COUNTRY SPECIFIC DOCUMENT WHAT TO DO NOW Use this as a guide to keep you on track with your preparations for Training and your departure overseas. ACTION LOCATION COMPLETED Email from Desk Officer Checklist in email read the Country Specific and Generic contained online and confirm you have read and understood every document by inserting YES in the READ column next to each document in the EMAIL CHECKLIST and email it back to your Desk Officer. Please be aware that this is confirmation of your acceptance of your place overseas therefore it is essential that we receive this confirmation. Visa/Work Permit if action is needed early to get a visa or work permit this is contained within the Visa Instructions below. Volunteers have had flights delayed because they have been disorganised with visa documents. Please communicate with your Desk Officer if you have any problems with the visa process. Doctor s Letter read the Doctor s Letter Request in the GENERIC DOCUMENT pdf and contact your GP s surgery to arrange this, we must receive this as soon as possible and at the latest by 1st June 2014. Please be aware that some GP s now charge for this service. Basic Disclosure apply for this as soon as possible. See Basic Disclosure Instructions in the GENERIC DOCUMENT pdf. InterHealth Information follow the instructions on the InterHealth Information sheet in the GENERIC DOCUMENT pdf and start organising any additional vaccinations from your GP or Travel Centre. The InterHealth website relevant to your country will give you information on malaria tablets. Travel advice we advise you to access current, country-specific travel advice by subscribing to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) free email alert service or by following the FCO on social media via Twitter or Facebook. Passport Details - if you have not sent your passport details to Project Trust, please do so as soon as possible and at the latest by 1 st June 2014. Many Desk Officers will need them to obtain the relevant visa/work permit and they are essential for booking flights. Training Course Joining Instructions follow the instructions contained in the Joining Instructions below, make sure you know exactly when to arrive on Coll. Even if you have already made us aware on Selection, please make us aware of your dietary requirements by emailing your Desk Officer by 1 st June 2014. Fundraising please remember that your fundraising needs to be completed by the end of July. The fundraising team will have discussions during Training with those that are struggling. Country Specific Generic Generic document Generic Internet Country Specific
Volunteer Handbook (sent to you after Selection) - read your volunteer handbook, re-read, and be sure to show it to your parents. Bring it with you to the Training course. Preparation Research your host country in the library or on the internet, read relevant magazines and newspapers, there is a suggested resource list below. Learn how to cook, clean, and hand-wash and iron your clothing. Get stuck in around the house over the summer. Knowledge of First Aid is also very important. Country Specific
Visa and Work Permit Instructions The visa process in Swaziland is very simple; there is no prior planning your arrival. British passport holders do not require visas for Swaziland. Visitors will normally be given entry permission for up to thirty days. This is extended at the Swaziland Immigration Department in Mbabane. All Swaziland border posts open daily throughout the year, but hours of operation are variable.
Joining Instructions for Training Course 4: Wednesday 9 th July - Sunday 13 th July 2014 Attendance All volunteers going to Swaziland Aims Your Training Course is designed to give you sufficient information and the necessary briefing to obtain the maximum benefit from your year overseas whilst being of use to your host. Please remember that attendance and participation at Training is a compulsory learning unit of the Foundation Year in Global Volunteering and Citizenship. Travel Arrangements You will need to make your own travel arrangements to Oban on Tuesday 8 th July 2014. If you are driving up and would be interested in sharing petrol costs with another volunteer we can try to put you in contact with others in your area. Oban Accommodation You will also need to arrange accommodation in Oban for the night before the ferry. We suggest you do this as soon as possible as Oban gets very busy in the summer. You might like to stay at the Backpackers (01631 567189), or at the Oban Youth Hostel (01631 562025). You could try the Oban Tourist Information Centre (01631 563122) if there is nothing available at the previous numbers. Don t forget to set your alarm for an early start and also remember that as a group your presence and enthusiasm can be a little intimidating - please be considerate to others. Oban to Coll The ferry leaves Oban at 05.45 and you must make sure you are at the booking office no later than 30 minutes before departure to collect your ferry ticket and fill in a boarding card. To collect your ticket you must print out this letter and show it along with some form of ID at the check-in desk. You won t be allowed to embark without your ticket and boarding card. This is the only ferry that will get you to Training, so do not miss it! Please make sure you have breakfast on the ferry as we will be beginning Training sessions as soon as you arrive. This boat travels to Tiree first before arriving at Coll at 10.15. Do not get off at the wrong island! Staff will be at the pier on Coll to collect you. Requirements on Coll You will be staying at the Hebridean Centre and bedding will be provided. All training sessions will take place indoors, however, during your free time, you may want to go walking or even swimming in the sea and there may be a football match arranged one evening. Please note that swimming in the sea is unsupervised and you are not permitted to do so during adverse weather conditions or after drinking alcohol.
Please bring: Essential A towel Smart clothes for the formal reception and ceilidh on the last evening Notebook, pens and all literature you have received about Training Wet weather clothing Optional Swimsuit Football boots or trainers Musical instruments, games etc for the evenings Project Trust has a no smoking policy and smoking is prohibited in all Project Trust buildings and vehicles. There is a bar which sells refreshments and Project Trust T-shirts in the evening, so bring plenty of cash as we have no facility to cash cheques. Departure The boat leaves Coll on Sunday 13 th July 2014 and will arrive in Oban at 17.00. Make sure you arrive fresh for the course as it will be an intense few days. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Suggested Swaziland Resource List It s certainly not essential to purchase and read all of the books listed below however it is recommended that you look at the websites listed below. It certainly will make Training more interesting. Remember, if you do purchase anything please help Project Trust out by buying through the Amazon link at the bottom of the Project Trust homepage as that way 10% of the value of the order will be donated to us. Meredith, Martin, The State of Africa: A History of the Continent since Independence. (2011) Steinberg, J. The 3 Letter Plague (2008) Mandela, Nelson. A Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela. (1995) Unwin, Mike. Swaziland Bradt Travel Guide. (2012)
Swaziland Clothing and Equipment List Climate Swaziland s climate is the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere with December being mid-summer and June mid-winter. Generally speaking, rain falls mostly during the summer months, often in the form of thunderstorms. Winter is the dry season. Clothing Guide The following is a guide only. More advice will be given on Training. ITEM AMOUNT REMARKS Trousers, respectable 3 Skirts must be below the knee (girls only) 3-4 Dresses (girls only) 1-2 Modest (optional) Jeans 1-2 Shorts 3 Shirts, long-sleeved 2 Shirts, short-sleeved 2-3 T-shirts 6 For teaching. You ll need some skirts for formal occasions even if you prefer smart trousers. Sweaters 2-3 Winter evenings are cold. Pants 10 Minimum, they wear out quickly cotton. Socks 8 Minimum, mainly cotton. Waterproof jacket 1 Warm and waterproof, lightweight. Pyjamas 1-2 Optional. Swimming trunks/suit and towel Respectable shoes no high heels. 1 Small towel useful for when travelling. 1
Important Note Please check your e-ticket and flight itinerary when it arrives to check your baggage allowance as any excess will have to be covered by you. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THINGS CAN STILL CHANGE OVERSEAS AND WITH PROJECTS THEREFORE THERE IS STILL A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MAY NOT END UP GOING TO THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU WERE INITIALLY PLACED. IF THIS IS THE CASE WE WILL TELEPHONE YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE