Challenging Volunteer and Internship Positions in Special Needs - Cape Town, South Africa

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months and 1-2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: Year round

Description: This is a home that provides specialised care for profoundly intellectually and disabled people. The home accommodated 90 residents. These children need specialised care every minute of their lives. Each child's potential is explored and developed to fulfil their maximum potential in a stimulating environment. By caring for these residents, the home also provides help and relief to parents and siblings, allowing them to lead more normal lives.

The home also serves to promote public awareness of their situation, in partnership with families, communities and other role-players, supported by dedicated and motivated staff.

Disabled children need a great deal of physical and mental stimulation and they like to play. This is done with water play, playing with blocks, playing music and singing. Each child also has a development programme. Simple things like picking up a spoon are a major achievement for these children.

Physiotherapy and physical development is very important to exercise and strengthen muscles and is achieved through stretching exercises and using apparatus such as the standing frame.

The home's services also provide the base from which students, medical practitioners etc. undertake learning into various aspects of their work, in an effort to improve the work and to understand more about the profoundly intellectually disabled person and his/her needs.

Highlights:
- Traning provided in special needs care
- Interning in one of the most beautiful cities in the world
- We take care of all the necessary paperwork with your host company, organisation or institution
- We assist you with the visa formalities, insurance and flight bookings.
- We organize an accommodation for you that suits your needs and budget.
- We welcome you at the airport, take you to your accommodation and show you around.
- On arrival you'll get an information folder about Cape Town including important phone numbers, tips and details plus a discount card for several backpackers, bars, restaurants and car hire.
- You will receive a local SIM-card for your cell phone from us.
- We accompany you on your fist day of work and give you a friendly introduction to your new colleagues.
- We assist you with renting or purchasing a car.
- You will receive our weekly Newsletter.
- We organise weekly meetings and affordable and exciting monthly weekend trips for all 'Magisters' and friends of Magister
- If you are interested in travelling we can get you large discounts with well known local tour operators.
- We are always available for you before, during, and after your stay.

Qualifications:
- For internship students, either studying towards a degree in Social Work, Medicine, Administration, Health, Marketing, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or Public Relations
- Volunteers need to have a love of children
- A caring attitude and a willingness to work hard

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

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

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Job and Internship Network

Magister Student Placement Organisation's Mission Statement: As one of the most established and well known intern and volunteer organizations in Cape Town, Magister's main objective is geared towards the matching and placing of qualified International students and volunteers with dynamic Cape Town based companies and organizations. Magister also caters for the needs of backpacker tourists and newly qualified entrants to the labor market. With our wide network of contacts and range of skills we strive to ensure that your experience abroad remains an unforgettable one. While strengthening foreign ties between South Africa and other countries, Magister offers great value to their students and invests in their personal development and education as well as their careers. By liaising regularly with the students and providing professional advice and individualized services, we aim to ensure the easy set-up, smooth running and successful conclusion of ventures. We encourage the students to get to know one another and establish relationships that will support them throughout their stay in South Africa.

Year Founded: 2000