Duration & Fees
| 10 days | £927 |
| 2 weeks | £1,030 |
| 3 weeks | £1,308 |
| 4 weeks | £1,585 |
| 5 weeks | £1,862 |
| 6 weeks | £2,139 |
| 7 weeks | £2,416 |
| 8 weeks | £2,693 |
Please note: The currency conversion is an estimate based on today's exchange rates and is to be used as a guide only. All payments to Amanzi Travel have to be made in Pounds Sterling (GBP)
Start Dates
Project start dates are on alternate Mondays throughout the year and volunteers must arrive on their Monday start date.
2019 Start Dates:
7 Jan | 14 Jan | 28 Jan | 11 Feb | 25 Feb | 11 Mar | 25 Mar | 8 Apr | 22 Apr | 6 May | 20 May | 3 Jun | 17 Jun | 1 Jul | 15 Jul | 29 Jul | 12 Aug | 26 Aug | 9 Sep | 23 Sep | 7 Oct | 21 Oct | 4 Nov | 18 Nov
2020 Start Dates:
6 Jan | 13 Jan | 27 Jan | 10 Feb | 24 Feb | 9 Mar | 23 Mar | 6 Apr | 20 Apr | 4 May | 18 May | 1 Jun | 15 Jun | 29 Jun | 6 Jul | 13 Jul | 20 Jul | 27 Jul | 3 Aug | 10 Aug | 17 Aug | 24 Aug | 31 Aug | 7 Sep | 21 Sep | 5 Oct | 19 Oct | 2 Nov | 16 Nov | 30 Nov
This project closes for the Christmas period in early December
Payment
£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
What's Included
- Project fee - which goes directly back into the project to facilitate funding for resources, building materials, equipment and project supplies. It
also contributes to housing, communication and project vehicle costs.
- Full board and lodging including three meals a day at the volunteer house (excluding weekends)
- All airport transfers to and from Cape Town International Airport on arrival and departure
- All daily transfers to and from the project during the volunteering period
- Weekly laundry and housekeeping service
- Comprehensive orientation programme
- Help and support from the Amanzi Travel staff, local staff and project managers at all times
What's not included
- Transportation to and from Cape Town
- Visa fees
- Personal travel insurance for the duration of the placement which must include cover for repatriation
- All items of a personal nature such as gifts, clothing etc
- Email and telephone calls made during the placement
- Any activities or excursions outside of the planned project itinerary
- Soft drinks, in-between meal snacks and weekend food
Project Location
Cape Town nestles in the shadow of Table Mountain overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The city is truly cosmopolitan with a mix of East and West and Old and New. It has a vibrant nightlife and diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. The city is rich in history and well worth exploring with Cape Point a scenic drive away and Robben Island just a boat trip over the water. Further out are the wine farms and vast mountain ranges to explore.
Project Description
South Africa's education system is ranked 133 out of 142 countries in the world by the World Economic Forum. Lack of basic amenities, infrastructure and learning resources exist with many children coming from families affected by poverty, hunger and with parents with little or no education themselves. The many townships in and around the Cape Town area, including Khayelitsha (second largest in South Africa) are a melting pot of different cultures, ethnicities and languages, yet across these differences there are many parallels such as poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS. Locals live in many housing types, from wooden shacks to larger permanent buildings. Schools are often over-crowded and short of qualified teachers. Visiting a township is an eye-opening experience where a communal standpipe for water and blocks of individual toilets shared among a number of families is the norm. However, it is also a wonderfully vibrant community where the streets are filled with the smells of mealie (corn) cob and meat from makeshift grillers and the sounds of kwaito music blast from taxi windows!
Why Should You Join?
