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Counseling Volunteering in South Africa

22 Counseling Volunteer Programs in South Africa

Raleigh International

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Venturer Manager: Health and Wellbeing Coordinator

Join our team of Venturer Managers as a Health and Wellbeing Coordinator. Working alongside Project Managers, you provide young volunteers support with their mental health and overall well-being while on the field. As part of the Venturer Manager (VM) Team, you are vital to ensuring our programs run smoothly and effectively. Many of our Expedition participants have never been away from home for a long period. Some of them might feel worried and anxious, and your role is to help create an environment where they feel safe and secure. We welcome anyone aged 25-75 to join Raleigh Expedition. Essential skills and qualifications: - Background in a mental health, counseling, or support role - Mental health first-aid qualification, with experience where possible - Ability to lead and support a group of international young people from diverse backgrounds - Flexible and adaptable in a challenging environment We understand that a wide range of skills and qualifications could be beneficial to the Health and Wellbeing Coordinator role. Please let us know in your application what skills you possess that could benefit our Expeditions.

Roots Interns

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Youth Social Work Internship in Cape Town, South Africa

Gain practical social work experience during this exciting internship program in Cape Town, South Africa. You'll be part of a community center in Masiphumelele, a township on the outskirts of the city that provides a safe and stimulating space for up to a hundred children every afternoon. Many of these children have experienced different levels of trauma, and as an intern, you'll assist the program in providing stimulating activities and counseling sessions for groups of children when needed. This internship is a great opportunity for getting practical experience in social work while supporting an important social development program. Your tasks will include offering individual or group counseling sessions to children with troubled backgrounds; helping create stimulating, educative, and fun activities for the children in the aftercare program; and helping cook for and feed the children at the center, among others. Preferably you'll have an academic background or experience in sociology, social work, community development, education, pedagogy, or something similar.

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Projects Abroad

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Global Leader In Meaningful Travel. Trusted By 130,000

At Projects Abroad, we’re passionate about travel with a purpose. Since being founded in 1992, more than 130,000 volunteers have traveled to over 20 destinations around the world. Our programs will make you step out of your comfort zone and engage with your new friends from around the world. These are long-term projects, led by local people and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By taking part in our programs, even for a short time, you will be contributing towards a sustained effort to support the communities that host us! We believe no other provider offers the safety and security to their volunteers and interns that we do. You'll receive 24-hour staff support from our trained staff, alongside a gold standard of safety planning of your trip - so you don't have to worry about a thing. Choose a project you are passionate about from working with children to medical internship, conservation, and wildlife volunteering. We offer projects starting at one week in over 20 stunning destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America & The Caribbean, South Pacific & Europe. Ready to make a difference? Follow the link to visit our website!

Love Volunteers

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Volunteer Abroad & Make a REAL Difference - From US$175!

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

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Connect-123 Internship Programs

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Global Internship & Volunteer Programs with Connect-123!

Looking for an international internship that will set you apart—and give you the skills, experience, and confidence to thrive in your career? Connect-123 designs fully customized programs that match your background and goals, offering hands-on experience in some of the world’s most exciting cities: Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, and Sydney. Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or experienced professional, our programs span dozens of fields including business, finance, medicine, public health, journalism, marketing, human rights, law, sustainability, education, and more. You’ll gain meaningful, career-related experience while also exploring life in a new culture. We take care of the details so you can focus on making the most of your time abroad. From the moment you apply, our team helps guide you through the process, secure your placement, and prepare you for your new adventure. With flexible start dates and customizable program lengths, your life-changing internship begins on your schedule.

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Vocational Impact

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Psychology and Mental Health Programme in South Africa

Gain hands-on experience in psychology, mental health, or social work through this dynamic volunteer programme in one of South Africa’s major cities. Perfect for students and graduates, this opportunity offers real-world exposure, research potential, and professional growth in a global context. Support a foundation that aids abuse victims by assisting with psychological and forensic assessments, providing counselling and therapies, and offering victim support and youth diversion programmes. Help prepare families and children for court cases, ensuring victims have the support they need to pursue justice. Collaborate with a second foundation focused on community outreach, where you’ll deliver psychosocial training and workshops for children, social workers, and community leaders on issues like gender-based violence, abuse, mental health, and youth development. All while immersing yourself in the vibrant culture of South Africa.

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WorldStrides

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Community Engagement in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town, known for its diverse and growing population, is rated as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Opportunities to serve all year round include daycares for lower-income families, education centers for disadvantaged learners, and human rights organizations. Partnering with community-based organizations and completing a reflection-based curriculum will allow you to learn how local experts address these issues in their communities while gaining intercultural leadership skills. Each of our community-based organizations is unique, so please visit our website to learn more about your options. Our Cape Town program is recommended for anyone interested in the education and/or disability service fields.

