Well, it is official...I am a "pioneer". This is what Global Volunteers calls any group of volunteers that go into a region in the first year that GV establishes a foundation in that region. Our team will be the 5th group to work in Malungeni.
So many of you have asked what I will be doing volunteer wise in South Africa and today we were sent our assignments for that region and it looks like we will have our hands full. I wanted to update you all on what our roles will be while we are there.
Our primary assignment will be to work with students in the K-9 Langalakhe primary school - there are currently about 130 kids and 5 classrooms. Classes are from about 7:45AM to 1:45PM, with a lunch break. The school requested assistance with the following subjects: English, math, natural sciences and social sciences. Good thing I taught at local Chicago Public Schools with Junior Achievement several times this past year!
Our secondary projects are a wide range of community building activities from after school tutoring to labor work with community centers and a bakery. In addition, we could work on the following projects!
Women’s cooperative: A group of local women represent different special interest groups in the community – bakery, community garden, sewing and dance, and the piggery/poultry farms. Volunteers on past teams worked with the sewing and dance group on handicrafts. The women are concerned about providing productive activities for young women and girls in the community and also opportunities for earning outside income to purchase craft supplies and the like for community projects. They’ve thought about starting a local crafts market to attract people to the village, and to publicize their dancing group for hire at outside community programs. Craft projects on past teams included making dresses out of t-shirts, sewing, felting, knitting and darning.
Business planning: Volunteers on the first 3 teams facilitated business planning workshops and a project planning workshop. Local participants included members of the bakery, community garden, sewing and dance group, and the piggery/poultry farms groups. Information and activities focused around the different components of developing a business plan: mission/objective, management, operating budget, target market, marketing, funding. Each group also received small group assistance on creating their own budget and plan. Many of the groups have completed the initial planning phases for their businesses, and are still considering their next steps.
Healthcare:Medical professionals who are comfortable working independently and providing their own supplies (instruments and protective gear) have provided basic services in Malungeni. For example, an RN held blood sugar and blood pressure clinics/checks at the community center. Over 50 community members participated.
I can't tell you how excited I am to start this trip and get to Malungeni and really begin to work towards the betterment of this community!
xoxo - Tif
So many of you have asked what I will be doing volunteer wise in South Africa and today we were sent our assignments for that region and it looks like we will have our hands full. I wanted to update you all on what our roles will be while we are there.
Our primary assignment will be to work with students in the K-9 Langalakhe primary school - there are currently about 130 kids and 5 classrooms. Classes are from about 7:45AM to 1:45PM, with a lunch break. The school requested assistance with the following subjects: English, math, natural sciences and social sciences. Good thing I taught at local Chicago Public Schools with Junior Achievement several times this past year!
Our secondary projects are a wide range of community building activities from after school tutoring to labor work with community centers and a bakery. In addition, we could work on the following projects!
Women’s cooperative: A group of local women represent different special interest groups in the community – bakery, community garden, sewing and dance, and the piggery/poultry farms. Volunteers on past teams worked with the sewing and dance group on handicrafts. The women are concerned about providing productive activities for young women and girls in the community and also opportunities for earning outside income to purchase craft supplies and the like for community projects. They’ve thought about starting a local crafts market to attract people to the village, and to publicize their dancing group for hire at outside community programs. Craft projects on past teams included making dresses out of t-shirts, sewing, felting, knitting and darning.
Business planning: Volunteers on the first 3 teams facilitated business planning workshops and a project planning workshop. Local participants included members of the bakery, community garden, sewing and dance group, and the piggery/poultry farms groups. Information and activities focused around the different components of developing a business plan: mission/objective, management, operating budget, target market, marketing, funding. Each group also received small group assistance on creating their own budget and plan. Many of the groups have completed the initial planning phases for their businesses, and are still considering their next steps.
Healthcare:Medical professionals who are comfortable working independently and providing their own supplies (instruments and protective gear) have provided basic services in Malungeni. For example, an RN held blood sugar and blood pressure clinics/checks at the community center. Over 50 community members participated.
I can't tell you how excited I am to start this trip and get to Malungeni and really begin to work towards the betterment of this community!
xoxo - Tif
