vanaf 853€

Uitstekend 4.8rating (859)

South Africa Childcare Volunteers

location
4 - 6 weken  ·  Leeftijd 18 - 50+

rating  Uitstekend 4.8  · 
  Geverifieerd door Volunteer World
  Uitstekend Responsgraad

Hoogste Kwaliteit Vrijwilligersproject. Dit project biedt de hoogste kwaliteit die normen stelt - ver boven het gemiddelde.

Highlights

  • 70% of volunteers are 18-22 years old
  • Work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa
  • Plan fun activities and make a positive impact within the projects in Cape Town
  • Experience Cape Town from centrally located accommodation
  • Use weekends to head on safari, climb Table Mountain or go wine-tasting

Vooral geschikt voor

Leeftijd 18+
Alleenstaanden
Groepen

Over het programma

Plan My Gap Year supports a range of day-care centres that provide essential childcare facilities to impoverished families of nearby communities.

It is estimated that about 80% of young children in South Africa’s townships do not have access to early childhood development education and lack the support required to develop to their full potential.

Since the end of Apartheid in 1994, poor government funding and flawed policies have ...

Over het programma

It is estimated that about 80% of young children in South Africa’s townships do not have access to early childhood development education and lack the support required to develop to their full potential.

Since the end of Apartheid in 1994, poor government funding and flawed policies have exacerbated many of the problems for South Africa’s poorest. Today about 57% of South Africa’s population lives in poverty. In low income township areas, living conditions are challenging, with high crime and unemployment rates, health problems and high population densities. A lack of childcare facilities leaves many children unattended and unprotected.

Plan My Gap Year supports a range of day-care centres that provide essential childcare facilities to impoverished families of nearby communities. The majority of these children come from the Townships and other underdeveloped communities where social and health problems such as gang violence, drugs, malnutrition and HIV/Aids are rife.

The day care centres we support are either independent local initiatives or government subsidised community support programmes. Some are home-based crèches run by local women and others are more structured organisations. However, they all have a common goal: to help provide the little ones with their basic right to develop their full emotional, social and physical potential. Some of the children arrive each day by bus, whereas others are dropped off by a parent. The children will then leave again in the afternoon. The children range from 3 months to 6 years old, depending on the facility.

The first five years of a child’s life are fundamentally important. They are the foundation that shapes children’s future health, happiness, growth, development and learning achievement at school, in the family and community, and in life in general.

Children learn more quickly during their early years than at any other time in life. They need love and nurturing to develop a sense of trust and security that turns into confidence as they grow. Babies and young children grow, learn and develop rapidly when they receive love and affection, attention, encouragement and mental stimulation, as well as nutritious meals and good health care. Volunteers help to provide all of this in our day-care centres offering invaluable assistance to the over-stretched local staff.

The teachers and assistants communicate to the children using a mixture of Afrikaans, English and Xhosa. Some of the centres provide meals for the children so volunteers can assist with feeding times.

Specific childcare experience is not required but it is an advantage. As long as you have patience and a willingness to do your bit then you can really make a difference.

Travel tips

You should arrive into Cape Town International Airport on the selected Sunday start date. Programmes start on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. You will be met at the airport by one of our local staff or an appointed driver who will be holding a named sign. They will take you to your accommodation where you will spend the rest of your day at leisure. 

The programme ends on the Saturday of your final week and you should depart the accommodation on this day.

Can I use this program as part of a university or college placement? 

It is certainly possible to use one of PMGY’s programmes as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. PMGY regularly receives medical, childcare, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects around the world and we have ties with some of the leading universities.

If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of PMGY’s programmes could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us.

Is it safe to travel to PMGY destinations?

Although our volunteers work in the developing world, we always ensure our host locations are safe. Each programme has been extensively researched and has passed our strict vetting process. Our UK team undergo an extensive routine when establishing our in-country infrastructures and we continue to monitor our safety procedures on a regular basis. Furthermore, we monitor the stability of our volunteer destinations on a daily basis. Through our constant contact with consulates and embassies and our reports from our overseas teams, we are able to ensure that our volunteers are never placed in unstable regions.

