AFRICA & ASIA VENTURE

After the orientation weekend, there is a one-month intensive Mandarin course. This will set you up nicely for the volunteering leg of the program, working with very bright, but underprivileged children in the stunning Thousand Island Lake District, three hours from Hangzhou.

The people are friendly and they will welcome you with beaming smiles!

Here is an overview of the project:

- Orientation + Briefing (4 days)
Based in Hangzhou, and led by our on-the-ground Western and Chinese team, this is where we’ll introduce you to the city and the other volunteers, and make sure you’re fully prepared for the start of the challenging program.

- Mandarin Course (4 weeks)
Whilst living with a Chinese family in Hangzhou, you’ll attend four hours of Mandarin classes Monday to Friday, at the end of which you’ll take the internationally accredited HSK exam and have a usable level of Mandarin essential for the next stage of the program. In the afternoon you can earn extra cash teaching English.

- Project Work (8 weeks)
Based in a rural community three hours from Hangzhou you will make a real difference helping underprivileged children with English, sports and extra-mural subjects. Your newly acquired Mandarin will help you to become immersed in the local community during your volunteer project.

Together with fellow AVs you will live in an apartment near to a school, with a high level of independence. Spending significant time in one place lets you become fully involved and really feel part of the community.

- Heading home or staying on to travel?
At the end of your AV project you can either head home or consider staying on to explore China further using the confidence and local knowledge gained on your project to make the most of your travels. After heading down to Hong Kong to renew your visa, you can either join a backpacker tour at a discounted rate run by an associated company, or choose to travel independently through the many fascinating destinations China has to offer. It's up to you!

The project fee for 12 Weeks (Project only) is £2,985 (£39 per day). For details on what's included in this fee, please visit our website.

For further details on the venture, please see the China Venture document which you can find on the chapter page. Thanks for your interest and do no hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to having an amazing journey with you!