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Fantastic 4.54rating (29)
  • Quality Education

Classroom Support in Primary Schools

location
4 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Support trained local teachers in Cape Town primary schools, mostly in the suburban and township areas.
  • Work in classes of 40 to 45 children where pupils arrive with very different levels and many need one-to-one help.
  • Take small groups for reading, writing and arithmetic - the basics that these schools struggle hardest to deliver.

Highlights

  • Support trained local teachers in Cape Town primary schools, mostly in the suburban and township areas.
  • Work in classes of 40 to 45 children where pupils arrive with very different levels and many need one-to-one help.
  • Take small groups for reading, writing and arithmetic - the basics that these schools struggle hardest to deliver.
  • Occasionally take a class on your own, so bring some confidence in front of a room as well as willingness to assist.
  • Check the school calendar before you book: this project CLOSES for school holidays and hours drop during exam weeks.
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Support trained teachers in Cape Town primary schools where classes run to 40 or 45 children and many need individual attention nobody has time to give.

    The problem in Cape Town's township schools is not indifference. It is arithmetic.

    Funding, resources and infrastructure are all short, and the areas are crowded — with long-standing residents and with migrants. There are not enough schools for the number of children. In response, many ...

    About the program

    The problem in Cape Town's township schools is not indifference. It is arithmetic.

    Funding, resources and infrastructure are all short, and the areas are crowded — with long-standing residents and with migrants. There are not enough schools for the number of children. In response, many middle-income schools opened their doors to children from the townships, laying on transport and feeding schemes so that pupils are not trying to learn on an empty stomach. That was a good and generous thing to do.

    It also produced classes of 40 to 45 children per teacher, drawn from very different communities and arriving with very different levels of ability. A teacher facing that room cannot give individual attention to the children who need it most, however much they want to. Basic reading, writing and arithmetic are what suffer.

    That gap is where you work.

    What you will actually be doing

    Supporting the trained local teachers: taking small groups out of the larger class for focused work on literacy and numeracy, helping design lessons and materials, and getting children involved in activities outside the classroom, including physical ones.

    Volunteers also occasionally take a class on their own, unsupervised. That is worth knowing before you apply. It is not thrown at you on day one, but if standing in front of forty children alone is not something you could ever do, this is not the right placement.

    Two scheduling facts that should shape your booking

    • This project closes during school holidays. Not reduced — closed. Check the South African school calendar against your travel dates before booking anything.
    • During exam periods — usually the fortnight before a term ends — your hours will be shorter, because the pupils are sitting examinations.

    The local team will tell you the term dates. Ask before you book flights, not after.

    Who this suits

    No teaching qualification is needed, though a TEFL certificate or classroom experience gets you more responsibility sooner. What matters is patience, preparation and being genuinely useful to a teacher who is stretched.

    Volunteer World applies a four-week minimum to placements involving children, which suits this one: a child who needs sustained help with reading gains little from a fortnight of it.

    You need to be 18 or over, and fluent in English, since you are modelling it.

    Typical day

    Arrival — Met at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and taken by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation in Observatory. This pickup is for volunteers arriving by air only; overland arrivals make their own way.

    First Monday — Orientation with the local volunteer coordinator: living in Cape ...

    Typical day

    Arrival — Met at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and taken by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation in Observatory. This pickup is for volunteers arriving by air only; overland arrivals make their own way.

    First Monday — Orientation with the local volunteer coordinator: living in Cape Town, culture and customs, safety, and a briefing on your school and the classes you will be working with.

    Monday to Friday — the working pattern:

    • Morning — Breakfast at the volunteer house, then travel out to the school
    • At school — Supporting the teacher, taking small groups for literacy and numeracy, helping with lesson materials and activities
    • Evening — Back at the house. Volunteers cook together, watch films in the lounge, or have a braai

    Getting to your school — By minibus taxi, which is cheap, efficient and a proper Cape Town experience. Daily project transport is not included in the fee, so budget for it. The team shows you the routes at orientation.

    Term times govern everything here. The project closes for school holidays and runs short hours during exam weeks. Get the dates from the team before booking flights.

    Weekends — Free. Table Mountain, Lion's Head, Robben Island, the Cape Peninsula, Boulders Beach and the winelands are all within reach.

    Free-time activities

    Cape Town is an unusually good city to have free time in. Table Mountain is the obvious one, and Lion's Head at sunset is the walk everyone does and nobody regrets. Robben Island takes half a day and deserves to be done properly rather than as a photo stop.

    Beyond the city, the Cape Peninsula drive ...

    Free-time activities

    Cape Town is an unusually good city to have free time in. Table Mountain is the obvious one, and Lion's Head at sunset is the walk everyone does and nobody regrets. Robben Island takes half a day and deserves to be done properly rather than as a photo stop.

    Beyond the city, the Cape Peninsula drive to Cape Point, the penguins at Boulders Beach, and the winelands at Stellenbosch and Franschhoek all fit a weekend. With longer, the Garden Route east towards Knysna is one of the world's better road trips, and volunteers usually go together and split a car.

