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Volunteer In Childcare in South Africa

Have you always dreamed of traveling to Africa? Are you passionate about helping low-income children live a better life?

If this sounds like you then you need to volunteer for a childcare project in South Africa The multicultural country of South Africa features a rich history and diversity of flora and fauna. There is something for everyone from strolling sandy beaches to surfing or elephant sightseeing in the savannahs and sipping wine in vineyards.

Sadly, there is a big divide between the rich and poor in Cape Town. Many people struggle to survive on a daily basis due to poverty, disease, and poor government funding of public facilities. This leaves many South African children in low-income communities disadvantaged and often left to fend for themselves while parents are at work.

In South Africa, IFRE collaborates with local childcare facilities that work with low-income children between the ages of 0 and 6 to help give them the education and care they deserve to grow up well.

When you volunteer in these childcare facilities you will help educate, feed and provide a safe environment to small children who may otherwise be left to fend for themselves and their siblings at home or on the streets while their parents work hard to provide what they can.

Helping ensure children get the love, education and a good meal while in the childcare facility will have positive impacts on both the child's future success and the greater communities.

If you have a calling for humanitarian work and a passion for teaching children, the life skills they need to thrive then don’t hesitate to contact IFRE today and find out more about childcare volunteering in South Africa opportunities.

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Skills and Qualifications:

No prior experience or specialized qualifications is needed for this childcare volunteer project in South Africa. We only ask that volunteers are at least 18 years of age, can provide a police clearance certificate.

You must be able to show compassion and patience for children and be willing to help them through any problems that arise. We ask that volunteers exhibit a willingness to help out whenever needed, have a flexible schedule and help teach the children creative skills.


Volunteer Responsibilities and Impact:

As a volunteer in south Africa children project, you will work with children from low-income communities in Cape Town. Your duties will include assisting teachers with their lessons, preparing and serving food, cleaning, administration, supervising during playtime and helping staff to coordinate annual events.

One of the most important parts about this role is creativity. You will be encouraged to assist with and design creative activities for the children such as painting, drawing, mixed-media art, play educational games, songs and other musical activities.

The time and effort you put into caring for these underprivileged children will help them to expand their education and life skills to help them grow up well. Education of youth is essential to success and to strengthen local communities. The time you spend teaching these children now will last a lifetime and have a widespread positive impact on their families and communities.


As someone who is passionate about helping low-income children in South Africa you will be rewarded with smiles and the satisfaction of seeing the children learning every day. Your patience and willingness to help the children will help show them someone cares and greatly enrich their lives. You will typically be expected to start work between 8 am and 1 pm.

  • First Day: On your first day of volunteering your in-country support person will bring you to your placement and introduce you to the staff. You will be taken through an orientation session which will help to familiarize you with your project, what it needs, your tasks, schedules and any health and safety advice you may need.
  • Weekdays:: Working with children requires a flexible schedule but this outline will give you a rough idea of what your days will look like.
  • 7.00 to 7.30 AM: : Enjoy a fulfilling breakfast at your accommodation.
  • 8 AM-1 PM: : Leave home and travel to your placement. Time will vary depending on the project location. Spend the morning supporting the childcare staff and helping teach the children, play with the children before spending the afternoon finishing up the days duties.
  • 1.00 PM: : Your work will likely finish around one giving you a full afternoon to spend sightseeing, shopping or relaxing at home.

Volunteer in Childcare in South Africa: Dates and Fees

IFRE programs begin every Monday year-round. If you have travel constraints, you can still start your chosen program on any day of the year.

Volunteer in Childcare in South Africa Program is not available form 15th December to 15th January .

Our Fees

Since 2006, IFRE has been the most trusted and respected volunteer abroad organization in the world, and also the most affordable. We’re dedicated to providing the highest quality volunteer programs at the lowest fees, which make it possible for everyone, especially students, to volunteer internationally and make a positive impact in the lives of others.

We believe in 100% transparency.

Rest assured; we never use middlemen. Your one-time registration fee of $299 covers our administrative costs. The low weekly fee is paid in the host country directly to your host family and project (via country coordinator), and includes housing, food, and minor expenses. IFRE is a non-profit organization, so your program fees are tax deductible.

Volunteer Program Fee (US$)

Duration Childcare Project
  1 Week   N/A
  2 Weeks   $450
  3 Weeks   $600
  4 Weeks   $750
  5 Weeks   $900
  6 Weeks   $1.050
  7 Weeks   $1,200
  8 Weeks   $1,400
  9 Weeks   $1,550
  10 Weeks   $1,750
  11 Weeks   $1,900
  12 Weeks   $2,050

Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years) »

How your fee is allocated?

Program Fees Cover:

  • Accommodation (volunteer house or host family)
  • Food (only breakfast and dinnery)
  • Airport Pick up/Transfer
  • Program Orientation
  • In-country support
  • Personalized project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Certificate of completion
  • Fundraising ideas and letters
  • Discount for returning volunteers

Program Fees Exclude:

  • Visas
  • Airfare
  • Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
  • Daily transportation
  • Airport return transfer

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Accommodation and Meal

In South Africa, you will live in a volunteer house. Our Volunteer House is located in Cape Town’s most bohemian suburb, Observatory! Affectionately called “Obz” by the locals. It’s an arty district that is home to a huge melting pot of various people, sights, sounds, tastes and cultures!

Our Volunteer House is a dormitory style accommodation where you will share room with fellow participants. There are between 4-8 volunteers per room. The House is located close to the City Centre, restaurants, supermarkets, and all the tourist spots the city has to offer.

