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READY,
SET, GO!
Once you have
registered and your trip to South Africa has been confirmed, our
team will send you detailed information on the area that you will
be working in and the kind of activities that you will be involved
in during your stay. You will also receive comprehensive advice
on what to pack and what medical issues you need to consider. A
fun guide on how to go about raising sponsorships for your adventure
will be sent in advance so that you can set about the important
task of raising the funds needed.
The information below is a rough guideline of the things that you
would need to consider in your preparations but see also our Traveller
Resources and other travel
programmes.
1.
Get to know your hosts
Get acquainted with South Africa, the charity that you will be working
for and the travel company that will be looking after you during
your stay in the country. You will be visiting a country very different
to your own, with a myriad of cultures and customs and a colourful
history and it is always useful to gain some insight into these
before your departure.
It is also important to get a basic understanding of the mandate
of the non-profit organisation that you will be assisting as well
as the challenges facing it and the communities that it serves.
Not only will this give you a sense of purpose, it will also assist
you in better communicating that purpose to potential sponsors.
2. Travel with ease
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Familiarise yourself with passport, visa and customs regulations
of your home country and destination country and ensure that
your paperwork is correct and up-to-date. Make copies of any
important documentation and leave them with an easily contactable
friend or family member in case you need to replace your originals. |
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Make sure
that you are covered with adequate travel insurance. |
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Ensure
that you have a secure, well-marked bag in which to pack your
luggage and know what your airline regulations are with regards
to the luggage weight as well as what goods are prohibited from
the cabin. |
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Leave the
contact details of your accommodation with a friend or family
member so that you can be reached if necessary. Carry the contact
details of your travel manager with you at all times whilst
in South Africa. |
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Ensure
that you have filled out all the information correctly on your
registration forms - we need this important information in order
to meet your needs whilst you are in our care and in case of
an emergency during your time in South Africa. |
3. Body
& mind
Whilst our volunteer programmes have been designed to accommodate
people of varying ages and fitness levels, we do encourage prospective
volunteers to do the following:
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Have any pre-existing medical conditions checked by your medical
practitioner and seek advice on the management of these whilst
you are in South Africa. Some conditions are exacerbated by
air travel and whilst this should not deter to you, it is important
to be fully aware of potential complications and how to treat
them. |
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Visit your
GP or local travel clinic for up-to-date information on vaccinations
that you may need, sun protection and malaria prevention (where
necessary). |
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If you
do not currently participate in an exercise programme, now may
be the time to consider some gentle activity that will help
your body to cope with the extra demands that you may be making
on it whilst volunteering. This will reduce the risk of strain
and enhance your enjoyment of the experience. Contact your medical
practitioner or local gym for advice. |
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Doing some pre-trip reading on your destination will go a long
way to preparing you for your experience. Whilst you are guaranteed
of a positive life-changing experience, you need to be aware
that you will be working in places that may be very unlike that
to what you are used to. In addition, you will be faced with
different cultures and the reality of poverty and social issues
that you may not have had to confront before. |
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4. Fundraising
Depending on whether you have organised a group of individuals yourself
or if your company is part- or fully- sponsoring your volunteer programme,
you may need to consider doing some fundraising yourself. Even if
your trip is fully subsidised by the company that you work for, you
may want to raise additional funds for the organisation that you are
supporting in South Africa, either before or after your trip. The
earlier you start the better and you will be surprised by how many
people will support you, admiring of the adventure that you are undertaking.
Your registration pack will suggest ways for you to do this.
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