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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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South Africa has gone through a huge process of development in the last decade, putting the dark days of apartheid behind it and making strides in reducing social inequality. The scars inflicted by that period will take a while to heal though and problems continue to linger. This project operates a day care centre for mentally and physically handicapped children from a local South African township. The centre is run by a former i-to-i volunteer to the project, so say hi from us! Your job will be to offer sensory stimulation through a variety of activities such as game playing and arts and crafts as well as assisting staff in the general running of the centre. We’ll provide you with all our support to make sure you are ready and raring to go.
When you book this trip, in addition to the 52% typically of your programme fee that is spent in country, we will also use US$75 of your fee to purchase 1 piece of physiotherapy equipment or equivalent through our Big Giving programme.
Today you will be met at the airport and taken to our volunteer house in Fish Hoek. You’ll need to arrive in before 4pm so that you’re ready for the orientation which kicks of at 5pm. The journey from the airport to Fish Hoek should take around 45 minutes and if you keep your eyes open you’ll get to see Table Mountain on the way! The orientation will take you 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. After the orientation you’ll be provided with an evening meal and have some time to relax and prepare before your first day at your project tomorrow.
If you aren’t able to arrange a flight to get you into Cape Town before 4pm then we’d recommend you fly in a day early. We can arrange an early airport pick-up for you including one night’s accommodation, give us a call for more information.
You’ll be up bright and early for your first day at your project. The team will make sure you know what you’re doing and where you’re going, they’ll also introduce you to the staff at the project you’ll be your main daily contacts while you’re working. The journey from your accommodation to the project is on public multi-people taxis and it will take about 5 minutes, you’ll then have a short 5 minute walk to get to the project itself. Your first day will be all about settling in and getting to know how things work.
Once you’ve had a day to learn the ropes you will act as an extra pair of hands at your project assisting in whatever is needed. There’ll always be someone there to help but the more pro-active you are the more you’ll get out of the experience. If you think something needs doing, get in there and do it!
The weekends are your free time to rest and explore. There are so many things to see and do in Cape Town you’ll struggle to get bored! There’s a train line straight into Cape Town from Fish Hoek that takes about an hour and you’re close to Boulders Beach where the penguins hang out. There’s also Table Mountain, Cape Point, Robben Island and that’s without leaving the city!
Mondays to Fridays you will be at your project with your weekends free to fill with whatever you fancy! The team have close links with reputable tour companies so there will be plenty of activities to fill your time with.
Having said goodbye to all your new friends you’ll transfer back to the airport today. The return transfer from Fish Hoek to Cape Town International is not covered within your project fee but our regular transfer company will be able to sort the journey back for you, the costs will be around US$35 / 250 Rand. It’s best to arrange this once you arrive in South Africa.
There are not a lot of facilities for special needs children in some parts of South Africa and many go without the love and care that they really need. A small group of people from the local community started up this centre in Masiphumele in 2003 to help improve the help provided to children in this township area. The children come to the centre on a daily basis and are cared for by loving staff; they also receive physiotherapy sessions and health checks to make sure they’re doing OK. The centre cares for children ranging from around one to fourteen years old.
This project is fairly well resourced thanks to the hard work and efforts of the people who run it. They have successfully received funding to help them with the great work they do and continue to fundraise. This means that the building housing the project is relatively new; they have good facilities specifically designed for special needs children and their own minibus. The centre also operates with a clear timetable and volunteers will fit into that structure.
The project is run by a small number of permanent staff but volunteers are really needed at the project to help give extra attention to all the children. The activities and trips offered are limited by the staff numbers as the children often require high levels of help and care. There is little government funding for these types of initiatives and many of the staff members themselves are actually volunteers themselves.
The more people there are at a centre like this the better care and attention each child will receive. It’s all about having fun with the children and in turn stimulating their minds and bodies to help with the disabilities they have. In success cases it’s even been possible for children to reintegrate back into school because of the extra care they have received.
Your typical working hours on this project will be from Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 1.30pm. However, any extra time you can give to the project will be really appreciated.
On a daily basis you’ll interact and have fun with the children by playing games, helping with arts and crafts and sensory stimulation. You’ll also help with their daily care, which may include feeding and changing. You’ll assist staff in the general running of the centre (which could include cleaning, gardening, painting etc.) and help with fundraising and day trips. You may also get involved with the adult workshop, allowing disabled people to perform productive work.
You will find all resources that you need at this project so there’s no need to bring anything along from home. If you do have a specific interest in a field that you’d like to get involved in at the project please let us know.
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 fora 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 a Welcome Pack 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.
If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 60-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More
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 every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.
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 helps 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 South Africa. You will arrive on the Arrival Date - Monday and will be met at the airport on that morning (from 12am in the morning until 11am). You will be taken to the Surfpackers Hostel (see contact details below) where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. The hostel is located within walking distance shops and the beach 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:
Surfpackers 5 Kingfisher Avenue Kommetjie 7976 +27 (0) 82 306 8877Your orientation will take place at 3.30pm on the arrival date at Surfpackers and will introduce you to life in Cape Town as well as important information about staying healthy and safe. You'll also get to try your hand at drumming! You will stay at Surfpackers on Monday night before transferring to your permanent accommodation on the Tuesday. The transfer will be arranged for you by the team; transfers within Cape Town will take about 1 hour and those traveling further away can take up to 6 hours. Tuesday will also be the first day that you meet your project and start working as a volunteer. 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.
Early airport pick up is possible to arrange on the day before the listed start date if required. You will be met at Cape Town International airport and transferred to our 'volunteer house' in Fish Hoek just outside Cape Town – where orientation takes pla
The cost of this Early Pick-up service is US$ 220.00
You’ll be staying in our large volunteer house in Fish Hoek throughout your trip. The house is reserved solely for i-to-i volunteers and you will have use of all facilities. The house accommodates up to 25 people in dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds. There are three bathrooms and a maximum of 8 people in a room. There’s also a lounge area, balcony, garden and barbeque facilities. The house is in a locked compound in a residential area and a short distance from the shops and beach.
A 10 minute walk away there is a supermarket, serviced laundry and an internet café and there’s also a shopping mall a little further on. You can also head down to the beach area for bars and restaurants, about a 10 minute drive away.
Your time in Cape Town is on a self-catering basis so there’s a kitchen complete with cooker, fridge, microwave and a wealth of kitchen utensils. There’s a dining area in the lounge or table and chairs on the balcony if you prefer the outdoor experience! While in the house you will be responsible for keeping the place clean so please tidy up after yourself, especially in the kitchen.
There is a supermarket and shops a 10 minute walk from the volunteer house. They are open late so you’ll be able to shop either in your lunch-break or after your days work. You should budget around US$50 per week for groceries, as prices are similar to home. There is a phone at the house where you can receive incoming calls and you can easily buy local phone cards to make outbound phone calls.
The bathroom facilities include hot water, shower, bath and western style toilets. The property is well-maintained and reasonably new so the living conditions are good. There are also regular maintenance staff ready to fix any issues if they do arise. There isn’t a washing mashine at the house but there is a laundry just down the road where you can simply drop off your clothes and pick them up later!
Cape Town maintains a temperate climate throughout the year and as a result properties do not have central heating. The volunteer house is no exception (apart from a fire in the living room); if travelling to South Africa between June and August please be prepared for the Cape Town winter which can be cold at night. You’ll need to bring some warm jumpers, a decent sleeping bag and even some cosy socks especially if you’re prone to feeling the cold.
The house is based at the top of a hill within Fish Hoek. This is a a quiet, residential suburb to the South of Cape Town looking over False Bay. There are shops in Fish Hoek where you can buy all essentials, except alcohol (Fish Hoek is a dry area). It is about a 45 minute journey by car or an hour by train from Cape Town city centre.
