Experience:
Organisation:
Name: Abby
Hometown: St Ives, Cambs
Destination: South Africa
Project type: General teaching assistant
Organisation: Gap Activity Projects (now called Lattitude)
What were your impressions of your destination?
I saw a lot of South Africa as we could travel during the school holidays, during term time we stayed in the village in the zulu mountains on the border of Mozambique and Swaziland. It was a very cultural and moving experience.
Was the work interesting and challenging?
It was interesting and challenging, on the first day we had to teach 40 year 10 students geography, and then every day we would be teaching a new class, when we were not teaching, which was very rare we would be helping out in the office or library.
What was your accommodation like? Did you feel comfortable and welcome at all times?
At first we lived with one of the teachers in her little house, it was good that we lived here first as the area was very culturally different to what we were used to. We then went and lived with a Zulu family each, which was amazing and very moving as you lived like they lived and felt part of the family.
Were you happy with the organisation and the staff that were responsible for you during your stay?
I thought that the course in London before we went was very good, the orientation course when we arrived was also very good, however when in our placement I do not think that the staff from the organisation helped us much as we only saw the guy once.
Do you feel that you got value for money on the project?
Not to the full extent, as we did not get as much help when we arrived and GAP also did not pay the project to take us like we thought they did, and therefore I think part of the money we give should be given to the place where we are going.
Would you recommend the project to others?
Yes
