Half-way through the weltwaerts volunteer service – time to reflect, learn more, plan forward and have fun. We hosted a mid-term seminar for our volunteers in South Africa and Kenya from 8th to 12th April, in Kleinmond, Western Cape, South Africa.
Read MoreArchive for category Volunteer
“In general, sport is able to bring the community together and teach skills like respect and acceptance.”
Simon is in Juja as a weltwärts volunteer for one year and supports PlayHandball’s partner organization “PendoAmaniYouthOrganization” on site. In the following interview, our volunteer Simon talks about his experience so far:
Read More“I feel that everything I do is very well received in the community, as I get a lot of positive feedback.”
Lars is in Darling as a weltwärts volunteer for one year and supports PlayHandball’s partner organization “Darling Outreach Foundation” on site. The Darling Outreach Foundation’s mission is to create educational opportunities and help improve the physical well-being of vulnerable children. In the following interview, our volunteer Lars talks about his experience after the first two months:
Read MoreAfter about one and a half years it is finally time again! Since the beginning of October, new volunteers with the weltwärts program are again on site at schools in Kenya and South Africa. “We are very happy that volunteers can support us again and that we are also allowed to resume work at the schools after the governments have relaxed the Corona restrictions,” says Nicola Scholl.
After a seminar of several days in the host country, everyone has also arrived at their assignment locations since a week ago. Whether in South Africa or Kenya, in the countryside or in the city, the enthusiastic helpers are on site for a year and support disadvantaged children and youth with and through handball. The Weltwärts program is an established federally funded program through which young adults help for a year abroad in a development context. (more…)
Read MoreThe current situation of volunteers in times of the Covid-19 virus: This year is a year of waiting and uncertainty for many volunteers who had planned a year abroad. Not only for the PlayHandball volunteers, the departure is postponed indefinitely and there is a great deal of insecurity as to whether, when and in what form they can go.
Since the end of April, no volunteers have been in the country, neither in Kenya nor in South Africa. Due to the worldwide current Covid-19 virus, the PlayHandball volunteers, who were on site at the time, had to return to Germany with the German government’s repatriation flights. “Actually my parents wanted to come and visit me in mid-March and we wanted to travel together. On the day of their departure, they decided against it because of the Corona situation. A few hours later, I found out that I had to return to Germany. It was quite painful for me. I wanted to see my parents again, but definitely not under these circumstances,” reports Laura, who suddenly had to leave her host country within two weeks. But even for the upcoming volunteers, who were supposed to start their service at the beginning of September, the situation has not been easy since then. (more…)
Read MoreA long weekend with discussion, reflexion and fun
The weltwärts volunteers had their midterm-seminar last weekend. The volunteers Maximilian and Laura are in South Africa since 6 month. Last weekend they met with the Play Handball director Nicola and project-coordinator Simphiwe to share their experiences so far.
Read More“Working here in Kenya is my biggest challenge so far with lots of ups and downs, but whenever things don’t go so well, I always keep the bigger goal in mind. Kenya is an incredible character building experience for me.”
Read the following interview to learn more about Léons experiences in Kenya.
Read More“The first few weeks were a great cultural challenge. Only little can be planned, because many things can always change quickly.”
Laura is in Cape Town as a weltwärts volunteer for one year. She supports the organisation PLAY HANDBALL in organisational tasks and works at three different primary schools in the afternoon. In the following interview she talks about her experiences after the first two months:
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