StayAway

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StayAway is a charitable organisation that organises gap year placements, work experience, and volunteer internships in Africa and in doing so, aims to assist rural African communities. We seek to promote a tourism that has an inclusive approach to our diverse people, a tourism that is meaningful to the disadvantaged people of Africa, and a tourism that serves to inform visitors about the dynamism of our new approach.

StayAway is Africa´s leading organiser of free volunteer work exchange placements. Our wide range of projects, including Teaching, child care and Community projects, are designed specifically for the needs of the communities in which we work, whilst giving our volunteers (aged 17yrs and above) the very best experience of volunteering around Africa.

StayAway was first established in Uganda where the organisation started its operations and later expanded its work to a Mondooli juu village, a Masai village in Tanzania. In 2014, StayAway expanded with our new operations office in South Africa. Despite the fact that Ras Austin lives in South Africa and travels all over for both Organisations, he visits to often the projects so sometimes expect to meet him during your stay there!

Back in 2008 when Ras Austin Rizzah started StayAway as Ethical Encounters, he had a vision. He wanted to give everyone people a chance to explore the Africa and by doing so discover their potential and become members of a community working together serving through thrilling adventures together. After re-launching in May, 2015 it became StayAway Volunteer Travel, a growing sustainable development charity, providing work exchange combined with volunteering around Africa for people taking a gap year, career break, retirement or time out from education, employment or training. School, corporate and adventure expeditions for groups can be tailor-made to suit specific requirements.

Our vision is to inspire a generation to be all that they can be; to awaken a sense of life-purpose and belonging, and unite them as part of a global community who can work together to rise to the challenges of the world we live in.

Projects:
We aim to work at a grassroots level, meaning we work alongside locals, hearing what their needs and dreams are. We aim to empower more and this is an instrumental factor in our on-going projects. StayAway hopes to inspire and educate thus creating a mentality of ´I can do it!´
• The Run Orphanage – Uganda
• Education, Health, Media and Agriculture projects - Ghana
• The Masai Village - Tanzania
• Nonhlanhla Palesa Orphanage – South Africa

Queen Nonhlanhla Mdakane is the Programs Manager of StayAway.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work. Activities may include: Teaching children about nutrition, health and hygiene, literacy and English; Building schools and renovating facilities: paint murals, plant vegetable gardens, install hand washing bays and latrines; Leading physical activities, educational games, fun and play Meeting with community members and school administrators to learn about African challenges and solutions.