The PMGY team have visited and participated in every programme we offer and verified them based on our own independent criteria. We carefully inspect every little detail of our set-up. From inspecting the living conditions, checking out the neighbourhoods you’ll be staying in, to tasting the food you’ll be eating – each and every programme we establish has gone through a lengthy and rigorous vetting process. Risk assessments have been written for all areas in which PMGY operate and our experienced local coordinators are always on-hand to manage any emergencies that may occur. Our UK team are always on the road reviewing our risk management procedures in the field and monitoring local conditions. 

In emergency situations we have the necessary protocols and equipment in place and we are able to evacuate our volunteers from potential dangers. Our local coordinators are trained to deal with emergency circumstances. 

When you join PMGY we will send you a Volunteer Handbook. This document addresses a range of issues such as health, safety, visa issues etc. Furthermore, our UK team are only ever a phone call away should you wish to discuss any aspect of your upcoming programme. When you arrive in-country, you’ll be given a comprehensive safety briefing during your orientation course by our local coordinators. We will go through everything from emergency procedures, how to use local transport and cultural differences. You’ll also be given the opportunity to purchase a local SIM card, something we strongly suggest, so you’re contactable at all times. We will provide you with a full list of the important contact numbers that you’ll need to know.

All our local teams are experienced development professionals who have years of experience in hosting international volunteers. They are our representatives on the ground and will assist you 24/7 throughout your stay. Whether you need to call home, travel at the weekend or require urgent assistance – they are there to support you.

While we cannot guarantee your volunteer experience to be 100% trouble free we have taken all the necessary precautions to make sure each programme is as safe as possible.



Dagelijkse activiteiten

Your role will vary from assisting permanent staff in daily tasks, creating learning aids and general supervision. Volunteers can also carry out some teaching such as reading, writing, basic maths and arts & crafts. Volunteers are also expected to help with feeding at lunch times if applicable and ...

Dagelijkse activiteiten

Your role will vary from assisting permanent staff in daily tasks, creating learning aids and general supervision. Volunteers can also carry out some teaching such as reading, writing, basic maths and arts & crafts. Volunteers are also expected to help with feeding at lunch times if applicable and general maintenance at the project too. Importantly, you will become a positive role model for the children, which is something that so many of the children are so sadly lacking.

We work with a range of childcare programmes across Cape Town. Each centre is different varying from 50 to a 100 children and ranging from children as young as 6 months up to 6 years old usually. Usually children are broken down into smaller group sizes depending on their age. Below is two examples of the projects that we work with.

PROJECT EXAMPLE – DOPLHIN EDUCATE 

Dolphin Educare was established over 30 years ago. They have 80 little ones between the ages of 3 months and 5 years. The kids are mostly from the local area. They have a fundraiser once a month in order to keep the educare sustainable. They have 18 babies at the centre. Dolphin Educare is located in the picturesque coastal area of Strandfontein. Sand dunes and Table Mountain offer a spectacular backdrop to this project. Dolphin Educare is a crèche facility offering childcare to families in the nearby community. The children that attend are Afrikaans. 

English and Xhosa speaking and come from underprivileged homes. PMGY volunteers ease the workload of the understaffed team by providing the children with the extra care and attention.

PROJECT EXAMPLE – NEW WORLD FOUNDATION

The New World Foundation is a crèche located in Lavender Hill, deep in the Cape Flats in Cape Town’s southern suburbs. The working class area of Lavender Hill is a predominantly Afrikaans speaking community. Many social malaises affect this area such as unemployment, alcoholism and drug abuse.

Many of the children at the crèche come from broken homes and deprived backgrounds so the extra care and attention that PMGY volunteers contribute is highly appreciated by the staff, children and community alike.


Vrijetijdsactiviteiten

PMGY volunteer in South Africa participants are based in the Observatory – better known as ‘Obz’ by the locals! Home to South African’s oldest Astronomical Observatory, this is Cape Town’s most bohemian suburb; an arty district. During the day, this road is home to various boutique ...

Vrijetijdsactiviteiten

PMGY volunteer in South Africa participants are based in the Observatory – better known as ‘Obz’ by the locals! Home to South African’s oldest Astronomical Observatory, this is Cape Town’s most bohemian suburb; an arty district. During the day, this road is home to various boutique shops, restaurants and cafes. However, at night, the street comes to life, with an awesome night life supplied by various bars and clubs, pubs and pool halls!

