Childcare at a Creche or Kindergarten

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Volunteer in a poverty-stricken township, using your childcare skills to make a positive difference
  • Enjoy the comfortable Mediterranean climate, perfect for pleasant trips during your free time
  • Engage and inspire children through sports, arts, and dance activities

Highlights

  • Volunteer in a poverty-stricken township, using your childcare skills to make a positive difference
  • Enjoy the comfortable Mediterranean climate, perfect for pleasant trips during your free time
  • Engage and inspire children through sports, arts, and dance activities
  • Explore the diverse range of activities South Africa offers, including spotting the iconic Big Five
  • Experience the vibrant nightlife and socialize at Cape Town's numerous bars


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Enrich young lives in Cape Town by volunteering at a Creche or Kindergarten for infants and children up to 6 years of age! 🇿🇦

    About the Program
    Volunteers work approximately 5 hours a day in a public kindergarten or NGO-run after-school center for toddlers from some of Cape Town’s poorest townships. Volunteers work with the local teachers to introduce the children to basic concepts in topics like culture, geography, math ...

    About the program

    About the Program
    Volunteers work approximately 5 hours a day in a public kindergarten or NGO-run after-school center for toddlers from some of Cape Town’s poorest townships. Volunteers work with the local teachers to introduce the children to basic concepts in topics like culture, geography, math and writing. They also promote good manners and behavior and the children’s positive development by dancing, making art and playing games or doing sports. Local teachers also rely on the volunteers to help provide individualized attention to children falling behind, and to supervise during recreation time.

    Structure and Facilities
    Vary according to location, resources and level of trained staff
    You will be working with infant babies to 6 year old's – certain creches only accept children that are 3-6 years old



    Typical day

      Usual working days go from 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM of which you have to work for approx. 5 hours and include the following activities.

      • Feeding, teaching and playing with children
      • Meal preparation
      • Making educational toys and learning aids
      • Assist the teachers with creative arts, songs and dance
      • Look after the ...

      Typical day

        Usual working days go from 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM of which you have to work for approx. 5 hours and include the following activities.

        • Feeding, teaching and playing with children
        • Meal preparation
        • Making educational toys and learning aids
        • Assist the teachers with creative arts, songs and dance
        • Look after the children during free/play time


        Free-time activities

        Cape Town is one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations for a reason. Its beaches, such as Camp’s Bay, are world renown, and Cape Town’s beachfront and downtown areas are lively at any time. During the day it is easy to find artisans selling their crafts or outdoor cafes to enjoy the ...

        Free-time activities

        Cape Town is one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations for a reason. Its beaches, such as Camp’s Bay, are world renown, and Cape Town’s beachfront and downtown areas are lively at any time. During the day it is easy to find artisans selling their crafts or outdoor cafes to enjoy the Mediterranean climate. At night, there are many excellent bars, clubs and restaurants where locals and foreigners can relax and socialize.

        There are numerous cultural sites to visit, including the Bo-Kaap neighborhood and the Castle of Good Hope. They reflect Cape Town’s long history and help explain why the city is one of the most multicultural in the word. Robben Island, the infamous prison where political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, were held during apartheid is a difficult but necessary stop. 

        For outdoor lovers, Cape Town has a wide mix of opportunities. Table Mountain is a breathtaking spot to visit, and there are many nearby hills, mountains and trails that make for great biking, climbing and hiking. Many, like Lion’s Head Mountain, also offer stunning views over the city and ocean below. Join in on tours down the Garden Route and a Game Drive to spot the Big 5!


        Requirements

        Requirements

        Minimum Age: 18 years

        In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

        Language Skills

        You need to speak English (basic level)

        Education Requirements

        Basic English, Math and creative art/song/dance at High School level

        Criminal Background Check

        required

        Required Documents

        CV and Police Clearance

        Nationality Restrictions

        No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

        Other Skills

        A love and passion for children, patience, ability to use initiative, willingness to help where help is needed.

        Time Commitment

        Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 13:30

        What's Included

        What's Included

        Services by Stay Africa Volunteers

        Program fee includes: 

        • Placement in a suitable project and volunteer house
        • Placement inventory information prior to arrival in South Africa 
        • Transfer from the airport to the STAY AFRICA house 
        • Transfer to STAY AFRICA office for Orientation 
        • Orientation program, including welcome session and Orientation Session 
        • Accommodation 
        • Breakfast at volunteer house

        At additional cost: Weekday Lunch and Dinner; Weekend meals; Transportation from the accommodation to the project site and back. 

        Airport Pickup at Cape Town International Airport

        Volunteers will be collected at Cape Town International Airport on the Set Arrival Date. A representative from our partner transport company, Backpacker Bus, will have a signboard with STAY AFRICA VOLUNTEERS (and/or your name) on it to meet you. If you are unable to see anyone, please make your way to the information desk in the main terminal as the driver will page for you.

