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Teaching Children in Cape Town, South Africa

Duration

2 - 12 weeks

Language requirements

English

Availability

All year

Age

18+

Price starts with

770 EUR

Type of program

Volunteering or Internship

Volunteering and internships are possible at iKhaya, which operates an afternoon care program for around 100 children aged 6-14 from challenging family backgrounds in a township in Cape Town, as well as a social work program to support families. We can also organize internships at ELRU, a program dedicated to supporting preschool-aged children.
Description

Afterschool Care Center in the Imizamo Yethu Township

In the Imizamo Yethu Township, approximately 50,000 people live in simple shacks and social housing without access to water, sewage systems, or electricity. The estimated HIV infection rate is 25%, and around 50% of families are unemployed. Pollution and disease are ongoing issues that exacerbate the general sense of hopelessness and despair in the township.

At iKhaya's Afterschool Care Center in the Imizamo Yethu Township, every day, around 100 children aged 6 to 14 (grades 1 to 6) are provided with nutrition, homework assistance, reading and math skills, life skills, psychosocial activities, counseling, and gardening. Most of the children are from households without parents or with neglectful parents, where the home environment is not conducive to positive development. The Afterschool Care Center offers them a place where they can feel safe and have a voice.

The following skills are taught to the children:   

  • Mathematics: Mathematics is taught through real-life scenarios and problem-solving tasks.
  • Literacy: Speaking, reading, and writing in English and isiXhosa.
  • Life Skills: HIV/AIDS awareness, health and hygiene, strategic thinking, and decision-making.
  • Group Therapy: Includes problem-solving skills, coping with grief, anger, and fears.
  • Recreational Activities: This depends on the activities brought in by volunteers, such as soccer, netball, volleyball, arts, theater, singing, and gardening.


The family support and adult education program supports around 60 families, training them in raising vulnerable children and orphans. The children live with foster families who are taught early childhood development skills by the NGO and provided with an income opportunity to ensure high-quality care for foster children aged 0 to 6.

The NGO has 11 staff members, most of whom come from the township. iKhaya is primarily funded through sponsorships and donations.

Volunteers and interns generally contribute to the afternoon care program in the following ways:

  • Assisting teachers with classroom tasks: You assist teachers but also come up with new activities and teaching methods to carry out independently with the children.
  • Supporting the children: This involves helping with daily homework in subjects like English, math, and life skills. You also support children in therapeutic programs, prepare meals, and serve them.
  • Sharing your culture, talents, and interests: You can teach children aged 6 to 14 your knowledge, skills, and interests. This can include a variety of activities such as cooking lessons, music, theater, sports, etc.


A Typical Day at Your Placement

  • 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Reading club with the children.
  • 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Helping children with their homework.
  • 4:00 PM - 4:10 PM: Serving healthy meals to the children.
  • 4:10 PM - 5:00 PM: Tutoring and homework support in key subjects.


If you wish to work in the mornings as well, you can help at a kindergarten in the township supported by iKhaya.

It is also possible to do an internship or volunteer work in the field of social work. A professional social worker is available to supervise your internship.


Program Supporting Preschool-Aged Children

ELRU (Early Learning Resource Unit) supports children up to the age of 6 and their families through various developmental programs:

Home-Based Early Childhood Development: As part of a peer-to-peer program, ELRU regularly visits mothers and families in disadvantaged communities to provide knowledge and skills related to age-appropriate, playful, and developmental activities. Peer-to-peer means that the facilitators leading these activities come from the same social environment as the families, enabling them to understand and relate to the families' and mothers' living conditions. The activities are not just targeted at the children but actively include the parents as well. The goal is for the families to continue the activities independently.

Community-Based Early Childhood Development (Playgroups): ELRU operates its own play groups and developmental groups for children aged 2-5 who lack access to formal childcare facilities (e.g., kindergartens, crèches, playgroups). Unemployed mothers and caregivers from local communities are trained as "Hlumisa" to support their neighborhood. A Hlumisa acquires basic knowledge in age-appropriate early childhood education and typically cares for six children from her neighborhood twice a week for three hours each session. The activities follow a typical playgroup structure.

Centre-Based Early Childhood Development: Childcare and development facilities for children in disadvantaged communities often have poor infrastructure and ineffective management. Resources, materials, and knowledge are often lacking to deliver high-quality educational and developmental work. As a result, the neediest children frequently do not receive the necessary stimulation and support to overcome their disadvantaged living conditions. ELRU works with facilities and stakeholders in disadvantaged communities to improve the quality of childcare offerings.

