Hout Bay Child Care Assistant

About the Program

This program provides Early Childhood Development services and care to the poor in the community of Imizamo Yethu near Hout Bay in South Africa.

It services a Day Care Centre in the morning and an After School Program in the afternoon. You can be involved in either or both programs, but we recommend attending both.

Day Educare Centre

Their vision is to create a Day/Educare facility for the people of that township and its surroundings, where children are cared for in a loving environment, are taught Christian values and simple life skills and are prepared for formal schooling by employing teachers from the community and empowering them to become excellent professional educators.

Their mission is to give the children that vital head start for their successful lives in the future South Africa.

Since 1999 the school has grown and now cares for 285 children, between the ages of 1 and 6 years, with 18 staff members from the community. Since 2007 the Day/Educare has been extended and now consists of 11 classrooms, 17 toilets, a well-equipped kitchen, 2 offices, a covered veranda and a large playground.

After School Program

The projects core work is to provide a safe and nurturing space for vulnerable children between the ages of 6 and 12 who have suffered from the effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and other stressful life circumstances.

The NGO achieves this by providing a structured, holistic after-school care programme and family support centre which is in the interest of the children. 108 children attend the programmes daily and are nurtured, cared for and fed a hot meal by a staff of 10.

The project provides homework assistance, literacy and numeracy skills as well as life skills, gardening along with psycho-social activities and counselling. The structure was originally intended to be an orphanage but the community was adamant that the children do not lose their heritage or identity; rather the children would come and live within the community, whether they were relatives or neighbours.

Education brings hope for the future and promotes self-worth and dignity. All people should have a right to these.

You will assist class teachers with their daily routine. You will work closely with the Day Care team and help to create and organise the children’s daily routine.

What you should bring along:

• Genuine love for and interest in children
  
• Patience, tolerance and respect towards children
  
• Agility and energy to engage in physical child play
  
• Willingness to work closely with the teacher – remembering that the teacher is in charge and the volunteer is assisting. The teacher is ultimately responsible for the children in her care.
• Stress-resilience

• Welcoming children and assisting with getting ready for their day at the school.
  
• Breakfast – help with laying and clearing of tables, supervise eating during breakfast, snack & lunchtime.
  
• Brushing of teeth – assist with toothpaste, supervise brushing of teeth, washing of hands and toilet routine during and between lessons. Toilets, washbasins and floor are to be kept clean.
  
• Assist teacher in all areas of the daily class creative activities – this depends on daily activity and programme which teacher has to follow.
  
• Before morning break – prepare fruit and hand out to children. Water/tea to be served to each child.
  
• Outside play – teachers and volunteers to supervise and play with children, i.e. ball games etc.
  
• Music Ring – assist with songs, rhythmic activities, games and books.
  
• Lunchtime – move tables and chairs onto the veranda, oversee eating and help with clearing.
  
• Sleeping time – assist with floor cleaning and preparing classroom for resting time.
  
• Assist in kitchen with food service.
  
• Assist with art, music or physical science during class or in the afternoon with homework.
  
• Some children may need special attention with English, writing, drawing, maths or general schoolwork. The coordinator will advise you where to assist.
  
• Emotional support
  
• Be creative and flexible
• Tutoring
  

Hout Bay is just 20 minutes away from Cape Town and easily accessible by public transport. A highlight is the Hout Bay Harbour Market with craft beer, delicious food, a craft market and live music. Hout Bay is a beautiful place where you can meet travellers from all over the world.

You will live at the Volunteer House in Cape Town and be taken to and from the project every day. It is a private house in an upmarket residential area with single beds and twin bedrooms. Volunteers are accommodated in twin bedrooms but may upgrade to single rooms upon request. There are 4 bathrooms to share, a communal kitchen, a dining room, a lounge with TV and DVD and a beautiful garden with a swimming pool. Bedding is provided, towels are not provided. 

The house is self-catering. The main shopping areas as well as restaurants, pubs, etc. are within walking distance of the Volunteer House.