Khaya Volunteer

During this project I've learned a lot about the culture in the townships. People are very social and want to talk with you whenever you want. My best memory is when I was talking with some locals about their days in the township. They are all so happy and thankful for the help they get from the volunteers, like me. I'm sure that I'll be back soon, it's the best I ever did in my life. Go to Africa without any expectations and enjoy your best time there.

I had an great experience the last six months in South-Africa. I definitely will come back! It is such a beautiful country and the people are very friendly. Izizwe Projects gave me the experience to be connected with the people in the township and to know more about their culture. And the work you do is variously, what make it interested.

What brought me still in doubt at the beginning to do this was the fact that my English wasn't that good. Let never stop someone or something your plan to do volunteering work, if you really wanna do it. Just go for it! With pointing and learning some important words in their language I came far. And my English is better now, because you live in a volunteer house, together with people from different countries and you met a a lot of other people. You make very fast friends! The people in the house are very sociable and you can do a lot of nice things together. Also the house was well located, with a swimming pool, nearby the beach, restaurants and pubs.

And I miss already all the children and their hugs, they are always happy! I'm thankful that I could give a contribute to the township of Port Elizabeth.

I recommend this to everybody! I had an awesome time in South Africa.

I thoroughly enjoyed my two weeks in the Great Karoo and the African Bush and Wildlife Experience. The time flew by and if you have the chance to stay longer - do so. I have a full time job so have to volunteer in my holidays so the fact that I was able to stay for only two weeks was great. It was an amazing experience and I got to see both the good and the sad work that conservation has as their oldest cheetah girl died during my time there although we and the vet did everything we could to save her. Sibella had done her work for cheetah conservation by giving birth to 20 cubs and being an icon for the game reserve. I got to see her children, Chilli and Pepper, as well and I´m sure they have learned from their mother. The everyday schedule was well organized but since it is wild animals plans tend to change suddenly. I got to see a lot of different antilopes, buffalo, white rhino, giraffes, zebras and many other animals and birds when we were out in the veld and learned a lot from the volunteer manager, Bethia. She was incredibly knowledgeable and a great person to be around! We were only two volunteers but in spite of the age difference (of over 20 years...) we got on like a house on fire - so much fun! Can´t recommend this enough. It is proper conservation work you get to experience. They also have a Tracker Academy at the game reserve - you get to join them one day and learn. We also spent one day with the children at the orphanage they support and what joy it was to see the children´s smiles and happiness at the park. Still thinking? Just go! :-)

In August 2015, I went to Port Elizabeth (SA) to volunteer with Khaya Volunteers. Before I went I had spent a lt of time figuring out which organization would be the best for me, and which project I liked the most. Right away I really liked both Khaya and the Door of Hope project. After some more research I decided to go for it. This was probably one of the best decisions of my life! Khaya made sure everything was arranged for me, and living in the house with other volunteers was so much fun! This way you are really able to meet other volunteers and do fun stuff together to explore the country when you are not working. The project itself was also better than I could have ever hoped for. Mama Gladys is by far the most special person I have ever met in my entire life. Words cannot even expain how beautiful her soul is, I am proud that I was able to work with someone like her. Mama Gladys and the kids made sure I felt welcomed from the very first second I walked in Door of Hope, and this didn't change during my stay. Spending time with the kids was such a good experience and I really got to love every single one of them. Saying goodbye was probably one of the hardest thing, BUT this is why I will return as soon as possible:). If you love kids: Door of Hope is the place to be for you. You will give, but also receive lots and lots of love!

My stay in Port Elizabeth was really great! Izizwe Projects offered me various Projects to work for and also alternative ways to do help the Township community with Holiday programms and s soccer tournament.
I worked in a pre-school for 3.5 months and it was a very special esperience. If you stay for a while there you can really change something in the lifes of those kids. You won't change the world but you can do little things and make a differents. I also learned a lot about South African culture and somehow also a lot about myself and what I want to do in life.
But working is not everything, not in Europe and neither in Africa. I met many amazing people and especially my house-mates became my friends. With our group, almost like a family, we traveled a lot during the weekend and experienced the country South Africa and many of it's beautiful and amazing places.