Good Hope Volunteers

I participated in two programs including the Horse Trails Project as well as the Wildlife Research Project. Gaining a wide range of experience relevant to numerous species including horses, farm animals, and wildlife was fantastic! Also, the hands-on opportunities allowed me to effectively acquire knowledge while contributing to animal health and conservation which was extremely rewarding. Furthermore, the accommodation and food arrangements were excellent as well even though I volunteered during the pandemic. I would definitely recommend Good Hope Volunteers to anyone who would like to make an impact pertaining to animal welfare or conservation.

The volunteer project that I chose was Caring For Elderly. I am a nurse here in Brazil and I specialize in adult and elderly health. My intention was to gain experience in the area, learn about a new culture, improve my English and live new experiences. I chose Good Hope because it is an internationally renowned school. The reality of elderly in Africa is quite different from what I knew in Brazil. My experience was incredible, I learned a lot, I lived the love of neighbor, brought new knowledge and it was an exchange of experiences among nursing African professionals. It was sad to have to leave Africa due to the corona virus crisis, but it was a rewarding experience. I hope to came back to Cape Town in next few months to conclude my mission! Thank you Good Hope for the opportunity. It was a great adventure!

I was allowed to work for two months in the volunteer project Safe Haven- Out of Africa, Children Fondation. This project includes five inspiring places where children live in South Africa. I was allowed to visit the fascinating school for the deaf several times and tried my skills more and more in sign language. I visited the school for the blind and gave my attention to the children who are excluded or even killed outside this school. I also went to the City of Refuge and met many people of different ages and saw how they are striving for a better and new life. I visited two different day care centers in the townships of Langa. I admired the way the teacher with very little resources. I became aware of how different the available resources are, or the norms and customs of my culture and this one in South Africa. But what struck me, what always remains the same, are the children. The children have welcomed me lovingly in all projects. They were patient with me even though communication was not always easy. They were grateful and appreciated that I was interested in them. And I am sure that I made an impression. Even if it was only my appearance that remains in their memory. I didn't always feel insanely needed by the teachers but I knew every day that I was doing this for the children. The children who have to grow up without parents, who have to live with fear day after day, the children who don't get a hug from an adult every day, who tell them how proud they are of their child. I have seen that most of the time the capacity was not there to give the children the attention they deserve as any child. I am therefore happy to have been able to give these children a smile, affection and loving attention during these two months. It was the right decision to organize my stay with Good Hope Volunteers. I always knew that Good Hopes was behind me and that I could approach them at any time. I am satisfied with my entire stay and will return after this "world crisis" and finish what I started. Thank you very much for the exciting impressions, the unforgettable moments and the touching stories that will shape my life forever. See you!

I was a volunteer at the Lifeline Clinic in Namibia and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I am really grateful for everything I learned and lived there. It was indescribable to be able to get to know incredible and welcoming people who were trying so hard to help the community and to ensure a decent and humane health care. I am also really grateful for everyone from GoodHope volunteers that helped me throughout everything. A special thanks to Vanessa and Bridget from Cape Town who were prepared to handle anything. It was such a great experience that I believe changed me for better! Thank you!

The month in South Africa is really beyond my exception. I thought it may be boring or difficult to spend this month, but this trip is incredible!!! I was kind of stressful because of last school year and some tests, the time in Africa gave me a time get rid of the pressures and even all the technologies. There was no signal and sometimes the electricity didn’t work. I’m so pleasure to live there for that month. The kids were nice and patient to help me to skate and play with me, the local people took care of me, and there were always people there to teach me how to do gardening work and take me to the river for a walk. I planted my own vegetable in the small garden! Before I went to Africa, I had never woke up at 4 a.m. to hike to the mountaintop for the sunrise and spend the whole afternoon read by the river. There are so many things I would like to share with you that the trip and the people there are wonderful! I won’t forget the wonderful time in South Africa. Thank for the help from Vanessa and Bridget.

The month that I've spent in South Africa is a time that I'll never forget. I've met so many cool new people from various different countries that were all super nice. The animals in the sanctuary were my favorites. From cheetahs to monkeys to birds, there were so many animals that I've never seen before and never imagined to ever be so close to them. Also the South African landscape and the cities we got to see were so beautiful and different. I can't wait to go back someday and explore more of this truly amazing country.

It was a unique experience that I will never forget. I made friends for life. South Africa is absolutely stunning and just being able to take care and give love to those amazing animals was so heartwarming. We had to work really hard (and get up really early) to satisfy the needs of the animals, to prepare the food, feed them and clean the enclosures, but it was all worth it! It felt amazing to be able to help them, even if just for a little while. It is a feeling that can’t be explained, you really have to experience it. I loved to play and cuddle with the dogs in the lodge on our free time. I completely fell in love with South Africa and I really miss it and the friends I made there! Can’t wait to go back and do more volunteering!

I can't express how grateful I am for everything that I got there. It was exactly what I wanted, a place where I could learn, where I had the chance of developing autonomy but also an environment where I had all the support that I could need, the safety I needed to enjoy everything without any concern. All that was provided by Good Hope Volunteers. The best thing, what I will never forget, was the opportunity to meet such amazing people: the people from Good Hope, the other volunteers, the people who worked regularly where I was volunteering. They will inspire me to be the best person that I can forever!

It was my first time traveling alone to another country and was the best trip of my life. The project is really nice, there's a lot to do I did great friendships and the coordinators of the project helped us with everythig and we were never alone. I want one day to be able to return.

This was a life- changing experience. It is hard work on the boat. But seeing the wild living animals was awesome!! The free time activities were bad! We had lectures when we had a day off and dead penguin or shark sections. I thought we could see something from South Africa during our free time.

