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Childcare & Social Welfare Volunteer in South Africa
Childcare & Social Welfare Volunteer in South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa

Childcare & Social Welfare Volunteer in South Africa

Trip Highlights

  • Work for the welfare of the local community and underprivileged children in the country 
  • Program centers include childcare centers, safe houses for women and children, care homes for physically/mentally disabled children 
  • Work entails supporting local staff/supervisor 
  • Ideate to make the functioning of the center smoother and more congenial for the beneficiaries 
  • Choose work in accordance with the length of stay, differential responsibilities handed over long-term as compared to short-term volunteers 
  • Explore the city on weekends, visit Table Mountain, Robben Island, Lion’s Head, etc.

Overview

Overview

The Childcare Volunteering Program in South Africa, Cape Town is aimed for the welfare of the local community and underprivileged children in the society. Volunteers joining in this program work in childcare centers, safe houses for women and children or in a home for physically and mentally challenged children.

All volunteers usually work alongside local staff or supervisor at the project and plan different activities with the children as well. All Social Welfare and childcare projects are keen to have volunteers so that they can bring in new ideas and also help the overburdened staff. The projects are located in Cape Town's townships and suburban areas which are socially disadvantaged areas of the city.

The project is highly recommended for, both, short term and long term volunteers. Short term volunteers gain an insight into the local culture along with providing the much-needed help at the projects, while the volunteers who join for a longer period are able to make a greater impact on the community and the project they work in.
 


Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with children. You should also be proactive and have an ability to take initiative  All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program.


Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteers working for childcare and social welfare program in Cape Town will be expected to fulfill the following tasks on a daily basis;

  • Feeding, clothing and playing with the children
  • Assisting children with homework.
  • Meal preparation and assistance in general activities at the project.
  • Involve the children in art, craft, dance and drama activities.

Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteer Work Schedule

A typical volunteer schedule in Cape Town depends on the accommodation provided to the volunteers. Volunteering Solutions provide accommodation in Cape Town with a local host family or a at a volunteer house; depending upon the availability of rooms. Volunteers, too, are given a choice to choose from the two kinds of accommodations. While the volunteer houses are located in the city area, the host families reside on the outskirts of Cape Town in community areas. The schedule for the volunteers remains as follows :-

  • Sunday - Arrival at Cape Town (all volunteers stay in volunteer house for the first day)
  • Monday - Orientation + transfer to the respective accommodations. Orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behaviour, food, and other suggestions over things to do in South Africa.
  • Tuesday to Fri - Volunteer work
    • Breakfast - 06:30 am to 07:30 am (provided at the accommodation)
    • Leave for the project - 07:30 am
    • Working hours at the placement - 08:00 am to 03:00 pm
    • Lunch - 12:30 pm to 02:00 onwards (volunteers staying in the volunteer house need to manage lunch on their own)
    • Dinner - 06:00 pm onwards (at host family accommodation)

Volunteers living at volunteer house accommodation eat out a nearby restaurant or cook it with other volunteers at the accommodation.
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards
Weekends - Free to explore the city, and do activities such as climbing Table Mountain or going to Robben Island or taking part in weekend tours.

Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.


Living

Living

Volunteering Solutions makes great efforts to provide best of living standards to its volunteers. In Cape Town, our international volunteers are picked up from the airport and put in volunteer houses or with host families, equipped with all modern amenities. We also make sure that we help our volunteers with their local requirements, sightseeing or weekend tours.

Airport Transfer

Volunteers are picked up from the Cape Town International Airport by a representative and transferred to the volunteers hostel accommodation by a shuttle transfer. Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in South Africa will have to arrive at the accommodation on own and will not be provided with a pickup.

Orientation

A half day orientation will be provided by the local staff on the program start date. The orientation would cover topics such as introduction to the program,General information about South Africa,Safety Tips / Guidelines,customs,health guidelines, communities, projects, host families, support services, travel and tours.Participants also receive a Walking City Tour which is a 2 hour walk around the City Centre area.

Accommodation

Volunteering Solutions arranges accommodation for volunteers in a Volunteer hostel or in home stays in local communities. The Volunteer hostel is a dormitory-style accommodations situated in Observatory area of Cape Town.The rooms in the hostel typically have 4-8 people per room.The Observatory accommodation is located in a beautiful suburb of Cape Town, about 20 minutes from the city center. The hostel is perfectly situated close to shops, restaurants, public transport, and some of the best beaches in the world! The areas are also very safe. 

Living in the hostel is a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” because you will meet and live with many other volunteers from all over the globe. It’s a great opportunity to make lifelong friends and learn about different cultures. Each day you will travel to your project, usually by mini-bus taxi which is a very cheap and efficient way to travel in Cape Town, and is also a lot of fun! After you finish your project for the day you usually spend your evenings doing different activities with the other volunteers in the house like, movie nights in the lounge or having a braai, which is a South African barbeque.

When staying with a host family while volunteering in South Africa you will live in one of the local communities of Cape Town. There you will experience life of a typical South African family which will be a great cultural experience. You will travel a short distance to your project in the morning and in the evenings you will spend time bonding with your host family. On the weekends you can either spend your leisure time with your host family or book yourself into a backpacker in town to explore the city centre during the day and experience Cape Town night life. 

Meals

Volunteers staying at the hostel accommodation are provided with self-service breakfast at the hostel on weekdays (Monday – Friday).Supplies such as cereals,eggs,bread with various toppings, coffee/tea, selection of fruits are provided.Lunch, dinner and weekend meals are not included but can be eaten out at any of the affordable eateries or ordered to home as well. Volunteers can also purchase supplies locally and prepare meals in the house kitchen.

For those staying in a host family, you will be provided 3 meals a day, prepared by your host. Breakfast before your project, a packed lunch to take with you and a delicious home cooked meal for dinner.

During your Free Time

Cape Town has so much to offer for travellers and there is a lot to do on the weekends and during the free time. Volunteers usually take the Garden Route tours on the weekend or explore the beautiful beaches of Cape Town. You can also do a full day Cape Point Tour and head south to Cape of Good Hope. On a free day you can do a trek upto Table Mountain or just chill out at the Waterfront area. There is a lot to do and you will never have a dull day in the beautiful city of Cape Town.


Dates

Dates

2024

2025

January

07

14

21

28

February

04

11

18

25

March

03

10

17

24

31

April

07

14

21

28

May

05

12

19

26

June

02

09

16

23

30

July

07

14

21

28

August

04

11

18

25

September

01

08

15

22

29

October

06

13

20

27

November

03

10

17

24

December

01

January

12

19

26

February

02

09

16

23

March

02

09

16

23

30

April

06

13

20

27

May

04

11

18

25

June

01

08

15

22

29

July

06

13

20

27

August

03

10

17

24

31

September

07

14

21

28

October

05

12

19

26

November

02

09

16

23

December

Past Date

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Unavailable

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Costs

Costs

2 Weeks $525
3 Weeks $675
4 Weeks $825
5 Weeks $975
6 Weeks $1125
7 Weeks $1275
8 Weeks $1425
Extra Week $175

Please Note: -An application fee of $229 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 5% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)

What are you Paying for?

  • 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
  • Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
  • Airport Pickup from Cape Town International Airport
  • Orientation
  • Meals (Depending on the type of accommodation)
  • Accommodation in Volunteer house or host family
  • Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
    • Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)

What's NOT included?

  • Airfare
  • Visa Fee 
  • Return Airport Drop(Can be arranged at extra cost)
  • Daily Project Transportation
  • Vaccinations

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Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

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Health and Safety

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