What You Get
On receipt of your application it will be verified by the project coordinator for that country who will then liaise with you about your placement. Once the details have been sorted and you are happy about your placement, documentation about the country and placement will be sent to you to set the ball in motion. Remember if there is anything you want to ask don’t hesitate and send us an email so we can put your mind at rest.
As your departure date gets ever nearer we will forward you details of where you will be staying and who you will be staying with. We will forward you this information so your friends and family will also be able to stay in contact with you for the duration of your project. We also aim to situate volunteers near each other and if possible get you on the same flights together so you have a chance to meet likeminded people before you set off on your adventures.
'Book A Project Today'
- On receiving your application we will send you all the documentation you require including detailed information on your work, destination country, arranging flights, visas and everything else you will need to take with you
- You will receive a 'welcome pack' and a 'how to keep safe guide' ensuring you are well prepared for your travels
- A Sub Saharan representative will meet and greet you at the airport and welcome you to their country.
- You will receive an induction tour around the local city/town you have chosen to work in, aswel as a guide to the local culture and traditions, i.e. what to do and what not to do.
- All food and accommodation for your placement (unless otherwise stated)
- All transport needs for travel to and from the projects (unless otherwise stated)
- We will maintain contact with you throughout your placement time and also with our host country representative to keep up to date with your progress.
Food will be provided for you whether you are staying with a host family, or with other volunteers. Food is usually cooked for you by a house help, alternatively you are taken out to local restaurants and eateries. If food is not cooked for you, you will be given a budget and you can go out and buy food for yourselves within that budget. The budget is always sufficient to cover basic meals, but won’t cover optional extras like beer and wine and expensive foods; however these commodities are usually fairly cheap in Sub Saharan Africa. Food is all part of the travelling experience; you will get to sample food that you have never tried before. Eating out in these countries tends to be almost as cheap as eating in sometimes. If you do have any food allergies or are vegetarian this will be taken into account in your application process.
Accommodation
Unless otherwise stated food and accommodation is included in your placement fee. The standard and type of accommodation can vary with the location of the project. The accommodation stems from rural and basic to really quite luxurious in some places. In each case a member of the Sub Saharan team has given the all clear that it meets the requirements and standards for volunteers to be situated there. Sub Saharan uses a few different forms of accommodation. Host families are a great option as this allows you to live within the local community and experience how an African family really live. Most families will adopt you into the household and make you feel like a valued member of their family. Other options are living on the project sites, in dormitories at schools or in locally run guest houses sometimes courteously of the projects and sometimes as it is just the nearest available option. In some conservation projects volunteers live in tents on site or sometimes even in the guest suites. The whole accommodation situation completely depends on what project you are doing and where you will be geographically located.
Transport
In some of our project countries your project fee includes your transport to and from your placement on a daily basis. In Kenya, this is the case. In Tanzania we supply the transport to your placement from Dar es Salaam. Unless otherwise stated you will pay for the transport to and from your placement thus why the costs for Tanzania are cheaper. Local transport cost approximately 20pence, 40 US cents a day. All other countries include transport unless otherwise stated.
Project Development
In order to guarantee that we are constantly supplying the best quality volunteer experiences, as well as giving as much as we can to the projects in the form of volunteers and donations; we invest a lot of time and money into the projects development. We have constant staff visits to the projects to check on volunteers and work with the organisers on how best to take the project forward, as well as informing the UK staff on any updates.
Promotion
A proportion of your money goes towards the website maintenance and the constant updating that needs to be done. Also other promotional activities including Gap fairs and travel events and also staff travel to worldwide destinations to promote the company.
The support from our UK based staff begins the moment we receive your booking reserving a placement. We have an excellent support network that will help and support you through the booking process and whilst you are out on your projects. They can help answer all of your questions as all are well travelled and have participated in volunteering projects before so know exactly what you are looking for.
From the word 'Go' we will assist you with your travel plans from arranging your travel dates to coincide with other volunteers. We will also give you an idea of what to take with you on your adventures. Whilst you are on your project we will keep in constant touch with you and we want you to keep us updated on what you are up to and your plans to travel if the case maybe.
