Voluntary Athletics and School Sports Coaching Placements Abroad

Ethiopia is famous for its world class athletes. By taking part in our School Sports and Athletics project, volunteers will not only be involved in learning new skills and improving their own fitness, but will also be able to pass on their own sports knowledge by teaching local children.

Volunteers joining the sports project in Ethiopia can choose to combine athletics and school sports or just focus just on the school sports element of the project.

Volunteers have the opportunity to train with local Ethiopians at an athletics club several mornings a week, then teaching a variety of sports to children at a local secondary school in the afternoons. By taking part on this project volunteers gain a large amount of valuable work experience working alongside some extremely skilled staff and athletes.

Volunteers can take part during a Gap Year, on a holiday from work or studies, or as part of a career break. You don't have to be an expert athletics coach to take part; an interest and enthusiasm in athletics and sports in general is all that's required.

School Sports and Athletics project in Ethiopia

The athletics element of the project involves volunteers training three mornings a week with local Ethiopians at an athletics centre. You will train as part of a team with around 20 other athletes. You will take part in long distance running, with training taking place in various areas of Addis. While running you'll be able to take in the extraordinary landscape and scenery.

Having completed the early morning training, volunteers will then teach a variety of sports to children aged 11-16 at a local secondary school. The sports that are normally taught at schools in Ethiopia are aerobics, athletics, basketball, football and volleyball. Depending on your ability and confidence you may shadow and help the local staff or take your own lessons.

Each class has two sports lessons per week, so your day will be spent teaching a variety of age groups. You will be assigned a supervisor who will be on hand to offer you lesson advice and guidance.

By teaching school sports in Ethiopia, you will watch each child's confidence grow. As you work with them to develop their talents, you will witness how their increased self-esteem impacts on their personal relationships.

The sports project in Ethiopia offers you the unique experience of not only improving your personal ability as an athlete, but also gaining invaluable work experience teaching sports in a school.