Sports coaching in South Africa – Millie’s blog entry

Sat at home in England reflecting on my time in South Africa, I’m glad I’ve waited to write my blog entry, as I feel it is only now I can fully grasp how lucky I have been the past seven weeks.  There are far too many individual highlights for me to mention them all, but skydiving, safari and swimming with dolphins aside, it is the experience as a whole that leaves you desperate to go back.

Within three days of arriving in South Africa I was on my way to coach at my first school. I was so unsure what to expect but within minutes of driving through the school gates we were swamped with children screaming with excitement to see us. Within ten minutes of being at the school, you already feel like you know the kids and the session ahead seems far less daunting. In addition to this it helps that most sessions start with various silly warm up games and end with being completely humiliated by the kid’s superior dancing and singing skills. Some of the children are so keen to learn new skills, whereas others are much more of a challenge to encourage but whatever the children have been like that day, you arrive home with such a sense of achievement (alongside a significant amount of exhaustion, of course).

At the end of the placement we helped organise a sports tournament for a number of the schools we taught. During this tournament we had an opportunity to scout some of the children to go the Junior School of Excellence Program for their sports talent. This program is designed to help the children get into better senior schools, get better grades and in turn have more opportunities open to them in life. It was such an amazing feeling to see some of the kids getting scouted due to skills we had helped them develop. Although not every day was easy working in the townships, and although it as not always easy hearing some of the children’s stories, seeing the achievements some of them accomplished in the tournament really made me believe, that even if it is only for an hour a day, you really can make a difference in some of these children’s lives.

In addition to meeting some of the most entertaining and amazing children, you can’t help but grow so close to the other volunteers you live with. I have left South Africa with friends I know I will stay in touch with, having shared some of the most incredible moments with them. The memories I made in South Africa will never leave me, especially those of the children, and the letters I received from them when leaving are enough to ensure I will never forget them and my time there.

Millie Karlsen xxx

(If you would like to do some volunteer sports coaching, or teaching or orphanage work, in South Africa like Millie, placements are for 5 – 12 weeks and cost from £1,150 to £1,850.  Placement price includes local airport transfers, accommodation in the Volunteer House, food, transport to placements, orientation and 2 to 2 excursions.  Send us an email on info@volunteervacations.co.uk, check out the website http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk or give us a ring on 01483 331551 or 07833 208 158 for more details about start dates)

 

Volunteer Abroad in Swaziland – Aids Education through Rugby Coaching

PASS THE BALL, NOT THE VIRUS!

Make a difference in Swaziland – Combine rugby coaching and AIDS education with this fantastic charity and develop key career skills too!

Coaching rugby to the kids

Rachel Middleton assisting Swazi coach Wilson Dlamini

WHAT DOES THIS CHARITY DO?

The charity, SKRUM, aims to provide AIDS education with rugby coaching to communities in Swaziland, and has recently started making presentations on AIDS to schools.

Over the last 5 years, they have introduced their rugby and AIDS education programmes into 500 of the 800+ schools in Swaziland, but Headmasters and teachers felt that only the children who opted in for the rugby coaching were getting the full benefit of the AIDS education programme and the phamplets which the charity were handing out.

So now SKRUM have changed their model.  They visit a school every morning and Wilson, the talented young Swazi coach, makes a presentation to the whole school by showing them a dvd, which is a novelty in itself since many of the children will have never seen television.

The dvd spells out the facts about AIDS:

– 42% of the population in Swaziland has AIDS or are HIV positive

– the average age expectancy is 32 years (so the boy or girl standing next to them may die by the time they are 32)

– Circumsizing will not protect them from AIDS, as the media campaign in Swaziland suggests

– There is an alarming number of AIDS orphans in Swaziland

-They must use a condom if they are going to have sex and need to think very seriously about how they can look after themselves for the future

BUT HOW CAN YOU HELP AS A VOLUNTEER?

