Accommmodation

The idea behind Dramatic Need is to ensure volunteers are as involved in local communities as possible. Volunteers will therefore be billeted with members of those communities either with families or in private accommodation nearby. This experience will be important for the volunteer to feel a part of the community and to get to know the parents and neighbours of the children he/she will be teaching. In very few of the communities in which we work, accommodation will have to be hired. Dramatic Need covers this cost but volunteers should expect this accommodation to be clean, but modest. In many parts of South Africa where we work, neither water, nor electricity can be taken for granted. Should you, as a volunteer, be graciously received by a family who have offered to host you during your time there, please remember that they are offering to share their home, their language and culture with volunteers and that this is done purely out of good will. We therefore request that volunteers are respectful at all times and that, should you be asked to join the family at mealtimes, you contribute to food costs.

Upon confirmation of your acceptance as a volunteer, you will be assigned the two schools in which you will teach and more information can be given about the type of accommodation you will be staying in. It will be up to the volunteer, during their stay in South Africa, to be self-sufficient in terms of personal expenses and food costs. We recommend reserving around �75 per month of stay for food and personal expenses.

Transport

How you get around in South Africa will depend on where you are working. It may be that you take mini-bus taxis with locals or that you catch a ride to school with your hosts. Everything including bicycles and farm trucks is possible! Although we don't recommend you hiring a car as it can create distance between you and the community, in some cases it may be necessary. We recommend that all volunteers have a full, valid driver's license just in case. Once you are assigned your schools, we will help you work out a detailed travel network and can discuss all the available options with you.