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About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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Swaziland is one of the smalllest countries on the African continent and has a laid back, relaxed atmosphere where you will immediately feel at home among its friendly communities. With its high rates of unemployment however where 50% of the adult population is out of work, education for their children is the last thing on their mind. Education is a great step to a better future and by giving your help to these children they will receive the education that we take for granted, starting them on a way to a better future.
Please book your flight to arrive into Manzini Airport, Swaziland on the advertised arrival date to ensure your airport pickup (this will connect through Johannesburg International Airport (JNB))
Today you will be met at the airport and taken to your accommodation at the backpacker lodge which is approximately 20 minutes from the airport, here you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. If you prefer you can explore your new surroundings, there is a restaurant nearby and a bar is approximately 2kms away.
If you aren’t able to arrange a flight to get you into Manzini on the arrival day we’d recommend you fly in a day early. We can arrange an early airport pick-up for you including one night’s accommodation, please give us a call for more information.
Today your orientation will start with a presentation by the project co-ordinator to prepare you for your project, you will be taken through what it’s going to be like at your project, do’s and don’ts, how to stay safe and it’s your prime opportunity to ask any burning questions that you haven’t yet had answered. A tour guide will then show you around the local community in Ezulwini after which you will have a barbeque and get to know all the other volunteers who you will be staying with.
Today you'll start to learn who is who at the school and be introduced to the staff that you will be working with, not to mention the many smiling faces around you that are eager to make friends with you too. You will be introduced to the people you will be working with throughout your project. Transport to and from the project will be on local buses and you will be shown which will get you there and back.
You will start your day by catching your bus to the school at about 7.30am to get there in time for morning assembly, followed by starting work in the classroom from 8am. You will be an assistant to the teacher and will be helping to teach the children English, maths and science and after a break you will be working till around 2pm. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday there will also be a homework club from 2pm that you can help with too. You will probably love working with the kids so much that you won`t want to stop!
During the weekends you will be free to travel and explore as you choose. There is plenty to do such as walking, horse riding, mountain biking, visiting craft markets, and taking part in cultural festivities or if you prefer you can just kick your heels back and just taking in the sunny climate. If you are looking for a longer weekend away then you can always take a trip to Mozambique, Kruger National Park, St. Lucia or the Natal Drakensberg. You will need to check this with the team in country and the project but the team in country can help you make arrangements where possible. Please remember that any optional trips are at your own expense. The team can also help with a zip lining weekend and adventure tours so please make sure you have a chat with them about all your options, you will wish you had more time!
You’ll be working Monday to Friday at your project, with the weekends all your own.
Now that you’ve been shown the ropes, make sure you take some time to get to know the staff and children; understand more about how and why the project exists and carve out your own niche to help shape your experience.
Having said goodbye to all your new friends you’ll transfer back to the airport on this day, we think that there will probably be some tears from the children though so be prepared. 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.
Nestled in the legendary Ezulwini valley lies the ancient town of Lobamba which, as well as boasting a long history as the country's royal capital, is also thought to be the spiritual home of the Swazi nation. This gives the town a unique cultural heritage that shines through everything you see here, including the people. Thousands of travellers flock here every year to enjoy the unique blend of traditional culture and modern luxuries, allowing them to see a side of Africa that is almost unknown.
Education is one of the basic needs of children to give them a step up to a better future but many parents cannot afford to send their children to school due to the effects of high unemployment rates, HIV AIDS and also the repercussions of severe drought.
This project involves working with a number of schools in the Ezulwini Valley which offers education and the hope of a better future to many young Swazi children. The schools are located in the semi rural area of Ezulwini-Lobamba where many of them are overcrowded, under-resourced and are very much in need of support.
Some of the schools also have gardens where the children are able to learn practical agricultural skills and grow food. There are a variety of other activities at some schools including sports, helping to construct basic shelters, gardens, water systems and other physical structures needed.
The schools we work with are located within communities in the semi rural area of Ezulwini-Lobamba and have approximately 700 to 800 children at each school. The classroom sizes are usually around a maximum of 40 to a class but they are all eager to learn and will make your day so enjoyable!.
The schools are overcrowded and under resourced so do not have sufficient staff to give the children the attention that they need, with your help the children will get that extra bit of attention.
On this project you won`t have to worry that you will be left on your own in the classroom as you will be there as a teaching assistant helping the teacher as much as possible. You will be helping with English, maths and science along with crafts for the younger ages and drama for the older grades. If you have any ideas on these topics then please do bring them along with you! You may also get involved in marking tests and exams, preparing tests and homework, introducing new sports, extra curricular activities such as music and school dramas. We find that the more you put in to your project the more you will get out of it so be prepared to be flexible, motivated and sensitive.
You will be working Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 2pm and Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is a homework club from 2pm.
You will be provided with the teaching resources needed at the project but you may want to bring some stickers and resources with you, these are always welcomed and the kids love stickers! You may however want to wait until you are in country and bring funds with you so that you can buy locally and help the local community.
