
Six out of ten children in South Africa live in poverty and have no access to kindergartens or child-friendly care and support. Therefore, their chances of being able to develop according to their age are severely limited. If you want to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their families in Cape Town, you can volunteer with TLC Outreach Program. For students of relevant subjects we can arrange internships with the organization ELRU.
The non-profit organization TLC Outreach Projects supports people from socially difficult backgrounds.
The Street Ministry program involves social workers driving a minibus through the three informal settlements of Radar Bush, Wolwerivier, and The Village, which have a total population of about 4,000. The everyday life of many people living there is influenced by poverty, malnutrition, lack of education, family violence and drug or alcohol abuse. The social workers look after the people and refer them, for example, to healthcare facilities, psychotherapy or drug withdrawal programs, which are carried out by other NGOs, and they get them to participate in the other programs of TLC. The program is furthermore targeting the approximately 200 homeless people living on the streets of Blaauwberg.
The programs "Independent Living" and "Skills Development" focus on prevention, providing access to education and support opportunities. People living in informal settlements and homeless people who are self-motivated to improving their lives can join courses in soft skills such as communication, health, social presentation, relationships as well as hard skills such as computer skills, plumbing, electrical installation work, welding, Math, reading and sports (running, body boarding, football and netball).
Children and adolescents usually receive basic education on Thursdays through the "Preventative Program" and are informed in a playful way about topics such as drugs, crime, HIV and homelessness. The "Crazy Daisy" program consists of giving out free hygiene products to adolescent girls so they do not have to stay away from school during their period.
Once a week, street workers visit a retirement home for people with dementia and Alzheimer's, providing entertainment, conversation, and craft activities.
As a volunteer, you can take part in all of TLC's programs from Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm. In addition, volunteers at TLC engage in other activities such as attending team meetings (usually Wednesdays), cleanups, painting and decorating, sorting and managing donations, and simple administrative activities. Fridays are usually off, except for when there is an event.
Volunteering with TLC Outreach Projects
The Street Ministry program involves social workers driving a minibus through the three informal settlements of Radar Bush, Wolwerivier, and The Village, which have a total population of about 4,000. The everyday life of many people living there is influenced by poverty, malnutrition, lack of education, family violence and drug or alcohol abuse. The social workers look after the people and refer them, for example, to healthcare facilities, psychotherapy or drug withdrawal programs, which are carried out by other NGOs, and they get them to participate in the other programs of TLC. The program is furthermore targeting the approximately 200 homeless people living on the streets of Blaauwberg.
The programs "Independent Living" and "Skills Development" focus on prevention, providing access to education and support opportunities. People living in informal settlements and homeless people who are self-motivated to improving their lives can join courses in soft skills such as communication, health, social presentation, relationships as well as hard skills such as computer skills, plumbing, electrical installation work, welding, Math, reading and sports (running, body boarding, football and netball).
Children and adolescents usually receive basic education on Thursdays through the "Preventative Program" and are informed in a playful way about topics such as drugs, crime, HIV and homelessness. The "Crazy Daisy" program consists of giving out free hygiene products to adolescent girls so they do not have to stay away from school during their period.
Once a week, street workers visit a retirement home for people with dementia and Alzheimer's, providing entertainment, conversation, and craft activities.
As a volunteer, you can take part in all of TLC's programs from Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm. In addition, volunteers at TLC engage in other activities such as attending team meetings (usually Wednesdays), cleanups, painting and decorating, sorting and managing donations, and simple administrative activities. Fridays are usually off, except for when there is an event.
Internship with ELRU
This internship is aimed for students and apprentices of social work, education, pedagogy, elementary education (early childhood education) and related courses. It is supervised by a social worker. You can participate in all the following activities of ELRU.
ELRU (Early Learning Resource Unit) supports children up to the age of 6 and their families through various support programs:
Home Based Early Childhood Development: As part of a peer-to-peer program, ELRU regularly visits mothers and families in disadvantaged communities, providing them with knowledge and skills on child-oriented playful and educational activities. Peer-to-peer means that the caregivers who guide the activities come from a similar social environment as the the families they support, and thus understand the living conditions of the families and mothers. The activities are aimed not only at the children, but also at actively involve the parents. The goal is that the activities can be continued independently in the families.
Community Based Early Childhood Development: ELRU runs its own play and support groups for children aged 2-5 years who do not have access to 'formal' care facilities (kindergartens, crèches, playgroups, etc.). Unemployed mothers and caretakers from local communities are trained to become "Hlumisa." A Hlumisa has basic knowledge of child-friendly early childhood education and usually looks after 6 children from the neighborhood, twice a week, for 3 hours. The activities follow typical playgroup structures.
Center Based Early Childhood Development: Childcare and support facilities in disadvantaged communities often have inferior infrastructure and management inefficiencies. Often, resources, materials and knowledge are lacking to provide quality education and support. For this reason, even the destitute children do not receive the necessary amount of stimulation and support to make up for their disadvantaged living conditions. ELRU works with institutions and stakeholders in disadvantaged communities to improve care services.
