South Africa Childrens volunteer program

Ridhi

The Western Cape, where our family volunteering program is based, is a very culturally diverse area of South Africa. There is a large integration of the underprivileged with the wealthy. The main cultures that you will be working with are Xhosa or Afrikaans South Africans. Most of these children can speak English, yet their home language may be Afrikaans or Xhosa. The homes they live in are often built from scrap metal and second-hand wood, usually they do not have running water in their homes. Forty percent of the families in these areas lack a male head of household and the children often have no one to monitor their educational progress or after-school activities. The children we work with live in the nearby township or settlement in Cape Town, known as Du Noon and Wolwerivier.
The main objective of our family volunteering program in South Africa is the facilitation of poverty prevention programmes and upliftment in the settlements. We try to assist the community assisting in or educating communities in agriculture projects such as subsistence farming. With this, we help start new vegetable gardens, work in existing vegetable gardens or educate about growing food for own use. This assists with food aid and poverty alleviation. We engage these communities in regular education, motivation and social upliftment programmes and exciting events such as fun at the beach, various sporting activities and education programs. This program is perfect for parents who want to get involved with a host of different activities with their children involving community development.

Family Volunteering in South Africa Gallery


What is involved


Volunteers assist with the facilitation of poverty prevention programmes and upliftment in underprivileged settlements. You will have the opportunity to assist in or educate communities in projects such as subsistence farming. This may include starting new vegetable gardens, working in existing vegetable gardens or educating about growing their own food. We engage communities in regular education, motivation and social upliftment programmes and exciting events such as fun at
the beach, various sporting activities and outings which are hosted throughout the year.
Previous projects include:

  • Clearing ground, erecting preschool classrooms, fencing and laying down grass for a preschool
  • Building a brick school for disabled children
  • Planting and maintaining several vegetable gardens for families
  • Planting and maintaining a vegetable garden for the preschool
  • Building a camp for goats who were kept in overcrowded, inhumane conditions
  • Donation drives
  • Education or assisting in local kindergartens

The project highlights include

  • Flexibility to run your own programs and lessons
  • Working in settlements with disadvantaged families
  • Using your initiative to create activities
  • Helping children develop skills
  • Experience in working with children and groups
  • Facilitating new experiences for children
  • Learning about South African cultures and way of life

Your week could look like this:

Monday
AM: Volunteer Meeting
PM: Office Day
Tuesday
AM: Edu-Care
PM: Veggie Garden
Wednesday

AM: Edu-Care
PM: Cleaning resources (Chairs, Tables, Toys)
Thursday
AM: Edu-Care
PM: Fundraising
Friday
AM: Edu-Care
PM: General Duties
Saturday
AM: Off OR Activities with kids
PM: Off
Sunday
Off

Some details


You can land any time on Saturday.

This project runs all year round except over the season break when we are closed from the 23rd December to the 2nd
January. During this time volunteers may still use the accommodation and will be provided food.
Holiday club
During the school holidays, our projects run differently and according to our holiday club schedule. The activities are
dependant upon the weather, length of holiday and number of attendees.
The aim of the holiday club program is for the kids to have fun and to keep them off the streets. The activities during this
time are less structured and more focused on the enjoyment of the children.
Please note: If a holiday club activity requires the payment of an entrance fee, volunteers will have to pay for themselves.
The programme fee is used to cover the entrance for the children only, however, we do try to plan as many free events as
possible.
First Term: 25 March - 5 April
Second Term: 24 June - 19 July
Third Term: 30 September - 11 October
Fourth Term: 14 December - 23 December
2024 Terms
First Term: 20 March - 3 April
Second Term: 14 June - 09 July
Third Term: 20 September - 01 October
Fourth Term: 11 December - 23 December

2024 2025
Jan 20,27 Jan 4,11, 18, 25
Feb 3,10,17,24 Feb 1, 8, 15, 22
Mar 2,9, 16, 23, 30 Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Apr 6,13, 20, 27 Apr 5, 12, 19, 26
May 4,11,18, 25 May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Jun 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Jun 7, 14, 21, 28
Jul 6,13, 20, 27 Jul 5, 12, 19, 26
Aug 3,10, 17, 24 Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Sep 21, 28 Sep 6, 13, 20, 27
Oct 5,12,19,26 Oct 4, 11, 18, 25
Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Nov 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Dec 7, 14 Dec 6, 13, 20

What your first three days looks like


Day One: Arrival day

Pool area- South Africa House
You are collected from the airport and taken to your accommodation. You will be shown around and given a map of the area. You have the day at your own leisure so you can explore the beach, shops, bars and restaurants. In the evening you are served a welcome meal.

Day Two - Area Orientation

South Africa Volunteers on table mountain
Start the day with breakfast at the accommodation. Your friendly staff member will teach you about the bus system before you head out to Cape Town City Center. Do a walking tour visiting historical sites like the Castle of Good Hope and the Grand Parade. Alternatively you can take the cable car up Table Mountain and enjoy breath-taking views of the city. In the evening head back on the local bus to Table View where you can join the staff, guests and the locals at one of the restaurants or bars along the beachfront in Table View!

Day Three- Start Project Work

Surf and Sports South Africa
After breakfast you will be transported to your project. New volunteers will receive training and additional information on our projects and the areas where you will be working.

Weekend activities


Surfing

Surf and sport - South Africa volunteer
Take surfing lessons at the sandy white beaches of Blouberg or Muizenburg (weather permitting of course!)

Cape Town Walking Tour

best volunteer abroad program 2024
Take a guided walk through the city to learn the history from the days of Dutch settlement though the Apartheid years.

Wine Country

South Africa Stellenbosch
Meander through stunning landscapes and wine farms of Stellenbosch. Stop at wine estates for tastings.

Cape Point

cape-point-South Africa
Follow the scenic coastal roads of the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point where the two oceans meet.

Testimonial Videos


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