Introducing AVIVA. Volunteer. Ed Scott. In South Africa An experience of a lifetime. What do we do?

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1 Introducing AVIVA What do we do? Volunteer In South Africa An experience of a lifetime As an established volunteering organisation based in Cape Town, AVIVA is committed to supporting sustainable community, wildlife and conservation volunteer projects while providing international volunteers with a life changing experience in South Africa. AVIVA is widely regarded to be one of the world s leading volunteer organisations. We believe that volunteering promotes self-growth, cultural understanding, and provides you with a unique opportunity to really experience a country first hand. We only work with grass roots projects that have evolved to meet real needs in the local community - so you can be sure that you will be contributing your time to a worthwhile and rewarding cause, and can make a meaningful contribution to its growth and future well being. We have seen projects thrive with the cumulative contribution of volunteers over the years, enabling them to help more children, care for more wildlife and conserve more environments than would have been possible without your assistance. Although more than 70% of our volunteers are females aged between years old, we have hosted volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities volunteering is for everyone. Whilst some of our volunteers arrive with a friend, the vast majority travel to South Africa alone. Acting on feedback from volunteers has been an important part of our success, and over the years we have learned the main reasons why volunteers choose to arrange their volunteering experience with us, and why they are happy to recommend us to family and friends. As a volunteer with AVIVA, you can look forward to a warm welcome in South Africa, not only from our team, but also from other AVIVA volunteers, who already share a common bond with you. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful country, and to exceeding all your expectations. Yours Ed Scott AVIVA Co-Director THE AVIVA DIFFERENCE Since 2002, AVIVA have hosted volunteers from 16 to 72 years of age, from more than 50 countries, facilitated over 500,000 hours of voluntary service, and contributed many millions of Rands to a wide range of community, wildlife & conservation projects in South Africa.

2 Why Volunteer? Many volunteers decide to join us without thinking about what they will gain from the experience, but gain they certainly do. Volunteering in South Africa presents you with many beneficial opportunities for self-growth, improving your understanding of other cultures, improving your ability for tolerance and understanding of others, developing new skills and talents, gaining self-confidence and making new friends. Volunteering does that - there is no other type of travel experience that can match volunteering for these beneficial and far reaching effects. Personal growth is a hidden benefit that volunteers of all ages only become aware of during their stay, or when they look back on their experience and realise just how much they have achieved. As a volunteer in South Africa, you will be exposed to many more rewarding experiences than you would as a normal tourist, and all this while making a positive impact on wildlife & children that really need your help. Many previous volunteers have used their project time to help them decide on future career paths or areas of study, and in all cases, you will have a useful addition to your CV/resume which can help you stand above the competition. Without doubt, the vast majority of volunteers leave South Africa feeling that they have gained more from their experience than they have been able to give. In summary, some of the benefits you will receive through volunteering include: Making a direct contribution to a worthwhile cause An impressive and unusual addition to your Resume/CV An opportunity to discover your own hidden talents Developing character, confidence and abilities Seeing the world from a global perspective Meeting likeminded people from around the world Experiencing new cultures and lifestyle A great, fun experience, with lasting good memories A wide range of spare time activities An experience that goes far beyond tourism An excellent way to help decide on future study or career choices I highly recommend visiting South Africa through AVIVA and doing something very worthwhile that will stay with you for the rest of your life Cat Wilde 24 from the UK

3 Why South Africa? South Africa is the perfect volunteering destination offering a vibrant mix of culture, wildlife, warm & friendly people, sunshine, spectacular scenery, beaches and an endless variety of unique experiences and adventures to suit every taste and pocket. With a young and thriving democracy, South Africa is an exciting place to be, and as a volunteer you can play an important role in our ongoing transformation towards a better life for our children, the conservation of some of the world s most important habitats, and the care and rehabilitation of remarkable African wildlife. South Africa offers excellent value for money and whether it be relaxing in the wilderness, filling your days with adventurous activities, or enjoying great South African food and hospitality, you will never be short of things to do. For example - Table Mountain in Cape Town is one of the world's iconic landmarks - you can enjoy a stunning 2 hour hike to the top for FREE! In South Africa you can... See 'really wild' wildlife in their natural environment... Relax on spectacular beaches... Explore stunning landscapes unique to South Africa... Discover a mix of cultures old and new... Try shark cage diving, skydiving and the world's highest bungee jump... Drink water straight from the tap - we have the world's 3rd best rated drinking water... Feed your soul in an enriching social environment... See the night sky and millions of stars like never before... Reawaken your senses in wide open spaces with warm weather and blue skies...

