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Join this project and discover your sports coaching talents in the Townships of Cape Town. This project is ideally suited to sports enthusiasts (especially football!), who are interested in really making a difference to underprivileged children’s lives.
The Sports Volunteer Programme
This project works with children and the school from a township in Hout Bay. The township has a history that stems back to the days of apartheid, when Zimbabwean and Algerian migrants were forced to settle here, as they were not allowed to live in Cape Town itself. Today, the township is one of the largest in the area and home to thousands and thousands of people living in corrugated iron shacks.
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.
Please Note: 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.
Netball Coaching
Your netball coaching will take place in the township school and at the netball court of Oranjekloof School, where you will be coaching the older children. Your afternoon coaching sessions will have the support of the Western Province Netball Association (WPNA). The WPNA has a serious lack of netball coaches available; which has meant schools, clubs and even regional teams have had a lack of consistent coaching and in some cases, no netball coaching at all. Your involvement can help to make netball a seriously competitive sport in the region and inspire more players to continue playing the sport.
Mini Tennis, Cricket and General Sports
If you are interested in coaching tennis or cricket, then this is also possible. Both sports are relatively new to the children, as most have not had the opportunity or equipment to try either sport. Thanks to recent donations by the Western Province Tennis Association, the project now has used nets, balls and tennis racquets, which means our volunteers can help to broaden the sporting interests of the children and introduce them to these great sports. You never know, you may uncover a genuine star of the future and be responsible for inspiring many children to take up a new sport!
Project Support
Throughout your stay in South Africa you will have the support and guidance of our local project manager, Kevin, and his local team. They will provide you with competent assistance and help you with any questions or advice you may need during your stay. The house staff will be on hand throughout the day and Kevin will be contactable during your stay.
In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
Project Orientation
At the start of your programme you will receive an in-depth local orientation, to go alongside your pre-departure handbook. This orientation will be conducted by our local programme coordinator and will cover the following areas:
- Culture and behaviour: you will be familiarised with the cultural norms of South Africa and what your expected behaviour will be whilst on and off the placement.
- Travel: for during and after your placement finishes. Our coordinator will let you know what you can do in the local area and what your travel options are for after your placement.
- Safety: our coordinator will tell you how to keep yourself and your valuables safe whilst in Cape Town. This will include areas to avoid, what to do in an emergency, behaviour at nighttime and more.
You will also have a tour of Cape Town, visit a few local areas of interest and have an introductory BBQ.
Accommodation and Meals
All accommodation is included during your programme. You will spend your first 2 days in a comfortable hostel in Green Point, which is a safe area with good restaurants, bars etc. The hostel is less than 2 km’s from the city centre, Victoria and Alfred waterfront complex and the site of the new football stadium being built for 2010 World Cup. The hostel is professionally run, has two swimming pools, a bar and self-catering facilities.
Your stay here will allow you to become familiar with the local area and where the places of importance are.
After your first 2 days (and orientation) you will be transferred to the project accommodation, which is with a host family in Hout Bay. The house is situated 5 minutes away from the Township School and 5 minutes from the Hout Bay town centre. The large family home has all the modern amenities necessary.
During busy periods, volunteers will be accommodated in an apartment in Hout Bay town centre, with all of the necessary amenities.
During your time on the project, you will be provided with 3 meals a day. Meals will be made from local produce, which typically consists of rice, vegetables, chicken and fish. A packed lunch will be provided for you when you are at your placement.
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