Maldives Sports Coaching Volunteer

Highlights

• Pass on your expertise in your favourite sport and leave a lasting mark on this local community
• Help to develop professional skills - both your own and of others
• Learn to dive in one of the world's top diving locations
• Meet and make friends with other like-minded volunteers
• Take a boat trip to neighbouring islands and see whale sharks in season
• Live and work amid the island communities and experience the 'real' Maldives

This project will appeal to anyone with a real interest in sport, and the desire to pass on their passion to communities within these beautiful islands.  Qualified instructors, instructors in training, and those with just a real passion for sport are welcome and there is scope for expertise in several areas - from volleyball, swimming, badminton, football, table tennis, football and aerobics.

Football Instructors

Does the chance to live on a tropical island and passing on your skills to the local children sound like a dream come true?  Then read on!  Football coaching volunteers can plan and deliver their own lessons and activities to both primary and secondary school children, working closely with the local teachers, other volunteers and the parents of the children.  There will also be opportunities for after-school coaching within the local community.

All faciliities needed are available, as this is one of the most popular sports in the Maldives, where girls are also keenly encouraged to join in.  Inter-atoll tournaments and competitions are a highlight of the footballing season.

Volunteers should be enthusiastic about their sport and keen to work with children of many ages and abilities.  Volunteers should take their own kit as this is expensive in the Maldives and will return home having made a real difference to this tropical island community through the world's most popular sport - football!.

Sports Enthusiast

If you are more of an all-rounder, rather than specialising in one particular sport, then why not use your knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to teach a range of sports and enrich the lives of the children who live in this tropical paradise.  There are opportunities to teach football, volleyball, aerobics, badminton, athletics, swimming and table tennis, and all facilities and equipment is provided.  

One of the goals of this project is to increase the variety and quality of the physical education in the local schools, as well as increase awareness about the importance of doing sports and tbe benefits it can have in a small community. The project is also very supportive in encouraging all sports for both boys and girls, and has a strong focus on inclusion and fairness for both sexes. 

Volunteers with skills in sports that are not listed above are also very welcome, and encouraged to come with their own equipment to teach their sport to the children and teachers who love to have new ideas and sports and put them into practise.

Sports volunteers will be encouraged to set up tournaments and cups, and might also help in the construction of new sports facilities through helping to obtain international funding. This will require co-operating with the grant writer, community organiser and representatives from the community. The sky's the limit, so think outside of the box and get imaginative to inspire these enthusiastic children. 

Volunteers should be proficient in and be able to teach one or more sports, and enjoy coaching and working with children and young people. 

Fitness Instructors

Ideally qualified in group fitness, aerobics and/or zumba, and with a passion to teach and empower women, volunteers can make a real difference to the lives of women living in the Maldives.  Being a community where women are often expected to stay at home most days, carrying out chores and caring for the children, as well as holding down any job they may have too, these community fitness programmes, offer a welcome break for them.  The fitness centres are a great place for women to break up their day, meet new friends and stay fit and healthy.

There is an established aerobics centre in Lhaviyani Atoll which has run successfully for many years, running daily fitness session, solely for the use of women. These daily classes help the women to feel more empowered and active within their society.  Classes are also run by local volunteers who, although highly enthusiastic, have had no formal training or qualifications. Volunteer instructors are very welcome as they bring with them the latest exercises and work-outs, as well as new variations.  There is also a huge oppportunity to teach these local volunteers to become instructors themselves - and volunteers can have a real impact in this community. 

Classes are of varied abilities and there is plenty of room for growth in providing fun and exercise within the community.  It will be a great chance to take your own practices and techniques from your own country to the Maldives.

Finally, volunteers act as a role model for other women on the island, and subsequently attract more women to the classes.

Volunteers who are currently still training as instructors are also welcome as they will be able to offer plenty of practical and hands-on experience which will be appreciated by all class members. 

Swimming Instructor

What could be better than to teach others to swim in the warm, clear, turquoise-blue waters of the Maldive Islands!  Despite being surrounded by water, most of the locals have never learnt to swim. This project aims to improve the skills of the local women and children through swimming lessons, and volunteers will plan and take lessons for a variety of swimmers in the schools, and in the community.  There will be opportunities to work with local organisations, teachers, parents and other volunteers in this beautiful location.  A designated safe swimming area has been created specially for swimming lessons which also helps to improve the understanding of the importance of water safety. 

Volunteers will need to be some experience in teaching swimming, as well as having a knowledge of sea safety.

Volleyball Instructor

Volleyball is the number one sport in the Maldives, and has many enthusiastic participants. The island already has the necessary basic facilities and equipment that is needed to coach this sport.  Volunteers will design lesson plans and coach a wide range of children, as well as entering teams into tournaments, where they will represent both their school and the islands.

Volleyball attracts men, women and children of all ages and skills, and volunteers will work closely with students, players and other volunteers.  Previous volunteers have helped to secure funding to establish volleyball courts that are available for everyone to play, practise and compete.  Future plans for this programme aim to ensure that the development of the sport is encouraged and successful, and to help talented players to reach their full potential.  It is also aimed to increase the number of girls taking part in the sport.

Naifaru Island

The beautiful island of Naifaru is located in the Lhaviyani Atoll in the Northern Maldives. The island lies approximately 142 kilometers (88 miles) north of the capital, Malé and is approximately 53 hectares (53 km²) in size.  It is the fifth most populated island in the Maldives yet small enough to enjoy seeing everything on foot. Naifaru is a bustling little community, with a beautifully friendly and welcoming community,  many restaurants, coffee shops, a hospital, post office and a bank.  Naifaru has just over 5,000 people currently registered on the island with the majority being Maldivian whilst there are a small number of expatriate workers from countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Naifaru has a few main streets which form a grid within which you will find a maze of intricate side streets and alleys. Both the main streets and side streets are always filled with people of all ages, sitting around talking, playing local card games or even playing Maldivian music in the street. Naifaru is an island full of life and friendly people, a great place to make new friends and have a amazing volunteer experience.

Given the relatively small size of the island, everything is within easy reach. From the volunteer house you can walk to any of our projects in less than ten minutes. Or you might walk down to one of the island's four restaurants and enjoy the cool evening breeze with a cup of coffee and a view of the Indian Ocean and the Naifaru ‘skyline’.

This volunteer project also extends to the surrounding small Isands and depending on the needs of the proejct and your skills you may be placed on one of these Islands also for your adventure.