Staff Interview with Kevin Mudenda

Why do you do what you do?

Simple—my love for people, specifically young children and youth, coupled with my desire to help them grow and develop! Many of the children we work with have natural talents and abilities but just need some extra motivation and encouragement. With parents often working two or three jobs to sustain their families, it's great to be able to provide kids with some individual attention! 

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job by far is the people I work and interact with! Not only do I work with an amazing and dedicated team, but spending time with the volunteers and children at the various projects always makes my day!

In addition to this, because I work with the same group of children from year to year, I get to see how they grow and develop as people. Knowing that the team, together with our volunteers, have played a role in this is really rewarding and something I am tremendously proud of.

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

I come from a very mixed family, being born in Zambia to a South African dad and Sri Lankan mom, so from day one I have been exposed to different people, cultures, religions, and languages.

In addition to this, having worked in the airline, tourism and hospitality fields all my working career, I am naturally able to interact and get along with any and every type of person with minimum effort. All of this enables me to understand and work effectively with volunteers coming in from every corner of the globe!

What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?

When working with large groups of people from varied backgrounds and cultures, there will always be clashes of personalities and belief systems. We all believe that the way we see and do things is the correct way. The only way to overcome this is through a whole lot of patience (of which I am abundantly blessed) and effective communication—speaking and listening. 

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

Always keep an open mind when traveling to foreign countries, especially those with very different surroundings, cultures, languages, customs, etc. to your home country. Don’t be afraid to immerse yourself! Also, try not to have any preconceptions or expectations as this can make or break a trip! We are way too often misguided by media sensationalism. 

Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?

Price is always something that works heavily in our favor! I'm continuously shocked by how much other organizations charge to volunteer in Cape Town. We have priced our program really well and it's a great value when you take into account everything that's included in the price.

We know these volunteers are young and many are traveling alone for the first time. They are coming here to make a difference and should not be taken advantage of.  

What makes Stay Africa Volunteers easy to market to potential participants?

We are located in Cape Town, one of the most absolutely beautiful cities and home to a huge melting pot of colors, cultures, religions, tastes, sounds, etc. Cape Town appeals to tourists and volunteers alike. You can give back to those less fortunate than yourself during the day and then spend the evening enjoying a cocktail at an upmarket beachfront bar!

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

We work with a lot of young volunteers who have just completed high school. I’ve seen participants grow as people while they are here. Many of them don't know anything about life outside the western world, so it's fantastic to see how they overcome their initial "fear" (often built up over years of exposure to inaccurate and exaggerated media) and become very confident in themselves and their ability to effect real change. A nice added bonus is the friendships they make while here, both with locals and fellow volunteers. 

How do you help support participants?

Our volunteers have 24/7 support while on the program. From the minute they land at Cape Town airport, one of our team members is there to meet them and transport them through to our volunteer house/accommodation. Our house is strictly used by our participants i.e. not open to any members of the public or any other random travelers.

This definitely makes them feel a lot safer. We also have a full-time, live-in house manager on the premises to answer any questions or assist with anything throughout the day or night. All our program participants are also directly in contact with me via phone, email, or social media. We are also available for skype calls prior to arrival. 

What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?

The number one question is whether or not South Africa/Cape Town is a safe place for tourists and foreign visitors? I always respond that, just like any other country or city you visit, it's as safe as you make it for yourself. Of course, crime is an issue in Cape Town. However, it's important to realize that there are very different parts and areas of the city, just like any other. We do have areas that are unsafe, but that applies to us as locals too. 

Our program is designed around the safety of our participants and they are always in a controlled environment, unless they decide to venture out on their own. During orientation, we discuss safety and security in detail and we chat about the do's and don'ts.

Since I joined the organization in 2013, we have hosted thousands of participants and the worst problem volunteers have encountered is pick-pocketers. Not a nice thing to experience, but it could happen anywhere in the world. 

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

I think it's important because it helps you to grow as a person, and gives you a different perspective on things that you thought you knew! We all have preconceived ideas about countries, people, religions, cultures, etc. These are often very far from reality so it's really important to immerse yourself in new and different cultures.

I have always been a "city boy" and could never understand how people survive in rural village settings until I lived in one for a few months in Thailand. It's amazing how you gradually adapt and find that people not only survive, but thrive in very different conditions. 

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

Do it! You will never waste money on travel! Visiting a country as a tourist is great, but traveling on a volunteer/work/education program is a hundred times better and more fulfilling! As I mentioned before, you get the best of both worlds. You'll still get to do all the tourist activities and see all the attractions, but you will also get to integrate and immerse yourself fully in the local culture! 

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel means traveling with good intentions and for a good social purpose. It's important that you enjoy the tourist offerings of the country you are traveling to, but making a positive social impact while there makes the experience so much more rewarding. Often the biggest impact is made by just spending time with these people and sharing experiences. These moments are often remembered and cherished far longer than material donations or touristy souvenirs.