About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
Travel With over 25 countries in 4 continents to choose from we are confident you can find your perfect trip!
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Not us! This is an amazing opportunity to swim alongside the whale sharks in their natural habitat and monitor their behaviour. You may also get the opportunity to work with humpback whales and turtles as well as helping to undertake vital research on coral reefs and the impact that humans are having on the life existing within our oceans. You will have plenty of time to relax or get involved in the various activities this beautiful place has to offer!
After having some breakfast you will be met by our team at the volunteer house. For the next couple of hours you will spend time receiving your orientation. This will give you a good insight into Mozambique - the culture, things to do and see, what to do in case of an emergency and much more! It can also be a good way to meet other i-to-i travellers and ask any questions you may have.
The rest of the day is for you to fill. You can spend some time relaxing on the beach getting involved with activities such as horse riding, kayaking, surfing, kite surfing, snorkelling or scuba diving.
Please note that for the two week duration you must already hold an up to date open water qualification.
If you have not dived previously then you will gain the PADI open water qualification on the 3 or 4 week duration or an advanced dive course if you have dived already. (For those of you that hold higher qualifications then you will have research dives for an equivalent value)
Having said goodbye to all your new friends you’ll transfer back to the airport on this day. The return transfer is covered within your placement fee as long as you are transferring on the Monday at the end of your stay, transfers other than this day are not included.
Don`t worry if you have not dived before as you will gain the PADI Open Water certificate on the 3 or 4 week durations! If you already hold this certificate then you will be able to gain the Advanced certificate.
Please note though that you must already hold an Open Water certificate if you are taking part in the two week duration.
The project is based in Tofo village in Mozambique and is within walking distance from the accommodation.
The project is well resourced however here is a list of personal items you may want to bring with you:
Please note that the weather can become quite cold during the months of May to August, please remember to bring some warm clothes with you.
Dive accredited volunteers not requiring or wanting a dive course but who have NOT logged a dive within 6 months of the beginning of their project MUST complete a SCUBA REVIEW before they can participate in their research dives. This cost is NOT included in the program fee, and volunteers are liable to pay this amount to the dive operator on completion of the Scuba Review.
Please note that for the two week duration you must already hold an up to date open water qualification. If you have not dived before then you will gain the open water qualification on the 3 or 4 week duration or an advanced dive course if you have dived already.
If you have a medical condition or injury then you will need to check if you need a 'fit to dive' letter from your doctor, please enquire for details. If you do arrive at the project with a medical condition or injury without a letter then you may not be able to participate or may suffer delays.
NB: Any volunteers taking LARIUM (including any of its derivatives i.e. MEFLOQUINE) will not be permitted to dive as it causes increased risks. You should advise your doctor that you are going on a dive holiday and request another suitable anti-malarial other than Larium.
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you for the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive an online account that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects through our Big Giving initiative to provide resources to those projects that really need it.
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
You will arrive on the Arrival Date (Monday) and will be met at the airport on that day (whether it is 12 in the morning or 11:59 at night). You will then be taken to the volunteer house approximately 20kms from the airport, where you will be able to settle in and recover from your flight.
The volunteer house is located in the village of Tofo 100m from the beach and 200m from the centre of the village. In the village you will find a supermarket, some basic shops, a few bars and restaurants and beach activities! Note: If you're arriving early we can arrange a meet and greet for you. If you require this please contact us to arrange this service.
Your orientation will take place the next morning - Tuesday - and will introduce you to any other volunteers participating in the projects. You will also learn about what to expect in Mozambique and from your project. Wednesday you will be introduced to your project and begin work the same day. From here on in you will spend your time with the project but the in-country team are there if you need them.
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
The volunteer house has 6 bedrooms with most bedrooms having 4 single beds and a couple of rooms with 2 beds. A sheet and pillows are provided however you may need to bring a sleeping bag with you during the winter months ie May to August. There are shared toilet and shower facilities and you will be able to do your laundry by hand.