4 What Can I Do? Join us in amazing South Africa and make a real difference to one or more of our rewarding Wildlife, Conservation or Community projects We have researched and evaluated a wide range of projects across the country to provide you with the best possible choice when it comes to selecting a project that closely matches your area of interest or passion. As a volunteer in South Africa, you can... Make a vital contribution to a world famous children s home... Track and monitor black rhino, cheetah & other endangered African wildlife, Help to introduce computer literacy and sports skills to rural Xhosa schools Rehabilitate oiled, sick & injured penguins at a leading marine centre... Explore Kruger Park on an adventure safari... Join the team at a Big 5 game reserve and help raise lion cubs... Learn to surf and pass on life skills to local youngsters......or choose from many other rewarding projects that are available throughout the year. Experience has shown us that by working in partnership with projects that are genuinely committed to their cause, we can provide you with a unique travel experience that not only matches, but exceeds your expectations. AVIVA volunteers leave their mark in South Africa, not only by dedicating their time and energy to their chosen project, but also through the positive contribution they make in supporting local businesses, tourism operators, craftsmen and women, and the many jobs that are created and sustained by purchases they make, and activities they take part in while they are here. So whilst you will have a direct affect on your project, your presence here will also indirectly affect the lives of many more people in South Africa. I went to South Africa to make a difference, to change someone s life, and I hope that I did. But what I didn t expect is how much my life would change as well. Volunteering at Masigcine Children s Home was the most rewarding and most impacting experience of my life, and AVIVA made it all possible Amanda Watchorn 21 from Canada

5 Great value - with lots of benefits If you have already researched your volunteering options, you will have found that many organisations provide a limited volunteering package, which will often leave you having to organise and fund accommodation on arrival, and arrange in-country transfers to reach their project. When you book a project with AVIVA, you can relax in the knowledge that you will not need to worry about having to find your own way around in a new country, and can instead look forward to enjoying your South African experience. No matter what time your flight arrives in Cape Town or Johannesburg, we will have someone to meet you at the airport. In addition to project briefings, every volunteer arriving in Cape Town receives a comprehensive welcome brief from a member of the AVIVA Team and full support throughout their stay. Many projects include the option to add a great range of AVIVA Tours in and around Cape Town, where you can enjoy the beautiful Western Cape as you are introduced to South Africa s diverse cultures, people and history before or during your chosen project. Our experienced tour guides are outstanding and will provide you with unique tours that go far beyond tourism. We also include all in-country transfers, accommodation, project fees, and depending on which project is chosen; meals, domestic flights, project related equipment, excursions, tours, training and project orientation. You will find details of benefits included with each project on our web site detailed project information sheets can also be downloaded from each project page on our web site. After months of research, no other project or organisation could even compete and I am so happy that I made the choice that I did Lisa McAllister 24 from the USA

6 Cape Town South Africa Personal attention & in-country support Because your welfare is important to us, we have invested in dedicated and passionate staff to make sure that we can provide you with the best possible experience - AVIVA now has the largest and most experienced volunteer support team in South Africa - no other organisation provides the depth of support or attention to detail that we do. We also maintain our own volunteer accommodation in Cape Town, with standards that far exceed any volunteer accommodation in Africa or beyond. With full-time Volunteer Coordinators and Housekeepers, both our houses provide a safe, clean and comfortable home from home for our volunteers. Our experienced Volunteer Coordinators can help you with organising things to do, getting you to a doctor if you become ill, booking exciting overland trips to explore the rest of Africa, and advice on just about anything else you need during your stay. Their local knowledge will be invaluable while you are learning to find your way around, and in the unlikely event that you find yourself in any difficulty, it s reassuring to know you will always have someone to call on. The entire AVIVA team is resident in South Africa. Not only does this provide peace of mind for you, it also ensures that no matter where you are, you will be able to contact us quickly and can rely on that depth of support to assist you. The value of this is often overlooked until it is actually needed. At AVIVA, we take your safety and well being very seriously, and have over seven years of experience looking after volunteers of all ages, the majority of whom have never been overseas before arriving in South Africa. Without exception, every one of our volunteers has returned home safely after volunteering with us. From start to end, you really helped make me feel at home in South Africa for 3 months! Joyce Kuijper 23 from the Netherlands