- Assist and conduct physical education lessons with disadvantaged children during the school day
- Bring new and fresh ideas to motivate the children through sports and personal fitness
- Help the community with sports development and get hands on experience in South Africa
- Coach and share ideas and skills with instructors and help put together games, drills and lessons to stimulate the young people
- Be part of some amazing after school care clubs run by dynamic grandmothers where the focus will be on implementing fun sporting activities designed to develop basic life skills
- Don't stop at just one volunteer project - "Design Your Own" by combining the best fit for your interests and skills
- Judge for yourself why Cape Town is the number one place in the world to visit
- Immerse yourself in Cape Town culture and explore the mother city's many restaurants, museums, markets, beaches and nightlife
- Make friends for life with other international volunteers
Teaching - Primary Project Full Time
Community Pre-Schools and Educare Centres
The project partners with pre-schools caring for children between the ages of 6 months and 7 years. These schools offer children from disadvantaged backgrounds the invaluable head start to their education and future, with a specific emphasis on helping them to prepare for their next step to primary school. Unfortunately, understaffed and lacking in essential resources, these schools struggle to meet the needs of children. Volunteers help the classes to come alive, assisting teachers with lesson planning and making real progress for the next step of entering school. This is often through one-to-one attention, developing educational opportunities with the daily school routine, theme based lessons, structured play, story time and music and movement.
Educational Support
Child abuse is most common in the hours immediately after school when caregivers are not yet bck from work. Several organisations now facilitate after school care programmes and volunteers will help to plan and implement fun and educational games that will have an emphasis on developing important life skills such as team work and leadership. Some examples of the types of activity include fun games such as "Capture the Flag", "Buddies Up Buddies Down" and "What's the Time Mr Wolf". Volunteers may also help with homework support, craftmaking, gardening and reading clubs and their input and ideas are always welcomed as new inspiration. Volunteers may also be involved in workshops that aim to provide a platform for sharing information and skills with the wonderful team of Grandmothers who help to run the after-school care programmes. In return the volunteers are also taught a skill or craft that they can take home with them afterwards. This encourages the ethos of cross-learning and is based on the "Each One Teach One" model which was implemented by Nelson Mandela and his inmates during their time on Robben Island.
Volunteers should note that during school holidays activities may be different from the usual schedule but the work will still be really valuable and rewarding. School terms for 2018 are as follows:
Term 1: 17 January - 28 March; Term 2: 10 April - 22 June; Term 3: 17 July - 28 September; Term 4: 9 October - 12 December
Volunteers who choose to "Design Their Own" project and divide their time between teaching and one of the other volunteer options, could assist in one of the following areas:
Orphaned and Vulnerable Children
Enrichment Programme
Khayelitsha and the surrounding areas have been hugely affected by HIV/AIDS and are thought to have the highest rates in the Western Cape. Volunteers will work at a variety of after school care programmes where the focus will be on the children's development and to give them the vital attention during a very vulnerable time of the day before parents and caregivers get home. At one particular centre volunteers will work with older children who come from a variety of disadvantaged backgrounds where their patience, intuition and creativity with activities will be rewarded with smiles and a willingness to learn.
Sports Development
After-School Care
In 1994 the South African Government removed Physical Education from the school curriculum and as a result participation in physical activity has decreased. Whilst this has now been reintroduced it only forms a small part of the Life Orientation syllabus and as a result student involvement in physical activity is very low. Organising sports activities at several after-school care clubs is therefore fundamental to children's development and improves essential skills such as leadership, team work and communication. Some examples of the types of activities include fun games like ultimate frisbee, baseball, cricket and American football. This is a great chance to bring your interests to South Africa and teach the children, their grannies and your fellow volunteers a new talent. Volunteers may also take part in workshops which aim to provide a platform for sharing information and skills - in the past there have been sessions on nutrition and even Kayleigh dancing.
Girl Impact
The evidence is clear - investing in adolescent girls will not only help them to realise their human rights, but is essential to reducing poverty and improving health, and future economic growth. Securing the rights of these girls and their access to health, education and protection from violence and abuse, ensures that they have the chance to achieve their potential and can go on to become empowered women who can support their families, communities and countries. In post-Apartheid South Africa girls are in real need of support; issues surrounding access to and remaining in education, restricted access to healthcare, high abuse rates and a patriarchal system where men hold primary authority all mean that girls are often left behind.
The Girl Impact initiative aims to provide opportunities for girls and create support networks within their communities. Volunteers will be involved in three main areas to help achieve the UN Global Goal of Gender Equality: a youth support group for a mixed group of 10 - 19 year old adolescents, exploring key issues that youth face today; girls and boys club building positive relationships with vulnerable children and helping to create a space that encourages trust; English language lessons for the "Mamas" at an emergency care home offering invaluable suppport. This is fundamental in enabling them to community more effectively with social workers, visitors to their homes, volunteers and the wider community, as well as educating the children in their care in English.