Info Box
![]() Location: Table View (Cape Town),
South Africa
Availability: throughout the year, flexible starting date Minimum duration: TLC: 2 weeks; ELRU: 1 month Maximum duration: 6 months
Language skills required: English Accommodation: Ubunye/TLC: House in Table View; ELRU: Guest House at city centre or Host family |
![]() Internship possible: Yes, with ELRU
Qualification of supervisor: Social worker
Minimum qualification intern: Student of relevant subject Further contribution to the project: 50 USD/Month |
![]() Volunteering possible: Yes, with TLC
Expected qualification volunteers: none Further contribution to the projekt: Already included in the program fees We expect: Professional work, the "right" attitude |
Accommodation in Cape Town
Guest House in Cape Town city centre
The guest house is located in the city centre of Cape Town, just a 5 minutes' walk to Long Street. You can choose between dorm room, double and single room. There is a shared kitchen and a lounge. The guest house also has WiFi.
House in Table View
The house has a total of 8 rooms (single, double and dorm rooms). The 8 rooms share 5 bathrooms. There is also a terrace, a garden with BBQ, a lounge and a kitchen for common use. Blouberg Beach, Bayside Mall and the Piazza Shopping Center are within walking distance. There is free WiFi.
Surfer Hostel in Muizenberg
The Surfer Hostel is located directly on the beach of Muizenberg, which is well known for its colourful beach houses. You can choose between a dorm bed (separated by sex) and single room, or, if two book together, there is also the double room option.
There are a communal lounge, outdoor terrace, and a barbecue place, all designed in surfer style. Furthermore, there is WiFi at the hostel at no extra charge. At extra cost, you can have breakfast served at the hostel, and other dishes at the hostel's restaurant.
Host families
We can arrange host family accommodation in the whole metropolitan area of Cape Town, for instance in the inner city, in the Tabe View Area, in Muizenberg, Wynberg and Nordhoek. We will select a family from which you can reach your placement most conveniently. All host families are of upper standards.
Single and double rooms: If you prefer more privacy you can opt for a single room at the accommodation listed above (subject to availability). Two participants who are booking together can also share a double room.
Host families: All host families in Cape Towns are of "Comfort+" category.
1) Rates Volunteering with TLC Outreach Projects
2 weeks: 890 EUR
Every additional week: 190 EUR
This includes:
- Dorm Room accommodation at the House in Table View
- Project contributions (350 ZAR/week)
- The World Unite! Service Package (see below)
Upgrades (at extra charge)
- Twin/Double or Triple Room (for participants booking together) instead of dorm room: Extra 70 EUR/week
- Single Room instead of Dorm Room accommodation: Extra 140 EUR/week
The World Unite! Service Package includes:
- Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
- Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
- Preparation Session via Skype; 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
- 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"
- Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
The Rates do NOT include:
- Travel to/from Cape Town (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
- Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
- Personal Expenses
- Vaccinations
Overview of other costs:
- Small local expenses in Cape Town (e.g. Internet, local transport): around 30-50 USD/Month (Estimate)
- Insurances around 30-50 USD/Month
2) Rates Internship with ELRU
I. World Unite! Service Package
Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.
up to 31 Days | 32-60 Days | 61-90 Days | 91-120 Days | 5 Months or longer | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1 Person
|
690 EUR | 750 EUR | 800 EUR | 850 EUR | 900 EUR |
2-4 Persons
(Rate per Person) |
630 EUR | 690 EUR | 700 EUR | 750 EUR | 800 EUR |
Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies
The World Unite! Service Package includes:
- Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
- Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
- Preparation Session via Skype; together with further participants
- Pick-up and Transfers from/to Port Elizabeth (PLZ) Airport in case of placement in Port Elizabeth respectively Cape Town (CPT) in case of placement in Cape Town on arrival and departure
- Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
- Orientation and Introduction in Port Elizabeth / Cape Town
- Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
- 24 Hours emergency support by local support team
- Contribution to your project of at least 50 USD
- 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"
- Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
The Rates do NOT include:
- Accommodation and Meals (see below)
- Travel to/from Port Elizabeth / Cape Town (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
- Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
- Personal Expenses
- Vaccinations
- Local Transport in Cape Town (Estimated amounts see below)
- Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.