7 SOME INTERESTING AVIVA FACTS AVIVA Projects are available all year round No previous experience is required 83% of AVIVA volunteers are female! 70% of our volunteers are aged between 16 and 25 years Our eldest volunteer (so far) was 72 years of age AVIVA have hosted students, teachers, nurses, pilots, doctors, vets, retirees, policewomen, social workers and volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds... Quick response to your enquiries One of the first things you will notice with AVIVA is that we don t like to keep you waiting. Our busy Cape Town team work hard to ensure that you receive replies to your applications and enquiries by the next working day if not sooner. We will provide you with simple guidelines and useful information to help you prepare for your trip to South Africa, and if you have any questions or need advice on anything before you travel, you will be more than welcome to contact us at any time by phone, , or the free online chat facility which is available on our web site.

8 MyTrip - Our Personal Trip Planner AVIVA is the only volunteer organisation that provides a free personal trip planner for volunteers. MyTrip will help you to prepare for your volunteering adventure, and includes a personalised 'To Do list' which shows everything you need to do, along with recommended dates to help you plan. Items on the list are automatically ticked off as they are completed, so you can quickly see what's left to do. You can logon to MyTrip at anytime and use it to: Check your full detailed itinerary Check recommended arrival & departure dates... Approve your quote & payment schedule... Update your personal information... Update your travel details (when you have them!)... View useful information & maps... Make secure payments online... Order your complimentary AVIVA Fundraising Pack... Get in touch with other volunteers that will be in South Africa at the same time as you... Find out how to qualify for discounts, and much more... Planning your trip is easy with AVIVA Contact ex-volunteers As well as giving you the option of contacting new volunteers via MyTrip, AVIVA can also put you in touch with ex-volunteers too. You can them or even phone them for a chat about their experience. Please just ask and we will happily provide you with some contact details. AVIVA info@aviva-sa.com

9 Fundraising Assistance AVIVA provides comprehensive fundraising assistance for volunteers. Whether you would like to raise sponsorship towards the cost of your volunteering adventure, or would like to collect donations towards a project of your choice, our official Fundraising Pack will help you on the way. Your complimentary Fundraising Pack can be ordered via MyTrip, and includes everything below: Our Top 10 Tips for Successful Fundraising Some Great Ideas to Get You Started A Guide to Using the AVIVA Poster A Guide to Using the AVIVA Slideshow A Personalised Letter of Support to Show Sponsors Sponsorship Forms Project Fundraising Forms AVIVA Brochures AN AVIVA DVD containing... AVIVA Poster & Brochure AVIVA PowerPoint Slideshow AVIVA Photos, Videos, Maps & Useful Info Project Information Sheets Extra Fundraising & Sponsorship Forms Volunteering in South Africa is something everyone should do at some point in their lives. Volunteering with AVIVA though is a must Amy Duff 18 from Ireland

10 How can I get involved? Applying for a project is easy with AVIVA After visiting the AVIVA web site and choosing a project that s right for you, you can apply online by completing our simple booking form. You will receive an from us by the next working day or sooner confirming that your placement has been reserved. You can then logon to MyTrip to check that you re happy with everything before making a small deposit to confirm your placement. Your remaining balance only needs to be transferred 4 weeks or more before you arrive in South Africa, which gives you plenty of time if you want to do some fundraising. Four simple steps to book your experience of a lifetime Visit 2. Make a no-obligation application with AVIVA s simple online booking form. 3. We will reserve your placement and a unique MyTrip username and password to you. 4. When you are happy with everything, you can secure your placement with a small deposit. An example of how you can contact other volunteers with MyTrip