Volunteer in South Africa: Street Children/ Youth at Risk Project

Project At A Glance

Location: Cape Town Start point: Cape Town Duration: 2-12 weeks Hours: 30-40 hours per week Food: Local food (3 times a day) Room: Host family or hostel Date: First and Third Wednesday of each month

This is a program for kids that are roaming around the streets and usually children who are involved in a negative cycle of life. For example; most of these children are without parents, doing drugs, walking in the streets, and getting up to mischief like stealing, robbing. This street children program aims to help disadvantaged children to get into the school routine, give them support, and to show them that there is hope for them. Most of these children have run away from home as they were not happy with their living environment for many different reasons. Their ages vary from 13 to 18. These kids are verbally, emotionally and physically abused and usually see no hope for their future. They have no self esteem and desperately need some love, care, skills and just want to be accepted. Volunteer’s help is needed to support these children’s projects.

Skills/Qualifications Requirements

There are no specific qualifications required since the project staff will provide any necessary orientation and training to adequately perform volunteer activities. However, individuals who are enthusiastic about caring for others and compassionate to the often unfortunate situations of these children are preferred.

Role of the Volunteers

• Helping children with homework and teaching basic conversational English
• Supporting recreational and artistic activities with the objective of educational learning
• Helping kids with their gardens
• Organizing and developing sports activities
• Supporting in the kitchen/helping to serve lunch in the dining room
• Assisting with location-specific duties – routine maintenance, construction, etc.

Street Children Project in South Africa also runs life skills courses, performing arts, career development, leadership training, and entrepreneurial skills. It also runs a Day Care Centre providing education and a vegetable garden as an income source. Volunteers’ help and support are expected in every aspect of this project.

Room/ Food/ Supervision

Volunteers mainly stay with homestays in the communities. Our host families are active community members, mature, trained and experienced with international volunteers. You will get a single room (or sharing with another volunteer) in a homestay. The accommodation will be clean and simply furnished. Local host will manage 3 local meals a day. During the volunteering period, local organization staff will guide, help, and supervise you.