Scott Wilson Millennium School Project Mozambique

PURPOSE: Construction and Community work
DURATION: 1 month
COST: £1065 (exc flights) for 4 weeks

DEPARTURE DATES:  Volunteers will need to arrive in INHAMBANE airport (Mozambique) from the direct flight from Johannesburg on the following dates:
Team one:
Arrive: Monday May 5th 2008,  Depart: Monday June 2nd 2008
Team Two:
Arrive: Monday June 2nd  2008, Depart Monday June 30th 2008
Team Three:
Arrive: Monday June 30th 2008, Depart Monday July 28th 2008

For more information call Chris on 01444 474744 or email chris@questunderseas.com

APPLY NOW - download your application form here

Join SCOTT WILSONS’ Schools Project and help build a school for the community in Tofo, near Inhambane, Mozambique. The 200+ children currently have very little in the way of a school: a grass hut with no materials, chairs or desks. This project will give them a chance to have a school that will withstand storms, provide them with the space and infrastructure they need to make the most of their education and create a real opportunity for their future.

The area is developing rapidly in terms of tourism but this is not benefitting local people. To allow the community of Tofo to live off their resources in a sustainable and equitable way, the future generations will require access to better schooling, literacy and opportunity. Through the civil war and natural disasters of the past decade, the opportunities of a generation have been lost. The rebuilding process that Mozambique is currently undergoing, demonstrates huge potential for the future. You can be involved in providing just that: a chance for a bright future.

Not only is this a richly rewarding personal experience, but you will also be supporting essential community work and contributing to a better quality of life for the local children. You could also come face to face with magnificent Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Turtles and Reef Sharks as part of your optional weekend activities, or learn Portuguese with a qualified local teacher.

• Build a school for 200+ local children in need of access to a good educational environment
• Work alongside local people in the village of Tofo, Inhambane, Mozambique, and make a difference to their future.
• Relax with your team (after a hard days work) at \'Mango Beach’, an idyllic lodge situated in the dunes of northern Tofo
• Contribute to the responsible and sustainable management of the local environment, the associated tourism and the community’s role within it. 

You can volunteer for 1 month. The construction phase begins in May 2008 and will run until July 2008.

The Scott Wilson Millennium Project (SWMP) is a registered charity, focused upon the relief of poverty, hardship and distress among children in developing countries throughout the world. Scott Wilson make no profit from project activities, and at least 95% of all proceeds collected go directly to help children in the projects supported by the Scott Wilson Millennium Project.

Scott Wilson are building a school near a Quest Underseas marine conservation project site in Tofo. QUEST’s relations in the area go back seven years and their marine conservation project has been running since October 2006.

When applying to take part, you can choose to take part in May, June or July. Please remember that you must seek approval from your line manager to confirm that this time off is acceptable.  

Click on these title links to jump down the page;
Cost
Project Information
Expedition Life 
Who Else Is Going?
Why Choose This Project?
FAQs

COST

PROJECT CONTRIBUTION
The SWMP will pay £25,000 to build the school on your behalf.

PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION = £1,065 (excluding flights) for 4 weeks on the project site. Your personal contribution pays for the following:

• A UK-based training day before the group departs
• Access to a pre-departure information website
• Pre-departure support online and via phone
• 24 hour back-up from the UK, including 24 hour communication availability with leaders
• In-country orientation training when you first arrive
• All food for the duration of your stay
• All accomodation for the duration of your stay
• All in-country transport for the duration of your stay
• A full-time experienced QUEST leader and assistant leader fully trained to manage the group and project site
• Safety equipment and first aid kit, emergency contingency planning, continual risk assessments

We estimate the cost of flights to be around about £800, which is not included in your personal contribution above and will have to be organised by yourselves, assisted by QUEST and Scott Wilson.

Scott Wilson Employees volunteering will be covered by Scott Wilson’s Corporate Insurance.  Volunteers will have to use ten days of their leave, which Scott Wilson will then match with a further eleven days paid leave.
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PROJECT INFORMATION



The community school site is located to the north of Tofo village, near the Bamboozi community. All local people speak Bitonga, a local dialect of Inhambane and one of many indigenous languages. Portuguese is spoken nationally and would be of benefit to any volunteers joining this team.

