directly to the guest house.
VISA FOR SWAZILAND
It is your responsibility to check if you need a per- arranged visa. Should you need a letter to assist with a visa, please let us know and we will happily assist. Most
nationalities can obtain a 30 day tourist visa on entry – with two 30 day extensions possible in-country
ARRIVALS
You will be given an ‘International Arrival/Departure form’ on your flight – please fill this in on the plane before landing (it is sensible to make sure you have a pen on the flight with you). When you are filling in the Arrival/Departure form please remember that participating with All Out Africa counts as ‘tourism’ for immigration purposes.
When you arrive at O.R Tambo International Airport, your first stop will be at the Immigrations Desk where you will have to hand them your passport and your Arrival/Departure form that you would have filled out on your flight. Your passport is stamped/ endorsed by the Immigration Officer and he/she will issue you with a visa. Please inform the Officer that you are traveling to Swaziland and they will usually give you a transit visa.
You will then enter the baggage reclaim area to collect your luggage. Once you have your luggage make your way to the exit (signposted in English). There you will be met by one of our staff (holding a sign and wearing a T-shirt with the All Out logo).
You will pass through immigration upon entering Swaziland and the All Out Africa staff member will assist you in getting the entry stamp and the visa you require.
DEPARTURES
When you arrive a member of All Out Africa staff will request your flight departure time and will organise a transfer for you from Swaziland to OR Tambo.
Supporter in Neighbourhood Care Points
All Out Africa established and supports six Neighbourhood Care Points (NCPs) in Swaziland each of which hosts between 30 and 80 children.
$372/week
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