    School holidays, when the project closes, are the obvious window for a longer trip if your dates happen to span one.

    Evenings at the house mean film nights in the lounge or a braai, which you should let a South African run rather than attempting yourself in week one.

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Education Requirements

    at High school level

    Criminal Background Check

    required

    Required Documents

    Criminal background check, passport copy and travel and medical insurance

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    No teaching qualification is required, though a TEFL certificate or classroom experience will get you more responsibility sooner. Useful: tutoring, youth work, teaching assistant roles, or anything involving holding the attention of a group. Fluent English is essential since you are modelling it. Bring reading books, flashcards, stickers and pens if you have room. A clean criminal background check is required.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 14:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    Included in the programme fee:

    • Accommodation in the volunteer house in Observatory, or with a host family
    • Meals, according to your accommodation type — confirm the detail with the team before travelling
    • Airport pickup from Cape Town International for volunteers arriving by air
    • Orientation on the first Monday with the local volunteer coordinator
    • Your school placement and introduction to the teaching staff
    • 24-hour assistance and support from the in-country team
    • Comprehensive pre-departure information and a certificate of participation on request

    Not included — and two of these are easy to miss:

    • Daily transport to your school. You travel by minibus taxi and pay for it yourself. Cheap per trip, but it adds up over several weeks
    • The return airport drop, which can be arranged at extra cost
    • International flights and visa fees
    • Vaccinations
    • Travel and medical insurance, which is mandatory. Buy it through us at extra cost, or bring your own and send a copy
    • Teaching materials you choose to bring for the schools
    • Weekend travel and personal spending

    The price shown already includes your application fee – there is nothing further to pay us on arrival. Payment can be split into interest-free instalments, with the balance due 45 days before you start.

    Airport Pickup at Cape Town International Airport

    Arrival pickup from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is included. A representative meets you and takes you by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation.

    Two important limits on that:

    • The pickup is for volunteers arriving by air at Cape Town International only. If you are arriving overland, coming from elsewhere in South Africa, or are already in the country, no pickup is provided and you make your own way to the accommodation.
    • The return airport drop is not included. It can be arranged for you at extra cost, payable locally.

    Send your flight details in advance so somebody is there when you land.

    Accommodation

    You stay either in the volunteer house or with a host family in a local community. Most volunteers are in the house.

    The volunteer house is a dormitory-style hostel in Observatory, a suburb about twenty minutes from central Cape Town. Rooms typically hold four to eight people. Observatory is well placed for shops, restaurants, public transport and some of the best beaches anywhere, and it is a safe area.

    The house is used exclusively by programme participants and is not open to the public. Evenings are communal — film nights in the lounge, or a braai, which is the South African barbecue and rather more of an institution than the word suggests.

    Living with volunteers from all over the world is genuinely one of the better parts of this placement, and most people leave with a group chat that outlasts the trip.

    Host family placements in local communities are the alternative if you would rather be immersed than sociable. Say which you prefer when you apply.

    Food & Beverages

    Meals are provided, and what is included depends on which accommodation you are in — the volunteer house and host family arrangements differ. The team confirms exactly what your placement covers before you travel, and it is worth asking directly rather than assuming.

    In the volunteer house, communal cooking is a large part of the social life. Observatory has supermarkets, markets and plenty of cheap places to eat within walking distance.

    With a host family you eat South African home cooking, which is worth experiencing properly.

    Flag allergies and dietary requirements before you arrive. Cape Town is an easy city to be vegetarian or vegan in.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Start dates — Regular start dates during South African school terms, with orientation on the first Monday of your programme.

    🚩 Check the school calendar before you book anything. This project closes during school holidays and runs reduced hours during exam periods, usually the two weeks before a term ends. Ask the team for the term dates and book your flights around them.

    Getting there — Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT).

    Transfers — read carefully

    • The arrival pickup from Cape Town International is included, by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation.
    • Volunteers arriving overland, or already in South Africa, get no pickup and must make their own way.
    • The return airport drop is not included. It can be arranged at extra cost.

    Daily project transport is not included — you travel by minibus taxi and pay for it yourself. Inexpensive per trip, but a real cost over several weeks.

    Bring, if you can — reading books for primary ages, flashcards, stickers, pens and pencils. Materials are scarce and weigh very little.

    Visa — Many nationalities enter South Africa visa-free as visitors for up to 90 days. Check your own country's position. Visa fees are not included.

    When to come — Term times aside, summer runs roughly November to March: warm, dry and busy. Winter, June to August, is cooler and wetter but far quieter and cheaper.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program Fees

    $258 per week 4 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    4 - 24 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.5
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers

    Location

    Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa > Cape Town

    Meet your project coordinator

    Sahil
    29
    reviews
    4.54
    Fantastic
    2007
    Founded

    Verified

      Below average response rate
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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Education  >  Primary School in South Africa
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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