Tofo desperately needs school facilities. The 200+ children currently study on a dusty cement floor with grass walls, they have no desks, chairs, books, bags or, pens and therefore the quality of their education could be vastly improved. We can make a difference out there – through improving the educational environment and giving them a school they can be proud of, working alongside local people for their children’s future whilst also providing a building available for community facilities outside the school hours.

This construction project is the first of its kind in the area. As development and tourism grows so does the threat to the natural environment.  Without educating the locals on the extraordinary natural resource available to them and how to manage it sustainably there is a serious risk of it being irreparably damaged or lost. This project will allow our volunteer groups to make a genuine difference to the area.

A positive future for Tofo requires genuine improvements to the educational resources available to the local children and this is the best way to have a positive impact. Our contacts and partnerships with local government and institutions means our work is supported fully by our in-country partners and will be supported by all partners in the long-term.

According to UNECSO, under half the adult population of Mozambique are literate. The rate of literacy in females is considerably lower. Only 41% of children complete a full course of primary schooling. This limits access to jobs and, together with severe rural poverty throughout the country, means that jobs in any sector other than farming, export agriculture or fishing are inaccessible.

By working on this project and joining our long-term comittment to Tofo, you will give these children an opportunity to learn to read, gain qualifications and have an opportunity of access to a better future. For the future of the region, especially facing the enormous developments through tourism, these children need to be involved in the future of their home and province. Education is the crucial first step.

 
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EXPEDITION LIFE

Accommodation – MANGO BEACH LODGE
You will stay to the North of Tofo, near ‘Bamboozi’, a small community set on top of sand dunes overlooking the sweeping white beaches and blue sea of Tofo Beach, and wake up every morning to the sound of waves breaking onto the shore. ‘’Mango Beach Lodge’’ is a 10 minute walk from the project site/ school and joined to the local community.

You will live as a team, including your Project Leaders. Your accomodation has central showers, flush toilets and communal kitchen facilities. There is plenty of communal space, including a restaurant, bar, and a small garden area to relax in - perfect for winding down after a day working at the project site.

You will share a cabana with 3 others from your team. The cabanas are set in an Ilala Palm grove known as the Cabana Village. Each Cabana has one large airy room with 4 single beds and a private veranda with hand crafted wooden table and chairs. There is a large central shower and toilet block with plenty of hot water. All Cabanas are fully serviced.
Cabanas are spacious 4 sleeper bungalows. Click here to view: (http://www.mangobeach.co.za/cabana.html)

Please note that Mango Beach Lodge is also open to other visitors, so you will also have the opportunity to socialise with other visitors to the area, if you wish.

Food
Breakfast and Lunch will be prepared in the fully equipped central kitchen. We will hire local labour to provide the lunch to make sure we are putting the maximum back into the community and ensure your experience is a genuine one. The central ‘’braai’’ (BBQ) area is a real treat on a Saturday night. Your dinner will be served in the restaurant at Mango beach every evening.

Your food will be bought from the local fishermen, markets and shops in Tofo, or be provided through Mango Beach. On weekends there will be opportunities to eat out in town or on the beach front and often community events will involve putting on food and drink for the locals involved in the project.

Example of your daily meals:
Breakfast: fruit, cereal, bread, eggs (even occasionally bacon), tea, coffee

Lunch: pasta or rice with vegetables, chicken, fish or matapa (a local dish with peanut and seafood). Bought from the local market or local providers.

Dinner: Locally caught fish with rice and vegetables served at Mango Beach.
An average week

What will I be doing?


Monday to Friday and sometimes Saturdays will be spent working on the construction of the school.

You will be up early (around 6.30 am) to help prepare breakfast in the communal kitchen. It’s then down to the project site for a full day’s work.

Typical work will include hand-mixing cement, carrying rocks and bricks, helping to brick-lay, learning how to plaster (African-style!), painting, putting in windows, doors and much more depending on what stage the school is at when you join your team. You will work alongside skilled Mozambican labourers who will show you how to carry out each of the tasks and help you!

The children and local community will be around the project site helping throughout the whole three months. There will plenty of opportunities to spend time chatting to them, playing with the kids, organisining impromptu games of football and learning much more about how these communities live and work and the many issues they face.  You will come away not only having made a huge impact on the future of the children from Tofu, but having learnt and understood a lot more about traditional African life.

