Location
Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has a cultural heritage spanning more than 300 years and breathtaking scenery, from the iconic Table Mountain to the glorious Cape beaches. With a comfortable Mediterranean climate, Cape Town is great place to volunteer all year round.
About the project
In a city of contrasts, Cape Town's private sector health care and provision is extensive, but it is the rural communities that suffer from an severe lack of facilities. While there are some structures in place for an effective health service, there is a lack in terms of staff and resources. This is why the volunteers' help is highly valued by the nurses and doctors we work with. This placement will give you the chance to make a positive impact on the health service in these underprivileged areas on the outskirts of Cape Town, and to make a profound difference in the lives of people living in the surrounding community. Both qualified and non-qualified volunteers can join this project. Furthermore, qualified volunteers would be able to offer advice to the day care and after care centres that they will be working with in the afternoon. There are many children at these centres with special health care needs.
Volunteer work and contribution
As a volunteer, you will spend each morning in the clinics at the various communities. The clinics run from 08h00 - 12h30 daily and you will be involved in the following:
- Assisting the clinic supervisors with the many people that need medical assistance, especially ill children whose only support is through these clinics
- Assisting in administering HIV tests, if medically qualified (due to the skill required and the sensitive nature of the procedure), pregnancy tests, baby weighing, the checking of vitals (temperature, blood pressure, heart beat etc) and you will furthermore have the opportunity to sit in on consultations should the doctor on duty and the patient approve.
- Assist in sorting medications in the clinic pharmacy as well as labelling these medications.
- Administration work in the clini, such as uploading patients files on the computor system.
After having spent the morning at one of the clinics, you will assist the local community services in the afternoon. You will rotate between the following community projects:
- Building and painting schools: schools in Red Hill deal with a great shortage of classrooms and facilities. They are often dilapidated and ill-equipped. As a volunteer, you will help repair fences and windows and re-build and paint classrooms in order to provide and safer and more attractive educational environment.
- Educare Centre: volunteers will assist teachers with after school care by playing games, reading (both one-on-one with the kids and to the group during story time), and other activities such as art, music, and dancing.
- Primary School extra-mural involvement: The school principal is very keen to get the sports' programme up and running. Wednesday afternoons are now dedicated for that purpose. Volunteers can help coach sports' activities including volleyball, netball, soccer and rugby.
- Masiphumelele Library: Masiphumelele has a library with wonderful resources and facilities. The library offers many services to the community and volunteers are often slotted into existing programs offered at the library. These include arts and crafts, puzzles, games, literacy, one on one reading, homework club and math club.
Project "Day in the life":
Please note that your itinerary may differ from the example below, depending on your own experience and skills and the number of other volunteers participating during your placement period.
07:00 Get up, eat a breakfast of cereal, toast, tea/coffee, and start getting ready for your project
07:45 Head off on the short drive to your project
08:00 Start work at your community clinic.
12:30 After serving the children their lunch, you will be picked up from your project, and taken to your volunteer house, where lunch will be waiting for you.
14:30 Leave for one of your afternoon community projects. You will spend the afternoon playing with the children at one of the schools or building and painting classrooms.
16.30 End of the working day. You will be picked up from your project and taken home where we evaluate the day and discuss the schedule for the next day. Or you can opt to be dropped off in town to check your emails.
18.30 Dinner at your volunteer house. After dinner, volunteers often go for a few drinks at one of the local night spots.
Accommodation & Food
Volunteers stay in one of two fully furnished houses, just 20 meters apart, in the beautiful seaside town of Fish Hoek on the coastline of False Bay. The house is within easy walking distance of the safe and beautiful beach and a short drive from Cape Town. The houses together have 6 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, 2 balconies with views of the sea and mountains, large open plan living areas, kitchen and a sunny garden. All bedding is provided and a safe to lock valuables. The project employes a cook and cleaner to assist with daily living tasks.
Volunteers are provided with two cooked meals a day. Breakfast is on a help-yourself basis and usually consists of cereal / porridge, toast, tea and coffee. During weekends ingredients are provided for self- catering.
Project Orientation
Upon arrival at the project base on the outskirts of Cape Town, all volunteers attend a comprehensive orientation programme, which is included in your fee. This is facilitated by your Project Manager and includes:
- An introduction to the city of Cape Town and surrounding Cape Peninsula, as well as the communities where you will be volunteering.
- An introduction to all of our Cape Town projects. Not only will you see where you will be working, but the full range of projects where your fellow volunteers are placed.
- Volunteers will also receive our detailed "Welcome Pack", which contains detailed information for your stay with us.
Travel Highlights
During your volunteer placement you will join the following excursions:
- A visit to Cape Point, situated within the Southern section of Table Mountain National Park, which is globally recognized for its extraordinarily rich, diverse and unique fauna and flora - with rugged cliffs, steep slopes and sandy flats! See the baboons and perhaps some ostrich or buck if you are lucky!
- A trip to Boulders Beach, home to a growing colony of the vulnerable African Penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat. This is also a safe and enjoyable spot for swimming and snorkeling.
- A visit to the summit of Table Mountain, where you will find the best views of Cape Town. The Cableway takes you to the summit in under 10 minutes and the cable car's rotating floor ensures that all passengers get a 360 degree aerial view of the city.
Weekends are excellent opportunities to participate in tourist activities and to explore the surrounding area, so volunteers tend to be out-and-about during this time.
Minimum Requirments
- Min age 18
- Good level of English
- Medical background (optiona)
- Flexibility and open mindedness
- High level of independence and emotional strength
- Motivation to work with children
- Full travel & medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)