The opportunities in Cape Town during your time off are endless, you may well struggle to fit everything in! Whether you want to stay in the city or explore the Western Cape, there really is something for everyone.

Participants generally volunteer on a Monday-Friday basis and the weekends are free to relax or travel further afield. As our volunteers will testify, the wider travel opportunities are extremely important to the whole experience and it is something we certainly recommend. Our local team are able to arrange activities, transport and accommodation but please note this is usually an independent experience outside of the core program.


Voorwaarden

Voorwaarden

Minimum leeftijd: 18 jaar

Om deel te nemen aan het programma dien je tenminste 18 jaar oud te zijn op de startdatum van het programma. Er kunnen uitzonderingen gemaakt worden indien je een bewijs van toestemming kan aantonen van uw wettelijke voogd(en) of samen met je ouders deelneemt.

Taalkennis

Je dient over volgende taalkennis te beschikken Engels (gemiddeld niveau)

Bewijs van goed gedrag en zeden

verplicht

Nationaliteitsbeperkingen

Geen beperkingen. Helpende handen van over de hele wereld zijn welkom.

Andere vaardigheden

You should also be physically fit, as volunteering overseas can be quite strenuous. If you have any medical/mental health conditions that may affect your participation overseas then these must be declared to us during your online application.

Tijdsinzet

Uw helpende hand wordt verwacht op maandag, dinsdag, woensdag, donderdag en vrijdag van 09:00 - 14:00

Diensten ingesloten

Diensten ingesloten

Diensten door Plan My Gap Year

  • Accommodation 
  • Meals (Breakfast Monday-Friday)
  • Airport Pick Up
  • In-Country Orientation
  • 24 Hour Support

Afhaal aan de luchthaven op Cape Town International Airport

You should arrive into Cape Town International Airport (airport code CPT) on the Sunday. The airport pickup is available 24 hours. 

You will be collected at the airport by a local transfer company called ‘Backpacker Bus’, which provides a pickup service to various hostels in Cape Town, including the Volunteer House. The driver will be holding a sign with the name ‘Stay Africa’ displayed on it. The bus will then drop you off at the Volunteer Hostel in Cape Town where you can relax and settle in. Depending on traffic the bus journey could be anywhere from 15-30 minutes.

Accomodatie

Volunteer House

During your time on the South Africa volunteer programs, you will live in our Volunteer House. This is located in Observatory - better known as ‘Obz’ by the locals! Home to South African’s oldest Astronomical Observatory, this is Cape Town’s most bohemian suburb; an arty district. The main entertainment area is located only a 10 minute walk from the hostel, along lower Main Road. During the day, this road is home to various boutique shops, restaurants and cafes. However, at night, the street comes to life, with a vibrant nightlife.

The accommodation is basic but comfortable. Moreover, Wi-Fi is available free of charge. Each room has bunk beds with up to 8 people per room (on a single-sex basis). Bathrooms are shared, with showers and western-style toilets. During the winter period (June to August) it can get quite cold, so please bring warm clothes. International volunteers are provided with a bedsheet and blanket. However, you may also choose to bring a sleeping bag or buy an additional blanket from the local store for extra warmth.

The house has a communal area for volunteers to hang out after completing volunteer work in South Africa. Moreover, the Volunteer House comes with sofas, a flat-screen TV and DVD player. In addition, there will also be fridge space available for volunteers to store any chilled items. Each volunteer will be assigned their own lockable cupboard for the safekeeping of small valuable items. For example, this could be storing your passport and/or money. Therefore, volunteers are advised to bring with them a small lock to make use of these.

During our busiest months (June to September) you may be placed at alternative accommodation. This could be a nearby guesthouse or one of our summer Volunteer Houses.

Eten & Drank

During your volunteer trip to South Africa, volunteers will be provided with breakfast. You will need to purchase your own lunch and dinner during the volunteering week. In addition, you will need to budget for all meals at the weekend. Please note, that although the Volunteer House has a kitchen, this is quite small. As a result, cooking meals can be difficult and it can be more practical to eat out for lunch and at weekends.