Lunch will be served during the heat of the day and will be cooked on site or back at the accommodation and will be traditional Mozambican style food. We try to eat with the local community and skilled workers wherever possible.

When you are not working on the school project you are free to spend some time exploring the local environment and meeting community members. Evenings will be spent relaxing after a hard days work, chatting through any potential issues and making a plan for the following days work. Mango Beach Lodge is located on the edge of sand-dunes on Tofo Beach – the perfect place to watch the sunset with a cool beer!

Weekend Activities

Sundays and often Saturdays will be ‘days off’. You will have the chance to relax on the beach or take part in optional extra activities.

Diving and snorkelling in Tofo
Mozambique is reputed as having some of the best marine life in the world and on weekends there will be an opportunity to experience some fun diving or snorkelling and exploring the underwater world (not included in the cost).

Whale sharks
Whale sharks are gentle, non-aggressive plankton feeders that can reach up to 12m in length with average lengths of 8-9m. During November and March, numbers of whale sharks are high with up to 20 individual sharks being spotted during 30 minute boat journeys.

Manta Rays
Manta rays are permanent residents of some of the Mozambique coast. These poorly studied creatures can grow to over 6 metres (wingspan) and are incredible underwater. These peaceful animals have been fished to extinction locally in the Philippines and are threatened in many coastal waters including Mozambique. Quest are trying to assess the level of threat caused by diving tourism to these animals and sites.

Humpback Whales
These whales visit the area from June until October each year. The whales spend the preceding months in Antarctic waters feeding on large amounts of krill, before migrating up the east coast of Africa to mate and give birth.

Dolphins
Dolphins can be seen in Mozambican waters most of the year but June, July and August are very good months for sightings. There are various species of dolphins in this area including bottlenose, common and humpback dolphins.

Other Activities

If marine life is not your thing then there are other options from taking a dhow trip along the palm fringed coast, learning how to surfing, visiting a local market or horse riding. There will be time to visit the local market and small town of Inhambane, where you can take a dhow trip to one of the small offshore islands

Saturday night is set aside for a few beers at one of the local bars which stretch across the sand dunes along Tofo Beach. Watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean with a cool beer in your hand is hard to beat.

Sunday is a day of rest, where volunteers can relax, dive or kite surf on their own (not included in the project cost), or visit one of the local churches. This is definitely something to experience, even if you are not particularly religious, as the African singing and dancing is second to none!
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WHO ELSE IS GOING?

Scott Wilson Employees from all around the world! Your team will be up to 12 people of a variety of ages and backgrounds. Regardless of age or nationality, all volunteers have one thing in common – an enthusiasm for community based work, the dedication to spend time carrying out valuable development work and the desire to make a positive impact for children of Tofo, through the Scott Wilson Millennium Project.

For this project, all volunteers will be trained on site with the aid of local labourers and QUEST project leaders. You will spend time with the local community and skilled workers and learn a lot about village life and the culture of Mozambique.

Weather
Mozambique is a stunning country with a varied climate and seasonal changes.
SUMMER:  October - March
WINTER:  April – September

Mozambique Weather from April to September:
Cool and dry, a little rain is received in these months (less than 50mm a month for Maputo, Mozambique’s capital) and daytime temperatures on the coast range around 24° - 27° C, while in the interior temperatures are generally cooler (around 5° C lower). You can expect around 8 hours of sunshine a day with around 60% - 70% humidity for Maputo, the further north you travel you can expect these figures to increase. This is the best time to visit Mozambique. The water temperature is an average 21° C.
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WHY CHOOSE THIS PROJECT?

Making A Difference

Quest provides locally relevant projects, which involve and support local communities. Combining this ongoing project work with the rural develpoment project that Scott Wilson are funding through their charity means we can make a huge difference to the lives of local people.

Involving the local community is frequently not part of management plans, tourism initiatives or government development strategies: something we aim to change. Tourist operations involve huge set-up costs and, in developing countries, are therefore frequently foreign owned and operated, ignoring the needs of local people.

Scott Wilson volunteers can be assured of their positive contribution to the area through taking part in this project, which is already set in a long-term framework of support for the area, in terms of conservation and small-scale development.

