The Charity Donation is made to the MAD (Make A Difference) Foundation - Reg UK Charity No 1111805 - to cover all the Charity's support costs such as Project Materials and to aid community development, education and health. This may be raised by creating a fundraising page via the website Virgin Money Giving if you are a UK resident.

Building

The core of each Madventurer project is the building work in the village. This is the most tangible contribution that a Mad projects makes to the community and forms a focus for the group. The key to all mad building projects in South Africa is the partnership between our team and the local community. Aside from the funding, the presence of your team of Venturers can be a great motivator to your new friends in the village as it demonstrates the importance of hard work, showing what can be achieved, even regardless of sex. Initially it can take time for the community to get used to the idea that Venturers are prepared to work hard - and actually want to help with manual labour, so you may find locals trying to do all the work for you. Once you explain that you genuinely want them to teach you the basic skills (e.g. how to mix cement or lay bricks), the partnership will develop, and everyone can get stuck in and work together.

There is a range of building activities that you will be able to get involved in. Those less keen on heavy building work usually take up the lighter, but equally important, work such as painting or plastering.

The type of building project we get involved in varies and depends on volunteer numbers.  In the past we have helped to build sanitation blocks, water storage tanks, school classrooms, clinics, community halls and basic housing.  The key to any project is the partnership between our team and the local community. As well as bringing essential funding to the project, the presence of a team of Volunteers in the village community can be a great motivator to local people.  No previous building experience necessary, we hire local tradesmen or craftsmen to do the specialised parts.

Teaching

At what level, and to what extent, teachers get involved is up to each individual. During the first week of the project, the Madventurer Crew Leader will introduce Volunteers who want to teach to the Principal of the local school to discuss the Volunteers interests and skill areas, and how these fit in with the school's needs.  South Africa’s school year is from January to November with a long break in July. There are opportunities to get involved in school teaching, the national language for tuition is English so there are opportunities to get involved in teaching other subjects, as well as helping out with homework, running arts and craft classes and sports/PE lessons, or even simply helping out a teacher in overcrowded classrooms as an assistant.