Health Care 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.

Volunteering with animals can provide personal growth, an amazing sense of fulfillment, and valuable experience in the field of veterinary work. Volunteers will work closely with the cats and dogs providing services like feeding, grooming, and helping the animals to socialize. Volunteers can bottle-feed kittens and puppies, and work hands-on in the veterinary clinic and mobile clinic. Volunteers will get to meet the local people as well with opportunities to spread awareness and education about taking care of animals and how to treat them humanely and responsibly. Volunteers live together in a fully furnished house in Noordhoek, a suburb about 30 minutes from the heart of Cape Town. Volunteers will have daily transportation to and from the animal clinic. The programs are kept small so it is easy to make friends and become comfortable in the safe and fully equipped environment. Participants can choose to volunteer for 2 to 12 weeks and programs start monthly so it is easy to find a time that works for each individual.

This unique research internship offers a profound opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a community in need by looking into various critical areas. The focus of your research will span across nutrition education, breastfeeding practices, the intricate dynamics of the food chain, and the pivotal field of psychosocial support programs. Throughout the duration of your internship, you'll engage in in-depth exploration and research within these diverse areas, all within a dynamic and enriching learning environment. During the internship, you'll be joining forces with an NGO committed to tackling human challenges through a holistic approach. At the core of the organization's mission lies a strategic implementation of projects surrounding nutrition, skills development, and psychosocial support. Through these projects, the organization aims not only to address immediate challenges but also to cultivate sustainable solutions, fostering resilience and empowering individuals in the long run. Your role within this organization will encompass a variety of tasks designed to contribute to its goals, as you gain valuable hands-on experience that’ll help you in your professional career.

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.

Volunteer on a program in a colorful township just outside Cape Town, educating child-minders, parents, and children on the importance of eating well and general hygiene practices to prevent the spread of germs. These fun and interactive workshops are set up in an informal environment, with topics like the identification of symptoms for general childhood diseases such as chickenpox, mumps, diarrhea, dehydration, colds, and flu. Approximately 75,000 children in South Africa die before the age of 5. This program aims to target as many people in local communities as possible in an attempt to increase the levels of knowledge about healthy eating and general hygiene practices.

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.

Experience Durban, the heart of Kwa-Zulu Natal province in South Africa. Child Family Health International is proud to have operated this excellent program in collaboration with many health care providers and public health projects in the Durban area since January of 2006. The Durban program highlights the challenges faced by the post-apartheid public health care system taking into consideration the threats of HIV/AIDS, environmental health issues, and other underlying causes of poor health in the region. The program will focus on health issues addressed through clinical interventions and community development projects in health. This program combines service-learning opportunities in public health and clinical settings. This site will focus on learning about public health issues in the region in a mostly observational manner and participating, in a limited way in the provision of health care at clinical facilities.

Gain real-world experience in criminology and psychology by joining this hands-on volunteer programme in one of South Africa’s major cities. Ideal for university students and graduates, this opportunity helps you build professional skills, contribute to meaningful work, and explore a global perspective in the field. Work directly with a foundation supporting abuse victims, where you’ll take part in psychological and forensic assessments, counselling sessions, therapy programmes, and support services. Help guide young offenders through diversion programmes aimed at rehabilitation and justice reform. Assist families and children with court preparations, helping them feel confident and ready to share their stories in pursuit of justice. Contribute to another foundation’s community-based workshops, delivering psychosocial education on topics such as gender-based violence, abuse, youth support, mental health, and more. Immerse yourself in South African culture while making a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities.

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.

Volunteering Journeys South Africa programs are extremely popular as there are a diverse set of volunteering opportunities, ranging from teaching English, sports coaching & medical electives to animal & wildlife conservation programs such as the Big 5 animal conservation program. A big draw to volunteer in South Africa is the range of other activities that you can undertake whilst you are participating on our volunteering programs. Programs in South Africa are ideal for gap year volunteering, family volunteering and anyone looking for an adventure filled volunteer experience! South Africa is aptly named the “Rainbow Nation” for its fight for several decades to overcome aparthied and other racially discriminatory practices. Although aparthied is a thing of the past, the country still suffers from economic disparities, gender-based violence, and illegal wildlife trade. Our volunteer programs tackle some of these issues. As in any other developing country, South Africa needs volunteers who can help with achieving the short and long-term objectives of humanitarian & animal welfare programs. Volunteering programs are in Cape Town and wildlife is in Kruger National Park!

Magister South Africa offers a broad range of internship and volunteering placements in Cape Town. As one of the most established and well-known internship and volunteer organizations in South Africa's capital, our main goal is geared toward matching and placing qualified international students, interns, and volunteers with dynamic companies and organizations based in Cape Town. With our wide network of contacts and range of skills, we strive to ensure that the participants' experiences abroad remain unforgettable one. Magister offers great value to students and volunteers and invests in their personal development and education as well as their careers. We match placements according to qualifications, interests, and university requirements to ensure a unique internship or volunteer experience that best fits individual needs.