Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in Africa or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.
Help raise awareness and provide support to young girls and women in Cape Town – investing in their basic human rights and the South African community at large. You will be able to lead discussions and change attitudes around the role of girls and women in the community through education and empowerment.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Monday: Arrive at Cape Town International Airport CPT. You will be met at the airport by the local team and taken to settle in to your accommodations in Muizenberg. There will be a full introduction to the program once all volunteers have arrived.
Days 1 – 4, Tuesday-Friday: Rewarding volunteer work. Morning placements include volunteering at a Job Readiness Group that helps young adults who are studying computer programming and coding gain the skills and confidence they need to find employment in their field, and volunteering at a support group that provides young, impregnated women with the support they need to continue to go after their goals. Afternoon placements include volunteering at a Girls and Boys Club and working with children at an art therapy session that provides a safe afterschool space for them.
Days 5-6, Saturday-Sunday: Weekends are free for participants explore Cape Town. Cage dive with great white sharks, hike up Table Mountain, and enjoy!
Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of working Monday-Friday, and having Saturdays and Sundays free. Departures are on a Monday.
Click to see additional volunteering projects in South Africa.
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, weekend meals, personal expenses
Voted as one of the world’s top tourist destinations, Cape Town boasts an incredibly wide range of attractions. The area hosts several unique cultural and heritage sites, such as Robben Island, Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront. As a city alive with creativity, color, sounds and tastes, Cape Town also offers an abundance of outdoor activities, from hiking to surfing, to water skiing or meandering through one of its bustling arts or food markets.
The area of Cape Town where this project takes place is called Observatory, commonly referred to as “Obs.” Observatory is an artsy suburb of Cape Town that plays home to quirky restaurants, bars and countless art galleries that represent its cultural, bohemian vibe.
Gender equality is a large issue in South Africa. Half of the girls in this country never finish primary school, and a large percentage become mothers before they are adults. This is over and above the 33% of girls, who before they turn 18 will experience some form of sexual violence. The goal of this project is to improve the lives of young and adolescent girls and to equip them with the confidence they need to tap into their potential to become a bigger part of South African society. Volunteers will be able to help these girls overcome barriers to essential resources and tools, such as education. A large part of this project is dedicated to teaching English to the women caregivers, as the English language is an important tool in the working world. Volunteers will also lead discussions on topics such as birth control methods as well as participate in support groups.
As a volunteer on this project you will be volunteering at several different placements. Morning placements include volunteering at a Job Readiness Group that helps young adults who are studying computer programming and coding gain the skills and confidence they need to find employment in their field, and volunteering at a support group that provides young, impregnated women with the support they need to continue to go after their goals. Afternoon placements include volunteering at a Girls and Boys Club and working with children at an art therapy session that provides a safe afterschool space for them.
Some of your tasks may include:
Primary Placement Descriptions:
Girls and Boys Club
Twice a week volunteers will go to a Girls and Boys Club to lead discussions around topics ranging from health, early pregnancy, self-confidence and more. The goal is to help the children make smart choices throughout their adolescent years and into adulthood.
Youth Support Group
Volunteers may spend time at a youth support group, leading discussions or providing assistance with schoolwork assignments. The support group is a space where children can share their problems in a safe and supportive setting.
English Lessons
The English lessons are taught at the Emergency Care Foster Home. Volunteers will be teaching English to “Mamas” who care for the children at the foster home. Improving their English language skills will help them to communicate with potential foster parents, run the home and help the children improve their English as well.
Additional Placement Descriptions:
Emergency Care Foster Home
The Emergency Care Foster Home was built to provide shelter for abandoned and orphaned children up to age 8. About 40% of the children in the home are HIV-positive, so they physical and mental care. Volunteers will be responsible for organizing fun activities for the children, and will also lend a hand to the “Mamas” of the foster home with their daily tasks.
Teaching in a Preschool/ Educare Center
The local preschool and educare center are understaffed and lacking in resources. Volunteers at this placement will help to design lesson plans as well as give individualized attention to students during play time, arts and crafts lessons and more.
A typical day: Volunteers will begin each morning in either the Emergency Care Foster Home or teaching in a preschool/educare center. After lunch, volunteers will move on to one of the primary placements on a rotating basis: English lessons, the youth support group or the Boys and Girls Club.
Workdays are Monday-Friday. Weekends are free time for the volunteers.
Please note: Specific tasks and placements are subject to change at any time and depend on the current needs of the project placements.
(For more teaching, education and working with children volunteer programs, click here.)
Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:
Cape Town is one of the world’s greatest tourist destinations. For an additional fee, there is an endless list of possibilities for volunteer who want to venture off on the weekends and explore more of the area. Wildlife enthusiasts should plan a trip to the Aquila Private Game Reserve and for the fearless volunteers, we suggest cage diving with the Great White sharks. For the scenic volunteer, Table Mountain is a must, and for the active volunteers, there are beautiful beaches for surfing that even have lessons for beginners. Combine these activities and more for the ultimate experience!
Add on our eight-day Garden Route Road Trip to enhance your South Africa experience!
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