Heart for Orphans South Africa

  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: 1st Monday of each month

Description: The home was originally a Dutch Reformed Church Mission that was caring for un-wed pregnant women who were willing to put their un-born children up for adoption, but has been used as an orphanage since 1975, when a community worker started caring for children who were waiting to be adopted.

The project now cares for approximately 50 children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected, many of which are HIV+. The home is a halfway house between the traumatic situation they have been rescued from and a stable foster home life. It can sometimes take years for children to be adopted and the home is a lifesaver. It is vital for a child's emotional, physical and mental development that they are cared for in a loving and interactive environment.

This project aims to re-unite children with stable members of their own families, where possible, and offers parenting education for parents who are struggling. The project is blessed to have local families who foster the children over the weekend, and take them on outings. This contact with normal family life gives the little ones a sense of belonging.

Highlights: Typically volunteers are required to work a 5 day week, although this may include a weekend, although you should normally have 2 days off per week giving you plenty of opportunity to recharge your batteries and visit places of interest in and around Cape Town.

Your daily duties at the orphanage will cover a wide range of activities, both working directly with the children and general duties around the home. Much of your time will be spent in the beautifully kept crèche where the toddlers and older children engage in creative activities and games. Volunteers can also get involved with making the home more child-friendly, by painting bright murals and helping to maintain the bedrooms and crèche. On hot days, paddling pools are set up on the lawns outside, for the children to splash around in. The children love to sing and dance, so music and drama skills will always come in handy, as will any simple child-friendly games a volunteer may have up his/her sleeve.

Qualifications: - Minimum age 21 yrs

- A love of children is required to join this programme.

- There are no specific skills required to participate on this programme, however, any experience of working with children is beneficial.

- The greatest attribute you can posses is flexibility and a willingness to get involved.

- Knowledge of Afrikaans or Dutch is beneficial but not essential.

- International volunteers are welcome.

Cost in US$: From 900 GBP

On the days you work, lunch will be provided at the home, but is your responsibility on your days off.

If you stay in the accommodation at the home, breakfast and dinner is not provided but you have access to a fully equipped kitchen to prepare your own meals.

If you stay with a host family, your breakfast and dinner (but not your lunch) is provided by the host family.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

WAVA's Mission Statement: "WAVA" means Work & Volunteer Abroad. Our origins lie in a department created in 2006 at Twin Group, a prestigious provider of educational, training and employment opportunities for individuals from around the world. Established in January 2010, we are a fresh, independent company, using the trading name WAVA and a brand new logo, inspired by the values of travel: opportunity, adventure, emotion, sharing, learning and seeing. But we're not just about seeing. We're also about doing. We specialise in offering life-changing opportunities to travellers for whom seeing is not enough. We offer three broad types of travelling experiences: Volunteering on projects in developing countries Internships in professional environments around the world Seasonal paid working holidays in developed economies We make these experiences possible through solid partnerships with highly reputable local providers.

Year Founded: 2010