I volunteered in Christine Revells Children’s Home in Athlone. It was the most wholesome, exciting and enjoyable 8 weeks of my life. Between exploring Cape Town’s obvious tourist attractions to spending my Thursday's in Observatory at beer pong to trying to decide where to take the children in Wednesday’s, I feel like I explored so much of the beautiful place. I’ve met amazing people from South Africa and I know will be in my life forever. I still keep in touch with those I met that were also volunteering in Cape Town and we always talk about how much we miss the magical place. Working in the children’s home changed my life for the better. The laughs and fun I had with the all the staff there only made me respect them more than I already did. Myself and two other volunteers would take a few children out on our day off inn Wednesday and bring them some place they’d never been before! It was a way for us to get to spend uninterrupted time with the children but also to explore a new place we hadn’t been before! It was the highlight of my week trying to see which children to take out and where to go. Can’t express into words how much I miss the staff, all of the children and Cape Town in general. Couldn’t recommend this project more as it definitely changed who I am for the better. The only downfall to my trip is that 8 weeks was too short so I’m currently planning my return!

To begin, Naankuse is a unique and incredible place. The people are super passionate and really love every individual animal. The atmosphere is super relaxed and the other volunteers are amazing. The uniqueness of this experience is mostly based on the fact that you are so close to the animals, for example: you walk with baboons, who grasp your hand and allow you to carry them around in your arms. When horse riding you come so close to the giraffe’s that you can almost touch them. The tent, where you sleep in, is quite comfortable and gives enough comfort. Despite all of this, I cannot leave this unsaid: you will not make a significant impact as an individual. There are a lot of volunteers and your group contain can 2-5 volunteers. Some tasks/activities are just for recreation, such as the horse riding. The total group of volunteers can even rise to 50 volunteers, which is too much in my opinion. In conclusion, as an individual you will not make a big impact, but as a collective you definitely do. Keep that in mind if you go there. If you want to learn more about the animals and conservation in general while having a really great time, than you’ve found the right place. But if you want to make a big impact as an individual, than I wouldn’t recommend naankuse.

It was a very good experience for me. I learned a lot about the people how they live there, about the culture and how blessed I am in Switzerland. I had issues with the communication between Hulda/ Raymond, the schools and me. What I really loved was to work with the kids. They are amazing and mad my day better. Sometimes the facilities/ infrastructure were a little bit difficult at the schools. One school don't have a field where we could play and the teachers from the school complaint, when we played to close to the class rooms but I had no other choice. In the school I felt save but not on the football field. Thats why I decided to go only in the morning to the schools. I skipped the afternoon at the field. Hulda and Raymond do a great job and I know it is not easy. They also have great ideas but have not the time to implement the new ideas. I enjoyed to work at the schools but I also think I payed to much for the whole program. For me could be more P.E. classes in the morning because sometimes I had only 2x 40min and then we were done. I had a lot of lessons they were skipe because of different reasons. I learned a lot about myself and the difference between the countries. I think for me it was a good opportunity.

I've been in Indigo Skate Camp - Valley of a thousand hills for 2 weeks, and I would say that I wanted to stay more. In a short time I learnt a Life there! The kids are amazing, they really enjoyed all the activities that we made it! The most incredible insight it was to lived joy in a simple and creative afternoon with them. And they were just happy. Everyday! I would say that everything that makes those kids live with proposal for the future it must be cherished. They are the future. I'm really thankful for Good Hope Volunteers team that have had supported me during the program! Dallas Oberholzer, founder of Indigo Skate Camp has such an amazing heart. Uncle and Tabis( local staff) that I used to work everyday with, Amazing people too, always smiling! Everyone that I met there it will stay in my memories forever.

Being part of "the Surfer Kids" was such an amazing experience. The program really has a great impact on the kids and teaches them valuable life skills. Spending time with the kids and getting to know them was incredible and I also got to improve my surfing skills. I can definitely recommend it!!

Being at Na'ankuse working for animals and with great people feels like we have done something in our life and it s so good. The foundation is amazing and when you are there you feel connected to the wild, to the roots, to only important things.

I was glad to be a part of this wonderful project that impacts other’s lives directly. This experience has changed my life forever. To be in contact with a different culture and different people and to live their lives for 2 weeks was amazing. You get to see those kids that don't have many opportunities in their lives but are always happy and with a smile in their faces. This is absolutely incredible to see how privileged we are and to appreciate everything that I have. They are amazing and it's awesome to see them challenging themselves every day with the surfing and skating - with no fear of anything. Thanks for the opportunity to be part of this amazing initiative. I could refresh my soul and now my energy is totally different, I can feel it. Thanks for everything I recommend 100% this project and I'm totally sure that it’s going to change your life forever.

Our first experience as volunteers at Naankuse in Namibia was incredible. The staff, the organisation, the involvement of people were amazing. As volunteer you participate to the longevity of the sanctuary. You have the chance to be so closed to the wildlife you could ever imagine and not as simple tourist but as actor. Everything you do there, is for the well-being of the animals and not just to satisfy your own curiosity. I really encourage people to go there: you will live something unique that you will never forget !

This was one of the best times of my life. I learned a lot about conservation of the environment, but what was really the most precious thing for me was that I got to meet people from several different countries! And Cape Town is a wonderful place, I do hope to come back and get to know even more about this city and this marvellous country.

It was an exceptional experience! The project gave me a lot more than I expected and was totally in line with the expectations I had. I learned a lot of different things while being in a magnificent setting and with superb people. All very kind to each other. I had a wonderful month, full of discoveries and encounters. I think I'll go back there one day, this place is really exceptional.