Skillshare International

To find out about our current ICS programme, click here!

To find out about our ICS programme during the pilot phase, read on...

Our ICS volunteers spent three months supporting local projects in Botswana, Lesotho, India, South Africa, Swaziland and Tanzania as part of one of our programmes: Coaching for Hope, Sustainable Livelihoods, HIV and AIDS and Gender Justice.

Coaching for Hope placements

Many young people in West and Southern Africa face high levels of poverty and inequality. Our Coaching for Hope programme gives them an opportunity to build really valuable life skills including team-work, leadership and communication, that will help them to realise their true potential.   

ICS volunteers on Skillshare International's Coaching for Hope placements worked with our local sport for development partners in Cape Town to run activities for vulnerable young people, many of whom live in residential care. They had the chance to get involved in football coaching for boys and girls to help them develop life skills and raise awareness of issues such as sexual health and substance abuse. 

Find out more about our ICS placements in Cape Town - Nathaniel's video.

There are some Coaching for Hope ICS placements currently happening, based in Burkina Faso, West Africa. These are run in partnership with International Service.

Placements on our sustainable livelihoods programme

Access to education and support to develop small businesses means that people in some of the world's most vulnerable communities can build positive futures for their families. Our ICS volunteers worked with disadvantaged groups including disabled people, women, young people and indigenous communities to help them to develop their skills and generate an income. 

• Our volunteers supported young people at Tanzania House of Talent (THT) in Dar es Salaam to develop their skills and strengthen the centre's marketing activities.  Find out more about volunteering at THT - Danielle's story. 
• Skillshare International volunteers worked with indigenous Tribal communities in the Bay of Bengal on their non-timber forest products programme.  Volunteers have helped to develop websites, produce video documentaries and provide ICT training. 

Our ICS volunteers also supported staff and local volunteers at orphanages and day centres to deliver basic education, play activities, care and nutrition to young children in a safe and positive environment. Some of things they got involved with included:  

• Supporting early childhood development activities and creating a child-friendly environment at a day centre for orphans and vulnerable children in Botswana. 
• Providing basic health care for visually impaired children at their residential centre in Lesotho and building their life skills through creative activities and IT training.
• Helping out with homework, English, games, life skills training and motivational workshops at an orphanage in Lesotho.
• Helping to improve the wellbeing of orphans and vulnerable children in Botswana by using fun, nature-based team-building activities on wilderness retreats and through art therapy.
• Running activites for children in Tamil Nadu’s gypsy community (India) and helping them to improve their English and IT skills. Our volunteers also got involved in fundraising and building public awareness of the issues this vulnerable community faces.
• Raising awareness of health and social issues among children and young people in India by running extra-curricular activities, teaching English and raising the profile of the local organisation.  

Placements on our HIV and AIDS programme

Southern Africa has the highest rates of HIV in the world.  In 2007, the region accounted for almost 32% of all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths. The pandemic has increased levels of poverty and resulted in unprecedented numbers of orphans and child-headed households.

Approximately 9% of children under 15 in sub-Saharan Africa have lost at least one parent to AIDS and the death of family members is a major cause of trauma and school dropouts.*  

Raising awareness of positive living and how people can protect themselves can reduce re-infection and tackle stigma. Many of our ICS placements focused on encouraging positive behaviour among young people.

• Our volunteers helped run Teen Club activities in Swaziland to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, sexual health and other issues that affect young people.  Meet some of the ICS volunteers on placements at the Swaziland Teen Club. 

• Skillshare International volunteers also helped out at the Lesotho Football Association and District Football Association with football for girls and under 15s. As part of their placements, they helped to set up teams, a league and fixtures and worked with coaches to run training sessions and raise awareness of HIV and sexual health. Meet Meisha, who spent her summer holidays volunteering in Lesotho.

Meet our volunteers

Find out more about our volunteers' experiences and what they achieved during their placements - volunteer stories.

*HIV and AIDS statistics taken from UNAIDS reports