Community Childcare and Youth Support Program in Port Elizabeth

The volunteer house in Port Elizabeth is a gorgeous home with loads of space.  Whether you prefer to unwind in the garden, at the pool or in the lounge; this home has a special place for everyone.   The home was built in grand old architectural style and is decorated with modern touches. A pool for summer and a fireplace for winter, what more do you need? The property is well secured and superbly located within walking distance of the beach, restaurants, laundry & shops. Please bring your own towels. To keep you fed and healthy our cook makes hearty and comforting South African style meals catering for vegetarians and vegans (just let us know).  Three meals per day are included. There is free coffee, tea and drinking water available at any time. For example, breakfast consists of toast, fruit, yoghurt, cereals and/or eggs. Lunch will be prepacked or made during breakfast to bring with to your project and consist of sandwiches with cheese, marmalade, cold meats, or other spreads.  Please tell us if you have any special requirements and/or allergies concerning food so we can be prepared for you. 

Your fees will cover most of your expenses but if you want to do some shopping and buy some souvenirs or fancy a nice dinner eating out, we advise you to bring some extra money. Basically, keep the money for your personal expenses and trips that you would wish to take. We recommend volunteers to keep around $100 a week for personal expenses.

The weather in this part of Africa can be diverse and summers can get really warm, while winters can get quite cold. Port Elizabeth has a very moderate climate though due to the ocean currents and winds, cooling things down on those hot summer days. Not what everybody expects of Africa but bring a jacket and warm sweater to be prepared for some of those colder days, if you come in the winter months (June, July, and August).

We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions South Africa program participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to communicate with other participants.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the Meet a Volunteer page on our website.

We can only provide contact details for former volunteers who have consented to having their data shared. However, there is a Facebook group for past and current volunteers which you are welcome to join. There are also hundreds of reviews online from our former volunteers as well as social media posts on Instagram, TikTok and our You Tube Channel.

Volunteers need to arrive at Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) from where you'll be picked up by our local coordinator and transferred to the volunteer house.

Your airport pickup is included in your fee when arriving on Monday or any other day of the week. If you choose to arrive on a weekend, we will gladly organize a cab to pick you up (or you can take an Uber) to any accommodation of your choice. We will collect you there on Monday morning at 9 AM to start your stay with us. 

If you prefer to come to us directly over the weekend, as well as when you depart again, we will charge an extra Weekend Fee of R200 (15 EUR) for your pick up or drop off. An additional R250 (20 EUR) per night for any extra nights outside of your booking dates. Please discuss your personal preference with us to make sure all is prepared for you.

All travelers coming to South Africa need to have a valid visa.The citizens from most of the European (including UK & Ireland), African and South American countries as well as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do NOT need to obtain a visa beforehand and can stay in the country for a period of up to 90 days. However, you must have a passport valid for at least 6 months period.

All participants joining the South Africa volunteer projects for more than 90 days, need to apply for volunteer Visa at the nearest South African Embassy or Consulate. Along with the Visa application, you need to attach the required supporting documents. Volunteers are provided with the necessary supporting document for their South African Visa application. More detailed information shall be provided after you become a Volunteering Solutions’ enrolled participant.

Port Elizabeth (now officially called Gqeberha – PLZ Airport) is well connected via major hubs in South Africa. Since there are no long-haul international flights directly into Port Elizabeth, travelers usually connect through Johannesburg (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT).

Like in any new country, you need to take general precautions for safety. You will be given safety precautions and instructions by the local coordinator team during the orientation as well as in your Pre-departure handbook after you become an enrolled participant.

Yes, for all participants, it is mandatory to have a valid travel medical insurance for their trip. Volunteers have the option to purchase Travel and Medical Insurance at a nominal extra cost from Volunteering Solutions.  To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.If you already have a valid Travel and Medical insurance, you can email us a copy of the same. It is also advised to bring along the Insurance documents during your trip. To read more about the insurance offered by Volunteering Solutions, click here

We recommend you to consult your doctor before travelling to South Africa to check on the required vaccines.

You can book your slot by filling the online application form and pay the application fee. You can pay your program fee later and also, in installments, however,  the complete payment should be made 45 days prior the start of the program.  If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form. The initial application fee is refunded in the unlikely event that we’re not able to offer you a place on the program, and you have the flexibility to request a change of start date up until the 45 day payment deadline (this is subject to availability for other dates). 

The application process typically takes around 10–12 working days for review and placement confirmation. Once we have assessed your CV and supporting documents, your booking will be confirmed and the confirmation details will be updated in your “My Account,” where you can view all relevant information. Acceptance is subject to project availability and meeting the program’s eligibility requirements, such as age, skills, and experience.

Below are the necessary requirements to participate in the Port Elizabeth, South Africa volunteer projects:

• Volunteer must be at least 18-year-old at the time of joining the project. 
• Volunteer needs to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. 
• The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
• The participant must be in good health.
• The Penguin project has a minimum program duration requirement of 4 weeks

If you already have a group, we also accept applications from university and college groups, high school groups, corporate teams, families, and groups of friends. Your group can fill in our Group Application Form, providing details such as the number of participants, preferred duration, budget, and destination. We take special care in providing your group with a placement that best suits your goals, and we can customise your itinerary to ensure you get exactly the experience you’re looking for. For groups of five or more, we can even design special group programs that combine meaningful volunteer work with cultural immersion and travel opportunities. All our programs, whether individual or group, are designed to be safe, affordable, and rewarding, offering every volunteer a memorable and impactful experience.

Yes! On our application form you can detail the name of the friend(s) or partner you are applying with. You will be placed in the same project and accommodation and in the same dorm (subject to restrictions regarding male and female dorms). 

Yes, most definitely you can, as we believe every participant brings something new to the project. If you do not have previous experience, we offer you the opportunity to have a great start with us. We make international volunteering easy – not only are our Volunteer Abroad opportunities rooted in offering you extensive support, but they are also very affordable. No matter whether you choose the Community childcare and Youth Support program or the Penguin Rescue Center Program, you’ll have an incredible experience with us.

Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The Certificate is provided on request.