How it all comes together
| |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
| AM |
Assist local teachers at a pre-school with a focus on child development |
Assist local teachers at a pre-school with a focus on child development |
Assist local teachers at a pre-school with a focus on child development |
Assist local teachers at a pre-school with a focus on child development |
Assist local teachers at a pre-school with a focus on child development |
| Lunchtime |
Lunch at the Lion House |
Lunch with the Community you are working at |
Go and be adventurous tasting some local delicacies |
Dine with a local view |
Lunch at the Lion House |
| PM |
Support an after school care program * |
Support an after school care program |
Support an after school care program |
Support an after school care program |
Planning Party |
| Evening |
Volunteer Welcome |
Tours Talk |
Workship on topical issues |
Events Night |
Weekend Begins |
| Sat |
Sun |
| Explore Cape Town and the surrounding areas on a day safari, wine tour or Peninsula trip |
Spend your morning Shark Cage Diving and your afternoon exploring Table Mountain through hiking. Abseiling or the more leisurely cable car |
South Africa - Help Local Communities Get Started
Why visit South Africa?
Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the Cape, takes some beating. There’s the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers, iconic Table Mountain and Cape Point, Africa’s biggest game reserve - Kruger National Park - boasting the most mammal species of any game reserve, and the magnificent peaks and plunging valleys of the escarpment of Drakensberg.
Cape Town is widely described as one of the world's most beautiful cities. Some of its more famous landmarks include Table Mountain, Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades), Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak, Kirstenbosch Gardens and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. A combination of historical coastal charm and urbane sophistication, Cape Town has some of the finest beaches and is also the gateway to the lush Cape Winelands, famous for world-renowned wines. From here, it is an easy journey to the Whale Route, where Southern Right whales can be seen (June - November) and humpback whales, Bryde's whales, Minke whales and bottlenose dolpins can be viewed year round.
The Garden Route is renowned for its beaches, indigenous forests, nature reserves, lakes, mountain ranges, adventure opportunities and hiking trails. Plettenberg Bay is a relaxed beach paradise with spectacular walks and hikes where one can watch dolphins and whales on eco-marine cruises. With some of the world's finest beaches, the Eastern Cape's untouched and pristine coastline also has a rich social, cultural and political history. Port Elizabeth is the gateway to the Eastern Cape, and the perfect complement to the Garden Route. Cape St Francis is situated on the Indian Ocean coastline, in and around Africa's largest man made web of canals and waterways, and is renowned for its long, sandy beaches, surfing, rock fishing and tranquil lifestyle.
Kruger National Park is the flagship of South Africa's game reserves, offering an unrivalled wildlife experience over two million-hectares. Private concessions operating within and alongside Kruger National Park feature luxurious, exclusive game lodges with many exciting safari activities. Some of these lodges are unfenced, allowing for the free movement of wildlife. Madikwe Game Reserve, in the North West province, is one of South Africa's largest private Big Five game reserves and features numerous lodges and camps. The Waterberg area in the northwest is also malaria-free and is aptly named for its strong streams that flow even in dry seasons, making for excellent game viewing. Both reserves are great for those seeking an accessible malaria-free wilderness experience.
Durban is a sub-tropical city and the gateway to KwaZulu-Natal. It offers a unique mix of Zulu, Indian and colonial cultures. Visit the Anglo-Zulu battlefields, take a fascinating glimpse into Zulu culture, hike in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains, dive the reefs, marine and coastal reserves of Maputaland, as well as experience Big Five game reserves. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is renowned for saving the white rhino from the brink of extinction, and Phinda Private Game Reserve is well known for its award-winning lodges and conservation initiatives.
Johannesburg meaning "Place of Gold", is South Africa's economic powerhouse. This vibrant and cosmopolitan city is home to many attractions including the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, and also offers shopping from world-class to atmospheric curio markets. Known as the "Jacaranda City", the state capital of Pretoria features beautiful blossoming trees, significant old buildings and fascinating museums, including the Transvaal Museum, home of Mrs Ples, the australopithecine fossil found at the Cradle of Humankind.
