We all know that taking part in sport is very important for a child’s physical and social development. It improves their ability to learn new skills and who doesn’t enjoy learning when you are having fun, right? Join the team at Izizwe Projects and you will contribute to a sports program which has influenced many children from various age groups to enjoy dance, football, basketball & swimming.

With limited resources in Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the children in this community are exposed to poverty, high unemployment, alcohol and substance abuse & child neglect. This sports program is a way to reach these children in an informal setting and hopefully develop sport talents that otherwise might not have been noticed.  You might be coaching a future Bafana Bafana star or olympic medalist!

This program is run by a small local team with the help of volunteers & students. The program is affected by exams and school holidays, so please check with us when is the best time to join. If you love to exercise, enjoy team sports, have coaching experience or you are studying towards a qualification in sports and movement, this is the project for you!

Programs offered

The sport program currently consists of the following:

Primary School Sports

Coach, motivate and inspire primary school boys and girls in the age group of 6-18 years together with local volunteers from Monday to Thursday.

After School Sports

Bring your A game, facilitate and participate in basketball training for high school children between the ages of 12-18 years on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Baby Sports

Baby sports is offered at creches/daycares with age appropiates songs and games to get the little ones moving and learning.

Swimming Lessons

Give basic swimming lessons to children between the ages of 6-9 years on Fridays.  Diplomas are also handed out to children who show that they have what it takes to become a successful swimmer.

Working days and hours

This depends on which project you will be working at. Normally we work weekdays from 8:30am until 15.30pm, Friday until 12.00 and weekends are off. Some projects however might start earlier and in summertime, due to the heat, hours can change.

Daily guidance

Guidance will be offered in multiple ways as different people are involved in your stay with Izizwe.

First of all, by one of the Volunteer Coordinators who will pick you up, shows you around and prepares your work activities with the projects before, supervises during and evaluates after your stay. They will transfer you to and from the project, make sure the shopping is done and organize fun outings for the weekends. The coordinators live at the volunteer house and will be looking after your needs in any way. They have lots of experience and have volunteered before themselves.

At Izizwe Projects (within Walmer Township) we have several coordinators who are responsible for your daily duties and activities and will guide you during project hours.

Conditions

It is important that volunteers of this project understand the importance of the following:

• To be enthusiastic and independent
• To sign a “Code of Conduct” when arriving
• To show respect towards the people and culture of the local community. You might not agree with certain ways of conduct during your stay here, but don’t forget you are a guest here, and you can’t try to change everything in a period of just a few weeks.
• To show flexibility and patience towards responsibilities, tasks and activities.
• To be willing to take initiative and come up with ideas.

Volunteering at this project is very diverse and can be challenging. You will get acquainted with the circumstances in which 70% of South Africans live today, and experience their culture and situation. Be prepared to face misery and poverty. For this reason, it is of absolute importance that volunteers are independent and mature individuals. You will be singing and dancing with the children, you will make them laugh, help them with schoolwork and teach them there’s a whole world waiting for them. This way you can change a mind-set that will enlarge their horizons and contribute to a better future.

Other volunteers

You most likely won’t be alone when volunteering at Izizwe, and will meet both local and international volunteers. We get volunteers from all over the world –  from the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the UK and many other countries.