Community Service, Human Rights, & Medical Volunteer Programs in South Africa

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: ongoing

Description: Community service volunteer opportunities range from teaching and mentoring students from disadvantaged communities to assisting with the overall operations of education, social work, and youth development programs.

Human rights volunteer positions range from working with gender and refugee rights legislation to HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns to helping hands-on at local refugee camps. Projects range from research to on-the-ground training and support.

Medical volunteer work ranges from conducting medical research to providing non-medical care to patients, attending the ward rounds and helping the nursing staff. We've partnered with several hospitals, research institutes, and hospices in Cape Town and coordinate both research-based and clinical health care programs.

Highlights: Cape Town is rated as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and for good reason: few cities are home to white sandy beaches, scenic hiking trails, spectacular ocean views, and a 1,086 metre tall mountain!

Cape Town has something for everyone. Nature lovers can explore national parks, picturesque botanical gardens, historic winelands, and endless stretches of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts. Adventure-seekers can sail, paraglide, surf, bungee jump, shark cage dive, sandboard, cycle, climb, run, paddle, and swim their way around the Western Cape at any time of the year. Wild African game safaris are within a two-hour drive. And the social scene is not to be missed, from affordable, world-class restaurants on the Waterfront to mingling with local students at popular Long Street clubs.

Cape Town is also a city of sharp contrasts, where you can explore issues of social change and diversity and learn about new cultures.

While your volunteer experience is of vital importance, the Connect-123 team understands that your time in Cape Town is not limited to work alone. We're firm believers in the motto "work hard and play even harder" and we organize numerous social and cultural events for Connect-123 volunteers throughout the year.

Qualifications: Programs are open to everyone, however, preference is given to current students and graduates with the following backgrounds: pre-med, medical school, nursing, social work, pre-law, law school, political science, international relations, public policy, education, and other humanities-related fields.

Cost in US$: $1,295

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 to 35

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad

Connect-123 Internship & Volunteer Programs's Mission Statement: Connect-123 facilitates internship, volunteer and service learning opportunities for international undergraduate and graduate students in Cape Town in a wide range of fields including business, education, engineering, health care, human rights, journalism, social work, and sustainable development. All programs are designed to create equal value for the international students, as well as for the local organizations where they work.

Year Founded: 2005