II. Accommodation Costs
You can choose between the following options:
Preisangaben in EUR Währung umrechnen | All durations of stay (1-365 Days) | |
---|---|---|
WG-Zimmer oder Hostel | ||
![]() Shared Volunteer House on Full Board in Port Elizabeth
|
1 Person (single room) |
230 EUR/week |
Dorm room bed p.p. | 170 EUR/week | |
![]() Hostel without meals in central Cape Town
|
1 Person (single room) |
40 EUR/night |
2 Persons p.p. (double/twin room) |
28 EUR/night | |
Dorm room bed p.p. | 20 EUR/night | |
![]() Room at shared apartment in central Cape Town
|
1 Person (single room) |
400 EUR/month |
2 Persons p.p. (double/twin room) |
250 EUR/month | |
![]() Surf Hostel without meals in Muizenberg Beach
|
1 Person (single room) |
40 EUR/night |
2 Persons p.p. (double/twin room) |
20 EUR/night | |
Dorm room bed p.p. | 15 EUR/night | |
![]() Lodge without meals in Table View (northern Cape Town)
|
1 Person (single room) |
35 EUR/night |
2 or 3 Persons p.p. (double/twin/triple room) |
25 EUR/night | |
Dorm room bed p.p. | 100 EUR/week | |
Gastfamilie | ||
![]() Host family of upper standards on full board in Cape Town (incl. Muizenberg Beach & Table View)
|
1 Person (single room) |
25 EUR/night |
2 Persons p.p. (double/twin room) |
25 EUR/night |
*You pay incomplete months (exceeding the first month) proportionally per day
In case of 3-4 person: Same rate as in case of 2 Persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.
Overview of other costs:
- Small local expenses in Cape Town (e.g. Internet, local transport): around 30-50 USD/Month (Estimate)
- Insurances around 30-50 USD/Month
- If your flights are scheduled outside the time slot from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., there will be an additional cost of 25 EUR per night transfer
How do I pay?
Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.
The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.
Other Projects That Might Interest You:
These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings.
Safaris, Kilimanjaro Climbs, Day Trips, Watersports

As a World Unite! participant, you get a 15% discount on all offers of Budget Safari Tanzania. We will share a Discount Code with you that you can use with the online booking of your safari, Kilimanjaro climb, excursion or watersports activity.
This is the Website of Budget Safari Tanzania.
Travel Health Insurance
We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, working holiday, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a journey liability insurance.
Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get a confirmation email.
Cape Town
Cape Town is a bustling metropolis and is considered the urban and cultural center of South Africa. If you like urban lifestyle, you will not be missing out here.
Table Mountain dominates the city, on whose shallow top impressive clouds often form and then slide down into the unique flora and fauna of its slopes, vineyards and beaches. They are part of the Table Mountain National Park, which provides opportunities for numerous excursions and nature activities nearby the city.
The city centre, also called "City Bowl", bordered by mountains and the beach, is modern and has offices, shops, restaurants, bars, museums, galleries, tourist attractions and the harbor. There are also many colonial buildings, such as in Long Street, which is a landmark with many antique shops, hotels, restaurants and bars.
Table Mountain dominates the city, on whose shallow top impressive clouds often form and then slide down into the unique flora and fauna of its slopes, vineyards and beaches. They are part of the Table Mountain National Park, which provides opportunities for numerous excursions and nature activities nearby the city.
The city centre, also called "City Bowl", bordered by mountains and the beach, is modern and has offices, shops, restaurants, bars, museums, galleries, tourist attractions and the harbor. There are also many colonial buildings, such as in Long Street, which is a landmark with many antique shops, hotels, restaurants and bars.
The neighborhoods south of the university are popular amongst students. You will find bars and party locations there that are cheaper than in the city centre, and aimed at young people.
Further south, passing upscale residential areas, you will reach the scenic peninsula with its quiet coastal villages. At Cape Point, at the southermost tip of the peninsula (about an hour's drive from the city center), the Indian and Atlantic oceans merge. On the way there, on Boulders Beach of Simon's Town, you will find a large colony of African Penguins.
The suburbs north of the city center are mainly residential areas of middle to upper middle standards. West of it, there is the Atlantic Seaboard coastline, known for its white sand beaches, coastal roads and trendy bars and restaurants that also attract many holidaymakers. Its ocean waters however are rather cold for swimming.
The majority of the 3.7 million inhabitants of Cape Town live in townships, which are located mainly in the eastern outskirts, north along False Bay. They were founded during the time of racial segregation to accommodate the non-white population. Even today, many families live there in poverty under bad living conditions.
The suburbs north of the city center are mainly residential areas of middle to upper middle standards. West of it, there is the Atlantic Seaboard coastline, known for its white sand beaches, coastal roads and trendy bars and restaurants that also attract many holidaymakers. Its ocean waters however are rather cold for swimming.
The majority of the 3.7 million inhabitants of Cape Town live in townships, which are located mainly in the eastern outskirts, north along False Bay. They were founded during the time of racial segregation to accommodate the non-white population. Even today, many families live there in poverty under bad living conditions.
Our local support team in Cape Town includes Dawn and Susanne.
Getting to South Africa

South Africa's two largest airports, Cape Town (CTP) and Johannesburg (JNB), are internationally well connected.
Port Elizabeth (PLZ) can usually be reached by flight with a transfer in Johannesburg or Cape Town. There are several low cost carriers in South Africa offering domestic flights that you might also book separately from your international flight to reach Port Elizabeth. In the case of our placements in Cape Town, your flights should be scheduled between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.. If your flight arrives outside of this time frame (or departs on the return journey), we charge an extra 25 EUR per night transfer.
Some South African airlines such as mango connect certain South African cities with Zanzibar, however not throughout the year. They might be an option to look into when combining our two destinations Zanzibar and South Africa.