Institute for Global Studies

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Psychology Internships in South Africa

Sign up for a Psychology Internship in South Africa. This is also open to volunteers with relevant skills and interests. Offered by World Internships and based in Cape Town, this allows you to live and work in a vibrant city. You will spend 4-12 weeks (the ideal duration is eight weeks to 12 weeks) weeks staying in a local community. This will be a truly enriching experience combined with cultural immersion and professional practice. Rest assured that success awaits you amid an interesting culture and diverse landscape. Throughout the program, you don’t just get to work. You will also engage in recreational activities, ranging from relaxing excursions to a nearby national park or an exhilarating surfing session in Long Beach. Considered a World Design Capital in 2014, Cape Town boasts a rich design and art scene. You will have access to numerous world-class art galleries as well as restaurants and bars. The best part is we can help arrange trips and tours to destinations in and around the city.

Volunteer International Adventures

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Social Work, Education & Youth Development in South Africa

This youth development project was started to provide young people living on the streets with a safe daily drop-off center and to mediate between the youth, families, and schools. Today, it has expanded and caters to at-risk youth in the town of Knysna. It is the perfect project for those interested in social work, sports, art and music, teaching, and counseling. As a volunteer, you'll assist a team of loving childcare workers and social workers. This is a fantastic project for educators, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and individuals with an interest in these fields. The main goal is to assist in and support the daily program organized for the youth attending the center voluntarily. If you wish to join this project as part of a social work internship, we can arrange this. The center is set in one of the poorer areas of Knysna. Their daily program includes modules in life skills, art therapy, sports, numbers, literacy, reading, music, personal development, and other topics. It takes place during the South African school term and isn't available from 15th December to 15th January. A fun-based program is also available and revolves around soccer or talent shows.

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Magister South Africa Programs for Students and Volunteers

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Internships & Volunteer Positions in Cape Town, South Africa

You don’t have to break the bank to learn a new language, explore a new culture, or acquire compulsory work experience in another country. Whether you seek an internship or a volunteering opportunity, Magister will help you realize that dream trip to South Africa. At Magister South Africa, we have matched and placed participants in various programs – from internships in companies to volunteer projects with local communities – since 2000. Besides offering a wonderful experience, we guarantee safety and security as well as immersion through regular events and activities. If you are seeking a challenging internship or simply wishing to experience a cosmopolitan lifestyle while contributing to a good cause, we can definitely lead you in the right direction!

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Hope Warriors Children's Charity

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After-school Academic & Learner Welfare Support

Over 80% of South African 10-year-olds struggle to read for meaning, indicating a serious literacy crisis. After-school academic support programs have proven effective in improving educational outcomes, especially in under-resourced communities. These programs help reduce educational inequality by offering academic and psychosocial support, and by creating safe, nurturing spaces for vulnerable children and youth. Hope Warriors Children’s Charity provides an inspirational learning environment in Soshanguve, where children receive free homework help and academic enrichment. Activities include reading aloud, mental math, and Spelling Bee competitions to build confidence and skills. We encourage children to stay focused on their studies, living out Nelson Mandela’s belief that "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." To support learning, we also provide meals and proper clothing, helping children who face hunger and poor nutrition to concentrate better and engage more actively in school life.

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Latest Program Reviews

Productive Summer

October 06, 2025by: Christine Nguyen - United StatesProgram: Global Internship & Volunteer Programs with Connect-123!
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During my internship, I contributed to an international project focused on autism screening and community research priorities. My work involved systematically screening studies, reviewing inclusion/exclusion criteria, and extracting detailed data into shared spreadsheets. I gained experience in critically reading abstracts and full texts, interpreting methodologies, and paying close attention to performance metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, and AUC values. Beyond technical skills, this internship gave me a deeper appreciation for the nuances of autism research — especially the importance of ethical considerations, community involvement, and shifting away from overly medicalized models of disability. I learned how to apply exclusion codes consistently, collaborate with peers across time zones, and manage large datasets precisely. This experience strengthened my research skills and my ability to reflect on the broader impact of scientific work. It challenged me to think critically about equity in autism research, including representation across countries, age ranges, and support needs. I now feel much more confident navigating scientific literature and contributing to conversations around research priorities. Overall, my internship was both practical and meaningful. It reinforced my academic interests in neurobiology and psychology while developing transferable organizational skills, critical analysis, and teamwork skills. I am grateful for the experience and for the opportunity to contribute to research that has real-world impact. Thanks again, and we look forward to keeping in touch!!

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