FAQ
What Type Of Placement Can I Have?
We have many different types of placements. For example, you can teach English or any other subject you have knowledge of or expertise in, including French and German, or academic subjects like Maths, Biology, Computers and IT, or Sports, Drama and Music. You can do a Conservation placement working with Rhinos, Elephants, marine life or a variety of other animals, or involve yourself in a botany project. You can also do a work experience placement in many different fields, such as journalism (newspapers, radio and TV), medicine, law, tourism, veterinary medicine and lots more.
We have many different types of placements. For example, you can teach English or any other subject you have knowledge of or expertise in, including French and German, or academic subjects like Maths, Biology, Computers and IT, or Sports, Drama and Music. You can do a Conservation placement working with Rhinos, Elephants, marine life or a variety of other animals, or involve yourself in a botany project. You can also do a work experience placement in many different fields, such as journalism (newspapers, radio and TV), medicine, law, tourism, veterinary medicine and lots more.
Are Volunteers Placed Individually Or Together??
This entirely depends on the project and location you choose to work in. For example if you decide you would like to teach in Turkana there might be a good chance you will be the only volunteer there in comparison to a school in Nairobi or Mombasa. If you request to be with other volunteers we can arrange this but usually projects and home stays will arrange the meet ups for you.
This entirely depends on the project and location you choose to work in. For example if you decide you would like to teach in Turkana there might be a good chance you will be the only volunteer there in comparison to a school in Nairobi or Mombasa. If you request to be with other volunteers we can arrange this but usually projects and home stays will arrange the meet ups for you.
What Is Included In The Price?
Basically everything excluding your flight and your insurance. Prior to your arrival in your desired country you will have paid a fee which will cover you for your accommodation, food & drink, transport and your project fees. All ancillary activities you wish to participate in will be funded by yourself. If you feel obliged to offer a donation to your desired project this usually comes in the form of food or materials for use at the project rather than hard cash.
WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO DO VOLUNTARY WORK?
Sub Saharan doesn't receive any type of funding or help from any governmental institutions. We financially support the new research into finding more and more projects overseas for volunteers to go and help out in ourselves. The costs involved include running the placements and advertising the company to help share the awareness with you. Volunteers gain the opportunity to live and work in areas you would not usually be able to access as a traveller. These experiences would also not be made possible unless you were volunteering. Participating in a voluntary placement gives the projects and host families the opportunity to live and work with you at no cost to themselves which is essential and, in return you gain one of the greatest experiences of your life.
Basically everything excluding your flight and your insurance. Prior to your arrival in your desired country you will have paid a fee which will cover you for your accommodation, food & drink, transport and your project fees. All ancillary activities you wish to participate in will be funded by yourself. If you feel obliged to offer a donation to your desired project this usually comes in the form of food or materials for use at the project rather than hard cash.
WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO DO VOLUNTARY WORK?
Sub Saharan doesn't receive any type of funding or help from any governmental institutions. We financially support the new research into finding more and more projects overseas for volunteers to go and help out in ourselves. The costs involved include running the placements and advertising the company to help share the awareness with you. Volunteers gain the opportunity to live and work in areas you would not usually be able to access as a traveller. These experiences would also not be made possible unless you were volunteering. Participating in a voluntary placement gives the projects and host families the opportunity to live and work with you at no cost to themselves which is essential and, in return you gain one of the greatest experiences of your life.
Where & Who Will I Live With?
This depends entirely on your project. If you find yourself working within a town or city it is more than likely you will be assigned a host family to live with, which is a great experience to gain, living with a local. However if your project is in a more remote region you will find yourself in a guest house or for example in a national park with a park ranger or a wardens premises on site
This depends entirely on your project. If you find yourself working within a town or city it is more than likely you will be assigned a host family to live with, which is a great experience to gain, living with a local. However if your project is in a more remote region you will find yourself in a guest house or for example in a national park with a park ranger or a wardens premises on site
How Long Do Placements Last?
Sub Saharan Adventures prides itself on its flexibility. We allow you the freedom of choice when it comes to our placements. You choose when you start and the length of your placement. Placements can last from two weeks upwards, with a maximum of one year. We have found the most popular length to be between 3 and 6 months.
