Meimei is no stranger to volunteering abroad. Before Cape Town, she’d already joined two GoEco programs, Peru – Amazon Wildlife Rescue & Release Sanctuary and Fiji – Inspire Kindergartners. This time she headed to South Africa, and she kept us posted the whole way, so a lot of this story is in her own words.
She joined Cape Town Community Volunteering for Mature Adults, a version of GoEco’s long-running Cape Town community program designed for volunteers aged 60 and over. It includes a private room at a hostel in Table View, a short walk from the beach, guided excursions built into the schedule, and two weeks supporting local teachers at preschools and community schools around Cape Town’s West Coast.
For someone who’d already spent time with kindergartners in Fiji, it was a natural next step.
A township tour, then the classroom
Before her placement started, Meimei joined a township tour, which gave her some context on the communities the local schools serve. The next day she started at her school placement.
“First day with the children. They are so sweet and friendly.”
On this program, volunteers work alongside local teachers rather than replacing them. That usually means helping children practice basic English, numbers, colors and shapes through songs and games, running arts and crafts, preparing learning materials, and lending a hand with daily classroom routines. No teaching background is needed, though Meimei arrived with a Fiji classroom’s worth of practice.
Pizza on the beach
The evenings matter on a trip like this too. One of her updates was simply:
“Tonight we all had a pizza dinner at the beach 😊”
The Table View hostel has a social feel, with a shared lounge, garden and braai area, and volunteers of different ages and nationalities end up spending time together after the school day. You arrive solo and end up with a dinner crew.
One week down, off to the Winelands
By the end of her first week, Meimei had settled right in:
“I enjoyed the first week volunteering with the children 🧒 now I am going to have Wine route tour for today.”
The Cape Winelands day is included in the program, sitting between the two volunteering weeks. Volunteers visit wine estates, taste local wines with cheese pairings, and take in some of the best vineyard scenery in South Africa. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday after five days of songs, crafts and very energetic preschoolers.
She also celebrated her 70th birthday while she was in Cape Town, which is about as good an answer as you’ll get to anyone who thinks volunteering abroad comes with an age limit.
In her own words
Looking back on her time in Cape Town, Meimei put it simply in her review:
“I would definitely recommend volunteering abroad with GoEco. It was a rewarding experience that allowed me to contribute to the local community, learn about a different culture, and meet wonderful people.
While volunteering can sometimes be challenging, the connections I made with the children and the memories I created made it absolutely worth it.”
That last line says it better than we could. The work isn’t always easy, and nobody pretends it is. What brings people like Meimei back is the kids, the people they meet, and the feeling of having been useful somewhere far from home.
Why Cape Town works for volunteers 60+
Meimei’s updates sum up what the program is built around: meaningful days with local kids and teachers, time to see Cape Town properly, and good company in the evenings. A few things make it an easy fit for mature travelers:
- Your own room. Unlike the shared dorms on the standard program, this version includes a private room.
- Excursions are built in. A full-day Cape Peninsula tour (Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope and the Boulders Beach penguins), a Cape Town sightseeing day, and the Cape Winelands excursion.
- Transport is handled. Airport pickup and daily transfers to and from your school placement are included.
- No experience needed. Local teachers and coordinators guide you from day one.
- Meals during the week. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are covered Monday to Friday, leaving weekends free to explore Cape Town’s food scene.
Your turn?
If Meimei’s story has you thinking about your own first (or third) program, have a look at Cape Town Community Volunteering for Mature Adults, or get in touch with one of our volunteer advisors to talk through what fits you.
Thank you, Meimei, for letting us come along for the ride. We’re already wondering where you’ll go next. 🌍
South Africa – Cape Town Community Volunteering for Mature Adults – Click Here To Apply Now