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
The following information details what will happen during the first few days of your arrival. We aim to provide you with a safe and soft landing into your destination by picking you up from the airport, giving you an orientation that aims to settle you into the country as quickly as possible. It's also the best time to ask any questions you have about your time in Swaziland. Here's what will happen:
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 Lidwala backpacker lodge (see contact details below), approximately 20 minutes from the airport, where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. The backpacker's lodge has a communal kitchen where meals are prepared, a TV lounge with board games and a large deck with pool table and dart board and a swimming pool. There is wireless internet for which you can purchase vouchers from the lodge staff, there are also facilities approximately 2km away. The backpacker lodge is located within walking distance of a restaurant and bar and is approximately 2km away from the main shops if you wish to have a wander - just ask at reception for directions.
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. If you wish to make your own way please arrange to be at the address below on the arrival date:
Lidwala Backpacker Lodge Main Road Ezulwini Swaziland (opposite Woodland Restaurant) (the bus stop is called "Woodland" or "Mangozeni") +268 550 4951 / +268 608 7706Your orientation will take place the next morning - Tuesday - at the lodge and will introduce you to any other volunteers participating in the projects. You will also learn about what to expect in Swaziland and on your project.
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.
You will be staying in the Lidwala Backpacker Lodge in the Ezulwini Valley where you will be sharing accommodation with our volunteers on other projects so there should always be someone to chat to! Plus it also acts as the main office for our in country team.
Bedrooms are based on dormitory style rooms with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Bathrooms have western style toilets. You will need to bring a sleeping bag with you but there will be sheets, pillows and extra blankets.
All meals are included but you will be expected to help cook so maybe have a little bit of a practice before you arrive! You will be cooking for the group but there will be plenty of advice available. There is a full kitchen and an outside area for dining as well as socializing.
There is a lounge area where you can sit and relax after a hard days work, it will be a well needed rest! There is also a TV, board games and a large deck with a pool table, a dart board and there is a swimming pool. There is wireless internet for which you can purchase vouchers from the lodge staff and you can also find facilities approximately 2km away so that you can write home if you need to. The lodge is also located within walking distance to a restaurant and a bar.
Please note that you will need to dress conservatively so no short shorts or strappy tops, females may need to wear longer skirts on occasion.
Please Note: You will need to pack as lightly and compactly as possible as space and weight is limited. Ideally you should have no more than 22kg of luggage and you should be looking at fitting it all into a backpack of about 60 litres. Don’t forget to bring a small day pack with you too!
The accommodation is located in Lobamba Townthe Ezulwini Valley on the main Ezulwini road approximately 2kms from the area`s main facilities and attractions where you will find hotels, shopping centres, craft markets and restaurants.
You will travel to the project by local bus which will take approximately 15 minutes, but don’t worry as you will have been shown the way on your fist day at the project by the team in country.
While the first human inhabitants are thought to have settled here over 110,000 years ago, it was not until the mass Bantu Migration in the sixteenth century that the country's population really ballooned. This migrating tribe was to be the source of many of southern Africa's ethnic groups, one of which would evolve into what we now know as the Swazi.
This new tribe was in constant battle with the Zulu's until their leader, Mswati II, appealed to the British for help. The British played the role of peacemaker and eventually relations between the two tribes improved.
In the years that followed the Zulu's continuously clashed with the British leaving the Swazi people relatively unnoticed. While this was beneficial in some ways, it also had its disadvantages. The country began attracting European settlers in droves and gradually more and more land was handed over to them. In 1877 the British decided that the European population was such that they needed to exert more control and soon Swaziland had become a puppet with the British holding its strings. On paper, the country remained independent, but in reality it was not.
After the Boer War even this veiled-pretence of independence was cast off and the British control became public knowledge. Unlike in some countries, colonial rule was not detrimental to Swaziland and when the British finally withdrew in 1968 (having returned much of the country's land to its native people), they did so peacefully.
Swaziland is a great all-year-round destination with warm summers and mild winters but as with everywhere there are good and bad times to go. Climate-wise the best months to visit are between May and June or in October, when there is significantly less rain. For those of you travelling between October and May rain is common but so are sunny intervals and temperatures are comfortable (at around 25°C/77°F). If you're travelling during the winter months you'll want to pack some warm clothes because after dark it gets down-right cold. Location-wise you'll find it's warmer in the highlands and cooler in the eastern lowlands.
If you're after a cultural extravaganza then August, September and December are the months to go, with colourful festivals taking place across the country.
Admittedly, travelling around Swaziland can be a little bit difficult but it is certainly worth it. Buses are few and far between but when they are available they're pretty cheap. Mini-bus taxis are your best bet but the chances are that you'll have to jump off one and onto another one if you're travelling any distance. Private hire taxis are also available but these will be more expensive.
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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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