Sports Coaching and Physical Education Volunteer Project in Cape Town

Physical Education & Sports Coaching Volunteer Projects South Africa

Gap Year South Africa through its physical education and sports coaching projects contribute to encouraging mass participation in sport for school children who have inherently been afforded very little exceptional opportunity.  The physical education and sports coaching projects assist in social and economic development and address priority areas such as moral regeneration and social cohesion.  This is achieved through our volunteers engaging with the local community and providing essential life skills through physical activity and sports.

During daily physical education lessons, school children are exposed to basic speed, agility and quickness (SAQ) training skills.  There are a group of SAQ coaches that are permanently assigned to our partner school.  These coaches are working hard at trying to get a smooth daily operation of this physical education programme.  Our volunteers assist these coaches and our daily presence and contribution to the programme are greatly appreciated.  We do not want to create dependency in any way and our aim is to support existing structures and systems and make a meaningful contribution to these.

In the afternoons, our volunteers coach sport specific sessions.  Our volunteers have successfully introduced a number of new sports to enthusiastic groups of school children.  These activities have certainly kept the children off the streets and assisted in preventing them from getting involved in anti-social behaviour.

It is not a prerequisite for Gap Year South Africa volunteers to have any prior sports coaching or physical education teaching experience or qualifications for our sports coaching projects but a basic knowledge or playing experience in your chosen sport is important.

If you are a qualified sports coach or physical education teacher you will have an excellent opportunity to take on a greater level of teaching and sports coaching responsibility within our under-resourced partner school.

Community Setting

Gap Year South Africa sports coaching projects encourage mass participation in sport for school children and are aimed primarily at previously disadvantaged groups, communities and individuals with a strong developmental approach.

Our community sports coaching projects contribute towards transformation whilst removing potential access barriers such as cost, elitism, race and gender.  The intended beneficiaries of our sports coaching projects are young people who have inherently been afforded very little exceptional opportunity.

Your Role as a Volunteer

During your Gap Year South Africa sports coaching project you will be delivering physical education lessons and coaching sessions in your chosen sport for children of varying ages and abilities at our local community under-resourced partner school.

Through your sports coaching and energetic presence at our partner school you will be adding immense value to the lives of under-resourced school children.  You will be teaching and coaching alongside teachers from the community with an opportunity to learn a great deal from their experiences in turn community teachers will also benefit a great deal from your teaching and sports coaching experiences.

Project Flexibility

In addition to your Gap Year South Africa sports coaching project you will have the choice of including a HIV/AIDS awareness, performing arts, care work, environmental awareness and/or teaching and education experience in your project.

Volunteer Profile

Gap Year South Africa seeks individuals that are passionate and energetic with an enthusiasm for an adventure of a lifetime.  If you are a post-school or post-university gap year student, a university undergraduate or postgraduate, or a career breaker, our projects are ideally suited for you.  Our excellent sports coaching projects are also tailored for eager sportspeople, players and qualified coaches.  Volunteers must be 17 years of age and above.

Donation of Educational Resources

Gap Year South Africa, with the help of our Gap Year volunteers, also contributes towards sporting equipment and coaching aides enhancing the sporting environment for the children.  Our under-resourced partner school certainly does welcome any additional contributions or resources.

Location

You will be based in the South African coastal city of Cape Town, also often referred to as the Mother City. Cape Town is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The impressive presence of the world renowned Table Mountain stands proudly above the city of Cape Town. Beautiful white sandy beaches along a peaceful coastline frame the Cape Peninsula, which is famed for its unique floral kingdom, bountiful rivers, vleis and dams and magnificent countryside. The surrounding area extends far into the winelands, green in summer and red-gold in autumn. Cape Town is a city of culture, built on a history that reflects in the architecture, cuisine, music and dance. Together with a warm summer and temperate winter climate and a friendly community, Cape Town is an ideal Gap Year destination throughout the year. Situated 10 hours from the majority of gap year world traveller destinations, Gap Year South Africa is an ideal stop on your global adventure travel. Please click here to visit our destination page to learn more about Cape Town, South Africa.

Accommodation, Food and Transport

You are hosted by the Team of Gap Year South Africa in our comfortable fully furnished house along with all our volunteers. The volunteer house is a very safe and friendly environment within Fish Hoek, a coastal village lying in a valley at the mouth of the Silvermine River, on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula.

Our volunteers stay in dormitory style accommodation with communal bathrooms. The house facilities include a DVD player and television, broadband internet access and a swimming pool. The house is located a short distance from the golden beaches of the magnificent Indian Ocean and conveniently situated within walking distance to a wide range of amenities for all your additional needs.

During the week, Mondays to Fridays, volunteers have all their meals prepared for them by our local team. Meals are not included on Saturdays and Sundays, as experience has taught us that most volunteers tend to explore Cape Town during weekends. Volunteers either purchase and prepare their own meals on weekends or often choose to eat out at local restaurants. Our kitchen is superbly equipped and local supermarkets and restaurants are within walking distance from the volunteer house.

Breakfast

Selection of cereals, toast, tea/coffee and fruit

Lunch

Packed Lunch consisting of sandwiches, juice and fruit

Dinner

Full sit-down hot meal and juice

On arrival at Cape Town International Airport you will be welcomed by our Gap Year South Africa Team and be transferred from the airport to the volunteer house. All daily transport to and from the projects is provided.

Excursions

The volunteer group excursions are selected from a wide variety of exciting activities based in Cape Town. Volunteer group excursions are selected in advance by the Gap Year South Africa team and are subject to change. The volunteer group excursions are selected from a host of exciting activities such as:
◦Explore Cape Point where the cold Benguela and warm Agulhus currents merge
◦Hike up Cape Town's magnificent Table Mountain and return via Cable Car
◦Spend a day exploring all the attractions at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
◦Visit the magnificent two oceans aquarium
◦View the exquisite penguins at Boulders
◦Explore the World of Birds wildlife sanctuary and monkey park
◦Enjoy learning to surf or surfing the waves of Cape Town

The table below indicates the number of group excursions selected from a wide variety of exciting activities that are included as part of your project fee:

Project Duration

Number of group excursions included in your project fee

3 Weeks

One group excursion included as part of your project fee

5 Weeks

Two group excursions included as part of your project fee

3 Months

Four group excursions included as part of your project fee

5 Months

Six group excursions included as part of your project fee

Volunteers will have free time on weekends to explore all Cape Town has to offer. Our team will inform you of all the amazing attractions available to you in and around Cape Town. If volunteers choose to experience any additional excursions above those stipulated as group excursions, these excursions will be at the volunteers own cost. Types of additional excursions available to volunteers include:
◦Snorkel or freedive with Cape fur seals in the exquisite oceans of Cape Town
◦Journey on a Township Tour into a vibrant world of colour
◦Shark Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
◦Scuba dive at the Two Oceans Aquarium
◦Abseiling down Table Mountain
◦Specialised guided wine region tours
◦Robben Island Museum Tour
◦Penguin Sea Kayak Trail Simon's Town
◦Visit the Cheetah Sanctuary at Spier
◦Tandem skydive
◦Visit the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
◦View the African Big Five on a one day safari tour