Breakfast operates in a self-service format. Volunteers just help themselves and all cutlery and crockery are provided. If you fancy eating out there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and local amenities in the surrounding area. For breakfast we provide yoghurt, fruit, cheese, bread, jams, tea and coffee, peanut butter, eggs etc. Volunteers just help themselves – all cutlery and crockery etc is provided. 

If you fancy eating out there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and local amenities in the surrounding area. Long Street, Cape Town’s premier nightlife destination is only 10 minutes away by public transport.

Note: Our team will do their best to cater for any dietary requirements but there may be instances where you may need to purchase alternative ingredients at your own expense.


Internet toegang

Makkelijke toegang op de project site

Wat is er NIET inbegrepen?

Wat is er NIET inbegrepen?

Vlucht tickets

De dichtste luchthaven is Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. We assisteren u met het vinden van goedkope vluchten naar Zuid-Afrika. VIND GOEDKOPE VLUCHTEN

Reisverzekering

Naar het buitenland reizen is een avontuur en het is best om goed voorbereid te zijn. Plots ziek worden of gewond raken, annulaties of diefstal - een reisverzekering voor Zuid-Afrika biedt zekerheid en is een meerwaarde. KRIJG EEN OFFERTE

Vaccinaties

Als je de intentie hebt om als vrijwilliger aan de slag te gaan in Zuid-Afrika dien je eerst medisch advies in te winnen alvorens je eropuit trekt. Kijk de benodigde vaccinaties na voor Zuid-Afrika. VACCINATIE CHECKER

Gegevens over jouw aankomst

This program starts on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month

Beschikbaarheid
jan. feb. mrt. apr. mei. jun. jul. aug. sep. okt. nov. dec.

Programmakosten

4 weken (min. verblijf) 853€
5 weken 1.037€
6 weken (max. verblijf) 1.145€
Gemiddelde kosten 202€/week

Programmakosten

202€ per week 4 - 6 weken Leeftijd 18 - 50+

Betaalmethodes

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

GEEN CREDITCARDKOSTEN


Duurtijd

4 - 6 weken

Waarborg

De waarborg dient om je plek als vrijwilliger te verzekeren. Betalingen worden door PayPal behandeld, onze betrouwbare betalingsprovider. Indien je niet over een PayPal account beschikt, kan je ook met een credit kaart betalen.


Finale betaling

Uw finale betaling zal worden goedgekeurd door Plan My Gap Year gedurende de aanmeld procedure. Veel voorkomende oplossingen zijn een banktransfer of contante betaling op de projectsite.


Ontmoet je organisatie

Plan My Gap Year

Uitstekend 4.8 rating (859 beoordelingen)

Agentschap - opgericht in 2011

Geverifieerd door Volunteer World

  Uitstekend Responsgraad

Gepresenteerd door

Josh

Gesproken talen: Engels

Over de organisatie

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK.

Ontmoet je organisatie

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK. We provide safe, affordable, need-driven volunteer programmes from 1 to 24 weeks in 11 countries worldwide.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US…

Founded by volunteers for volunteers, Plan My Gap Year works with local communities in the developing world towards long-term sustainable goals. We know there is no better way to travel and make a positive impact on the world.

We work extremely hard to ensure that our opportunities are affordable for everyone who wants to make a difference. So fees are 100% transparent, something our volunteers really appreciate.

Plan My Gap Year structured programmes create the perfect platform for you to see the world, meet like-minded people and engage in meaningful volunteer work. We have teams in the UK and in our host destinations who will support you 24/7 throughout your time with us. Furthermore, every project on our network is regularly risk-assessed by our UK team to ensure our set up is safe and that our volunteers are making a positive impact.

There is also a great social element to our programmes. Plan My Gap Year puts you in touch with all your fellow volunteers via Facebook before you set off. Our projects receive volunteers from around the world throughout the year, so even if you’re travelling solo, you’re going to meet heaps of people along the way. Plus you’ll have plenty of opportunity to travel the country with your newfound travel buddies – it’s all part of the PMGY experience!

So if you’re thinking of doing something a bit different on your next trip abroad, then why not drop us a line and find out what extraordinary things you could be doing.

AFFORDABLE & TRANSPARENT FEES

Our aim is to make our programmes accessible to motivated travellers irrespective of their financial capacity. Plan My Gap Year focuses on providing the core requirements of a volunteer programme: safety, structure and sustainability.