Access to education and opportunity is a key problem affecting the livelihoods and environment throughout the developing world. With the first project of this kind in Tofo, you can really make a huge local difference.

The school can also be used as a site for workshops, training and community schemes. This would promote local involvement and facilitate our work with the community and Mozambican University students encouraging conservation of marine resources and fostering participation in management decisions.

The Problem
The current school in Tofo is a concrete slab with grass thatched walls. Without chairs, desks, books or pens the education the children recieve is lacking. Our contacts with the local school have meant we have installed a borehole, in March 2007, to provide clean drinking water. Providing schooling facilities and increasing access to education is the next aim.

The Solution
Scott Wilson volunteers will be working alongside local labourers to construct a school in line with the Ministry of Education’s standard school plans. Once complete, this school will offer over 200 children access to better learning conditions, opportunity and encouragement, which, combined with our long-term support for the project means a better future and the chance to be involved in management, conservation, tourism and development in a positive way that reflects local needs and aspirations.

Partner History
Quest have been diving in Mozambique for over 5 years and during that time have built up an amazing relationship with the local dive school and the community of Tofo Beach. We have all become increasingly concerned over the lack of research and management of the vulnerable marine life at Tofo. Quest Underseas have set up a much needed marine conservation project (running since October 2006) right in the heart of Tofo. However, we also knew that no conservation projects can be sustained without the support of the local community. It is obvious to us, that for any project to achieve, both conservationists and local communities must work hand in hand and see mutual benefits from any project work undertaken.

Local stakeholders
For the project to be successful there has to be full understanding and participation by local stakeholder groups including local town leaders, societies, and fishermen co-operatives. It is essential that the local people of Tofo see the direct benefit of the planned initiatives and so the project works directly with the relevant local authorities and organizations to ensure that they are involved at all stages and that their needs are integrated into the design of the programs.

 
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are my flights included?
No, your flights are not included in the cost, but we can help you organise them
We estimate the flights to be around about £800. This is not included in your personal contribution above and will have to be organised by the volunteer, assisted by QUEST and Scott Wilson.

Is my insurance included?
Yes. Scott Wilson Employees volunteering will be covered by Scott Wilson’s Corporate Insurance. 

Does this count as my annual leave? 
Volunteers will have to use ten days of their annual leave, which Scott Wilson will then match with a further eleven days paid leave.

Do I need my line manager’s approval?
Yes, you will need to gain approval from your line manager before being accepted onto the project.

Who do I contact in the event of an emergency?
QUEST will manage any emergency and liase with Scott Wilson accordingly. A 24 hour emergency line is manned by QUEST staff and QUEST has a detailed Crisis Management Plan to cope with any potential emergency scenarios, as well as conducting continual risk assessments of all activities you will undertake.
Emergency number: 0044 (0) 7050 44799

How fit do I need to be?
All volunteers will need to have an average level of fitness. If you exercise regularly (3 times a week) then you will have no problems. The main criteria is to be medically healthy and to have enthusiasm. Every volunteer will be able to work at their own pace and it is more important to get stuck in and be keen to lend a hand, rather than be the fittest volunteer.

Will I need vaccinations before I go?
QUEST are not qualified to give medical advice and we recommend that all travellers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure to gain relevant advice.

Required Vaccinations:
Hepatitis A Required for all travellers
Typhoid Required for all travellers
Yellow fever Required for all travellers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas
Polio One-time booster recommended for any adult traveller who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult
Hepatitis B For travellers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months
Rabies For travellers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) Two doses recommended for all travellers born after 1956, if not previously given
Tetanus-diphtheria Vaccination required every 10 years

Is there Malaria?
Mozambique is a malarial country and as such it is essential that you take malarial prophylaxis.

Prophylaxis with Lariam, Malarone, or Doxycycline is recommended for all areas.

QUEST are not in a position to make medical recommendations of any kind other than first aid (in which all staff are qualified).  Therefore we cannot recommend an anti malarial drug to any volunteer.  It is essential that you talk to your doctor or a health advisor about which malarial pills are appropriate for you. 

What kit will I need?
A full kit list will be provided within the pre-departure website you will be given access to once you have signed up for the project.

