Economic Development Volunteering in South Africa

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 155,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back; it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

Meet the amazing people who call the settlements surrounding Cape Town home. By joining this project, you will get to make a real difference in the community and in the lives of the children, adults and families living in the area through a variety of ways. The residents of the community are looking to improve their lives and that is exactly the aim of this project. Plus, the project is flexible enough that if you have a special skill you want to teach (art, music, dance, etc.), you can arrange your own class or workshop and share your knowledge.

Leave a lasting mark on communities and nature while gaining a broader perspective on global issues through our immersive program. Spanning South Africa, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, this journey offers a unique blend of community engagement, youth development, sustainability, ecotourism, expedition, and leadership volunteer initiatives. Start your 6-month adventure as a Sports Coach in South Africa, igniting a passion for sports among Cape Town’s youth. Then, fly over to Ecuador, so you can participate in sustainable community development, renovating heritage sites and empowering local communities. The final adventure will conclude in Costa Rica, known for its incredible biodiversity, where you'll collaborate with local communities on conservation efforts and community-building projects while also honing your leadership skills. Amidst thrilling activities, like surfing in Coffee Bay Beach and exploring historic Quito, you will live in scenic accommodations with panoramic views and comfortable living. This program fosters not just tangible impacts but also a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, forging a path toward global citizenship.

A Raleigh South Africa Expedition is your chance for Adventure. In the stunning Kruger region, you have the chance to take action on some of the world's most pertinent issues through immersive Community projects, and impactful Environmental work. Through our life-changing Adventure Leadership Trek you will develop skills and experiences that will last a lifetime. What are you waiting for? The Greater Kruger area is located between Mozambique, Eswatini, and the world-famous Kruger National Park itself. In comparison to Cape Town, this area encapsulates Africa at its heart, not to mention boasting year-round sunshine. It is a wildlife haven with natural beauty unlike anywhere else in the world. You'll most likely spot plenty of wildlife while you're on our environmental project and trek. You'll be with experienced guides if you're in areas with any of the big 5. Whether you are taking a gap year or want to do something meaningful in your summer, join young volunteers from across the world and a community of thousands of Raleigh Alumni.

Contribute to social development programs in Cape Town, South Africa, while getting valuable work experience in project and event management. It's a brilliant opportunity to be part of a grassroots organization and take on various tasks. You'll be part of a social impact organization in Masiphumelele, a township just outside Cape Town. The organization runs a large community center for disadvantaged children, provides educational workshops, and supports women's empowerment projects. It's a multi-layered program that runs multiple projects and events, and intern tasks are hugely varied. Your tasks will include the following: - Coordinating educational workshops at a community level to raise awareness around health, hygiene, and human values - Creating and assisting with fundraising events - Assisting with planning for seasonal events, like Women's Month, Mandela Day, etc - Assisting with weekly or monthly events at Yoga Shala, the volunteer house you'll be based at - Coordinating volunteer activities If you're interested in project management, event coordination, and social development, this is an opportunity to get hands-on experience!

Experience the power of visual storytelling during this unique humanitarian photography program in a town just outside Cape Town—Stellenbosch, South Africa. As a photographer on this program, you'll learn how to document the work of local nonprofit organizations effectively, and you'll put that knowledge into practice during photographic assignments. You'll be tutored by a professional humanitarian photographer with extensive experience and a deep passion for nonprofit photography. Through personal guidance, you'll be sure to grow both in skill and confidence as a photographer. This workshop is a wonderful way to make an impact through your lens and experience South Africa in a unique way. During your stay in Stellenbosch, your accommodation, transport, and meals will be taken care of. You'll be based in a comfortable lodge in the city center, allowing you to easily explore some of the many highlights Stellenbosch and Cape Town have to offer. To qualify for this NGO photography program, you'll need to have basic camera skills and some photographic experience. The workshop runs several times a year, and you can join us for 2 to 4 weeks.

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!

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.

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.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

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.

Apart from the normal struggles of living with a disability, social stigma and discrimination surrounding disabilities mean that People With Disabilities (PWD) face even greater challenges. In many instances, PWDs are not afforded the same opportunities as regular members of society, and this, in turn, means they are often unable to contribute productively to their communities. Your role will be based in a local care centre, which provides social activities, food, assistance with day-to-day life, and vocational training. You will work alongside centre staff, assisting them and taking on responsibilities as your skills and experience allow. As a volunteer, you will help with daily activities that involve: Social interaction Income generation through the creation and sale of arts and crafts Vocation and skills-based training Kitchen work and gardening to provide nutritious meals This project is located in Hout Bay, a bus ride away from central Cape Town with all the city has to offer tourists. Accommodation is at a lodge located right by the beach and with a bus stop just outside. Project work is from Monday to Friday, with the weekends free to explore and have fun.