We are 100% transparent with our fees. That way you know exactly how much of your money goes towards the local community.

Compared to the large majority of volunteer organisations out there, even most charities and not-for-profits, PMGY’s opportunities are significantly cheaper. Furthermore, as our reviews will testify, our support service and structured programmes are second to none.

SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT

Your safety is our top priority. All of Plan My Gap Years' programmes have been personally inspected and vetted by the PMGY team – which is not an industry standard by any means. We carry out independent risk assessments on an annual basis and our local teams constantly review the safety precautions we implement. This includes regular staff and safety appraisals.

 Our local teams are made up of highly experienced volunteer coordinators. They have hosted international volunteers for many years and are prepared to react in the unlikely event of an emergency. Whatever the problem, big or small, our local teams are available around the clock.

As part of our commitment to your safety, we keep in constant communication with local embassies and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to ensure we can identify potentially dangerous situations and act upon them immediately. Our UK team are available 24/7 to assist volunteers and their families.

TRAINING & SUPPORT

We support our volunteers every step of the way. Before you go we will provide you with a detailed Volunteer Handbook, which will guide you through how to prepare for your trip. This Handbook contains literally everything you need to know – from what to pack, to how to obtain a visa, to local language guides.

Our experienced UK team are always available to provide assistance. Plan My Gap Year is always available to answer our questions and support you in anyway we can. 

On arrival, a member of our in-country team will collect you from the airport and help you settle in. Your orientation course will teach you everything you need to know about the country, how to stay safe and what to expect from your upcoming volunteer experience. 

Our local team are on-call 24/7. Whether you’ve lost your passport or just want some help in planning a weekend trip, our friendly in-country coordinators provide that safety net to ensure you are well looked after.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Plan My Gap Years' responsibility is not limited to our travellers but also the projects we support. That is why all our volunteers must provide a Criminal Background Check before they travel.

It is essential that our projects are need-driven and sustainable. We work closely with our local partners to ensure that our volunteers are contributing to bring about long-term development.

PERSONAL TOUCH

We really know our programmes. Our UK team have stayed in the accommodation, volunteered at the projects and met the volunteers. We carefully assess each application we receive so that your personality and skills are suited to the project. Whatever your query, you can feel assured that you will be speaking to someone who can tell you exactly what to expect.

HAVING FUN

One of the best aspects of volunteering is meeting some amazing like-minded people. We place over 2,000 volunteers every year so wherever and whenever you go, you have the peace of mind in knowing you will be living and working alongside other PMGY volunteers. In many of our destinations, we run our own Volunteer House accommodation, which ensures all volunteers live together, and therefore guaranteeing a strong social element. In addition, our local team are always there to help you plan any independent travel or give you some tips for what to do at the weekend.

859 beoordelingen · rating4.8

We had the most amazing 2 weeks in South Africa, Cape Town in March. It was such an amazing place including the culture, people and sight seeings. There is so much to do and see there even when doing a volunteer project. Our project was a kindergarten just outside of Cape Town. All of the staff and ...
I spent just two short weeks in Cape Town this February. Two weeks was by far not enough but I had the best experience of my life! I was very worried before going as it was the first time I've ever travelled alone but pmgy offered great support both through regular emails and in the volunteer ...
Ulrika Erlandsson rating5

2017 at South Africa Childcare Volunteers

I spent 4 amazing weeks in South Africa doing the childcare program. In preparation for my trip the volunteer handbook was very useful and the PMGY team helped with any other questions and/or concerns. The accommodation was good, the hostel I stayed at had pretty much everything you need and I met ...
I spent a few weeks in Morocco doing both the childcare and the teaching programme and loved the whole experience! I found that the team in the UK were very helpful with all of my questions which was reassuring. I also found the team in Morocco supportive and quickly helped me with any problems that ...
I spent just two short weeks in Cape Town this April. Two weeks was by far not enough but I had the best experience of my life! I was very worried before going as it was the first time I've ever travelled alone but pmgy offered great support both through regular emails and in the volunteer handbook ...
I had an amazing time on the Childcare course in South Africa, Josh was a darling in emailing me getting me ready for the trip, and Niclas the live in hostel manager in Sea Point is always up to do things, show you around, and pointers in the best things there to do with your time. The only bad ...

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