Highlights of South Africa
- Breathtaking scenery, quaint coastal villages, cosmopolitan cities, wine routes and exclusive bush lodges.
- Exciting Big Five safaris in unspoilt wilderness areas.
- Malaria-free game viewing and sunshine all year round.
- See Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held in prison for 27 years.
- Go up Table Mountain by cable car for stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful Cape Town.
- Whale watching and great white shark cage diving.
- Beautiful, pristine beaches perfect for swimming and sunbathing.
- The Cradle of Humankind: Sterkfontein is one of the world's most productive and important palaeoanthropological sites.
Climate
For Johannesburg:
| Seasons | Max | Min |
| Summer (September - April) |
25 °C |
10 °C |
| Winter (May - August) |
19 °C |
4 °C |
| Rainfall: October to March, with November to January heaviest |
South Africa has typical seasons of weather for the southern hemisphere, with the coldest days in July-August. The Benguela Current, a cold motion that moves from the lower South Atlantic Ocean, causes moderate temperatures on the West Coast. On the central plateau, which includes Free State and Gauteng provinces, the altitude keeps the average temperatures below 30 °C.In winter, also due to altitude, temperatures drop to freezing point, and in some places, even lower. Heavy snows have fallen recently for the first time in decades in Johannesburg. During winter, it is warmest in the coastal regions, especially on the Eastern Indian Ocean coast and Garden Route, where it has year round mild weather with occasional rain. As winter is cooler and drier, it is more suitable for hiking and outdoor pursuits, and is also a good time for game viewing as vegetation is less dense and thirsty animals congregate around rivers and other permanent water sources.
In summer, South Africa experiences the hottest temperatures and this is generally when most rain falls, October – March. However, there is one exception - the Western Cape, which is a winter-rain area that enjoys a Mediterranean climate (average 26°C).
Christmas to mid-January, and Easter are the height of the peak season for visitors.
Autumn (April/May) and Spring (mid-Sept to November) are ideal almost everywhere.
Key Facts
Population – 50 million
Capital – Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative)
Currency – Rand (ZAR)
Official Language(s) – Afrikaans, English (South African English), Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Time difference – GMT +2 hours
Telephone – country code 27, international access code 00
I really enjoyed my volunteering experience in South Africa, the support from the project staff was excellent and I am still in touch with several people I met. I would like to travel on a similar project again, and hope to go back with Amanzi Travel in the future.
George, UK, aged 19 (Cape Town Sports Development Volunteer, Cape Town Teaching Volunteer)
The Project has made me realise what is really important in life. I would also like to say that the people involved in running the project who I have met on a day to day basis are a real credit to the organization generally.
Robert, UK, aged 27 (Cape Town Sports Development Volunteer, Cape Town Teaching Volunteer)
Great memories, it all worked out really well. The volunteer house is lovely, and all volunteers get on very well together. The work is very well organised. We spend every morning in a pre school (plus a visit to a medical center) and get to know the routines and teachers very well. In the afternoons we do different community projects depending on what needs doing, such as making curtains. At the Teaching Project I sensed a real care for the volunteers and a desire to make sure that the volunteers had a good experience as well as the benefits to the projects.
Mourjin, Holland, aged 51 (Cape Town Sports Development Volunteer, Cape Town Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Volunteer, Cape Town Teaching Volunteer)
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The highlight was the general interaction with the children and the contribution that I made to their learning in what was a relatively short time. The people I have met even though they have limited material possessions are very positive and happy and it has been a real and genuine pleasure to meet them. I can honestly say that there is nothing that sticks out that has been a major issue in terms of something that I have not enjoyed. I have only been on the project for 3 weeks but I have got more than I imagined out of my participation. I have met some genuinely nice people and I think my whole experience will prompt a career change into a more social orientated role. The project as a whole is well run and structured. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to others. The Project has made me realise what is really important in life. I would also like to say that the people involved in running the project who I have met on a day to day basis are a real credit to the organization generally.
Robert, UK, aged 33 (Cape Town Sports Development Volunteer, Cape Town Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Volunteer, Cape Town Teaching Volunteer)