Jij wilt je gaan inzetten voor Ready4Life? Dat kan! Je kunt vrijwilligerswerk doen en kiezen voor één van onze projecten. Door je in te zetten voor Ready4Life help je de kinderen en jongeren in de armere delen van Port Elizabeth. Ready4Life heeft jarenlange ervaring met de begeleiding van vrijwilligers.

Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland is een unieke manier om een cultuur te leren kennen. Als vrijwilliger werk je meestal in de townships (sloppenwijken) samen met lokale mensen. Je leert dus van deze ‘locals’ en krijgt een geweldige indruk van hoe mensen leven en met elkaar omgaan.

De Ready4Life vrijwilliger ziet er als volgt uit:

  • Is minimaal 18 jaar.1972317_10151850530731653_778005343_n
  • Is geïnteresseerd in ontwikkelingssamenwerking
  • Heeft talenten die bruikbaar zijn in deze samenwerking (van houthakker tot web designer)
  • Houdt van het werken met volwassenen/jongeren/kinderen
  • Is bereid om nieuwe stappen te zetten
  • Staat open voor een culturele omslag: niets is gek, het is alleen maar anders!
  • (enigszins) Engels sprekend
  • Is bereid om een auto, huis en slaapkamer te delen met mede vrijwilligers en stagiaires
  • Heeft geduld en is flexibel: dingen lopen vrijwel altijd anders dan je zou verwachten
  • Is zelfstandig en neemt initiatief

pic9_volunteersDe 40 plussers en senioren zijn meer dan welkom bij Ready4Life! We hebben ervaring met deze doelgroep die al het een en ander hebben meegemaakt en een nieuwe uitdaging aan wil gaan. Je hebt  jarenlange ervaring en de nodige expertise. Deze bijdrage is van groot belang. In de sloppenwijken worden ouderen erg gerespecteerd en mensen vinden het leuk om met leeftijdsgenoten te praten. Je kunt desgewenst een kamer voor jezelf krijgen. Heb je nog meer wensen? In overleg is veel mogelijk.

Werkzaamheden

Als je vrijwilligerswerk in Zuid-Afrika komt doen krijg je als vrijwilliger van ons een uitgebreide introductie met adviezen over veiligheid, cultuur en de programma’s. We laten je de stad zien met de sloppenwijken. De eerste week is een soort snuffelweek waarbij je in verschillende programma’s mee kunt draaien. Daarna beslissen we samen met jou welk programma het beste past bij jouw talenten en ervaring.

Om je een idee te geven wat je kunt doen, hieronder een aantal mogelijkheden:

  • Samenwerken in een sloppenwijk met kleine kinderen die niet naar school gaan10012423_10151850524956653_1990766424_n
  • Jongeren begeleiden met diverse activiteiten, hierin kun je ook je eigen creativiteit kwijt
  • Lagere schoolkinderen die een leesachterstand hebben in kleine groepen helpen
  • Training geven in technische vaardigheden, zoals lassen, timmeren, metselen etc.
  • Meedraaien in een peuter- en kleuterklas in de sloppenwijken
  • Lesgeven en assisteren bij computer-, lifeskill- en Engelse lessen
  • Helpen bij het aanleggen van groentetuinen en het verbouwen van groente samen met lokale mensen

Afhankelijk van jouw talenten en wensen zoeken we samen naar het juiste programma.

Misschien wil je eerst een paar weken rondreizen in Zuid-Afrika, voordat je vrijwilligerswerk bij Ready4Life gaat doen. Je kunt dit zelf uitstippelen, maar wij willen je daar ook graag bij helpen. Daarnaast weten we  bijzondere plekken in Zuid-Afrika waar je niet snel als toerist zult komen!

Would you like to volunteer or do an internship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa? Then Ready4Life is the right organisation for you! We have projects in education, sports, care, engineering, ICT and technical skills. We can use everybody! Working for Ready4Life means helping children and youngsters in the disadvantaged parts of Port Elizabeth. You get an unique opportunity to get to know the South African culture: you work with locals and you get an impression of life in the townships. Ready4Life has a lot of  experience with interns and volunteers. Everybody is welcome. If you are 18 or 88 years old, it doesn’t make a difference.

