Your school or organization can apply to be involved in this unique opportunity. We will select a rural school which you can sponsor or adopt as a sister or partner school. Our program and expertise in sending students and staff will make this a life changing experience.
This is an unforgettable South African Safari adventure and an opportunity to ‘make a difference’ in a local South African community.
Experience, Learn and Contribute
Gain accreditation for your Duke of Edinburgh Award
or CAS hours for your IB Program.
The TWI Program is an EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM 7-14 day PACKAGE that includes pre -departure workshop sessions, all meals and accommodation, Safaris, in-country transportation and program activities.
Group size minimum 10 From US$2000
For 2010 -11 dates please contact us.
Contact; peterevans65@bigpond.com
Location of the photos below: Private Game Reserves in Mpumalanga, South Africa
Sample Activities:Game drives; bush walks, team building, and lectures on the environment.
A typical day will begin waking up in the Exclusive Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa enjoy an early morning game drive followed by a cooked breakfast. Then travel out into the nearby community working in a school or rural project for 2-3 hours, back to camp for a light lunch and leisurely afternoon. Before an unforgettable game drive, drinks at sunset across the African sky followed by dinner at Camp around the fire!!
Opportunities include a day in KrugerNational Park with a specialist guide and a second day learning about land management and conservation through hands on experience.The Program also includes community service activities in a local community or school. Your school is encouraged to “adopt’ a local community or school.
This is the vegetable garden at one of the primary schools where the year before we had connected water to the site.The school now is able to grow and sell vegetables to the parents of the school!
Testimonial: 14 students, 2 teachers and a lot of luggage boarded a plane to South Africa, stopping off at Mauritius along the way. With us we took computers and sporting equipment for the South African students to use to improve their lives and education. When we arrived in Johannesburg the very tired group was met by a six hour drive to the Sabi Sands game reserve. When we arrived in Alicecot, we were met by the friendly faces of the four ladies that would be caring for us for the next two weeks, Eliza, Cindy, Esther and Helen. These ladies took care of us like we were their own children. They tried to teach the girls how to cook so they could get good husbands, and they tried to teach the boys how to dance, but we failed. All the students were buzzing with excitement. We were assigned our rooms and four students were able to stay in tents.
In the morning we started our adventure to the high school in the back of a vehicle which had 14 students that were high on an adrenalin rush.
The students at the High School gave us a very warm and loving welcome and we started building strong friendships with them that will last forever. The principal of theHigh School, Jabu, was very welcoming and made us feel at home. He is a very hard working man but has a strong vision to see; all of the students graduate.
We were also able to spend time at the local kindergarten and primary school where we met up with one of the gap year students on a 3 months placement. While we were at the schools we were able to teach the students skills to use with the computers and teach them in subjects such as P.E and English. Over the trip we became close friends with a lot of the students, talking to them and telling them about Australia and our lives.
When we visited the primary school we were able to play games with the children,they taught us South African words and they listen to us intently while we read to them.
The time we spent at the school was life changing for all of us and we will never forget the experiences we had.
During the times we were not at the school, we had the opportunity to go on safaris to see the African wild life. We saw all of the big five (hippos, rhino, elephants, lions and leopards) and we saw many other amazing animals. We also saw some of the most amazing sunsets and sunrises in the world and all of the scenery was remarkable. Our driver was called Paddy. He is one of the nicest and funniest people we have ever met. He has a sixth sense on where to find animals and he is very knowledgeable about the wildlife so we all gained a lot of knowledge about Africa.
On the Sunday, we had the chance to go to two African churches. This was an amazing experience for all of us because it gave us an opportunity to see how the people can sing praises in perfect harmony without any backup music. Kerwin, spoke at both of the churches and Peter Evans offered a heart warming prayer. We also went to our safari driver’s house (Patrick) for lunch. When we arrived at the house, we were greeted by the whole village. It was like we were celebrities because there were so many children running up to us just so they could touch us. We had an enjoyable time playing with the children and mixing in with the towns people.
During the week we saw many groups of African dancers. This was amazing because it let us see some true African culture. Some of the dancers tried to teach us some African dancing but we all failed miserably.
On the last day,High School students and staff, held a fair-well assembly for us. This was very sad for us because none of us wanted to leave. We were treated to more dances and we vowed never to end our friendship with the school and the students.
As we leftHigh School for the last time, it was very quiet as we were coming to grips with the fact that we may never be able to see these children again.
As a group we felt we made a difference.
All of us have learnt and seen things that will change our lives forever.
We have become the closest of friends and we will always remember the African adventure we all experienced. We will never forget the tears, the trademark words (intense) and the hilarious things but most of all we will always remember the “dedication and experience” provided by the ‘TWI’.
