Were you screaming at the TV as Nicole Cooke battled to win the women’s road race?
Did you hold your breath as Andy Hodge & Co. inched past Australia in the coxless fours? If you did, you understand the power of sport!
As people have witnessed in this year’s Olympics, sport can do amazing things. It can make people laugh, cry, shout, smile, scream, but most of, come together. At Real Gap, we discovered the power of sport two years ago and have helped unleash it ever since.
You could use the power of sport to help underprivileged communities...
Every year, we send thousands of volunteers abroad, many of whom choose to help sport work its magic on underprivileged children. Our volunteers organise sports coaching sessions and competitions for all levels on their gap year. There’s a huge amount of undiscovered talent in Africa and Asia and some of the children you work with might go on to be professional sportspeople.
But for the most part, sport is magical because it gives neglected or poverty-stricken children something to concentrate on. And more importantly, something to smile and laugh about. Definitely something to be proud of.
You don't have to be on a par with Michael Phelps to unleash the power of sport!
Volunteers don’t have to be skilled at a sport to be a sports volunteer – just enthusiastic and willing to devote time to a project. The rewards are huge! If you enjoy sports and you’d like to put your energy to a worthwhile use, take a look at our gap year sports programmes below. Then, give a Real Gap travel advisor a call and let them tell you more about changing children’s lives.
P.s
Just to put you in the picture - most of us take sports for granted, whether as a knock-around in the park or netball in PE lessons. Children in third world countries often don’t have that luxury – some have never had a proper football and have to make do with kicking scrunched up carrier bags.
15 trips have been found based on your filter/sort
Help Coach and play football with keen young players in a country where the sport borders on religion by assisting with well thought-out training and matches. Encounter Ghana’s other undiscovered marvels including rainforests, golden beaches and some of Africa’s friendliest people!
Live ranch life to the full with activities such as horse riding, cattle gathering, branding, trail riding and ranch chores. Campfires and scenery straight from the big screen make it perfect for horse-loving travellers!
This worthwhile project gives volunteers the opportunity to work in sports organisations and community clinics in Ghana. You will assist in providing physiotherapy treatment to West African athletes and local patients whilst experiencing a different culture and way of live in this beautiful country.
Use your football knowledge to help coach these children in a country where football fever is building as it prepares to host the World Cup in June 2010. You will be running coaching sessions, organize tournaments and share your passion for football with African children.
Choose the 14 week placement which includes accommodation and meals during the 2010 Football World Cup!
Keep young people off the streets with sports sessions. Coach football, netball, rounders or whatever you fancy – even the simplest drills will fire their enthusiasm! Get involved in successful conservation and construction projects, too.
Help run training lessons and matches for township children in Port Elizabeth and give them the chance to play the game in a fun and rewarding environment.
Choose the 14 week placement which includes accommodation and meals during the 2010 Football World Cup!
Spend your time in Malawi introducing children to community sports and getting involved with community projects. Based in an idyllic but desperately poor country, you’ll make a real difference to young people’s lives.
Coach young, enthusiastic rugby players in the townships surrounding Port Elizabeth and experience the passion of South African rugby. The players you coach could form the next generation of Springboks and you will also have plenty of time to play rugby against local club teams yourself.
Choose the 14 week placement which includes accommodation and meals during the 2010 Football World Cup!
Sample some of Africa’s exhilarating highlights. Camp in Kruger National Park with the big five, do a volunteer placement in Swaziland and learn to scuba dive in Mozambique. An adventure with a bit of everything!
Let sport work its magic on enthusiastic but deprived children in Swaziland. Organise sports days and run training sessions in football, tennis, netball and volleyball – or all four. Don’t be surprised if the children mob you!
Immerse yourself in a very different, very welcoming but very poor community and help with academic lessons and sports coaching. Perfect for people wanting to put their interest in a range of sports towards a worthwhile use.
Help with PE lessons in local schools and organise games of football and other sports. Your skills and enthusiasm will inspire underprivileged children who often have to make do with little or no equipment.
Take this amazing opportunity to coach netball to young and often gifted players at the townships surrounding Port Elizabeth, also known as “The Friendly City". You will be helping to introducing the basics of the game, run fun training sessions, which will help these children play a sport they love.
Choose the 14 week placement which includes accommodation and meals during the 2010 Football World Cup!
Take this great opportunity to coach hockey to young and often gifted players in a great location. You will be introducing the basics of the game, run fun training sessions, build close friendships with your players and possibly even play for a local team!
Choose the 14 week placement which includes accommodation and meals during the 2010 Football World Cup!
Join the Tanzania Street Children Sports Experience to enhance the lives of many Tanzanian orphans and street children in this incredible project. Your efforts will help to promote essential lessons and life-skills and will also give some orphans and street children the opportunity to train and play sports at a much higher level.