Many volunteers keep in touch with us long after their placements have ended to keep us informed of what they are getting up to in their lives and also how volunteering has changed their lives.
Support From Our Overseas Staff
We have outstanding overseas staff who are there to assist you with any way shape and form. They are contactable 24hrs a day, but remember they do have to sleep as well. We are in constant contact with them and there is constant liaising going on concerning volunteers, project placements and any other issues arising within the country. They are there to give you help and support concerning your placement, the country and the local customs and traditions and also the practical aspects of living abroad. The knowledge is invaluable and should be listened to regarding places to visit, the correct and incorrect prices of goods and also how to get off the beaten track.
Project Placement
Before you go on your placement there is information that we will be sending you to help you out. You will be given;
- Contact Information - The numbers and addresses of our overseas staff in their respective countries alongside your hosts contact information (if applicable)
- Your Placement - You will be sent relevant information regarding you placement including info on flights, visas and also further travel opportunities
- Your Project - We will be sending you all the information you require about your individual project
- The Country - You will be receiving information on the country you will be visiting including town and city details, local cultures and traditions and where to travel within the country
Your Arrival
Upon arrival you will be met by a Sub Saharan representative at the airport. Even if you are an experienced traveller we believe it is always important to be met in a foreign country by a friendly face. It can sometimes be very daunting turning up in a foreign country not knowing anybody.
Once you have settled down and are comfortable in your surroundings you will be taken on an induction of the local area so you will be able to grasp your bearings. You will be shown where all the local amenities are including banks, shops, supermarkets, post offices, local transport stands.... the list goes on.
Things You Should Know
- Occasionally and without warning activities and duties within placements can change, as this is out of our control there is nothing we can do. However in this occurrence alternative activities will be implemented to cover the original placement.
- Your attitude is the most important thing you are going to take with you. You get out of the placement what you put in.
- As you are travelling to another country you have to adapt to the local cultures and traditions. This basically means if the trains and buses are not running on time you will have to adapt and use your initiative. Unfortunately Sub Saharan cannot be held responsible for the delay of public transport, internet and phones not working correctly and local bureaucracy of the country. Annoying i know but hey, this is why you have chosen a placement in another country.
- You must use your initiative, have a good patience threshold and most importantly a great sense of humour and you will get on just fine
We can help you out booking your travels starting with your flights, but ultimately you will have to book them. However when we send you our information pack to you it will have the best airlines and best deals for you to take advantage of! We will be in constant contact with you over this as we will be liaising with other volunteers to arrange for you to travel together to your desired country. With your consent we will also exchange your details with other volunteers so you may chat or even meet up before you embark on your adventure. Most volunteers will also plan on travelling once they have completed their travel and even meet up if they are located together at weekends and have a good time together whether it’s relaxing on a beach or partying the night away. If you want to be away from this out in the rural areas this can also be arranged as well.
Passports
Now your passport is the single most important document you will take away with you, first and foremost you won't get much further than the airport without one. Below are a few pointers to make sure you have all your details in check.
- Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure as this is a standard requirement in most countries
- If you are applying for a new passport you will require evidence of your birth certificate or driving license
- Photocopy your passport details and leave a copy at home and take another with you, in case the dreadful happens and you lose it, at least you will have a backup
- Always remember to report lost or stolen passports to the local authorities or to your countries embassy.
Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality and the country you intend on travelling to.
There are a number of things to take into consideration when applying for a visa;
- You must check the period of time the visa is valid for and decide if you are going to leave and return back to that country. You must plan this into your schedule.
- Check to see whether the country allows multiple entry before it expires, this may affect your decision to travel further afield.
- Make sure your passport has at least one blank page as some countries have made this a requirement
- It is good practice to check with the countries embassy whether or not you can purchase the required visa at the point of entry to the country. http://www.projectvisa.com
Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for volunteers. We have a few recommendations of which policies we think are the best value for money. It is advisable to take insurance out as soon as you begin payments as this will protect you if you were to unable to travel due to unforeseen circumstances.
