James Rogers – International Placement “5 Weeks Wasn’t Enough”

In February 2014 I made the decision to look at an international placement. I didn’t know where or when I wanted to go or even if it was right for me. I’d heard about people having a really good time on these sorts of volunteering trips but I was a little bit sceptical of the benefits a project like this could actually offer to a community such as the ones I would find myself working in, in the Nelson Mandela Bay area of Port Elizabeth. 

I travelled to South Africa for my placement in July, planning to volunteer for five weeks, travel from our base in PE down to Cape Town and fly home. In a team of around forty, the volunteer base was a busy place. Male and female dorms were separate but everyone still saw each other all the time in what are very social communal areas. All accommodation was basic but not extensively so. Hot, running water, dormitory style rooms with bunk beds and some storage space. What was really great about the accomodation was the family-feel it created amongst the volunteers, which would become so important to the trip as a whole. 

Our induction was thorough and definitely worth the time. We spent a couple of days getting to know each other and becoming comfortable with the living space. There is a small bar at the bottom of the volunteer base where we would chill out in the evening, sit around a fire and listen to music. There’s also ping pong and pool tables there too. It was easy to get to know each other as there are so many great areas in which to socialise and have a laugh. In those early days we practised coaching and working in the groups that we would be working in. That was valuable experience and helped a great deal with the early sessions.

As the weeks went on, we became more assured in our coaching. We grew in confidence and  began to gel as a team. So much so, that despite the fact that I had signed up to coach Hockey I tried my hand at a bit of basic football coaching which was great fun. As it happened, quite a few of us wanted to try coaching different sports and it was fairly easy to swap around, so long as everyone had equal opportunity to do so and the kids were still getting the most possible from the sessions. It was very much something that we were trusted to organise amongst ourselves.

Most nights were fun-filled, there was always something going on. Tuesdays is Karaoke at Barney’s Tavern or Beer Pong at the Boardwalk Casino and Wednesdays we would go to the sports hall for Netball or 5-a-side football. On thursdays we would often have a match against a local sports side. Whether it be Netball, hockey, football or Rugby and whether you were spectating or playing it was always good to play and support.

The weekends were often packed. The Rugby lads would usually have a game, so we could go and support them or just chill out in the base or at the beach. There was the market on the seafront or a couple of good malls also. We were allowed to plan our own excursions at the weekends so long as it never impacted our attendances at coaching sessions. The staff at the base are experts in what to do around Port Elizabeth and down the Garden Route. They know the best and the cheapest ways to do things. It’s feasible to visit Cape Town from PE so some people opted to do that. They rented a car between seven people  and set off on the Friday after coaching, came back on the Sunday night. It’s a lot of driving and it is better if you can get the Monday free too. We drove to Cape Town once the placement was done, stopped off in Jeffrey’s Bay, Bloukrans Bungee jump, shark cage diving at Hermanus, Wine tasting in Stellenbosch and then into Cape Town for the markets, bars and Lion’s head which is a great climb.

Towards the end of the placement, as people started to think about packing up to go home, we realised just how much we were going to miss it once we had left. Altogether I think we had three separate leaving dos and we all agreed that the trip had been incredible. An undeniably good time but also a very moving experience. I’ve made friends I hope to be in touch with for the rest of my life. I can’t recommend doing this highly enough. If I had one complaint it would be that I did not pay for a long enough stay. I could have volunteered for another 5 weeks- no problem!!