Meaningful Volunteer Programs in South Africa
Although South Africa has recently developed as a nation, there are still many parts of Cape Town where families are living in unsafe and overcrowded conditions. Volunteering in South Africa with Cross-Cultural Solutions is an excellent way to make a contribution to these communities and help improve the quality of their lives. As a volunteer in South Africa, your are in the unique position to be working with local communities to battle HIV/AIDs, high unemployment, and the overall lack of adequate services for residents in South Africa.
You will have the option of volunteering in South Africa in one of the following fields: caregiving, teaching, healthcare, and community development. Mostly, as a volunteer, you will be helping out in daycare centers, schools, clinics, hospices, therapeutic centers, and local shelters.
Reviews
100%Overall
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100%Overall
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This past fall I was fortunate enough to spend 3 weeks working with the wonderful people at Cross Cultural Solutions in Cape Town, South Africa. This was my third volunteer vacation with CCS as well as my favorite! My placement, at the "Etafeni" Fit For Life Program was a perfect fit, the accommodations at the CCS house were wonderful, and the city of Cape Town was amazing! Would love to be apart of this great program sometime in the very near future!
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I volunteered with CCS-SA in the Fall of 2011 for 7 weeks. My experience was life changing, enriching, and a lot of fun. CCS operates as a tri-fold program: one part cultural learning activities, one part volunteer program, one part free time/ exploration in the house and regional area. Something that I appreciated most about CCS was their commitment to making volunteers educated and aware of the communities they will be serving in and the region that they are living in so that they have a strong background going into their placements. CCS has a strong commitment to security which made it possible for us as volunteers to work in communities that without the support of local staff with relationships in the community would have been unsafe to travel to. In my time in South Africa I made life-lasting relationships with the house staff, volunteer site staff, and fellow volunteers. Cape Town as a program site city also provides tremendous beauty and lots of activities to do. Wether you are outdoorsy, into the nightlife, or visiting galleries and museums this city has endless adventures to offer. Overall I felt that CCS has a great balance of the three pieces of its program and provides an amazing way to travel and volunteer while absorbing the culture around you. If this organization is a possibility on your list I would strongly recommend it!
90%Overall
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The entire experience was extremely rewarding. The people that I met also made this experience unforgettable; the organizers of the program, the staff members, the other volunteers, and the community members. I was especially touched my the experiences that I shared with the children who I worked with at the children's hospital. I also felt that I wasn't just an observer but that I was fully immersed into the culture. I learned a great deal about customs, traditions, and the current political/economic state; things that I wouldn't otherwise have been exposed to had I not been part of this program.
90%Overall
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CCS made my first volunteer abroad experience seamless and memorable. From the moment the driver greeted me at the airport, to my thorough orientation to the country and the city, right through to the introduction to a group of adorable 1-3 year olds at an underfunded daycare in Langha (a Township outside of Cape Town), CCS could not have made the experience better. I spent six weeks alternating between the three different worlds of volunteering, learning about the culture & history of Cape Town, and spending some free time enjoying all that the city had to offer. I made friends for life while staying in the secure home base and never once worried for my safety. I would volunteer with CCS again in a heartbeat and I would encourage anyone to travel to Cape Town and experience the beauty of this country's people. I loved every moment of my time in South Africa (except the moment where I had to say goodbye to the little children who will always have a piece of my heart. I am looking forward to my next opportunity to volunteer with CCS.
Alumni Interviews
Meet Terri Wingham, world famous CCS alum
GO: Why did you decide to volunteer with Cross-Cultural Solutions in South Africa?
Terri: In October 2009, at the age of 30, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and spent the next 18 months in treatment. After three surgeries and four rounds of chemotherapy, I faced the challenge of Picking Up The Pieces of my pre-cancer life and figuring out what I wanted my future to look like. This transition from patient into survivor is one of the hardest challenges I have ever faced. I was no longer the person I had been on October 26, 2009, but I wasn't yet sure where I wanted my life to go or who I wanted to be.
What I did know is that I wanted the most recent experience in my life to be about something OTHER than cancer. I wanted the chance to take care of other people and to give back in a meaningful way. So, on January 1st, 2011, I made a decision to volunteer in Africa before the end of the year. After much research and deliberation, I selected a volunteer program with CCS in Cape Town. I chose CCS because it provides a balance of volunteering, cultural education, and free time. I also liked their safety record and the fact that they would take care of all of the details for me. After the 18 months that I had been through, I wanted to make sure all of the details were covered and I was based in a city with access to good health care (if needed).
After I made the decision to go, I managed to fundraise almost $8,000 in just over three weeks. The incredible sense of accomplishment was a major victory after the many weeks where I had not been able to get up off the couch.
GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
Terri: While in Cape Town with CCS, I volunteered for six weeks at an underfunded daycare in one of the Townships. On a daily basis, I helped feed a group of 20-30 toddlers breakfast and lunch, played games with them,and brought flashcards in to teach them basic english words. The support I gave to the employees of the daycare and to the children feels so minimal when compared to the joy and love that these children gave to me. After I arrived in Cape Town, it didn't take me long to Crash Into Love with the kids and when I left, I was Blindsided By The Pain of Saying Goodbye.
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Terri: My experience in Africa changed my life and helped to heal me from my experience with cancer. While there, I once again felt productive, useful, and miles away from sickness. A double mastectomy and baldness had left me feeling depressed and pessimistic about life, but my experience of volunteering in Africa filled me with hope. It also reminded me of the similarities between people of all races and cultures.
While traveling through South Africa, I saw people who had absolutely nothing, yet still found reasons to laugh. These people reminded me that connection and love is more important than money and they also made me appreciate the opportunities I have to start a fresh chapter in my life, here in North America, simply because I have access to the resources of the first world. I am now in the midst of starting a not for profit to help other cancer survivors volunteer internationally. Putting your life back together after cancer is not easy and I will always be incredibly grateful for the time I had in Africa and the perspective and hope the experience gave me.
Further Info
About Cross-Cultural Solutions
The Cross-Cultural Solutions Volunteer Abroad experience allows students and travelers to gain valuable experience overseas while working side by side with local individuals and communities to make an impact.
Since 1995, over 30,000 people have volunteered with Cross-Cultural Solutions, providing meaningful and sustainable volunteer services to international communities, and contributing responsibly to local economies.
Volunteers gain valuable experience working in areas such as education, healthcare, and social services. Visit the Cross-Cultural Solutions website to learn more about how we're changing everything.
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I volunteered with CCS in Cape Town, South Africa last November for 3 weeks. From beginning to end with was one of the greatest and most meaningful experiences of my lifetime. The US staff were extremely helpful in getting prepared before the trip and have continued to do wonderful follow-up afterwards. I can't say enough about the in-country CCS staff. They were absolutely incredible and couldn't do enough for you. My placement in one of the townships was exactly the type of work I wanted to do and made an impact on my life that will stay with me forever. The only thing you should be aware of and just be cautious about is the crime in Cape Town. It isn't terrible, but I always felt I had to be on hightened alert and I hated not being able to feel 100% safe to just walk around by myself to explore. The CCS staff do caution you about your safety and as long as you abide by what they tell you, you will be ok but you do need to be cautious. Overall, I would recommend this program to anyone interested in having a wonderful, meaningful experience in a wonderful country with incredible people and your contribution will mean so much. CCS is a wonderful organization and you couldn't find a better organization to volunteer abroad with!!!