Tennis Kids Project

Use your sports knowledge to coach young people of Mzuzu in tennis and table tennis - and have lots of fun!

Minimum Duration:	2 weeks
Cost:	From 150 Euro per week
Minimum Age:	18 years

About

This project in Mzuzu, Malawi has a unique focus, especially for a country like Malawi; it uses tennis and table tennis to educate and empower youth and children.

Tennis Kids Malawi is actively promoting table tennis and lawn tennis by creating structured and progressive coaching but also competitive structures for athletes, coaches, administrators and match officials to be involved in these sports, from beginner’s level to international games.

This shall be guided by the following principles;

To create an environment of table tennis and tennis to develop both positive physical health standards but also life skills, social skills and personal development.
To improve the standard of table tennis and tennis in the northern region to compete with the best on a local, regional and international level.
To make table tennis and lawn tennis the most widely played sport at grass root level in Mzuzu.

The mission of Tennis Kids is to provide necessary skills in table tennis and lawn tennis in a sustainable, structure, progressive and professional manner.

Due to its success so far and the ambitions of the leaders of Tennis Kids they believe that table tennis and lawn Tennis could be one of the leading sports in the northern region of Malawi by 2024.. Not an easy task when competing with the all-time favourite sport of soccer, but the vision is there.

Programs Offered

The organization is involved in many activities that improve the general health of children and develop the skills of Lawn tennis and Table tennis as a life sport.

Training and coaching

One of the main activities of Tennis Kids and where volunteers can be involved is the actual playing and coaching of table tennis and/or lawn tennis. The daily coaching sessions will show how big the interest is from the local youth to be actively involved and these sports are not the most obvious ones in Malawi. Training sessions are focused at different age groups and levels of experience and any volunteer with basic skills can contribute hugely by offering the extra help.

Coaching courses

To offer the best quality of training and to have a sustainable long term focus there is an ongoing need for coaches who are dedicated and know how to coach and improve the skills of the children and young adults. Tennis Kids conducts coaching courses at the beginning of every year to provide more advanced coaching skills to already trained coaches, any new coaches coming from different youth organizations and teachers from different primary and secondary schools.

Schools league tournament

SBB organizes a schools league tournament which involves players of different schools competing against each other. Currently there is a total of 11 schools taking part in the league. The Tennis Kids coaches are usually assigned to visit the schools once a week to train any interested children and to identify talent.

HIV/AIDS tournaments

The tournament activities are part of the national response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic threatening the general population of Malawi. As the youth is especially vulnerable and within a high-risk age group, Tennis Kids believes that through sport the message of the risks of HIV/AIDS can be positively carried out.

The tournaments offer, next to playing sports, a variety of activities that can influence the youth to make use of testing and knowing their status as well as counselling for those infected. It is intended to influence positive change in sexual behaviours and to decrease the risks of HIV/AIDS among young people.

Championship competitions

Tennis Kids organizes regional tournaments with funding from different sponsors and stakeholders, but is also involved in National championships by entering some of their top players. These tournaments, as well as end-of-term tournaments, provide the youth different opportunities to test their skills against each other and socialise with players from other parts of the region or country.

Project Needs

The biggest need for Tennis Kids is to have enthusiastic and knowledgeable coaches to offer the best training and coaching they can. Volunteers with some experience and a love for either one of these sports will be highly appreciated and welcome to form part of the team.

There always is an ongoing challenge for financial support and materials. If any volunteers can contribute with any of the following items, this would be highly appreciated;

Tennis rackets and balls
Sports uniforms and tennis shoes
Table tennis bats and balls
Sports clothing

Please take note that part of your fees includes a donation to support them with their ongoing running costs and additional donations are not expected but highly appreciated.

Accommodation

Volunteers will stay with one of our selected host families within walking distance of Tennis Kids, making it very easy to come to work and get back home.

We offer a comfortable family home with 2 bedrooms with 2 and 3 beds respectively. There is a private bathroom for volunteers to use with a western toilet and shower with warm water. The home offers the use of a dining room, lounge with TV and large garden.

Depending on how busy it is, you will share a room with other volunteers. Male and female volunteers will have separate rooms.

We take couples and older volunteers into account and if possible provide them with a private room, so please let us know if you have any questions regarding the accommodation.

Meals

Malawian meals are different from western meals and we encourage you to eat what is prepared for you, otherwise you are free to buy and cook your own food. There are 3 meals a day prepared for you which will be local food mostly made up of rice, pastas, ‘nsima’ (porridge of maize meal), fish, vegetables and meats.

Breakfast is usually porridge or bread with coffee or tea. Lunch and dinner are cooked meals.

We encourage you to assist with cooking and cleaning up and make some of your personal favourite dishes.

Transport

Your host family is within walking distance from the centre making it very easy to walk to and from work.

To reach any facilities such as the main street with banks, internet café, shopping centre with a modern supermarket it is only a 10-15-minute walk away, but we encourage you to use the local bicycle taxis that will transport you anywhere you need to go for a small fee.

At night we discourage you to walk alone to be as safe as possible and we will make sure you have a variety of numbers for local taxis who will offer door to door services for very reasonable rates.

Fees & Dates

DURATION:	USD
1 Week	$360,00
2 Weeks	$695,00
3 Weeks	$880,00
4 Weeks	$1 065,00
Extra Weeks (after 4 weeks)	$165,00
Local Payments
Lilongwe airport transfer (one way per vehicle)	$150,00
Daily Transport	$25 p/week

Included in your volunteering fee:

Information and assistance before departure
City Tour and Introduction
Direct donation to the project
Accommodation and all meals (7 days a week)

Excluded from your volunteering fee:

Personal luxuries such as snacks, cold drinks and alcohol.
Transfer from Lilongwe airport at 150 USD per person (4-5 hour drive one way)
Costs for weekend trips
Visa costs
Flight tickets
Insurances

Starting dates

Dates are flexible for volunteers and you can start at any time throughout the year. Bookings are done per full weeks with a minimum of 1 week.

Participation is per full week only and the project will be closed for about three weeks over Christmas and the New Year period. Keep in mind that school holidays will change the program.

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