Qualified internships are available at ELRU for students and trainees in education, pedagogy, early childhood education, social work, and related fields, under the guidance of professionals. You can actively participate in all of ELRU's listed activities with expert supervision. The minimum duration for an internship at ELRU is four weeks.

Program details

FAQs

Is accommodation really not included? How do I get accommodation? What costs should I expect?

Accommodation is not included in our placements in Cape Town. One reason for this is the large availability of hostels, guest houses, and other accommodations in Cape Town, and many participants prefer the flexibility in choosing their accommodation. Additionally, the exchange rates between the South African Rand and the EUR/USD fluctuate significantly, making it difficult for us to provide fixed rates in these foreign currencies. You can get cheaper accommodation by booking directly with accommodations in Cape Town.

You can book accommodations online yourself. We will send you a list of recommended accommodations based on their proximity to your project site.

For a bed in a dormitory room, you should expect costs of approximately 15-20 EUR/USD per night for stays of less than a month and 10-15 EUR/USD for longer stays. For a single room, the cost is estimated at about 40 EUR/USD per night.

Rates

Who can join

A certificate of good conduct from the police must be presented for activities in this assignment location.

Volunteers need to be able to assist with English, Math and Reading homework at the level of the age of the children.

Volunteers with knowledge in education, social work and occupational therapy are also welcome. They can be get involved in further areas of the NGO's activities, such as the family support and adult education programs.

Program start

The program start is flexible and possible year-round. The exact start date must be confirmed by us in coordination with the placement organization.

Getting there

You will fly to Cape Town (CPT), which is very well connected with direct flights or one to two stopovers at relatively low prices from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Your flight should land between 8 am and 8 pm (planned arrival time). You book your flight and provide us with your flight details. We will pick you up and take you to your accommodation.

If your flight arrives outside the time window (8 am-8 pm) (or departs during the return journey), we can still pick you up, but we would charge an additional 25 EUR/30 USD for the night transfer.

Visa

A visa is available upon arrival at the airport free of charge to many nationalities, allowing a stay of up to 90 days.

Accommodation Options


Self-booked Accommodation in Cape Town

In Cape Town, we offer our placement and support services independently from accommodation.

The reason for this approach is twofold. Firstly, many participants prefer more flexibility in choosing their accommodation. Secondly, the prices charged by accommodation providers in South African Rand (ZAR) fluctuate significantly, making it challenging for us to guarantee fixed prices in EUR or USD.

Depending on the location of your placement, we will suggest various accommodations, typically backpacker hostels, and provide you with the booking links. You will then book the accommodation yourself online. If you prefer, you can also book accommodation independently through platforms like Airbnb.

We are happy to advise you in finding the accommodation that suits you best. For example, if your placement is in Table View, you can choose between quieter accommodation in a green area near the beach, close to your placement, or accommodation in the city center, where there is more nightlife but a longer commute to the placement via city bus. We will gladly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different accommodations with you.

We have a list of recommended accommodations in the neighborhoods of Table View, Downtown, Woodstock, Oranjezicht, Muizenberg, and Hout Bay.

Extras

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What is included?

VM_WHAT_IS_INCLUDED?
  • Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
  • Access to the World Unite! Knowledge Base which has preparation materials including intercultural preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (Videos)
  • Preparation Session via Zoom; together with further participants
  • Pick-up and Transfers from/to Cape Town airport (CPT) on arrival and departure
  • Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
  • Orientation and Introduction in Cape Town
  • Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
  • Project contributions
  • Assistance with booking accommodation
  • 24 Hours emergency support by local support team
  • Local SIM Card with 100 ZAR air time
  • Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
  • 15% Discount for Safaris, Kilimanjaro Climbs, Excursions and Watersports Activities offered by "Budget Safari Tanzania"
  • CO2 compensation of your long-haul flights: Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro

Not included?

VM_WHAT_IS_NOT_INCLUDED?
  • Travel to/from Cape Town
  • Accommodation and meals
  • Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance - you book it on your own, we can assist you)
  • Personal Expenses
  • Vaccinations

INSIGHT

5 REASONS why to join
this program
 

Expand your horizon and knowledge by challenging yourself with new and responsible tasks

 

Your program participation supports the NGO also financially

 

Support the educational program of the NGO and teach children and their families

 

Explore the exciting location of Cape Town in your leisure time

 

Gain valuable experience abroad

contact kareen

Questions?

your consultant for this program is

Kareen Leodgard

(she/her)

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Did you know that you can earn academic credits by joining any of our volunteering abroad programs? Read more.