Breakfast and dinner is included Monday to Friday and lunches and weekend meals are excluded which the volunteers have to cater for. The Volunteer House provides a clean, comfortable, safe and secure living-environment for all our volunteers – the house is strictly used for our program participants and not open to members of the public.

Learn more about Cape Town volunteer accommodation and delicious meals.


Free Time and Weekends:

South Africa childcare volunteer projects are based around Cape Town, the capital city of South Africa. As a popular tourist destination there is much to do in the multicultural Cape Town . You will likely be volunteering between 8 am and 1 pm Monday to Friday. This will provide you with lot’s of time in the afternoons and on weekends to explore everything Cape Town and the surrounding country has to offer.

The climate in Cape Town is similar to that of the Mediterranean. Mild and moderately wet winters with dry, warm summers make it pleasant all year around. Your local project staff are always happy to give you advise on what to do. Popular Cape Town sights include Table Mountain National Park, City Bowl, beaches, Chapman's Peak Drive, The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Two Oceans Aquarium, and much more.

Discover more about how you can spend your free time and weekends during your volunteer experience in South Africa.


Safety and in Country Support

Your safety is our number one priority here at IFRE. We have been providing affordable volunteer experiences in in over 20 countries since 2006 and we have over 22,000 happy volunteers to show for it. Rest assured knowing that IFRE has vetted projects to ensure they meet our standards to provide you with a safe, life-changing journey. We evaluate projects annually to check they still meet our standards. We also offer a Comprehensive Insurance & Evacuation Plan to help give you peace of mind.

You will be provided with a local in-country support person to answer all your questions during your time volunteering. They will also periodically check in to see how you are doing and provide an immediate response if any safety issue arises. Your in-country support person will help coordinate airport pick-ups, help you settle into your accommodation, introduce you to the project staff, provide you with safety information during a comprehensive orientation and teach you about the local culture and customs to ensure you have a valuable and memorable experience teaching in South Africa.

Find out more about volunteer safety and meet the in-country team who will be there to help you.

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Volunteer in Childcare in South Africa: FAQs

Arrival And Departure

You will fly into Cape Town International Airport before starting your childcare volunteering trip in South Africa. IFRE’s local representative will be there at the airport to pick you up. You will need to send us your correct flight details so that we can pick you up without any delays.If your flight is missed or delayed, notify us as soon as possible. We will arrange new pick up schedule for you.

IFRE doesn’t offer airport departure services once the project duration has ended.

Visas

A tourist visa is a must if you wish to participate in our childcare volunteer project in South Africa. While you can get the visa by simply visiting the Embassy of South Africa in your home country, you can also get a 90-day visa on arrival at the Cape Town International Airport. At the moment, on arrival visa is available to citizens of countries such as the United States, Canada, most of Europe, Russia, Brazil, and Argentina.

Volunteers can choose to extend their tourist visas for up to 90 days if they wish to spend more time working in our volunteer programs. To do that, you simply have to visit the Immigration Department of South Africa in Cape Town. Visit this link for detail information regarding South Africa visa process.

Vaccinations

To work in our childcare South Africa volunteering program you will need the vaccines for Measles, Malaria, Tetanus and Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Rabies and Hepatitis B. You are advised to consult with your doctor for further vaccine recommendations.

You can learn more about these vaccinations here

For further readings:

Vaccination

Volunteer Health and Safety

Safety tips for your volunteer abroad trip

Any important information you want to share about this project.

For all volunteers in social welfare, childcare, youth work and work with physically and mentally challenged people projects we require a police clearance certificate, minimum stay of 4 to 8 weeks and be at least 21 years old.

Why volunteer in Child Care project in South Africa?

You will get an amazing chance to make a valuable difference in the lives of low-income children when you participate in a South Africa Childcare Volunteer opportunity. These children are often lacking the resources to grow up well and as a volunteer you will help provide them with the love and care they truly need.

You will help change the lives of low-income children

As a volunteer participating in child care project you will help give underprivileged children healthy, secure and constructive childhoods. By providing the much-needed care and support these children need, you will make positive change in their lives and help them grow up to live a better life.

You will assist childcare centers in their struggle to look after many children

As a volunteer in childcare in South Africa project, you will help and assist taking care of the children. You will get the opportunity to enrich their lives and add value to their education by conducting creative programs such as games, music, art, and painting. You will also help ensure that children are eating well and living well while in your care.

You will develop real and lasting relationships with children

The love and the care that you provide the children with will help make them feel special, add value into their lives and help them to enjoy their childhoods carefree like every child deserves.. The time you spend with these children will give you a change to develop real and lasting relationships with them.

You will make a positive impact for children from low-income families

The dedication and time you spend taking care of and educating these children at the South Africa childcare/oprhnaage volunteer project will have a positive impact on both them and the communities they live in. . You can rest-assured knowing that you have helped these children develop the skills they need to thrive in life and make a positive impact in their communities.

You will give your valuable time to a cause greater than yourself

Taking part in this childcare project in South Africa will allow you to dedicate time and effort into improving the lives of children in need. You will not only help keep young children off the street but also give them a secure space to grow up, learn and build a better future.

Volunteer Programs in South Africa

No matter what your passion for volunteering is, IFRE offers variety of volunteering opportunities such as volunteer English teaching, sport coaching, social welfare, health care, wildlife volunteering in South Africa

IFRE Working With Children Volunteer Opportunities In Other Countries

From street children to underprivileged children, volunteers are desperately needed in countries other than South Africa. See IFRE working with children volunteer opportunities in countries such as India, Cambodia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico. With IFRE working with children volunteer programs you can help build a brighter future for children around the world. Contact us now to learn more about how you can help.

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

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