        Accommodation

        The Stay Africa volunteer house boasts the following features: 

        • Accommodate up to 40 volunteers at a time (11 dorm-style rooms sleeping between 4-8 people) 
        • On-site, live-in house Manager 
        • 2 Fully-equipped Kitchens (stove, microwave, toaster, kettle, fridge, etc.) 
        • 2 Communal Lounge Areas with satellite TV (numerous sport, movie & music channels) 
        • Fully-fitted bathrooms with a total of 7 showers and 8 toilets 
        • Individual lockers for each volunteer (bring your own padlock) 
        • Bedding is included as well as linen which are all provided during your stay on the programme, however, you need to bring your own towels and toiletries. 
        • Uncapped high-speed Wi-Fi in the house 
        • Located centrally on transport route close to supermarkets, Internet Café, Laundrettes, restaurants, etc. 
        • Self-service Breakfast served at the house every morning (Monday – Friday: 06h00 – 08h30) – consists of cereals, bread/toast with various toppings, coffee/tea, variety of fruits. 
        • Lunch, Dinner and weekend meals excluded - Kindly note that should you have any special dietary requirements, i.e. gluten-free, lactose intolerant, etc. you have to be prepared to financially cater for this.


        The Area 

        Observatory, or “Obs” as the locals call it, is Cape Town’s most bohemian suburb and lies about 15mins (drive) east of the city centre. Located just 2km from the University of Cape Town, this student town is a vibrant, multi-cultural community that attracts young travelers from all over the globe, all year round. Our volunteer house is a 10min walk from Lower Main Road - the main entertainment area and heartbeat of Obs. You’ll find quirky restaurants, easy going bars, live music (everything from Reggae and Afro-jazz to Contemporary) and tons of cozy little coffee shops and cafés. During the Apartheid era, Observatory was one of the few “grey” suburbs – areas where people of mixed race, religion and cultures were allowed to live together. This spirit has lived on and has resulted in a suburb unique in its diversity. Our volunteers will definitely love the sights and sounds of Obs. Within a 5km radius of Obs, you’ll find the Newlands rugby and cricket stadiums, various shopping centers, museums, art galleries and stage theatres, hiking trails and of course The Old Biscuit Mill - this vibrant spot is home to night and day markets, designer stores, delicious farmstalls, decadent cafes as well as an awesome line-up of festivals and events

        Food & Beverages

        Breakfast is provided on weekdays (Monday to Friday only). Lunch, Dinner and weekend meals are the volunteer's expense. 

        Breakfast is self-service and includes coffee, tea with bread/toast, eggs, at least 2 cereal types, and a selection of fresh seasonal fruits. 

        The volunteer house is located within walking distance of numerous restaurants (everything from steak houses and burger joints, to Sushi/Asian cuisine) and small corner cafes and coffee shops (for light meals), as well as well-known fast food outlets (KFC, McDonalds, Nandos, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc.). Uber Eats offers a delivery service for most of these. Vegetarian, Vegan and Halal options are available at most restaurants and supermarkets.  

        Volunteers also often buy groceries from the nearby supermarket and have home-cooked meals together in groups - great bonding experiences and often loads of fun!! Just try not to burn down our kitchens!! 

        Internet Access

        Good access at the project site

        What's NOT included?

        What's NOT included?

        Flight Tickets

        The nearest airport is Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

        Travel Insurance

        Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

        Vaccines

        If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

        Details on arrival

        The Volunteer South Africa Program begins on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday, so you may arrive on any Sunday of the year. You will have your Orientation Day on that first Monday, and begin at the project on the Tuesday.    

        We understand that flights may be expensive and you may not always be able to secure a flight to arrive on set arrival dates, we are therefore happy to accommodate last minute bookings even participants who are only able to arrive on a day where they are able to secure an affordable flight.

        Availability
        Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

        Program fees

        4 weeks (min. stay) 824€
        5 weeks 997€
        6 weeks 1,177€
        7 weeks 1,354€
        8 weeks 1,530€
        9 weeks 1,707€
        10 weeks 1,795€
        11 weeks 1,844€
        12 weeks (max. stay) 1,940€
        Average fees 184€/week

        Program fees

        184€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

        Payment methods

        Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

        NO CREDIT CARD FEES


        Duration

        4 - 12 weeks

        Deposit

        The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


        Final Payment

        Your final payment will be agreed with Stay Africa Volunteers during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


        Meet your organization

        Stay Africa Volunteers

        Excellent 4.8 rating (190 reviews)

        Non-profit - founded in 1972

        Verified by Volunteer World

          Very high response rate

        Coordinated by

        Kevin

        Spoken languages: English

        About the project

        Stay Africa is a non-profit organization providing high quality, affordable Volunteer programs in Cape Town.