You can help the team make and deliver these presentations to the schools and after answer any questions the children have. But there are also many other parts of this volunteer opportunity.  You could help by driving one of the cars, painting the charity’s logo on the outside of the schools,  helping with the rugby coaching (and do your Level 1 coaching certificate whilst there),  helping with the endless admin that needs doing – booking schools, organizing tournaments, making presentations to local businesses and government organizations…..the list is endless.

And while you are there, you can see this beautiful country which has much to offer!

For more info, contact us at http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk on 01483 331551 or 01483 203405 or 07833 208 158 or send us an email with your questions at info@volunteervacations.co.uk

TRAVELLING – 9 BIZARRE BUT ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL OBJECTS

I receive the Ready Traveler Newsletter from the site http://www.TravelInsuranceReview.net and this great article made me sit up and take note!

9 Everyday Objects You can re-use for Travel Disaster Survival

As stories of last week’s blizzard rolled across our screens, we’re reminded of the many freakish travel disasters people have endured in the recent past: cruise ships sinking, people trapped in their cars during blizzards, hurricanes, floods and more.

When a traveler finds him or herself in a disaster scenario and needs to survive, they may be looking around for everyday objects they can re-purpose to help them survive. Here are a few common, everyday objects you can re-purpose in a travel disaster survival scenario.

1. Ideal for binding other objects together – dental floss

Dental floss is ridiculously strong and can be used to bind other objects together, such as sticks to create some shelter from the elements. Dental floss has also been used to devise snares to catch small animals for food and as fishing line, but of course you’d need to re-purpose other objects to use as knives or fishing hooks as well (more on that later).  (I normally have this with me so ok but dont tell my hygienist that I am using it for non-dental purposes)

2. Ideal for straining water – a sock

The humble sock is a great tool in normal circumstances to protect your feet and keep you warm and dry, but in a survival situation you can also use your socks to strain water for drinking. It won’t get rid of bacteria or microscopic parasites like Giardia, however. So, if you can also boil the water, that’s still the safest. (I normally make my thick travel socks that I use with my walking boots last 3 days….so not too sure about drinking the highly flavoured water…)

3. Ideal as a breathing aid – a bandana

Many backpackers carry a bandana or two for protection from the sun or to cool them off when it’s hot, but in a survival situation, a bandana is also great as a breathing aid. In dusty, severe cold, or smoky conditions, it can be tied over your nose and mouth securely and your hands are free.  A must-buy!

4. Ideal for drinking water storage – a condom

In a survival situation, water is critical to your ability to stay alive and a condom can hold as much as 1.5 liters of life-saving water. If you’re lucky enough to find drinkable water, a condom is a great way to store it and carry it. A condom can also be repurposed to hold other life-saving items and keep them dry (matches anyone?). I guess I will look a bit silly, but hey ho, when you’re desperate anything goes!

5. Ideal for creating warmth – garbage bags

Carried by hunters and hikers around the globe, large-sized garbage bags have a range of uses, but one of the most important may be keeping you warm. Staying warm and dry is at the top of the list of priorities when you’re in a survival scenario and have no access to shelter and heat. Plastic garbage bags can be quickly re-purposed as a rain jacket or sleeping bag and will keep body heat in while keeping rain and snow away.  

Garbage bags can also be used to create shelter, hold water, as an emergency buoyancy device, and even burned for a signal fire.  I will make sure I buy the “extra strong” ones….just in case I need the emergency buoyancy device!

6. Ideal for signalling for help – a soda can

When you’re waiting for rescue, signalling those who are looking for you helps them find you quicker and reflective objects – like the bottom of a soda can – reflects the sun well enough to be an effective signal to a rescue team.

Soda and beer cans can also be used to collect rainwater to drink or as a receptacle for your sock-filtered water.  Easy peasy.

7. Ideal for bandaging open wounds – a tampon

It’s rumored that soldiers carry these for bullet wounds. Depending on the shape of the wound, a tampon can be used either flattened out or rolled up to make an absorbent wound dressing for a makeshift field bandage.

