Africa | South Africa | Volunteer Sports Coaching | Basketball, Football, Swimming, Teaching

Coaching Adventures Abroad – Morten Schwabe

Hi I’m Morten and I travelled from Germany to volunteer with United Through Sport in South Africa. My three-month trip was the best experience of my life!

Of course, the main focus of the trip was working with the children. Most days, I was on the field coaching sports at various schools. As a coach you have flexibility in which sports you coach, so I was able to coach mainly football but swimming and basketball too once a week. Throughout my trip I even got to visit childcare and teaching, which gave me a well-rounded experience. During this time I formed incredible international friendships with other volunteers. Personally, I loved this as naturally my English skills improved.

From Sports Coaching to Travelling the Famous Garden Route:

In addition to working with the children, there are always social activities in the evenings, and excursions on the weekend. I had the opportunity to go on a safari, bungee jump, and also skydive. During the week, I made the most of my free time by playing 5-a-side soccer, going on nights out to the karaoke bar, and winning beer pong tournaments against locals.

Our accommodation in Port Elizabeth was perfect—just minutes away from the beach and surrounded by great bars, cafes, and restaurants. In my last week we went on a trip along the famous Garden Route, another amazing opportunity to participate in more life changing activities, and see new places in South Africa.

I can’t recommend this experience enough! If you’re considering it—just go for it!