We have teamed up with Travel Insurance Guide to help offer you the best deals on Travel Insurance. Insurance is an important part of you trip so it's important to get it right. To get the best insurance quotes today please visit Travel Insurance Guide
You will never have experienced anything like this. Volunteering in a foreign world will give you feelings and emotions you never knew you had in you. You have been given the opportunity to help change lives and even communities. This is not something you get the privilege to be a part of everyday. You will experience an entirely different way of life and culture it's truly astounding. Not only that but you will learn a great deal about yourself and how you will be able to cope with entirely new situations. Volunteer placements have changed the lives of so many people. Time and time again ex volunteers travel back to visit the projects they spent their time at and the country they fell in love with. We call it the 'African Bug'. Not only will this experience have a life changing effect on you, the community and your work colleagues will also benefit profoundly. The interaction of the two very diverse cultures enhance the local community's way of life we have seen it time and time again.
Volunteer Feedback
''Wow this place was truly special. Just being with all these children was incredible!!!. The children were wonderful and I had so a great time looking after the children espcially the babies. The rehabilitation centre was truely wonderful for me as I had a chance to help kids who were abandoned at birth and to see them smile was one of the best moments being there for me.'' (Claire Dawson, Kenya 2009)
''This was an excellent project as i am training to be an occupational therapist back home. This gave me a great insight into the way other countries tackle situations concerning these children. I have learnt a lot of skills and will take them back with me. Keep up the good work!!'' (Tom Ashwood, Tanzania 2010)
''I had a wonderful time teaching at the New Life School. It is basic there and really gives you a wonderful chance to see how the poorer people in Africa live. I have lots of pictures of the kids that i have shown all my friends and family at home. I had a great time in Uganda and want to visit more of Africa now, Kenya next!'' (Tamara Isherwood, Uganda 2008)
''Meals were excellent, very comfortable, gorgeous house and surroundings. Great fun and good hospitality. Well organised, lots of work for volunteers to contribute. Had a great time. Would like to stay longer, really enjoyed all of the activities, especially the close contact with the Elephants and Rhinos.. a real privilege. Fantastic hospitality all around. Thank you all!! '' (Hayley Middleton, Zimbabwe 2009)
''I had an excellent time at Kaps School and in Malawi, It was not how i expected it at all! I think i have the African Bug i will going back as soon as i have the money, everyone should be given the opportunity to travel around Africa like this'' (Darren Collins, Malawi 2009)
''If you are interested in journalism then this is a great project to do. I did it to improve my CV and learn a bit more about the business but I found out so much more. It is one thing writing for a paper in the UK, but quite another for one in Kenya! I had so much fun, learned a lot and built up a good source of contacts. It was definitely worth it.'' (Patricia Billings, Kenya 2010)
''This was great for me, i love working with kids and all of them were the sweetest little things. The orphanage was a much better standard than i thought it was going to be, It is also not very far from the centre of Dar es Salaam which makes it easy to meet up with friends and tour the city! I love Tanzania and definitely will be making another visit there!'' (Katie Miller, Tanzania 2009)
''This is a bad situation in Malawi as the people who don't have electricity use the forest as fuel for their energy. This has resulted in rapid deforestation. I did my bit and with a bit more teaching to the local people this situation can be turned around for the better. Malawi is a great place and not crowded with tourists yet so it nice to see a country unspoiled by mass tourism.'' (Mark Gonzalez, Malawi 2008)
''The meals were much appreciated as we were always hungry. We didn’t realize there would be so much to do here with so many different animals, so every day was fun and exciting and I learnt a lot about everything. Everyone was extremely friendly and even though we stayed only a short while it feels like months because we were able to settle in quickly and get to know the people and animals so well. I had a really great time.''(Charlotte Launder, Zimbabwe 2009)
*These are just a few testimonies of ex volunteers expressing their feelings about their personal experiences whilst on placements with us throughout Africa. Why don't you be the next person to join us on the experience of a lifetime!
'You Can Make A Difference'