Tampons can also be used as water filters if you also have a plastic water bottle. Fill the water bottle, then push the tampon into the neck of the bottle. Pour the water through the tampon to strain it. I think anyone watching will think I have completely flipped but brilliant!

8. Ideal as a fishing hook – hair clips and bobby pins

Many hair clips and bobby pins can be refashioned into a fishing hook (attach your dental floss as as a line). Scare up a little live bait like a bug or a worm and you’ve got a decent chance of landing a fish or frog for nourishment.  Obviously trying frogs legs in France is good preparation for survival training!

Necessity is the mother of all invention and when we’re thinking clearly and looking around to see what we can use to stay alive, we can find any number of common things that can be used in an emergency.

9. Ideal for making a fire

If you have a lighter or access to something reflective enough to concentrate the light of the sun, you can also start a fire. Don’t forget the wide array of ordinary objects that can be used to start a fire:

• old-fashioned camera film
• lint (look to your socks and sweaters for some)
• many hand sanitizers are flammable
• petroleum jelly
• many lip balms are also flammable
• matches???

Of course, there are hard-core survivalists who can turn a wristwatch into a compass, or repurpose a broken cell phone into a knife blade, or turn a soda can tab into a fishhook as well but we’ll leave those ideas for the survival experts.

(Apologies to Travel Insurance Review – I tried to share it on Facebook but all to no avail.)

I will be shortly visiting Lesotho in Southern Africa where SKRUM in Swaziland will be sending their rugby coaching and AIDS education volunteers.  My job is to check that the logistics will work and I am happy that the volunteers will be safe and have a meaningful experience.  The country does appear on paper like the last frontier to be discovered so I might be taking the above articles in my day pack!  (Note to self:  buy larger day pack to accommodate new survival kit)

Jill Golding

Volunteer Vacations

http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk

VOLUNTEER AND TRAVEL INDIA – dazzle your senses with the light, the warmth and the smells

WANT TO VOLUNTEER IN INDIA?

Set in the rural hills surrounding Udaipur in Northern Rajasthan, this outstanding charity has placements for:

– teaching in primary schools in the morning and providing after-school activities in a boys orphanage in the afternoon

– working in pre-school child centres and providing traditional nursery education and activities

– accompanying the health visitors and delivering health programmes such as polio immunisation in the rural villages

– building renovation, refurbishment and construction every July and August (4 volunteers needed for this)

– teaching the ladies to sew as part of the women’s empowerment programme

Placements are from 2 – 12 weeks and cost from £995 to £2,195.  Price includes local airport transfers, accommodation at the volunteer house, 3 cooked meals a day, Hindi lesson, orientation, local excursions, Taj Mahal excursion.

Whilst there, in your spare time, you can also visit the Ranthambore Tiger Park and see the tigers in the wild…

…or you can visit Jodhpur and the desert communities and go camel riding…..

…and in your spare time explore Udaipur, sometimes called the Venice of the East

These placements are perfect for single volunteers and also families. The charity is also able to cater for Duke of Edinburgh Gold award students and combine the volunteer placements as the Residential Element and also organize the expedition element together with their partner who is an Approved Activity Provider.

For more details, check our website http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk, send us an email on info@volunteervacations.co.uk or give us a ring on (oo44) 01483 331551 or 07833 208 158.

VOLUNTEERING ABROAD – ESSENTIAL LIST FOR YOUR SUITCASE

• pyjamas
• towel (lightweight travel towel ideal)
• underwear
• wash kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, deodorant, razor, shaving gel/foam, wet wipes, anti-bacterial hand gel, after sun cream, sun tan lotion, tissues, etc.)
• fleece
• swimming costume
• sun hat
• sports kit (tracksuits, tops, shorts,  including trainers and rugby boots) and whistle if you are doing a sports coaching placement
• suitable clothes if you are teaching (dress like the locals, do not offend with low cut t-shirts, short skirts, shorts, etc.)
• lightweight waterproof jacket
• casual clothes for weekends and evenings
• sandals/flip flops
• personal medical kit
• camera
• watch
• sunglasses
• backpack for day use and a water bottle
• phone (for a local sim card)
• cotton sleeping bag liner (not essential but very snug)
• head torch (essential for power cuts, badly lit streets and reading in bed!)
• local currency, debit card and money card for ATMs and credit card for emergencies (not be kept all in the same place)
• photo copy of passport, bank details, etc. on memory stick just in case you lose them!