`Internship / Volunteering

If you want to be an intern or volunteer at Ready4Life, there are some requirements:

 

  • Minimal age of 18;
  • You are interested in development cooperation;
  • You want to use your talents or develop new ones;
  • You love to work with people: adults/youngsters/children;
  • You like to start a new adventure;
  • You want to get to know a new culture: nothing is weird, just different;
  • You have a proper command of spoken and written English, ;
  • You are willing to share a car, house, bedroom with other interns and volunteers;
  • You are patient and flexible: things will work out differently than expected;
  • You are able to work independently and you like to take initiative.

Internship

Do you like to do an internship at Ready4Life? Awesome! Together we decide how to do your internship in South Africa within the requirements of your study. Read more about the possibilities.

Volunteering

Ready4Life collaborates with many organizations in Port Elizabeth which have a need for volunteers.  Helping out in shelter homes, clinics, primary schools and crèches; help is always welcome! Read more about the possibilities for volunteering.

Before you start to work as an intern or volunteer, we give you an comprehensive introduction about South African culture, including tips about safety. We show you the city and the townships of Port Elizabeth. Click here if you want to have more practical information about internships or voluntary work.

Stage

Do you want to do an internship with Ready4Life? Awesome! Together we decide  how to do your internship in South Africa within the requirements of your study. Some possibilities are:

  • Teaching: You are placed at a primary school. You will teach a class or a small group of children with learning problems.
  • Social work: You are placed at a primary school to work with children with behavioral or learning problems. You will talk to teachers, parents and children to try to find a solution.
  • Social & community work: You collaborate with a school or you work in a township with a local as supervisor. There are many possibilities for your internship: you can start a small scale training project for girls, set up prevention campaigns, do family coaching and much more.
  • Sport management: you will participate in our swimming program. You can also organize sport activities at schools Ready4Life collaborates with.
  • Health Care You do an internship at a school clinic and help the school improve the health of the school children. This internship can be combined with working in a state clinic where you can practice other competences.
  • Handy men/women: most projects can use help of people with experience in building or other practical skills. Besides this, we are setting up courses in carpentry, welding and masonry. Handy (wo)men are also needed for the Smart School Network project. To install antennas and cables e.g.. Knowledge of ICT is not required.
  • ICT: You are going to work at Ready4Life’s IT department on the Smart School Network. Or help with server management and the development of content for interactive programs or apps. Setting up antennas and working on the physical network or repairing computers and installing a computer lab, may also be part of your work. If you like to help and you are a handy (wo)man, don’t hesitate to apply! Even if you are not an IT expert. We can use all the help we can get!
  • Research: You can do research in subjects like: unemployment, behavioral problems of children in the townships, interactive learning via internet and much more.
  • Marketing, Communication, PR, business and project management: You can do your internship in the Research and Support Centre of Ready4Life. You are part of the organization and you can organize events. There is also the possibility to help micro companies in the townships with sales and marketing.
  • Event management: Every 4 months Ready4Life organizes a Study & Career Expo, where unemployed youngsters and high school students can get information about their further education. This event can be your responsibility. Another possibility is to organize a fundraising event in Port Elizabeth or in the Netherlands! There are also events to be organized for the SwimSafe project.
  • Creative education: To make youngsters aware of their talents in theater and arts, you can work with one of our partner organizations like the Savoy Theatre.

 

If you want to know more, click on projects. You don’t find your study in the list above but you would like to do an internship at Ready4Life? Send an e-mail to info@ready4life.org. Together we will find an internship that will suit you within the mission and vision of Ready4Life.

 

Are you interested in an internship with Ready4Life? Sign up now!

Voluntary work

Ready4Life collaborates with many organizations in Port Elizabeth that are in need of volunteers. Helping out in shelter homes, clinics, primary schools and crèches; all help is welcome! Some possibilities are:

  • Helping township children that aren’t going to school,
  • Organizing activities for youngsters,
  • Working with drop-out children and teach them the basics of reading and writing,
  • Remedial teaching; helping children with a learning or reading backlog,
  • Giving courses in technical skills like carpentry, welding and masonry,
  • Helping out in a crèche or care center,
  • Giving swimming lessons,
  • Helping out in elderly care,

 

Experience and expertise

People above 50 and seniors are more than welcome at Ready4Life! You have a lifelong experience and a lot of expertise which can be very useful for children and youngsters. Your contribution is of great value! In the townships elderly people are well respected. These people like to talk to people of their own age. You can have a room of your own if you prefer. Do you have other wishes? There are a lot of possibilities.

Do you want to know what contribution you can make? Take a look at our projects.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@ready4life.org. Together we will find a project that suits you.

Do you want to sign up as a volunteer ?  Click here!