Take a semester or academic year in the fascinating Stellenbosch with AIFS Abroad. You can earn up to 15 credits studying at the University of Stellenbosch. The courses are delivered in English. Choose your course on the Full Curriculum Program. Focus on South African history and culture through the General Education Program. Global Service Learning and a Learning for Sustainable Community Engagement program are also available. Live in the student residence hall at the heart of campus life. You will have a single en-suite room with shared common areas and laundry facilities. Internet access and a meal allowance are included. You will enjoy cultural and social activities such as: • Beach excursions • Trips to local craft and food markets • Vineyard tour • Day trip along the famous Garden Route • Day trips to Cape Town, Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope Nature Preserve, and Boulder’s Beach (home of 3,000 African penguins) Optional excursions include a 3-day trip to the Cederberg Mountains and a 5-day visit to Addo Elephant Park and Breede River.

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!

Join us as a Fundraising Manager at Daktari! Are you passionate about making a difference? Do you thrive in establishing meaningful connections and securing vital resources for impactful projects? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you. As a Fundraising Manager, you will work closely with our existing sponsors, nurturing relationships and ensuring their continued support. You will seek out new sponsors, forging partnerships that align with our mission and values. By reviewing and adapting our funding proposals, you will play a key role in developing innovative strategies to propel our project forward. This position is available for a minimum of 6-12 months. We provide solar power and internet access for computers. Please be aware that our camp includes animal enclosures and the surroundings are home to various wild animals. Daktari is located near Kruger Park in South Africa. Our project site spans across a 600-hectare private game reserve, where we strive to educate and inspire local children, fostering community development. To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and why you are interested in this position.

Join Nourish Eco Village and make a real impact by supporting agricultural entrepreneurship in rural communities. Help develop sustainable farming businesses, tackle food security, and empower local entrepreneurs through training in agro-ecology, agri-processing, and product development. Get hands-on at our training farm, assisting with daily tasks, managing chicken coops, and creating products like pickled beetroots, hot sauce, and gluten-free flour. Stay at our on-site backpackers, work alongside a passionate team, and gain valuable skills in sustainable farming, education, and conservation. You can also engage in our other impactful programs: Green Kidz – Teach environmental education in local schools Rise Creches – Support early childhood development for vulnerable children Social Enterprise – Help small businesses grow through our incubator Eco Village – Promote recycling, sustainability, and community outreach During weekends, explore Kruger National Park, immerse yourself in South African culture, and experience an adventure of a lifetime! Join us now and be part of real change!

South Africa has celebrated an end to formal apartheid but, despite its rich natural resources and can-do attitude, the majority of the black population still faces huge challenges. Job prospects are still in low supply, housing and the standard of living are still far below expectations, access to running tap water is limited, decent flushing toilets are shared, and millions still live in slums. Much of the work and projects involve helping the overcrowded community of Imizano Yethu township where most of the residents live in makeshift iron shacks, sharing communal taps and toilets with hundreds of neighbors, where the roads are potholed, and where the basic infrastructure is rundown. Volunteers take on various tasks: - improve and maintain normal community and preschool (crèche) care centers - assist with the refurbishment of the Community Youth Center - rebuild shacks lost due to fires - replace simple roofing - waterproof homes - install concrete flooring - paint and refurbish local schools - participate in community and school sports programs like soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and physical education lessons

People and Places is part of an innovative and well-respected project that aims to provide children and young adults from rural areas with access to a world-class education through digital technology. In this age, across the developed world, digital technology is fast becoming one of the main tools for learning. But in rural Africa, with its overcrowded classrooms, lack of teachers, and few resources, this is an impossible dream. Our partner learning center aims to address this widening gap between the haves and have-nots by giving children and young adults in South Africa access to the digital world and the knowledge of how to navigate it. Whilst the project has local staff, it needs volunteers to help increase its efficiency and effectiveness in specific areas, and so would welcome expertise in the following areas: • Teaching or classroom support • Developing proficiency and confidence in English through conversation and reading • Digital technology, especially education-based programs, and apps • Hospitality, media, music, or conservation industries • Creative art activities for children • Preparation of imaginative resources • Teacher training