Nick in South Africa

My story

I’m Nick. I was still 17 then, but I turned 18 in South Africa. I couldn’t have wished for a better place to celebrate it..

There is so much to experience and see in a country like South Africa. The locals are wonderful people, you have the best fun with your colleagues and there’s always something to do in the area. But the best thing about South Africa has to be the children. At the start it took a little getting used to, of course, but I soon knew this was the place to be. Every morning when you arrive on the bus, the children come running up to you as if they’re your biggest fans, ready to give you a big hug..

Besides coaching, we could also choose to teach classes at the schools or help the teachers with their lessons. We could also choose to help out at the nursery. That last one is what I look back on most. You go in several times a week, you really get to know the children and, once again, their enthusiasm is amazing.
Outside coaching, teaching and helping at the nursery, we also had lots of free time. The group is brilliant, but even more brilliant were the mamas. They treated you as if you were really their own child, and with them around it genuinely felt a bit like that. Saying goodbye was the least fun part of the whole trip and I certainly wouldn’t mind going back..

After saying goodbye, I also went along on the Garden Route. A fantastic experience with packed days, stunning views, a great group and the best driver we could have wished for. Ashie we love you!! <3

If I could ever go back, I definitely would. It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever have wished for..

What advice would you like to give future interns and volunteers?

Be a bit silly every now and then, it makes it 10000x better 🙂