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Community volunteering in South Africa

Our community volunteering holidays in South Africa require commitment in terms of time, as well as the physical, mental and emotional demands of working in some of South Africa’s poorest communities. Rewards are infinite but you need to know, in advance, what you’ll be letting yourself in for. Patience, positivity and big smiles are often all that are required; however, skills and experience also go a long way.

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COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING IN SOUTH AFRICA

On community volunteering trips in South Africa, volunteers should be prepared for a pace of life that is much slower than they may be used to, so patience, respect and empathy are every bit as important as qualifications and relevant work experience. An open mind and a willingness to smile and be positive are essential for community volunteers, as well as the ability to be flexible and think on your feet when it comes to dealing with conditions that are very far removed from what you find back home. Healthcare, teaching and coaching positions require volunteers to have relevant qualifications, skills and/or work experience, whereas assistants are more likely to be given on the job training.

We recommend community volunteers sign up for a minimum of four weeks. It’s important that time is really invested when it comes to interacting with underprivileged communities in places like Port Elizabeth and Cape Town’s outer suburbs.

Volunteer in South Africa

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SPORTS COACHES & TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Sports coach & teaching assistants

Anne Smellie from Oyster World:

“Physical education isn’t formally taught in many of the schools that support South African townships and, as such, volunteer sports coaches provide a much needed chance for kids to run about and enjoy themselves after sitting down in a classroom all day. Some children will never have played cricket or rugby before, and often a kick around with a flat football will be the closest they’ll get to emulating the Bafana Bafana.”

SPORTS COACHES & TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Township schools around Port Elizabeth and Cape Town are extremely underfunded with limited resources and large class sizes, and volunteering as a classroom assistant or a teacher, alongside, not in place of, local teachers, can make a real difference. Volunteers teaching assistants with experience of working with children, especially in education, are vitally important. Full training will also be given to assistants on arrival. Volunteer teachers must have an appropriate qualification, such as a TEFL certificate, a PGCE, or another relevant certification in youth work. Although weekends are free to have fun, this is not a holiday and the longer you can extend your stay past four weeks, the better.