Experiences
Volunteering abroad
Teaching sports lessons abroad
Argentina, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, Saint Lucia or South Africa. You’ll spend a few weeks or months volunteering at one of our projects, providing training in the sport you most enjoy teaching. Football, hockey, basketball, swimming, dancing, etc. – whatever you’re good at.
The children in our programmes often lack access to structured sports lessons. With us, they take part in sports in a safe environment and, along the way, learn skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. From teamwork and coping with defeat to swimming and English.
You don’t need to have a sports qualification. Enthusiasm, a bit of determination and a desire to be there are more important than your qualifications.
You will always support the local coach, who remains responsible for the training session. Volunteers never replace paid local staff at our organisation. For every sport and age group, there are teaching manuals with detailed lesson plans available to help you prepare your training sessions properly.
You must be at least 18 years old. If you are 17, you may still be welcome following an intake interview. In that case, your parents or carers must register you and give their consent, as set out in our terms and conditions.
Eight countries to choose from
You choose your own sport
No registration fee or deposit
Support provided on site and from the UK
You’re never alone
Once you know which project appeals to you, you apply and we schedule a no-obligation conversation. Before you leave the UK, we put you in touch with other volunteers and interns heading to the same project, so you can arrange the journey together.
Our former volunteers are happy to tell you what it was like for them. Just ask for their details, that is exactly what they are there for.
Someone is waiting for you on site
In every country, you’ll be met by our own coordinator. They’ll show you round, answer your questions and are always available. If you’d like to speak to them in advance, we’ll arrange that for you.
On top of that, there is support from the UK, available day and night. Even if something happens at home while you are away.
Our approach
From the first enquiry to your return home
Four conversations – and throughout, you’re never just a number.
1
Compulsory intake assessment
Everyone starts with an initial interview, and you won’t be able to join us without one. The interview is free of charge and there’s no obligation. We’ll tell you everything about the country, the project and the accommodation, and we’ll take an honest look together to see if it’s right for you.
2
Contact the project
You’ll then be given the contact details of the on-site coordinator and of a volunteer who is currently there or has just returned. That way, you’ll hear first-hand whether your preferences are feasible. Would you prefer to ring a former participant first? We can arrange that too.
3
Exit interview
If you’re sure, we’ll walk you through all the next steps: the flight, the visa, insurance and even what type of plug they use there. Your dashboard contains your welcome pack and the course manuals to help you prepare for your training sessions. You’ll set off fully prepared.
4
Post-return evaluation
Once you’ve returned home, we’ll review your trip during a video call and you’ll write a first-hand account. We’ll discuss what you’ve shared with our local partner, so that the project and the support we provide can continue to improve. We’ll publish your story on the website for the next volunteer.
Destinations
Choose from eight countries
Each country has its own page detailing the project, the accommodation and the costs.
Why us
Why ‘The Power of Sports’
- We design our programmes ourselves, using a methodology that works.
- Affordable volunteering, with no registration fee or deposit.
- The only British organisation that focuses entirely on becoming a sports coach abroad.
- Everyone is required to attend an initial consultation first; this is free of charge and without obligation.
- We tell it like it is, even when things don’t go to plan.
- Our programmes are run responsibly and have a proven positive impact.
- Our projects will become financially independent of volunteers and work experience students; we aim to achieve this within five years.
- All our staff are familiar with the programmes abroad from their own experience.
- Personal support, both in the UK and on site, and a debriefing upon your return.
- A child protection policy in line with the international ‘Keeping Children Safe’ guidelines.
- Over ten years’ experience.
- Independently assessed by Volunteer Aware.
Behind the programmes
What we do
The children and young people in our programmes do not have access to regular sports lessons – neither at school nor through a sports club. We do, however, provide these lessons in the sports that are popular in that country.
The aim is to make the most of talent, develop social skills, improve health, open up conversations about difficult subjects and bring the neighbourhood a little closer together. Volunteers are indispensable in this. We also support the projects with money, clothing and sports equipment.
It all starts with a conversation
You never sign up for the voluntary work itself straight away. The first step is always an introductory meeting, during which we tell you everything about the country, the project and the accommodation. Only then do you decide whether you’re going.
‘The Power of Sports’ is independently assessed by Volunteer Aware, the index for fair volunteering abroad.
