Volunteer Abroad - South Africa

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Dates: Year Round

Description: Volunteering abroad is the opportunity of a lifetime, and our flexible short-term programs let you design your ideal experience in South Africa. Volunteer from 1 week to 3 months in meaningful projects that will let you work side-by-side with local people and experience South African culture like never before.

As an international volunteer with Cross-Cultural Solutions, you're making a positive contribution, by sharing in the goals of a South African community that warmly welcomes you. You'll gain new perspectives and insight into the culture and yourself. It's an exciting and personally inspiring experience, and you'll develop memories that will stay with you forever.

In April 2007, after over a decade of experience operating volunteer programs, CCS opened its first program in South Africa in the metropolitan city of Cape Town. With a population of 2.9 million people, the city's diversity, strong sense of culture, and commitment to social change makes it an exciting place to volunteer.

In South Africa, volunteers are involved with:

    * caring for infants and children
    * teaching children
    * teaching English
    * assisting teachers
    * working towards womens empowerment
    * caring for the elderly
    * observing and assisting local health professionals
    * working with people affected by HIV/AIDS

Cross-Cultural Solutions is a recognized leader in the field of international volunteering, with more than 4,000 volunteers each year. Founded in 1995, we are an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations. CCS has a worldwide staff of more than 300 people, and operates in 12 countries, with administrative offices also located in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. We are in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations, and have been profiled in more than 500 news outlets.

Highlights: Cape Town's rich and complex history is often overshadowed by its reputation as one of the world's most beautiful cities, with majestic mountains, beautiful valleys, wide sandy beaches, and breathtaking scenery.

Volunteering with CCS in South Africa, you'll learn about the legacy of apartheid and how it shapes present-day Cape Town's social landscape. You'll learn about the changes, celebrations, and challenges that have emerged within its young democracy of ten years where the socio-economic impacts of poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS will be highlighted. You'll experience and enjoy a safe and structured program designed to help you truly immerse yourself in the local culture. You'll work side-by-side with the local people, contributing directly to community-based projects, some of which are located in townships. These dynamic grassroots organizations help to provide education, employment, social assistance, and health care - including HIV/AIDS outreach and education.

Cross-Cultural Solutions offers a wide variety of programs and experiences, but all of our volunteers come away with the same benefits:

- Personal Growth
- Having a Purpose
- Gaining Independence and Confidence
- Connecting with Others
- Seeing a Country from the Inside-Out

* The CCS Home-Base

CCS offers volunteers unprecedented support, and our entire infrastructure is designed around volunteer safety. Each of our programs is located close to a CCS Home-Base, your "home away from home" while volunteering abroad. Each Home-Base is exclusively for CCS volunteers, and designed for your safety and comfort. Here, you can connect with other volunteers and CCS staff, reflect on your experiences, enjoy meals together, read, and relax.

The CCS experience also includes cultural and learning activities so that you can learn about the local culture. These include an in-depth orientation, language training, guest speakers and more. Volunteers also have plenty of free time to relax, reflect, or explore the community and country.

Cost in US$: Please visit our website for program fees.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 and older, younger applicants accepted with application

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Other

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
• Alumni Network

Cross-Cultural Solutions's Mission Statement: Our mission is to operate volunteer programs around the world in partnership with sustainable community initiatives, bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding. We are an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations.

Year Founded: 1995