Incredible Volunteering in South Africa: Costs from USD 250
Location
South Africa: Cape Town (Kaapstad)
Description
International Volunteer HQ offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities in South Africa, where your helping hand can change the lives of those in need. Work in the surf outreach program, orphanage/childcare programs, sports development, computer training and teaching programs in Cape Town's surrounding suburbs and rural South African townships and villages. These projects are based in Kayamandi, Mamre, Langa, Mitchell's Plain, Athlone, Grassy Par,k and Muizenberg in suburban Cape Town. Where you are placed depends on need for volunteers at the time you apply, as well as the project you have chosen.
* Teaching Project
Volunteers on the teaching project will be placed at one of our local community public schools. Volunteers will be working alongside teachers at the school as well as working with other volunteers. Typical subjects taught at the school could include English, Mathematics, Life Skills, Social Studies, Art and Physical studies. Volunteers may also be asked to help with other programs at the school, including sports programs. The school runs throughout the year and a typical school year has holidays for the full month of June and December, and a short 10 day holiday in April and September. During these school holidays, teaching volunteers can participate in another volunteer program such as childcare (pre-school/creche, where they are also able to teach) or surfing, take a break, travel and get to explore the beauty and adventure of beautiful South Africa. NB: Volunteers do not need to be a qualified or experienced teacher. Volunteers should note that if they apply for the teaching program and it is during the school holidays, automatically they will be placed at a creche. Please refer to the school calendar down below:
School in South Africa runs for four terms a year:
First Term:19th January to 1st April
Second Term: 11th April to 24th June
Third Term: 18th July to 30th September
Fourth Term: 10th October to 9th December
* Child Care / Orphanage Project
The childcare/orphanage program consists of caring for children, providing education and designing activities for the children and helping with general duties of the centre, such as teaching, feeding, cooking, and caring for children and babies. Volunteers work at a variety of orphanages and day care centres. It is important to note that on the IVHQ South Africa child care/orphanage program, short term volunteers (one week to three months) are generally placed in day care centres and creches while long term volunteers (in excess of six months) are given preference to work in the orphanages. If you only have a limited time frame and are determined to work in an orphanage (over a day care centre or creche) we would recommend one of the other IVHQ African programs where there are a lot more orphanages available for volunteer work.
* Computer Training Project
The IVHQ Computer Training program allows our volunteers to help locals develop their computer skills. A number of small towns and townships have computer facilities available for public use, but very few locals have computer skills and therefore are unable to utilise these. The volunteers can therefore make a valuable contribution by teaching basic computer skills which not only allow the local people in townships and rural communities access to the internet but also upskills them and helps with their employment prospects. This project can also be combined with the childcare project or teaching program to ensure volunteers have enough work per day. NB Volunteers on this program must be computer literate and ideally have some computer relevant qualifications.
* Sports Development Project
Like most African countries, South Africa has a great number of children living in poverty. Although some of the children attend school during the day, often they have no one or have no activity to do to occupy their time after school which can often lead them into trouble. You will see some of these children begging for money on the streets, stealing, drinking and engaging in substance abuse after school. Our sport development project operates programs in schools in the Western Cape region, and focuses on both developing general life skills and sports skills. This program involves facilitating indigenous games, teambuilding exercises, HIV/Aids lessons, assisting children with physical disabilities and running holiday programs in Cape Town communities and townships (these programs focus on keeping South African youth entertained and off the streets). In addition, volunteers may also get the opportunity to be involved in feeding programs and creches, volleyball coaching, football coaching, camp facilitation, and community projects within various townships. Our sport development program has worked with over 100,000 children in the last six months alone, and our work with children has been well recognized and is highly sought after. Volunteers may be requested to work on certain Saturdays and must be flexible and willing to do so.
* Surfing / Swimming Outreach Project
Surfing is one of the most thrilling and exciting water sports anyone can get involved in. We have incorporated this timeless activity into a programme for children to teach them how to surf and to encourage a healthier lifestyle. The surfing and adventure project takes underprivileged children off the street and teaches them valuable life lessons in the form of sports, adventure activities, team work and educational classes. The program is run as a weekly extra mural activity for a disadvantaged school with the main focus on surfing, adventure activities and sports such as surfing, sand boarding, mountain hikes, swimming and football amongst others. The children that the volunteers will be working with will be aged between 12-14 years. Most of the children can speak English but their home language may be Afrikaans or Xhosa. Children are split into 4 groups of 5- 20 children that will be part of the programme every week. You will therefore be able to see the progress of the children you will be working with. In the mornings, volunteers can either spend their time learning to surf, helping in a school or relaxing on the beach. The afternoons are spent with the kids teaching them to surf or any one of the activities mentioned above. Saturdays are full day activities with the children. Volunteers will also have the chance to learn how to surf with an instructor and have use of the boards on their off days. Volunteers on the surf project will be accommodated in either 4 star Backpacker's dormitory accommodation or volunteer houses close to the beach. Daily transportation is provided as well as 24 hour support, a volunteer coordinator and an activities instructor. The surf and adventure project is loads of fun and your efforts and hard work will be met with great appreciation by the children. NB: It is important to note that the programme incorporates surfing as well as other adventure activities. Volunteers that know how to surf are also strongly encouraged to apply for this program. All volunteers on this programme MUST know how to swim. This program also has different pricing to other South African programs.
Highlights
* Extremely affordable program fees
* Quality Programs
* Flexible Placements
* 24/7 Support
* Loyalty Program
* IVHQ Information Booklet