Your role as a volunteer
Volunteers get an opportunity to shadow our teachers while they teach the children until the volunteer can handle a class on their own.We also have roles in the kitchen for volunteers that are enthusiastic about preparing food. We try to grown our own food in our vegetable gardens and make effort in providing healthy food for the children and volunteers.
One of South Africa's biggest supermarket provides our centers with food that we distribute to all the centers and the communities. Volunteers assist with packaging the distribution throughout all the centers. There are gardening projects positions available to volunteers that are keen on being outdoors and maintaining the vegetable gardens in all three centers. We are at the revamping stage of all the centers so painting has been a big part of the process so we need volunteers to continue to paint the centers.
The location
Our location is not in your typical traveler route, these areas have a deep local history and culture. The culture is dominated buy Zulu speaking communities that are proud of the culture and traditions.Volunteers are immersed in the Zulu culture and tradition throughout their stay. We prefer volunteers that are open minded, respectful and are willing to work as a team towards the betterment of the centers.
The center
Children are brought to the center everyday from Monday to Friday where they are fed, clothed and taught by our qualified care givers and teachers. The age range is from 1 year to 6 years old.We opened two more centers in the South of Durban, 30 mins from the city, in a rural beach town which is on large property but fewer children at 50. This center is where we house the volunteers, we have a volunteer house that we are converting into a backpacker/hostel specifically for volunteers.
The third center is in the north of Durban in an informal settlement that was formed from the migration of rural Zulu and Xhosa speaking worker moving in the urban area after Apartheid. This also has about 50 children and the same policies apply in all three centers.Our biggest centre has 300 children in Kwa-Mashu
We provide a stable family environment and are supportive towards our volunteers. We guide you in dealing with culture shock and how to navigate in your new environment whilst you are part of our family structure.
Who we are looking for
We look forward to hosting people that want to have an authentic experience not typical to your everyday tour or traveling. Come and enjoy the warm and friendly people of South Africa, rich in heritage and culture that is unique in our diverse country. We are located a few minutes from the Indian Ocean so we have a beach town atmosphere and our warmers are warm enough to swim and world class surfing. This is a great area for those that share an active life style. Hiking the highest mountains in the country is only a couple of hours away.
We are in a malaria free zone but volunteers should consider malaria prevention when we venture to places like the Kruger National Park
Volunteers do not have to bring any special equipment other than a positive attitude.
We arrange a Skype orientation just to prepare the Volunteers just before they leave for South Africa
Included weekly trips
Every week we travel to exciting locations around South Africa so we experience backpacking to places like the Drakensberg Mountains, Lesotho, where we hike and enjoy the Basotho culture. Other locations are Johannesburg/Soweto, Kruger National Park,Mozambique, Kwa-Zulu/St.Lucia and Hluhluwe Game Reserve,Wild Coast, Garden Route and Cape Town. All these roadtrips are included include accommodation at backpacker hostels,food and activities like Safari, hiking and walking tours. This is included in the price just depending on how long you are volunteering.
Also Included in the price are weekly trips to:
Lesotho/Drakensberg/Kruger National Park/Johannesburg/Soweto/Mozambique/Wild Coast/Garden Route/Cape Town/Kwa-Zulu/St.Luciaan
St Lucia/Wetlands/Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Example of one of our trips:
St.Lucia/Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Day 1
06:00 am: Drive to St Lucia about 3 hours north of Durban
09:30 am: Arrive at Tented Safari Lodge in St Lucia
10:00 am: Enjoy breakfast, brunch, relax by the pool at the lodge. Walk around the small town or head to the beach
14:00 pm: We go for a booked boat ride to see the Hippos
16:30 pm: Boat ride ends
17:00 pm: Volunteers return to the tented lodge to have time to themselves. For the rest of the evening everybody can prepare their own dinner with food supplied. Get a chance to mingle and meet other travellers for the rest of the evening
Day 2
5:00 am – 14:00 pm: Safari at Hluhluwe Game Reserve, lunch included. Volunteers can spend the rest of the day as they wish.
Day 3
This is our lazy day before we head back home.
Volunteers can choose to hang out at the lodge or go for a walking tour or just hand out at the beach
15:00 pm; We drive back to the volunteer home (3 hours)
Drakensberg Mountains
Day 1
06:00 am: Drive 2.5 hours to the Drakensberg Mountains from Durban.
09:00 am: Check in at the Backpacker Lodge and prepare to go for a hike
10:00 am: Go for the Amphitheatre/Tugela Falls hike, lunch included.
16:00 pm: Hike ends, we return to the backpacker lodge.
17:00 pm: We enjoy a rest at the hot bub before dinner.
19:00 pm: Dinner is served at the lodge
Day 2
07:30 am; Prepare for a trip to Lesotho, don’t forget to bring your passport. Drive to another country within South Africa, meet the Basotho and be part of their village. Experience the culture and the history of the Lesotho Kingdom. Lunch is included.
16:00 pm: Lesotho trip ends
18;00 pm; Return to the lodge to mingle with other travellers and prepare for dinner.
Day 3
We usually reserve this day for nothing but relaxing and enjoying the beauty that is the Drakensberg mountains
16:00 pm: We leave for the volunteer house
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