Last year Kadri Aavik (25) from Tallinn worked in South Africa as a volunteer. Kadri found this opportunity to gain more experience and open her mind from the Internet and she does not regret at all the time she spent abroad. Moreover, 'If I was given a chance, I would go back', says Kadri.

Kadri went to teach in South Africa through a German organisation ASA (The European Network for Development Education). Last year, Estonians had the chance to apply for projects in 3 countries: Georgia, Tanzania and South Africa. "In Georgia, the project took place in a museum, in Tanzania, it also involved children but the project in South Africa was the most interesting for me, it involved information technology and multimedia,' says Kadri.

Kadri is not interested in travelling as just a tourist. 'I wanted to get to know the local people and their way of life, as a tourist you won't have that experience. That was one of the reasons I went to South Africa as a volunteer,' explains Kadri.

'We taught in Khayelitsha, a township in the outskirts of Cape Town, inhabited by Xhosa speaking black people. The school where we taught was located about 35 from Cape Town. It was a high school with grades 8 to 12.'

There were 1200 students in the school, although the schoolhouse was built for 800. However, all children were accepted because if they stayed on the streets, they might easily get involved in crime. After grade 8, the students choose 5 subjects they want to study and take exams in at the end of high school.

Students have to pay school fees. Although it would not be too expensive for Estonians, many cannot afford it there. The level of the students' knowledge is good. The school takes back students who for some reason have not been able to go to school for a year or two.

The school day started at 8 am, the classes finished at 3 pm. The school was located 35 km from the place where Kadri lived.

‘After school, interested students gathered in the computer lab where we taught them how to publish the school newsletter, how to make web pages and also filming and photography', says Kadri. ‘We had 4 groups. We drove back home at 5 or 6 pm every day and took another route so that we could drop off some students on our way back.'

The school was very good, considering the poverty in the neighbourhood. ‘There were 3 computer labs in the school, while many schools in the neighbourhood didn't have Internet connection or even computers.'

The difference between schools and students in Estonia and in South Africa is quite big. Kadri, who is a qualified teacher, noticed it at once. ‘While many students in Estonia feel that school is an obligation, in South Africa, school seemed to be more like a privilege. Many students were late for school in the morning and had to wait even 3-4 hours to be let in.'

The attitude of the blacks towards the foreign white teachers was very warm. ‘At the same time, their attitude towards the whites is sometimes peculiar. When the whites say something, many consider it to be always the truth, often without asking the question why.'