PLEASE CONTACT GEOVISIONS.ORG for more details.

The WIRED Community Schoolsprogram primary focus involves developing computer literacy skills within the classroom environment and secondly, working on environmental and sports programs.  In a country consisting of vastly different levels of development, one of the major areas to be overlooked within the education system is that relating to the technology fields.  In the few schools that have electricity, very few have computers, and those that do have been left to develop in a vacuum with inappropriate and non-existent support structures for the maximizing of the resource potential they have.  The sports program will focus on creating a formal sporting framework where new sport’s disciplines, teamwork and the understanding of sport etiquette are developed.  The environmental programs will support a range of targets from Marine and Costal Education, Water and Sanitation, vegetable gardens and general aesthetic improvements to the schools and playground development.  It is into this challenging and exciting arena that we are appealing to the international volunteer community to support, through appropriate skill provision, for the attainment of these goals.

The program includes a one-week orientation that will provide an active and informative course for the volunteers.  It involves a history of South Africa, understanding Apartheid and the dawn of a new democracy, understanding local customs and norms, and an overview of various Biomes within South Africa specific to the region.  You will be staying at accommodation in cottages, which are two minutes from the beach and lagoon and you will also have access to canoes and boogie boards.  The support headquarters is based at Buccaneers Backpackers Lodge boasts Internet, fax, phone and post facilities at reduced rates for volunteers, DSTV, a travel center, a bar and lounge, and surfboard hire and surf school lessons at a reduced rate.  You will also be given three meals a day and cottages are equipped for breakfasts in a “help yourself” system.

Volunteer Activities may include:
Helping set up computers for student use
Tutor students in the use of computers from the basics of turning them on and off to navigating windows and running programs such as Microsoft Word
Help create a fun and well organized sport program within the schools
Participate in environmental programs ranging from such targets as Water and Sanitation to Marine and Costal Education
Help in the general aesthetic improvement of the school as well as playground development

GeoVisions programs include accommodation and meals, airport pick-up, project training, in country support, medical insurance, extensive pre-departure information and project orientation.

Please paste this url into your browser to see more details: http://www.geovisions.org/pages/114_wired_community_development_work_in_south_african_schools.cfm