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Help to Educate

location
4 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Care - to enable the youth to know there is help for them to achieve.
  • Carry - to carry the youth with care and love through positive motivation.
  • Consistency - to continuously provide routine through time management
  • Experience Life in the South African Bush; living, making friends and diversify between various programs offered at the same venue location. The Volunteer Hub!
  • Learn the different cultures within the area. We border on Mozambique, Swaziland and the Kruger National Park.

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

This program caters for assistants to help with the forever overcrowded classes in our rural schools. Make each child feel wanted by volunteering to help!

Helping Hands Educate is based at the foot of the stunning Hlumu Hlumu Mountains in the Mpumalanga region of South Africa.

We are the only Education Assistance Program offered in the province, and as such our work focuses mainly on the local community in and around our area. The majority of the local ...

About the program

Helping Hands Educate is based at the foot of the stunning Hlumu Hlumu Mountains in the Mpumalanga region of South Africa.

We are the only Education Assistance Program offered in the province, and as such our work focuses mainly on the local community in and around our area. The majority of the local schools are desperate for help due to over sized classes and understaffing.    Rural schools face severe challenges that are unique to their environment.  A lack of parental interest in children's education, insufficient funding from the state, a lack of resources, underqualified teachers, and multi-grade teaching are some of the barriers to effective education. 

The schools lack administrative systems, are not as organized as western schools, offer very little physical activities and classes can range up-to 50-70 children in one class.  It is impossible to split the classes due to the low numbers of teachers so this is how you as a volunteer can contribute and minimize a few of these challenges.

The process to make a difference involves our volunteers working hand in hand with a qualified teacher for a few days.  Once confidence is built between yourself and your teacher you will be given the tasks to either teach a complete class, organize or facilitate a sporting activity, given tasks to assist the teacher or  teachers or just be morale support to both the educators and children.  Which ever it is and no matter what task you will be appreciated, loved and build very close relationships.

Typical day

There is no typical day and although many of the jobs are a daily necessity in keeping the children motivated and alert there is always a new experience or job that needs doing. We will ensure you will get involved and have fun while learning new skills, meeting new people and experiencing a new way ...

Typical day

There is no typical day and although many of the jobs are a daily necessity in keeping the children motivated and alert there is always a new experience or job that needs doing. We will ensure you will get involved and have fun while learning new skills, meeting new people and experiencing a new way of life all while making a huge difference to the children and educators.

While you are a volunteer with us you will be treated as a professional member of the EDU team and it is important that you use your initiative and listen and learn. By all working together as a team we can achieve big things for the children.

Free-time activities

Volunteers get two days off per week to relax, hike the local mountains or waterfalls or visit the local resort (this is dependent on a vehicle being available to give you a lift and a petrol donation).  

You also have the opportunity to go to a waterfall about 30 minutes walk from Helping Hands or ...

Free-time activities

Volunteers get two days off per week to relax, hike the local mountains or waterfalls or visit the local resort (this is dependent on a vehicle being available to give you a lift and a petrol donation).  

You also have the opportunity to go to a waterfall about 30 minutes walk from Helping Hands or hike on the mountain Hlumu Hlumu ( approx. 2hours).
Forever Resorts borders our property and is ideal for a day trip on one of your days off. They have natural hot spring pools, a water park, a spa and activities such as quad biking and horse riding. A R50 fee is required to cover petrol to drop you off and pick you up.

The best of it all is, is that we have a Primate Rehabilitation Centre on the property with over 100 animals in our care.  There is also a volunteer program for this program which makes your time with us a true experience with regards to making friends, different interests and being able to diversify should you require to jump in and help the Primate volunteers.  We are presently busy with the incorporation of an equine program to confidently call Helping Hands a Volunteer Hub encouraging all facets of interest to offer to all volunteers.   

Kruger National Park: It would be a shame to come all the way to Africa and miss out on seeing the Big 5 in their natural habitat.
You can book a trip to Kruger through us of varying lengths (day trips, 1 night and 2 night stays) 

The boarder to Swaziland is just 45 minutes drive from us. Once in Swaziland you can visit the famous glass blowing center at Ngwenya and numerous beautiful waterfalls and dams. 

These are extra trips and can be arranged on site.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level)

Education Requirements

Confidence building at High School level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

Character Reference from a close friend and co-worker or family member .

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

No skills or previous experience are required - just a passion for children, good English (Reading and Writing) and the willingness to get involved with all aspects of the school..

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 07:00 - 15:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Helping Hands 4 Wildlife

 The fees included:
  • Accommodation in shared rooms as per our basic cabins
  • 3 Meals a day in the Mount Hlumu Restaurant
  • 1 transfer to and from Nelspruit
  •  Room cleaning once a week 

Airport Pickup at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport

We pick up volunteers from Nelspruit on a Monday. We suggest the citybug bus from JHB airport but there is also the option to fly up to KMIA airport.

Accommodation

Volunteers stay in shared accommodation in our basic volunteer cabins. There are a maximum of 3 people to a room (males and females separated) with a shared bathroom. Should you wish to upgrade to our standard rooms or have privacy and be alone you may upgrade subject to availability at an additional daily cost. 
We provide all bed linen and towels and 1 of our housekeeping staff will clean the chalet twice a week.