Volunteer Vacations

(We send volunteers to South Africa, Swaziland, Kenya, India and Thailand to either do sports coaching, teaching in primary and secondary schools, work in orphanages, teach ladies to sew, rebuild and refurbish schools, help in health promotion…  For more details see our website http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk, email us on info@volunteervacations.co.uk or give us a ring on 01483 331551 or 07833 208 158)

VOLUNTEER IN SOUTH AFRICA THIS SUMMER – coach sport, teach or work in an orphanage

VOLUNTEER IN SOUTH AFRICA THIS SUMMER on a 5 week placement from Saturday 13th July to Saturday 17th August.

Coach sports available:  Football, Rugby, Tennis, Swimming, Netball, Hockey, Cricket, Frisbee

Teach in primary or secondary schools

Work in orphanages

Make a difference to kids in the local township schools where, if it weren’t for this charity, they would not have any sport at all!

Inspire these youngsters and give them hope for the future.

AIDS has devastated the local communities and many kids are orphans living with a granny, older sibling or neighbour. This placement gives you the opportunity to truly leave your footprint and make a difference to the lives of the kids you come in contact with.

And whilst there, you will be sharing the Volunteer House with up to 40 other like minded volunteers and there will be time to have some fun in the evenings and at the weekends.

For sports coaching, you will get plenty of help in the orientation with some tips on how to teach and what to teach.  The teachers in the schools will give you all the help you need to try out your teaching skills.  Many of the children in the orphanages have AIDS so any stimulation and fun you can give them will make a big difference in their lives.

Book early to avoid disappointment by emailing: info@volunteervacations.co.uk. More details on our website: http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk or give us a ring on 01483 331551 or 07833 208 158

PLANNING YOUR GAP YEAR – 10 TOP TIPS

10 TOP TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR GAP YEAR Assuming that you have already either chosen between the  “random travel or “work on a volunteer placement with a charity overseas” options (or a combination of both?), here are the most important points you should consider when planning your Gap Year, Career Break or Family Volunteering overseas: 1.   Budget Most important factor that really determines everything else. 2.   Length of Stay Once you have chosen the country (or countries) you want to visit, what is the maximum number of weeks you are allowed to stay on a Tourist Visa? 3.   Flights    How much will your flights and any other travel cost? It’s always best to pay for these up front as it gives you a time framework to go by. Flights are generally available to buy 11 months before the date you want to travel and are generally cheaper then. If you don’t mind an extended flight via Timbuktu, then you can make savings with a last minute bargain but will arrive very tired! 4.    Accommodation If your accommodation is not included, then book and pay for this in advance. 5.    Travel Insurance As soon as you have committed to your plans and made a down payment, take out Travel Insurance.  It may seem a little early but should you need to cancel before you go for an unforeseen reason, then you may be covered.  Travel Insurance is a “must-have” for any overseas travel and make sure you are covered for all the usual, in particular medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment and if you are participating in any extreme sports, such as bungee jumping,  get cover for this too. If you are not booking a “package”, then check with your Travel Insurance Company that you will be covered for booking things individually. 6.   Vaccinations Go as soon as you can to visit your local travel nurse and discuss where you are going and see if you need any new vaccinations, boosters or malaria tablets. There may be a cost for any jabs and also for malaria tablets but this is a very important part of your travel planning. You can get advice from the following website http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. 7.    Passport You should check the expiry date on your passport and make sure it will not expire whilst you are abroad. Make sure you have more than 6 months before expiry on entry. You can check with a site like http://www.projectvisa.com for information about whether or not you will need a visa before you go and bare in mind there may be a cost for this.  If the country that you are visiting will give you a visa on arrival, make sure you have plenty of empty pages and in the case of South Africa, a double blank page or they may refuse you entry! 8.    Money Management Take the equivalent of £100 in local currency with you. ATMs are very popular overseas and you should always go into your local bank in the UK before you travel and notify them you are going overseas, listing the dates and countries to visit.  However, this is no guarantee that they will not stop your card if they are suspicious about the use of your card.  A money card is a good thing to have as a back up and be kept in a separate location to your usual bank card.  Thirdly, I would also recommend taking a credit card to be used solely for emergencies and again, kept in a separate location to the other two cards so you don’t lose all your access to money if you get mugged. 9.   Phone If you have a contract phone, best leave this at home because chances are you may lose it or have it stolen. The easiest thing to do is to take a cheap pay-as-you-go phone and on arrival in the country you are visiting, buy a local sim card and top-up vouchers.  If you can get one that does photos too, then it will save you taking a separate camera.  For Internet, it’s always fun to go to the local Internet cafe and relatively cheap to pick up your messages and catch up on Facebook. 10.  Emergency contact If you have an emergency when abroad, who will you contact?  Make sure you have details of the local British Embassy or High Commission. This is always a problem for gappies travelling around randomly when things go wrong – and they often do – they do not have the safety net that someone who is staying with a local charity has. Jill Golding, http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk

More to read: http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk https://jillvvcouk.wordpress.com

VOLUNTEER BLOG: Exploring Swaziland and taking on 6 new schools!

Today we went very far indeed… like really far! It was me, Michael and Wilson so I was the driver for the day.  I was happy about this as I love to drive the car but not as happy as there is definitely someone wrong with it – it pulls to the left a lot!

I got up very early and, as the car had been packed the night before, we were able to just get up and go!  We were out the door and on the road by 7:30.  Swaziland is split into 3 levels, the high feld, middle feld and low feld.  Malkerns is on the middle feld.  Today we were travelling down the low feld and to some of the most rural areas in all of Swaziland.  The low felt is where all the most dangerous things are in the country.  Michael explained to me that this is where all the Malaria is and the most dangerous animals.  This is where all the poisonous snakes are, which I was not so happy to hear about. One of the most dangerous being the Black Mamba.  Michael says depending how big the snake and where it bites you, you could only have minutes to live.

As we were driving, Wilson noticed a really big machine standing the middle of some cane fields.  I saw it was well and was curious to know what it was.  Apparently it is a cane cutting device that is 1000 times more efficient than humans and cuts it a lot faster.  Yes,  this does sound good, however, thousands of jobs would be lost and the Swazi people are definitely not keen to have the machine in the country but Big Bend has brought one.

Once we arrived in the Big Bend area ,we started planning on what schools we were going to visit.  The first couple of schools we went to were very easy to find.  However, the 3^rdschool  that we tried to find was not so easy; in fact we didn’t even make it to the school at all!  The road to the school was so ruff and bumpy and I just kept thinking “the poor car”.  We drove for what seemed like an eternity until we got to a dead end and the entrance to a dam. The most frustrating thing about this was from where we were we could actually see the school! After Michael checking his good map and confirming that the road we were on there was no way of getting to the school!  Another funny thing was straight after getting annoyed about not being able to get to the school, Wilson realised that it was a school SKRUM had visited before!

To get to the next set of schools we had to drive very far and it took so long as I could not drive fast because the roads were horrific!  At one of the schools there was a lovely head mistress and she came out to talk to Michael.   Michael told me afterwards that she had forgot he was in a wheel chair and had opened the door for him to get out!

The last school we went to visit was again in the middle of nowhere. Michael and Naomi had attempted to find this school before and couldn’t find it so this was going to be a challenge. Before going to the school Michael showed me and Wilson this grave deep in the bush in the middle of nowhere. The grave read that the child was only 5 when it died and Michael explained when the Africans were coming through here that the child might have been bitten by a snake or something like that.  The grave was put there about 80 years ago!

