Description

Volunteers are needed to help at creches and day care centres in a beautiful and rural area of South Africa and make a real difference to the lives of the children who attend them.

The creches and centres provide care for children aged 7 and under. The numbers of children at each creche or centre varies between approximately 10 and 35. Many of these children come from difficult backgrounds including poverty and neglect.

The creches and centres provide an environment where the children are safe, supported, well cared for, given nutritious meals and learning opportunities as well as providing positive role models for the children.

The day typically starts at 9am when volunteers are picked up from their accommodation and transported to the main hall. A meeting will then be held involving staff and volunteers where the day's activities will be decided and coordinated. Some volunteers will then be transported to local creches or day care centres and others will stay at the creche located at the main hall. Volunteers assist local caregivers to provide care for the farm children through with a variety of activities including:

* reading to the children
* supervising and interacting during play time
* playing games
* helping with music and art activities
* provide one-to-one attention to specific children
* help feeding and clearing up during lunchtime
* supervise nap time
* help with sports coaching
* assist with adult education for the women in the community (when necessary)

Highlights

* Enrich the lives of children by providing care and education
* Support community development
* Live in a beautiful wine region in Cape Town

The help provided by volunteers is incredibly meaningful to the community. Caring for children who are at-risk or have limited resources can have a lasting impact on a child's development. In the winelands region many children are orphaned or abandoned because of HIV/AIDS, alcoholism or other social issues. Children from underserved populations use the centres which enables their parents to work, so by helping at this project you are able to help the community significantly.

Most of the children at the crèches and day care centres speak Afrikaans or Xhosa as a first language but they need to speak English for school so by interacting with English-speaking volunteers they are provided with a model and have lots of opportunity to practise their English skills. As the area is a popular tourist destination, having a good level of English also improves the children's future employment opportunities.

As the creches and day care centres are often short-staffed, volunteers are able to provide the important one-to-one attention that the children would otherwise not receive. Volunteers also offer an extra pair of hands to the organisation's staff by assisting with feeding, clothing and playing with the children.

Qualifications

You do not need any specific qualifications or experience to volunteer on this project, you just need to enjoy working with children and have a passion for helping.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

990 GBP for 4 weeks, extra fortnights 250 GBP

Cost Includes:

• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

* A comprehensive information booklet and pre-departure support
* Travel advice and assistance
* Return airport transfers from Cape Town airport
* Accommodation
* Breakfast
* Daily transport to the project
* Ongoing support, help and advice from our local team

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18 +

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of up to 2

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Phone/Video Interview
• Written Application

Personal Overseas Development (PoD)'s Mission Statement

PoD is a leading non-profit organization arranging ethical, inspiring and supported volunteering opportunities around the world. Established in 2001, our aim is to support ongoing projects with our partners in Belize, Cambodia, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam by providing passionate and committed volunteers. We work with long term projects that we know personally and where there is genuine benefit to local communities. A placement with PoD will not only develop volunteer's skills and confidence, get them out of their comfort zone and exploring incredible parts of the world but also the ability make a genuine difference. We currently offer gap year, career break, working holiday, volunteer projects and school expeditions from 1 week to 6 months with year round departures. We offer a personal and professional service drawing on years of experience from staff in the UK and overseas. Volunteers are needed to help work with disadvantaged children, communities, animals and conservation projects including: caring for elephants and wild animals; joining an Amazon jungle conservation project; scuba diving and marine conservation; community building projects; volunteering at orphanages and care homes; teaching English and running summer English camps. PoD believes in providing challenging, safe and fun experiences for individuals and groups to enjoy. We are passionate about giving volunteers of all ages the opportunity to use their energy, enthusiasm and personality where it counts.

Year Founded

2001