There is a kitchen on the first floor and also downstairs where there is a communal lounge where you can all sit and relax and talk about the days events.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included and you will be provided with food so you will all take it in turns to get involved with making the meals! This is definitely one way of learning how to cook! But do not worry as this will be under the supervision of the project co-ordinator. Breakfast will usually consist of cereal and toast, lunch will consist of sandwiches and your evening meal will usually be a cooked meal. Dietary preferences can be catered for but please remember that meals are usually basic and food is limited but the team will do their best to cater for you. If you do have any dietary preferences then please do let the in country team know in advance so that they can make sure that they can cater for you.
First Aid Kit
In the grand scheme of things, Mozambique was a relatively late starter with its first settlers dating back just 10,000 years. These nomadic settlers remained as Mozabique's only inhabitants right up until 300AD when the great Bantu Migration reached the country. As well as the Bantu-speaking settlers arriving from the north, Arabic settlers also begun to arrive on the coast, creating the unique culture that can be found in the country today.
In 1498 the Portuguese arrived in the form of Vasco da Gama and began to take control. They continued to govern the country until 1975 but it must be confessed that their rule was not as successful as they had hoped. The late 16th Century saw Portuguese power beginning to diminish and coastal settlements being left to ruin, while the 19th Century brought the introduction of the prazos system which divided the country's land between rich European settlers. By the 20th Century strict labour laws were driving away native workers and native Mozambican's began to leave the country in droves.
Unease was soon rife in Mozambican communities and the struggle for independence was not long in coming. The Mozambican Liberation Front (Frelimo) came into being and was soon putting pressure on the Portuguese government to surrender power back to the Mozambicans. After eleven years of trying, Frelimo succeeded in driving out the Portuguese but at a serious cost to the country.
The Portuguese left suddenly and without warning, leaving the country to fend for itself with practically no infrastructure. Chaos followed but Frelimo soon set about a policy of social reform which would later prove to be both unrealistic and impractical. By 1983 Frelimo had run the treasury dry and the country was facing bankruptcy. But worse was to follow.
The Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) was formed by the Rhodesian Intelligence Service, with aid from South Africa. This military group had no interest in ruling Mozambique, instead their aim was to bring the country to a standstill. For the next ten years chaos ruled with violence and destruction becoming a part of daily life in the country.
Though efforts were made to secure peace and guarantee an end to the financial support which RENAMO was receiving from both Rhodesia and South Africa, they were continually unsuccessful. The Mozambican government adhered to their end of the deal, while their neighbours failed to do the same. In 1992, after years of turmoil, peace was returned to the country and the renegade Ranamo group took its place as an official opposition party.
Efforts to rebuild the country have since been extremely successful. While Frelimo remains in power, the Ranamo party have been working hard to build a reputation for themselves as a forward-thinking government party. They have yet to win the trust of the country but it seems possible that they will. As the economy continues to grow and tourism becomes increasingly popular it seems certain that this once troubled country can look forward to a much brighter future.
The best time to go is between May and December when you'll benefit from lower temperatures and a lot less rain. If you travel in March or April you can expect heavy, almost constant rainfall. This can cause major complications as many of the country's roads become waterlogged and impassable. Between November and January accessibility is better but rain is still common and temperatures are extremely high.
If you're travelling during peak times (August and Christmas/New Year) you will want to book everything in advance.
If you're travelling longer distances the chances are you'll want to fly. This is undoubtedly the most comfortable mode of transport but it is also the most expensive. Buses are the best alternative and routes are available to all major cities. They run regularly and are available as express or stopover.
If you're travelling to rural destinations you'll find yourself faced with a chapa-cem (a truck that has been converted to carry passengers). This might be a little unnerving the first time you try it but you'll soon get used to it.
Driving yourself about can be a little risky. The police in Mozambique are notoriously picky and they can find problems where there are none at all. Make sure that your car is in good repair, your papers are in order and you remain calm and polite at all times… even if you take these precautions you could face a hefty fine but this does at least minimise the risk. Cars can be hired in Maputo, Beira and Nampula.
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
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