Sub Saharan Adventures prides itself on its flexibility. We allow you the freedom of choice when it comes to our placements. You choose when you start and the length of your placement. Placements can last from two weeks upwards, with a maximum of one year. We have found the most popular length to be between 3 and 6 months.
What Qualifications Do I Need?
On most of our programs you don't need any formal qualifications. There are however one or two exceptions.
TEACHING: If your teaching a language such as English, you don't need a TEFL or any other formal qualification but you do need to be fluent in the English language and have a reasonable standard of grammatical correctness.
CONSERVATION: You don't need qualifications for most of our Conservation projects, just an enthusiasm to work with the people and the animals
WORK EXPERIENCE: For projects that include law or medicine you need to be studying or working in that subject to have a good understanding.
On most of our programs you don't need any formal qualifications. There are however one or two exceptions.
TEACHING: If your teaching a language such as English, you don't need a TEFL or any other formal qualification but you do need to be fluent in the English language and have a reasonable standard of grammatical correctness.
CONSERVATION: You don't need qualifications for most of our Conservation projects, just an enthusiasm to work with the people and the animals
WORK EXPERIENCE: For projects that include law or medicine you need to be studying or working in that subject to have a good understanding.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Participate In A Program?
People of all ages are welcome, from 17 to 70. Most of our volunteers tend to be between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, but we also have people of a retired age who feel they can come and make an impact on local people & communities. People who have taken career breaks to come and volunteer have also benefited enormously.
People of all ages are welcome, from 17 to 70. Most of our volunteers tend to be between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, but we also have people of a retired age who feel they can come and make an impact on local people & communities. People who have taken career breaks to come and volunteer have also benefited enormously.
Do I Need To Speak The Local Language?
No, you don't. Very few of our volunteers know how to speak the local African languages before they arrive. However it is an advantage to learn a few basic words and phrases before you arrive, but is certainly not necessary to be fluent, especially since a lot of Kenyans, Tanzanians and Malawians speak English
No, you don't. Very few of our volunteers know how to speak the local African languages before they arrive. However it is an advantage to learn a few basic words and phrases before you arrive, but is certainly not necessary to be fluent, especially since a lot of Kenyans, Tanzanians and Malawians speak English
What Happens On Arrival?
You will be met on arrival at the airport by one of our representatives on the ground. You will usually be taken to your accommodation to relax. Depending on the time of your flight you will be given an introduction to the country and the area you will be staying and working. When you are comfortable in your new environment you will be taken to your assigned project to meet your co-workers. From the moment you arrive until you leave YOU will dictate the pace for an all round great experience. The approach by our ground staff is very informal and relaxing.
You will be met on arrival at the airport by one of our representatives on the ground. You will usually be taken to your accommodation to relax. Depending on the time of your flight you will be given an introduction to the country and the area you will be staying and working. When you are comfortable in your new environment you will be taken to your assigned project to meet your co-workers. From the moment you arrive until you leave YOU will dictate the pace for an all round great experience. The approach by our ground staff is very informal and relaxing.
Are The Countries Safe?
All the countries that we send our volunteers to are stable, if they weren't then we wouldn't send you over there. However with every country issues do arise and that is why we are in constant contact with the foreign office and liaising with our representatives in our represented countries for constant updates. If unforeseen circumstances do arise we will arrange your immediate removal from the situation.
As far as crime is concerned as long as you don't go looking for trouble you probably won't find it. Crime isn't much different in these countries in comparison to the western world so as long as you are sensible and listen to our representatives advice you will be just fine.
All the countries that we send our volunteers to are stable, if they weren't then we wouldn't send you over there. However with every country issues do arise and that is why we are in constant contact with the foreign office and liaising with our representatives in our represented countries for constant updates. If unforeseen circumstances do arise we will arrange your immediate removal from the situation.
As far as crime is concerned as long as you don't go looking for trouble you probably won't find it. Crime isn't much different in these countries in comparison to the western world so as long as you are sensible and listen to our representatives advice you will be just fine.