        Meet your organization

        History

        STAY AFRICA (previously known as SASTS Working Adventures) was set up in 1972 to provide affordable travel opportunities for South African students. It was the travel division of NUSAS, the National Union of South African Students, whose activities took root in the days of Apartheid. STAY AFRICA has played an integral role in facilitating student and youth travel for over 40 years and is well equipped to help students realize their travel dreams. Working with reputable and internationally recognized partners and being members of international associations. STAY AFRICA programs are run in accordance with guidelines put in place by these international organisations. Over the past 11 years, STAY AFRICA has branched out to include exciting opportunities for foreign travelers to experience South Africa by implementing Work South Africa, Volunteer South Africa, Groups and High School South Africa. 

        Volunteer Programs

        There are a vast number of interesting volunteer projects available and most of them are in the local communities surrounding and in the beautiful city of Cape Town. Volunteers can make a valuable contribution in many different facets of childcare, teaching, social, environment and medical placements in and around Cape Town. Whilst on the STAY AFRICA volunteer program, participants will stay with local host families and eat the local meals prepared by the family. They also have the option of staying in the City in a Volunteer House and eat in a local restaurant as well as use local minibus transport to their volunteer project. As a not for profit organisation run by staff of the local communities, we have extensive knowledge of the various communities of Cape Town and South Africa which enables us to offer first hand experience and advice of volunteering in the local communities. STAY AFRICA will provide a real insight into Cape Town’s culture, history, landscape through orientation and local community placement and provide the opportunity for genuine interaction with the local people.

        STAY AFRICA's aim is to offer quality, affordable volunteering experiences and the opportunity to be immersed in a local culture for clients interested in discovering Cape Town. As a non-profit organisation, STAY AFRICA is dedicated to providing young people, from all over the world, the opportunity to come to South Africa and experience our cultures and people. 

        Respect for the locals, their cultures, religion and environment are essential to operate a successful volunteer program. All our Volunteers placed in the local community have to abide by our Code of Conduct by respecting the local culture.  

        Volunteers also have the opportunity to explore the scenic beauty of South Africa whereby we offer tours of Cape Town and Western Cape. Local guides and agencies are used with the understanding to offer a true cultural experience. 

        Community Development 

        STAY AFRICA works very closely with the local communities of Cape Town, to provide sustainable on-going partnerships. As a not for profit organisation, the program costs goes toward running of the program. Subject to available funding, STAY AFRICA assists community projects with donations to assist with various programs such as feeding scheme, a laptop was donated to a Daycare centre in the Farming community, end of year school functions, sports equipment for Schools etc. 

        Volunteers in the local community are placed with Community host families, within walking distance from their volunteer project. Host families are paid a stipend to cover meals and accommodation, thus STAY AFRICA giving back to the local communities by placement of volunteers at both project and host family.  

        All of our families we use are local host families and community projects started by the local people of the community that has identified a need within the local communities. Volunteers are placed at much needed community projects, NGO’S, public schools, Women run day care centres, Orphanages etc. All community projects are screened prior to placement of volunteers and factors such as economic responsibility, environmental, social responsibility and safety of the client are considered prior to approving local community projects for placement of our volunteers. In many cases volunteer assistance to these projects will assist the local people via ongoing placement of volunteers at both host family and projects. 


        190 reviews · rating4.8

        Emma Vezzaro rating5

        2024 at Childcare at a Creche or Kindergarten

        This was among the best experiences I have ever had in my life. I only did it for 3 weeks, so relatively little, but I felt at home. The house is very clean and comfortable, the people I met were always available, especially the contact persons who were always ready to help us volunteers. I had a ...
        Jessica Serrano Moriana rating5

        2024 at Childcare at a Creche or Kindergarten

        Wonderful experience! Something you muss do at least once in your life! Kevin and Noel were always there to help you. ...
        Bea Spooner rating4.8

        2024 at Childcare at a Creche or Kindergarten

        Stayed for 6 weeks volunteering and had the best time. Noel and Kevin are amazing!! Would definitely recommend staying here :) ...
        Holly Anderson rating4.8

        2024 at Childcare at a Creche or Kindergarten

        I’ve had a very pleasant and amazing experience with stayafrica! Learned, laughed, cried (happy tears) and most importantly had fun! A big thanks to kevin and Noël for everyThing! And thankyou to my everyone at my volunteer project! Untill we meet again. Cheers, ...
        Carina Fuchs rating4.6

        2024 at Childcare at a Creche or Kindergarten

        I had the best time in cape town!! The kids were super cute and the teachers welcomed me so kindly! I really enjoyed my time in the Hostel as well - I met so many great people there and loved experiencing cape town together! The Hostel Manager made me feel at home from the first second and was ...

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