Care in South Africa with Projects Abroad

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All Year Round (you set the start and end date)

Description: Located on the southern tip of the African continent, South Africa is a country of rich natural resources and stunning landscapes, which despite its emergence as a strong economic power, sadly still shares many of its neighbors' issues of high unemployment with vast numbers of the population living below the poverty line.

The infamous townships are full of people desperate to create a better world for their children. Since unemployment is high; almost 40%, these poorer areas are full of basic social problems such as alcoholism and domestic violence. Parents are not keen to have their children affected by their surroundings, and attempt to keep them busy through crèches, schools and after school activities, though this is not easy with limited or no funds.

Projects Abroad provides much needed hands on support to these crèches and after school clubs, to enable them to keep their costs low while still providing a safe and stimulating environment for these children to grow up in.

Whatever your age, abilities or level of experience you are welcome to join a volunteer Care project in South Africa; whether you are on a Gap Year (or even a Gap Month) from further education, or are coming to us during a Career Break. All we ask is that you have enthusiasm for and a commitment to the work, the staff team and, of course, the children.

Voluntary Childcare Work with Projects Abroad

Projects Abroad has links with a number of crèches in the townships and surrounding poorer suburbs of Cape Town to provide much needed and usually free care for disadvantaged children in the area.

Volunteers can also spend some time as part of a team working on community projects like building new classrooms and playgrounds or painting and decorating children's wards. Community projects are typically under-funded and under-resourced so our volunteers are always welcome.

Volunteering Abroad on a Care Project in South Africa

Volunteers on care projects in South Africa also work in care centers and crèches, where you help the children to learn basic but important life skills, and make sure the children are fed, washed and dressed. Structured work is vital, to help prepare the children for school and create a calm and constructive environment.

You'll work alongside your placement supervisor to create a work plan that you and the children will follow. In addition to this, sport, art, music and drama are always popular activities on these placements. Start a choir, put on a play or organize a sports day!

Local staff are often highly overworked, and don't have the time to give the children much one-on-one attention. You could be the one to make the difference by inspiring the children and maybe even the carers too.

All of the volunteer care projects in South Africa are keen to have volunteers with fresh ideas and energy to help the permanent staff. We try to take advantage of all of our volunteers' talents and skills that can contribute to the care and rehabilitation of the children, so let us know how you can help.

For volunteers with specific music skills, there are also opportunities to get involved as a music teacher and/or mentor to the children of Hout Bay's "Music Academy". The academy has been set up to allow children from the townships to learn modern instruments, but also to ensure that traditional music, especially that from the colored community which is slowly dying out, is carried through to the next generation. This would run alongside any other care project in the afternoons during the week.

Highlights: Projects Abroad is based in the bustling cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, in the heart of the Western Cape. From its beginnings as the first European outpost at the Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town has grown into the third largest city in South Africa.

All accommodation is organized, paid for and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, and these are verified just before you arrive in South Africa.

In addition, this project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: None

Cost in US$: From US$ 2,545 up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range: 16-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

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

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992