After going to the grave and taking some good pictures for Michael we headed off to find the final school for the day.  When we finally arrived after doing some serious 4by4ing and trying not to run over cows in the road we made it to the school.  The first teacher we spoke to was teaching a class and pointed us in the direction of the head teacher’s office.

Once we had gone to all the schools we planned to go to and it was starting to get to school closing time, we decided to head home. While we were out in the bush, I saw the Swaziland national bird the gwala gwala. Looking at the map there was one more school that we decided we would try and get to before going home. The road was a lot better than the previous one and it was weird not to be bouncing around and going so slowly.  After a whole lot of driving,  we didn’t manage to find the school so carried on in town.  To get to town there is a big river to cross and you have to drive across just a long concrete slab to get to the other side. I was very nervous and Wilson was willing to get out and take a picture of me driving over it! (well I had to buy him a bag of crisps for the favour!).

The total number of new schools visited today was 6! All of the schools were so positive and really were up for rugby being introduced into the school. One of the head teachers was so scary to begin with though, he called me and Wilson in and it was like we were naughty school kids. When we sat down he didn’t say anything and moved stuff around his office until finally sitting down and talking to us.  In the end he was very friendly and nice and really up for rugby!

The car is now VERY bad and is going to be taken to the garage tomorrow to be sorted out. It was so bad that I could  do left corners without touching the steering wheel and it was just shaking loads.

We finally arrived home after stopping at the shopping mall for airtime and I had to help Wilson pick out a present for his sister. The evening consisted of drinking a lot of Amerula and laughing a lot it was just such a funny evening!

Bethany Neave

(If you would like to volunteer for this charity in Swaziland which involves rugby coaching, AIDS education, painting the charity’s logos on the outside of schools, and generally getting involved in all aspects of running the charity, then check out http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk, email us on info@volunteervacations.co.uk or phone us on 01483 331551 or 07833 208 158)

 

VOLUNTEER BLOG IN SWAZILAND: “The Day of the Girl Child”

We woke up good and early today to get ready for the day of the girl child!  Once we were all ready, it was my turn to drive so we set off to the nearest field that the games were planned to be played in.  The children were already there when we arrived and there were lots of them so that was great to see!

We hit a little problem as the field that we were meant to be playing on is owned by Swazi Can and they were having an important visitor so suddenly said that we weren’t allowed to use the field!  However, we overcame this issue as there was another public field just down the road that we could use.  We notified the children and teachers and moved to the other field.  This worked out ok in the end as it gave us a chance to set up pitches and banners before the children arrived.

The games got off to a good start.  Wilson was the ref for the first two games and I observed.  There was one team that had really been training and you could see the difference in level of play from the stand out team. They really had the evasive running and passing skills to a high level.  It was really great to see what can be achieved with a girls rugby team.  The other two teams had some strengths and some really good stand out players.  However, the general knowledge of the game was not there and at times it looked like they were playing netball not rugby, although with training and coaching you could really see the potential for the other two teams!

I was the ref for the last match and it was so much fun to ref.  The two teams were quite equally matched and it was a close game.  It was such a good experience to see the girls playing and having so much fun!  During this match it was time for Wilson, Michael and I to decide on a player of the tournament.  The girl that was chosen was from one of the weaker teams but she was an outstanding player.  There is photo along with this blog where she has the ball and no one is looking at her in the right direction  – it is amazing!  As well as this, she definitely had a bit of attitude but good attitude –  she was a little fire ball!  After all the matches were done, we went back to the house to collect some giveaways for her a prize.  We came back to the field and found her and she was so happy to get all the kit, it really made her and all of us smile.

Once all the school child’s matches were done and the winning team had been given their jerseys, we organised a teacher/coach V best student players match.  All I can say is that this was hilarious we had me, Wilson, Vuma, two other male teachers and a female teacher (who was so funny!) on our team playing the best chosen children.  I said to Wilson before the match that it will be really embarrassing if they beat us!  Lucky for us we were able to win but it was just a whole lot of fun and all the spectators loved it!  The female teacher who had played for us was buzzing – she said she had so much fun playing and had never played before that match. We suggested a teacher tag rugby team and she got so excited and was very keen!

