Volunteer Programme

We Need You!

In order to further the development of the Football Foundation of South Africa, interns and volunteers have become a vital cog in our operations. This volunteer opportunity exudes true passion by improving the lives of underprivileged children from the Gansbaai Community. We need you, and would love to for you to join our team, whether it be assisting the coaches on the pitch or administrative work in the office. Exposing the children to international sports coaching is priceless and we hope that you will be able to add to the overall quality of sports that is played on a daily basis.

The central role of an intern or volunteer is to help increase participation in different sports, but also to address issues of health, crime and social inclusion, often working with organizations such as health boards, schools, sports governing bodies and regeneration initiatives. You will work in partnership with the management of the FFSA to deliver these initiatives.

Sports

The sports programme that we provide is our golden ticket to showcase how sport can be a powerful vehicle to transform a community. Through our non-profit organization we have added a level of professionalism to sport in South Africa that has clear intentions of uplifting and integrating a rural community. In Gansbaai we train various age groups between ages 6-19 in soccer, hockey, netball and cricket, Monday through Friday from 14:00 to 18:00 all year round (except for a break over the Christmas holidays). We reach anywhere from 100 - 400 children on a daily basis through our activities. We have experienced full-time resident coaches in all sports, along with volunteers adding their expertise and enthusiasm. The children are able look at the coaches and volunteers as positive role models and mentors in a safe environment. Sport has a very special catharsis effect, when the children are here to play the sport they love, they are a) having fun whilst discipline and respect is cultivated, b) drawn away from mischievous activities in the streets and c) transported to a different world where any problems they might be facing at home become only a distant thought for the afternoon.

Education

We take as much pride in our educational program as we do in our sports because we feel an obligation to use another vehicle to greatly improve the quality of these children’s lives. We regularly have speakers from various organisations join us for key lessons on pertinent issues such as AIDS/HIV, personal hygiene, substance abuse etc. In addition we (coaches and volunteers) prepare our own educational lessons, volunteers are usually very creative and use a good mix of technology, audio visuals and music to host interesting lessons about their home countries, the sports they are coaching and anything the deem worthy to teach! We also encourage the children to speak as much English as possible, so the aim is to try to engage in as much conversation with them as the time permits.

Working as a Coach - Quick Facts

Volunteers coach sports teams for 2 – 4 hours per day, 5 days a week. Educational lessons take place every second Friday, and matches / clinics / tournaments take place every other weekend.
It is expected that the volunteer can lead a group and work well together with the other coaches.
Soccer, Hockey, Cricket and Netball currently forms part of the Foundation’s sports programme.
Apart from the sports programme educational lessons are planned by volunteers and presented to children of various age groups.
For chlidren and coaches it is most relevant that they can learn skills which will stay once the volunteer is gone; focus is on sustainability.
Accompany teams and individuals to matches, trips and trials.
Fetching children from the Masakhane Primary School for their sports programme – children have to be collected on foot and taken back to school.

Activities

FFSA offices are located on the 5-Star Grootbos Private Nature Reserve with beautiful panoramic views of Walker Bay (www.grootbos.com). Gansbaai’s natural, rugged and unspoilt beauty is breathtaking. From the spectacular cliffs of De Kelders to the miles of white sandy beaches of Pearly Beach, you will find one of the most unique and astonishing land-based whale watching spots in the word. Or onwards to Dyer Island where the Great White Sharks have drawn visitors from across the globe, hence Gansbaai having become known as the Great White Shark capital of the world. In the same vicinity just off Shark Alley, you will find an abundance of seals, being the hot spot restaurant of the great whites, not to mention the Penguin colony of Dyer Island. Visit www.gansbaaiinfo.com for more information about the area. Throw in a mix of horse riding, nature walks, trips to Hermanus and Cape Town, and you are set for the experience of a lifetime.