The information below has been provided for you by the supported placement organisation running the placement. You can contact the company for more information using the links at the bottom of this page.
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This placement would suit... Those who enjoy working with children and are keen to learn about a fascinating and endangered culture.
 This is a truly unique teaching location with a unique content to your work. You'll be part of a project that aims to preserve the traditional Zulu legends in the local community. The aim is to keep the legends alive and educate the local community through the medium of culture studies lessons, as well as through music and dance.
Experience the fascinating mix of ethnic cultures and learn about African culture in a way that you wouldn't be able to do anywhere else.
This project is based eMakhosini in KwaZulu-Natal, a province that is exceptionally rich in tribal culture and ethic diversity.
eMakhosini is a microcosm of the history of South-Eastern Africa. In the valley one will find stone tools left behind by Stone-Age hunter-gatherers who were probably of the valley’s earliest inhabitants. 15th century stone-walled structures still stand showing the settlements of the forefathers of the great Zulu Kingdom. It was here that King Shaka was born and where seven of the great Zulu kings lie buried.
About your work
You will be involved with local schools and children and part of your work will be to encourage them to think about and discuss their roots. You'll be taught by your supervisor, December, about Zulu dance, culture and legends and will be convey this Zulu history to the children in your own modern, Western way. This will hopefully get the children to start thinking about their family history and their tribal history and they will develop an interest in questions like where they come from, who they are, what their tribal legends are and what customs were in place years ago that are not in place now and are in danger of being lost forever. All of this will help to develop an encyclopaedia of forgotten Zulu history. You will also be teaching conversational English and some grammar.
The classes are quite large, with an average of around 50 pupils per class and a maximum of 63. They run with youngsters from around 5½ years (Grade R) to about 15 years old (Grade 7) and teach the usual curriculum subjects as well as human and social sciences, technology and three languages: Zulu, Afrikaans and English.
 In the junior schools, English is taught in Zulu and is done by translating words and phrases. This means that many of the children don't reach the standard required for the subject. Thus, when they get to high school where everything is taught in English, they find it very difficult to learn their other subjects.
This is where you, the volunteer, will be able to play a big part. By exposing the children to conversational English and helping them to build up the confidence to use the language in the classroom, on the playing fields or in extracurricular activities, you'll be helping them to cope better with learning all their subjects in high school.
Teaching arrangements
On your first day of teaching you will be taken to the school and introduced to the principal, the teaching staff and pupils. You will be made very welcome by all!
You'll have weekends free and this will also allow some time for travelling and sight seeing. If you would like more time to travel during or after your teaching, this can be arranged.
"On my first day at the school, the kids put on some entertainment for us. I was in my element as two young boys started beating the drums with plastic irrigation pipes with a rhythmical, mesmerising thumping. Surrounded by the entire school in a neat circle, naturally talented voices harmonised in perfect melody as a group of 12 young girls danced a traditional dance, followed by the boys, who were dressed in tribal springbok and goat skin cloths.
 They told a story. Nothing that can be put in words, but rather conveyed by emotion and rhythm. I could visualise the Zulu sprit clearly. Glancing to my left and right, I noticed that the other youngsters were just as eager to watch the show. They all stared intently while the music continued. The performance lasted more than half an hour, by which point I had to contain myself not to run in and dance with them!" - Jim Morel
Accommodation and living in South Africa
Accommodation is in a ranch house in Schoonstrom, overlooking the village. Surrounded by bush and thickets of indigenous trees, the house is set in the eMakhosini Reserve, an enormous consolidation of rural settlements and land which the community has retrieved to protect it from modern day development. Wildlife has been reintroduced and alien plants removed to bring it back to its former glory, and historical sites preserved for many future generations to learn from and enjoy.
The accommodation is around a 20-25 minute drive from the school, and you'll be transported to and from school every day.
You'll be given a budget for food which will cover all your meals. All you will need is pocket money for extras, such as Cokes, shampoo, travelling around, etc.
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0845 344 7585 |
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