Will I need a visa before I go?
Yes, you will need a visa. QUEST can give advice on how to obtain a visa.
If you are staying for 30 days or less you can obtain a visa at the border for 170 ZAR or around £15. Our month long project dates are set to within the 30 day limit for your convenience.

You will need to obtain a visa before leaving for Africa only if you plan on staying for more than one month (30 days).

For advice on visas, do contact the Mozambican Embassy:
Mozambican Embassy in London (Consular section)
Address in London: Embassy of Mozambique Consulate Section 21 Fitzroy Square London W1T 6EL  Opening Times: 9.30am - 1.00pm 2.00pm - 4.00pm Monday-Friday
http://www.theschengenoffice.com/mozambique_embassy.html

What about money?
The Mozambican ‘Metecais’ (MTN) is pegged to the South African Rand (ZAR) and generally rests at 50MTN:1GBP

Cash It is a good idea to arrive in country with about  £25- £50 ready cash (in US $ or South African Rand) and to keep some somewhere safe for emergencies. It is best to take small denomination bills such as 10’s and 20’s, and ensure that the bills are either new or in near perfect condition, as tatty ones are not accepted overseas.  On average people spend  $25-30 a week on extra personal expenses like souvenirs, drinks, emails and chocolate.

We recommend you use standard debit cards to withdraw money from ATMs in Mozambique. However, please note that Cirrus cards in Mozambique CANNOT be used, you need a VISA card to withdraw cash.

Traveller’s cheques provide some security, but can be a real hassle to change and you will not get charged any less for withdrawing money through an ATM.

Bringing a credit card, or spare debit card in case of emergencies is always a good idea.

How will I stay in touch when I’m away?
Volunteers will be living in rural Africa so direct contact is not always possible.  You will be able to check personal emails and/or phone home usually every few weeks.  In case of emergencies, or if urgent contact is needed, your friends and family should phone the QUEST office or Emergency phone number and we can make contact with the project leader for you.

Mobile phones are not necessary and will be expensive to use. If you do wish to bring a mobile phone, it is possible to buy a local Sim card and top-up credit. On project site, your leader will keep any mobile phones in a secure, locked box for safe-keeping. However, we strongly encourage people not to use mobiles regularly, as they can be quite unsettling and make homesickness worse.

It is possible to receive post whilst I am away?
Letters/birthday cards etc can be sent to the following address for the time you are in Mozambique and they take about 10 days to arrive.  Please don’t send parcels to this post office box. Please send letters only, as they do not accept parcels.
Quest Underseas
C/o Diversity Scuba
P.O. Box 194 , Inhambane
Mozambique, Africa

What language is spoken in Mozambique?
Although Portuguese is the official language in Mozambique, Bitonga and Xangani are local languages spoken in the province. Many people understand and speak to you in English if they are involved in tourism. Our work at the local school is all in Portuguese / Bitonga - a great opportunity to try and pick up some of the local language.
Portuguese phrases:
Greetings        Reply 
Bom dia        Good morning 
Tudo bem?    How are you?   
Oi!                Hello!/Hey there! 
Introductions    
Qual e seu nome?  What is your name? 
My name is…..    Meu nome e.. 
Sou de…  I come from…

Useful Words    
T’chau           Bye!
Sim               Yes
Nao               No
Ta bom          Ok
Por favor        Please         
Obrigado/a     Thank You

I don’t want to go but a member of my family would like to. Can they?
Scott Wilson Employees will get first refusal on the places available. However, if the project is undersubscribed then we will send out an invitation (around the beginning of December) to all staff inviting their partners or offspring to volunteer.

I have never raised that amount of money for charity before. Will I get any help?
YES! Both QUEST and Scott Wilson can provide detailed guidance and ideas for fundraising events. More details of this help will become available later in the application process.

What happens next?
Once you have filled in and submitted your application form (before the end of November) we will begin the process of short-listing.  If you are short-listed we will contact you with regards to an interview/orientation meeting in December.
Those applicants who are successful will be notified around Christmas / New Year. What a great present!

What happens if I don’t get a place?
Unfortunately with such a limited number of places we may not be able to take everyone who wants to go. In the event of this happening we will be putting together a small number of people on a back up list who will be able to step in if any of the selected group drop out.

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