The trains are a great way to get into the centre cheaply, particularly at the weekend. They stop running at 7pm so if you do want to go out into the centre at night you’ll need to budget around US$35 / 250 Rand each way for a taxi.
Your project is based in Masiphimelele (or Masi) which is only a short distance from Fish Hoek. Masi is based in the middle of the Cape Penisula between Fish Hoek on the east coast and Kommetjie on the west. It is approximately 5 kilometres in distance and 15 minutes on a public minibus from your accommodation, budget is around US$5 per week.
A journey into South Africa’s history is to haul through periods of racial tension, oppression and hope. Its multicultural mix originates from the earliest settlers, the San (also known as Bushmen) and Khoi-Khoi tribes, followed by Bantu-speaking groups, and through to the swarm of European traders. The Dutch were among the first European settlers and arrived in the 17th century, establishing their presence through their own dialect, Afrikaan, and religion in the form of the Dutch Reformed Church. By the end of the 18th century, the British began to push their presence forward into the country’s towns. It was a period of flared tensions with Zulu chief Shaka renouncing war on neighbouring tribes. Meanwhile, the Boers (Dutch Afrikaner farmers) and the British became locked in conflict; the Anglo-Boer War lasted from 1899 to 1902, ending with the British taking control of the Boer republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State (OFS) and consequently ruling the country.
By 1910, the Union of South Africa was created and gave political power to whites, while blacks set up political parties in protest, the African National Congress (ANC) the best known. It ushered in the beginnings of apartheid, which became widely ingrained after the Afrikaner National Party came to power in 1948. Violence against protests from blacks was enforced and the black population were evicted to so-called Homelands. In the 1960s, leaders of the ANC were imprisoned, notably Nelson Mandela, and the country became isolated having left the Commonwealth and declaring its republic status. After a long period of racial divide and conflict, in 1989 FW de Klerk came to power with the aim to rid the country of apartheid and instil democracy. The following year, Mandela was released from prison and in 1994 became president after the ANC won the country’s first non-racial general elections; the country also returned to the Commonwealth. The country’s democratic stance has steered it toward a more harmonious future, though economic inequalities between whites and blacks exist, but as the most developed economy on the continent it is in a good position to reconcile with its past.
Naturally, South Africa’s seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere with summer heat burning from November to March and cooler winter temperatures from June to August. Temperature wise, spring (September to October) and autumn (April to May) provide a happy medium. Certain must-do activities are restricted to specific times of year: safari is best from June to September and the whale watching season is June to December. The busiest time, hence the most expensive, is during the summer months, while the major school holidays are during December and Easter.
Given the distances involved, flying is the most convenient way to travel between the main destinations, while land transportation can efficiently pick up the rest of the mileage for exploration in and around. There are an assortment of domestic carriers to choose from that fly the main routes, with most running from Johannesburg or Cape Town; these include South African Airways, Nationwide Airlines, Kulula and 1Time. Booking early is advisable to secure discounted rates.
There country also boasts a comprehensive bus network that covers the main cities; the road trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town is around 20 hours (compared to a 2 hour in a plane). The main bus companies are Translux, Greyhound and Intercape. Baz Bus is aimed at the backpacker crowd and provides a hop-on, hop-off service and also travels to remote areas. It’s a good way to discover the picturesque patch of coastline that is the Garden Route, which it services en route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
Train travel can work out longer than by bus, with the trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town edging toward almost 30 hours. If you’re after a little luxury, try the Blue Train or the Rovos Rail for a taste of stylish travel.
Car rental is an attractive option thanks to the good road conditions, great scenery and the flexibility driving allows. The big car rental companies like Avis and Budget have outlets and it’s essential to be fully insured and have a valid driver’s licence. It’s also a convenient way to get around cities as public transport can be unsafe.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas
The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA)
Bus company Baz Bus
Domestic airline 1Time
Bus company Greyhound
Bus company Intercape
Domestic airline Kulula
Nationwide Airlines
South African Airways
Bus company Translux
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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