Community Work in a Children's Hospital near Cape Town

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Description: South Africa is in the progress of reinventing itself after a turbulent modern history, but has already become a hugely popular country to visit. Its dark days have given way to a bright future of colour; from mixed schools to golden coastlines. This hospital is based just outside Cape Town and provides children with a loving and stimulating environment in which to get better. Your role, in a nutshell, is to provide non-medical support to medical staff and to the hospitalized children. You can expect to find yourself involved in play therapy, working in the shop or raising funds to help secure the hospital's long-term future. The added bonus of the location is that you'll be a hop, skip and a hike away from mountains, beaches and great countryside.

*What does the hospital do?
One of the better instincts of the human being is their love for children, and to love children is not difficult. To love a child whose health is compromised is even easier. These children who manage to smile through their pain give their love in return so freely and abundantly. Through the years, The Friends of the Children's Hospital Association set about transforming the hospital into a place where not only the patient's health was of concern, but also their 'environmental' happiness and well being. The Friends is the official volunteer organization of Red Cross Children's Hospital. We currently oversee a large volunteer workforce who either interact daily in the wards with the children, or work in our Fundraising shop, raising funds for the ever-increasing needs of the children.

*Why does the hospital need volunteers?
Our volunteers with their brightly colored toy trolleys filled with toys continue to serve our little patients with their hearts filled with grace and souls generated by love. Volunteering changes lives; the lives of our volunteers and the lives of our patients.

Highlights:
* Making an immediate and positive difference to the lives the children
* Making friends and learning about the challenges facing South Africa
* Exploring the area around Cape Town - there really is something for everyone

Qualifications: Your role as a volunteer:
Your role in a nutshell is to provide non-medical support to medical staff and to the hospitalized children. The volunteers interact daily in the wards for the children and work in the fundraising shop, raising funds for the ever-increasing needs of the children. Your role includes play therapy and ward assistance. The organisation believes volunteering changes lives; the lives of volunteers and the lives of patients.

Cost in US$: USD 1975.00 for 4 weeks, USD 275.00 for every week thereafter

* Accommodation: Shared dormitory room in volunteer house
* Food: Food is not included; you will need to purchase your own food (budget approximately USD 50 per week)
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994