The day of the girl child really was a great success and you could really see the enjoyment that the children got from the tournament and general feel of the day! This was by far one of my favourite days and all the photos that Michael took really do show the fun and hilarity of the day!

We were meant to have a coaching session at William Pitcher  – the teacher college – in the afternoon but they had something else on so it was cancelled.  However, this meant that I got to drive all the way to the capital and get some jobs done.  I was very proud of myself as I didn’t even come close to killing us all this time and Michael said yes this was indeed very good.

When we got back to base I had a little issue as my memory stick broke which was very annoying but lucky all the stuff I had on it is backed up.  The evening consisted of a big thunder and lightning storm that cut the power four times, so this meant mosaic by candle light again.

Today was such a good day and really good not only to see rugby being played, but girls playing it was just amazing to see and be a part of!

Bethany Neave

(If you would like to know more about rugby coaching/AIDS education/helping run this outstanding charity in Swaziland as a volunteer (or any of our other volunteer projects abroad), check out our website http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk, or give us a ring on 01483 331551/07833 208 148 or send us an email on info@volunteervacations.co.uk)

VOLUNTEER BLOG: “The Day of the Girl Child” – Swaziland Rugby Coaching/AIDS education

Getting up quite early as today was all the pre planning we needed to get done for the day of the girl child.  Naomi and I went off to visit the 3 schools to confirm that they would be attending.  One of the first schools we visited in Malkerns was one of the ones quite far out of town and Naomi told me that it was fine as they were one of the only Malkerns’ schools that have a school bus.

The first school – Vuma –  is where the Swaziland rugby union vice president works as a teacher.  We were called over to the staff meeting as they were discussing tomorrow’s events.  The reaction to the day was positive and they even said they would send the whole school down for the fun day which was good news!

The next school we visited was next to Naomi’s house and the head mistress was her auntie.  Auntie Pat was a lovely lady and had the most amazing eyebrows that I have ever seen! Naomi explained afterwards that it is a fashion thing in Swaziland to tattoo your eyebrows on!  Another questionable fashion choice that I have seen while being here is black lip liner.  Whatever floats your boat!  A good thing about going to this school is that,  as Naomi has family there,  it meant we got to have some chicken and rolls!

The last school we visited also had a positive reaction to the fun day for all the children and staff. We managed to sell it to them by saying “it is the day of the girl child so the girls should have something special for that day”. Also, they are quite close to exam time so this will be the last fun day out for the children and teachers to relax before the stress of exam time!  They all loved the idea so that was why the 3 schools confirmed for the day of the girl child!

Once this was all done and confirmed we went past the super market and got some bread and chocolate buns for the base. Before we left, Naomi showed me where she lived and all the puppies that were so small and cute!

When we got back to the office and told the good news to Mike and Wilson it was time for tea, buns and toast before we got a few more things done.  After this, we had to take some candles to Linda and see the shop – it looked amazing!  Once back at the office,  I helped back up the car ready for the day tomorrow.  Everything was now totally ready for the next day with schools confirmed, kit and giveaways packed!

The evening was quite a calm one, Michael taught me how to make some very spicy lamb, and literally my mouth was on fire!  For the rest of the evening, it was just chatting and doing mosaic by candle light as the power wasn’t working.

I am very excited for tomorrow’s Day of the Girl Child as it should be amazing fun and it will be great to see the girls’ teams playing and enjoying the day!

Bethany Neave

(If you would like to know more about Bethany’s volunteer placement in Swaziland helping with rugby coaching, AIDs education and all aspects of running this charity, then check out http://www.volunteervacations.co.uk, send us an email to info@volunteervacations.co.uk or give us a ring on (0044) 01483 331551 or (0044) 07833 208 158)

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