About the Program
Volunteers are placed in schools in disadvantaged communities. No
experience is necessary and volunteers can have the joy of watching a
child learn and helping them through the process. As a volunteer, you will be assigned
to a class and will help the teacher with their daily tasks such as
teaching, marking, cleaning, sports training, songs/games, etc. After school hours volunteers
will sometimes be involved in after care or after school programs in the
settlements.
SAVE Foundation has numerous School and Educare Programs, which assist ten schools and positively impact 1562 children throughout Africa. These children are also fed nutritious meals at school. We believe that education and empowerment are the most important factors in the quest for poverty reduction; thus, we support various school and educare facilities to promote an early love of learning and create a foundation for a brighter future.
SAVE differs from most non-profit organisations because of the way that we work to create self-sufficient communities. The goal of our partnerships with various locally owned and staffed schools/educares is to assist them with achieving a high standard of education and operation to obtain school registration and become an independently functioning place of learning. We aim to do more than put a Band-Aid on a situation, but instead assist with development that will continue to positively impact the community throughout generations.
2 Day Cape Town Orientation
DAY 1: Friday
You are collected from the airport and taken to your volunteer accommodation. You will be shown around and given a map of the area. Depending on your arrival time, you will meet your volunteer leader and learn more about your project, if you arrive late you will be given a time that you will meet your leader. You have the day at your own leisure so you can explore the beach, shops, bars and restaurants. In the evening we have a traditional South African BBQ, called a braai, at the hostel.
DAY 2: Saturday
Start the day with breakfast and head to Saltycrax backpackers.
A SaltyCrax staff member will teach you about the bus system before you head out to Cape Town city centre.
You have two options to choose from:
1. Walking Tour:
Do a walking tour visiting historical sites like the Castle of Good Hope and the Grand Parade. Learn about life under apartheid in South Africa at the Parliament Buildings and the District Six Museum. Shop for African arts and crafts in Greenmarket Square and St George’s Mall.
2. The hop on hop off bus pass:
Board this open rooftop bus that takes you to all the sites you need to see, such as Camps Bay, the V&A Waterfront and Table Mountain… all from the comfort of your seat!
After one of the above activities you can take a bus or walk to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Sit back and sip a cocktail, enjoy some fresh fish and watch the ships in the busy working harbour or walk around taking in the shops, markets and musicians on the side walks. Alternatively, you can take the cable car up Table Mountain and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, or visit the famous Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held in prison during the apartheid era (own expense).
In the evening head back on the local bus to Table View where you can start planning your next day. We will help you book and arrange all that you need. Later, you can join the staff, guests and the locals at one of the restaurants or bars along the beach front in Table View – all within rolling distance from the hostel where you will be staying the night.
Day 3: Sunday
You will have at your own leisure to relax and get ready before your projects starts.
Typical Tasks
- Teaching lessons to children in the older groups (colours, letters, shapes, art, etc.) as well as teaching English through play and vocabulary stimulation.
- Stimulating smaller children in the younger groups with developmental toys, touch and by speaking English to them. We believe that speaking English to the children will assist them as they get older as English is compulsory in later education. The earlier they learn, the more they will benefit.
- Educating children in life lessons such as HIV, drugs etc.
- Assisting with the feeding programs
- Supervising children at all times
- Helping with events and fundraising
- Administration, lesson plan preparation, developmental activities, research, etc. This is mostly done after project hours in preparation for upcoming days. You may be required to do some of these tasks in your free time.
- Helping with the baby room – changing diapers, feeding babies, assisting with naptime
- Assisting in the vegetable garden where we grow fresh produce for their meals
- Helping with washing up after meals, cleaning classrooms, washing bedding and toys
- Maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for the children at all times
Project Highlights- Flexibility to run your own programs and lessons
- Using your initiative to create activities
- Helping children develop life and educational skills
- Experience working with children and groups within an organisation
- Facilitating new experiences for children
- Learning about South African cultures and way of life
- Making new lifetime friends
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