Volunteer in Cape Town

There are a great number of different places to volunteer in Cape Town that are focused on childcare. One project focus while volunteering in Cape Town is primary school teaching. The children at primary schools are six to 13 years old and the teaching will primarily be English language training but can also include basic level math, arts, and science.

Even though South Africa is a nation with huge potential, many children do not receive the education they need. Quality education largely depends on how well off families are. A great number of townships face problems like limited resources and drug abuse, which makes education all the more important for the children to escape the vicious cycle of poverty. Volunteer work in Cape Town at a primary school might include the following activities:

• assisting teachers in the classroom
• the possibility of teaching a class without supervision
• assisting the slower learners
• contributing to activities such as arts or sports
• creating after-school activities

Other voluntary fields that need the helping hand of volunteers are children and people with special needs. As children with special needs are often very young and volunteers become more of an attachment figure, it is necessary to have professional experience and the skills to work with young children. Typical tasks with children and adults with special needs might be:.

• teaching classes
• feeding children
• stimulating the mind
• physiotherapy
• supporting people with disabilities to live independently
• being part of a community
• gaining skills to generating an income (making arts and crafts items)
• social interaction with clients and assisting in client-related activities
• helping out in the kitchen and garden
• telling residents stories about your culture and travels to help them explore the world despite their physical challenges

Another way to help the locals as a volunteer in Cape Town is to be part of community projects which support the people in less fortunate areas of the city. In these communities, most people have insufficient income and the poverty rate is high. Voluntary work in Cape Town in projects like these is desperately needed. As a community volunteer, there are several community projects in Cape Town to choose:

• helping with food preparation and handing out meals to the people of the community
• working to support the foster care
• assisting at learning centers and preschools for neglected children
• assisting at local hospitals to help people who recover from substance abuse
• assisting gardening teams with agricultural work

Working in community projects is the perfect way for volunteers to really get in contact with and experience life in the local communities. Volunteers in Cape Town, will help where it is most needed and learn a lot about the culture and the people.

A totally different way to volunteer in Cape Town is to participate in sports projects. The goals of these kinds of projects are to give underprivileged children a positive free-time activity and learning experience. It's one of the best ways to establish a life without crime and drugs in South Africa. The sports culture is used as a successful tool for change.

In order to work with as many children as possible and guarantee the safety of all participants, sports volunteers are in high demand. If you love surfing, skateboarding, volleyball, hockey, or football and want to be part of an amazing team, a sports project in Cape Town is perfect for you.

Volunteer programs in Cape Town combine the best aspects of volunteering and traveling. Marine conservation projects in South Africa are both informative and fun. You get the chance to learn about the coastal and marine ecosystem, the ecology and the factors affecting our oceans.

As a volunteer in Cape Town for marine life, you will also receive a deeper understanding of marine animals such as whales, dolphins, sharks, and others. Especially, volunteer work in Cape Town at a shark conservation project, where you can work with species like the South African great white shark can be an exciting experience. When joining voluntary work in Cape Town for marine conservation your tasks may include:

• learning about marine conservation in South Africa
• getting involved with regional marine conservation projects
• learning about the perpetual threats to ecosystems and the environment
• developing an appreciation for the coastal and marine ecosystems and their inhabitants
• observing marine animals in their natural habitat
• assisting with gathering important data on white sharks
• learning ethical handling and angling techniques of smaller sharks
• learning how to tag and take genetic samples
• participating in community events

Joining any medical volunteer project in Cape Town is a great way to do something meaningful while gaining practical experience. As a volunteer in Cape Town, you will gain a lot of experience in healthcare in a very different work environment. Depending on your knowledge and qualification, your medical volunteer work in Cape Town can range from working closely with the patients to assisting the staff within the clinic or shadowing doctors. Are you ready for your medical mission trip?

If you are a trained doctor, nurse, medical student or pre-med, you will be able to get hands-on and support the doctors in hospitals, small clinics, and health centers. Some of the areas where specialized help is needed are:

• dentistry
• general surgery
• gynecology
• pediatrics
• obstetrics
• child health
• adolescent health

If you are not a trained professional, there are still many ways you can help. As a medical volunteer in Cape Town, you can support the administrative staff in hospitals and clinics, educate locals about hygiene, illness prevention, nutrition and many other topics.

When traveling abroad, there are always a few things you should inform yourself and keep in mind. This is useful information about Cape Town that may help you.

Culture & Religion

South Africa is one of the multicultural places in the world. Cape Town also has one of the biggest and most important gay communities worldwide after San Francisco. The lifestyle in Cape Town is more westernized than in the rest of the country, however, most of the locals are religious and might ask questions when you are not.

Thinking about South Africa and especially Cape Town brings up the topic of safety. Of course, volunteer organizations in Cape Town take the safety of their volunteers very seriously and will inform you about everything you need to know and accompany you whenever necessary. However, the right behavior and common sense are also very important to minimize all risk:

• Do not walk around alone at night.
• Do not leave valuables such as cameras etc. visible.
• Do not wear jewelry openly.
• If you want to take a taxi, use officially registered vehicles.
• Most importantly, listen to your project manager’s advice and tips as they know the area best.