Food & Beverages

 Daily meals will generally consist of the following:
  • Breakfast:  A selection of cereal and muesli, toast with jam, fruit, tea and coffee.
  • Lunch: Eaten between 12-1pm Basic lunches such as sandwiches, pasta, salads, pies, omelette.
  • Dinner: We provide filling meals such as pastas, stews, bolognaise, stir fry's, rice dishes etc.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Nelspruit. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

You will need to fly into Johannesburg OR Tambo airport and take a bus or flight to Nelspruit. The most economical is the City Bug which goes directly from the Johannesburg airport to Nelspruit. The cost is approximately R450 each way.  Should you take the bus we can collect you at Millys in Machadodorp so you do not have to travel all the way to Nelspruit.  This we do on a Wednesday.

We pick up volunteers every Monday (until 4pm) from Nelspruit. Every Wednesday from Millys Machadodorp.
If you arrive early into Nelspruit we can recommend a backpackers to stay overnight.

Please note it is essential to book your bus ticket in advance as there may not be any seats left on the day.


Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 1,740€
11 weeks 4,190€
19 weeks 6,990€
50 weeks (max. stay) 17,840€
Average fees 395€/week

Program fees

395€ per week 4 - 50 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

4 - 50 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Helping Hands 4 Wildlife during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

Helping Hands 4 Wildlife

Brilliant 4.7 rating (22 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2012

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Elli

Spoken languages: English, German

About the project

Rehabilitation of animals to wildlife and life in the South African bush.

Meet your organization

Helping Hands 4 Wildlife, formally known as DIY Wild (under new ownership since May 2021) is a wildlife rehabilitation association located in South Africa in the Mpumalanga region. It was created in 2012 by Sarah and Greg Mitchell in order to protect the unpopular vervet monkeys in this area.
The association was created because there was no center for vervet monkeys in the Mpumalanga region. The monkeys were therefore euthanized. So now we have a place to take care of them and rehabilitate them into the wild so that they can be released in a more secure area. The association has now extended to all wounded, orphaned, or ex-pets. So we have baboons, antelopes, mongooses, predators type servals and all other species.

Our main goal is to give back the freedom to the animals.

We currently have more than 100 animals undergoing rehabilitation, which requires a lot of time and work. That's why we need volunteers all the time. Without the volunteers the association could not exist.
The majority of animals arrive during the baby season (from November to February) because the mothers were killed for different reasons.

During this time, you will be a foster mom for babies . So you  will need to bottle feed them, look after them, and take care of them as a mother would do with her child. Depending on the age and situation, we may ask you to sleep with them and to be a permanent mother or father for them which is an incredible experience to live.
For the rest of the year, you will be involved in the routine (feeding and cleaning) but aslo other projects as helping in the garden, building new cages, making enrichment, ...

Our association is based in the Mpumalanga bush near Badplass, about 1.30 hours from Nelspruit and about 2 hours from Kruger Park where you can go see the big 5.
Being far from everything, we live as a community which is also an experience. Relearn how to live together, working for the same goal.

If you love animal protection, nature and want to give your time for a cause you care about or for the experience, Helping Hands 4 Wildlife is the perfect place to volunteer.

22 reviews · rating4.7

Magali DHUGUES rating5

2024 at Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation

1000 stories and photos could talk about Helping Hands 4 Wildlife but you’re must here to understand, feeling Et live. An amazing experience where which animal is special with his story and needs, a real rehabilitation center where the priority is after rescue and taking care of them, to release ...
Sergej Brukner rating5

2023 at Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation

My time at Helping Hands 4 Wildlife was more than I could have possibly imagined. Volunteering at the rehabilitation centre for wild animals was truly a life-changing experience in all aspects given. Not only because of the hands-on work with different animals, it was also refreshing to work under ...
Delphine Durand rating5

2023 at Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation

My experience in the Helping Hands 4 Wildlife was the best experience of my life. All of them were kind and were always trying to help me to feel comfortable. Nicky is a very hearty woman who takes wonderful care of all her volonteers, she has become our adoptive mom. Flore, Matt and the other staff ...
Romane Regnaud rating5

2023 at Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation

I enjoyed this experience so much. This was a great way to get out of my comfort zone. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. The excursions were awesome. Thank you Camilla and Tabo, you are the best ...
Laura C rating5

2022 at Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation

Staying, working and living in the Helping Hands 4 Wildlife Family is one of the most beautiful experiences I‘ve ever had. Nicky is a very hearty woman who takes wonderful care of all her volunteers, she has become our mom on the other side of the world. There is always something to do, you are ...
Rosalinda Loffeld rating4.6

2022 at Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation

Nicky is an unbelievably passionate woman who, together with her staff Ziswe, Beauty and others, work so hard to not only provide the best for the animals in their care but also for the volunteers who come to help fulfill the mission to release these animals back into the wild as soon as possible. ..

Location

Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa > Badplaas

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Contact Elli
  Very high response rate
English, German

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