Program Reviews

I’ve been volunteering with SAVE for the past 2 years, I have been there around 5 times now, and every single time I leave wanting to come back again.

What SAVE does for children living in township is honestly amazing. You can really see the difference they make in the kids’ lives through education, activities, and all the care and attention they give them every day.

The children are honestly the sweetest part of the experience. They give you so much love, always make you smile, and create memories you never forget. Their energy, kindness, and happiness stay with you long after you leave.

Life with the volunteers is amazing, everyone is so kind, welcoming, and supportive, it really feels like a family.

The members of SAVE are also incredible, so caring, welcoming, and truly dedicated to what they do. From the first time I came, I felt accepted and part of something meaningful.

These experiences have changed my life over the past 2 years, and I’m really grateful to have discovered SAVE. I couldn’t recommend it more. THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart❤️

SAVE is absolutely fantastic. It applies to everything from the people you meet to the work you do :) you get a unique opportunity to experience Cape Town for all it has to offer, including working with the most wonderful children in the different townships, but also exploring places like Table View Mountain and local markets. SAVE creates a space for people all over the world who want to help make a difference, and when you are with them you really feel like you are part of something bigger. We are all connected in this community, and it helps to make both SAVE and Cape Town feel homely <3

Original:
SAVE er helt igennem fantastisk. Det gælder alt fra menneskene du møder, til det arbejde du laver:) man får en helt unik mulighed for at opleve cape town for alt den har at byde på bl.a. ved at arbejde med de skønneste børn i de forskellige townships, men også udforske steder sine Table view Mountain og lokale markeder. SAVE skaber et rum for folk over hele verden, der gerne vil være med til at gøre forskel, og når man er hos dem føler man virkelig man er en del af noget større. Vi bliver alle forbundet i dette fællesskab, og det er med til at gøre at både SAVE og Cape town får en hjemlig følelse<3

SAVE is a really amazing and incredible organization. I have volunteered there for 2 weeks and I have enjoyed it so much. I have felt safe, included and the experience of feeling useful for other people has been incredible. SAVE takes a lot of responsibility of your safe while volunteering and help whenever you in need. If you volunteering in Cape Town you also get the chance of experience Cape Town, which is an amazing city with a lot things to do!

I recommend this organization to everybody who wants to try volunteering and also to people who wants to donate something to a better case.

I stayed in Cape Town for 1 month. Meet so many amazing people and learnt so many new skills. My favorite part was creating a bond with the kids, On the weekdays we would go to the schools and have adventure club on the afternoons, so much fun and so much time to get to know the children! And on the weekend we would go out together and explore new areas around Cape Town. I really enjoyed my stay in Cape Town and would gladly do it again! This has brought me so many memories and I’ve learnt so much from this trip!

I spent four weeks in Cape Town with Save helping out the teachers at the school in the mornings and assisting with the Adventure Club in the afternoons. The atmosphere was always great, and all the volunteers were motivated and in a good mood. After the program or on the weekends, we spent a lot of time with the other volunteers—whether chatting, exploring the area, or playing games together. The teachers’ gratitude and warmth, which you could feel every day, were especially touching. I highly recommend spending a few weeks here and helping out.

I have been volunteering for four days now, and even though the school has been closed because of the weather, I am still really enjoying the experience. The weather has honestly been one of the biggest challenges so far. I was hoping for sunnier and warmer days, but instead it has been cold, rainy, and windy almost every day. At times it has been difficult to stay positive when the weather affects our plans and keeps everyone indoors. Still, I try to remind myself that experiences like this are not only about perfect conditions but also about learning to adapt and make the best out of unexpected situations.

Even with the bad weather, I feel very lucky to be here. The people I have met are amazing, and that has made the experience so much better. Everyone has been kind, welcoming, and supportive from the very beginning. It is incredible how quickly you can connect with people when you are sharing the same experience together. We laugh a lot, help each other, and spend time talking about our different backgrounds and cultures. I think these connections are one of the most valuable parts of volunteering abroad.

Although the school has been closed, we have still found ways to spend our time meaningfully. We have had time to get to know each other better, explore the area when possible, and reflect on why we came here in the first place. Sometimes things do not go according to plan, but that does not mean the experience is ruined. In some ways, the unexpected situations make the experience even more memorable.

One thing I have learned already is the importance of patience and flexibility. Volunteering is not always easy or perfectly organized, especially when things like the weather are completely out of anyone’s control. Instead of focusing only on what we cannot do, I am trying to focus on everything we are still gaining from being here. I am learning new things every day, becoming more independent, and growing as a person.

Despite the challenges, I am genuinely enjoying myself. I feel happy, grateful, and excited to continue this journey. Of course, I still wish for better weather because I would love to experience more activities outside and see more of the area. Hopefully the weather will improve soon. But even if it does not, I know I will continue to make the most of this opportunity.

Overall, these first four days have already taught me a lot. Volunteering is not only about the work itself; it is also about the people you meet, the memories you create, and the personal growth that comes from stepping outside your comfort zone. I am really enjoying the experience so far, and I cannot wait to see what the next few weeks will bring.

Volunteering at SAVE gives you the opportunity to meet new people and some very special children at sunshine. You learn an incredible amount and help make a real difference. You learn and experience how even small things can mean a lot to others.

The stay is an eye-opener that makes you see everyday life with new eyes and reminds you to be grateful for what you have.

At the same time, you get time to explore Cape Town, create new memories and share unforgettable experiences with other volunteers from all over the world.

It is without a doubt one of the best experiences of my life.

Original:
At være frivillig hos SAVE giver dig mulighed for at møde nye mennesker og nogle helt særlige børn på sunshine. Du lærer utroligt meget og er med til at gøre en reel forskel. Man lære og oplever, hvordan selv små ting kan betyde meget for andre.

Opholdet er en øjenåbner, der får dig til at se hverdagen med nye øjne og minde dig om at være taknemmelig for det, du har.

Samtidig får du tid til at udforske Cape Town, skabe nye minder og dele uforglemmelige oplevelser med andre frivillige fra hele verden.

Det er uden tvivl en af de bedste oplevelser i mit liv.

I have been in Cape Town for 3 weeks as a volunteer through Save, where I worked at the Sunshine school. Here I spent time with the children, played with them and helped in everyday life. It was a truly educational and rewarding experience, and it was fantastic to see how happy the children were for even small things.

In addition to work, there was also plenty of free time to experience Cape Town, which is an absolutely fantastic city with beautiful nature, beaches and many exciting activities. I quickly made good friends with the other volunteers, and we had many fun and pleasant experiences together, which I will never forget.

Both the children, the staff and the other volunteers were incredibly nice and welcoming, and I felt welcome from start to finish. I can definitely recommend Save to others who want to combine volunteer work with new experiences and memories for life.

Original:
Jeg har været i Cape Town i 3 uger som frivillig gennem Save, hvor jeg arbejdede på skolen Sunshine. Her brugte jeg tiden sammen med børnene, legede med dem og hjalp til i hverdagen. Det var en virkelig lærerig og givende oplevelse, og det var fantastisk at se, hvor glade børnene blev for selv små ting.

Udover arbejdet var der også masser af fritid til at opleve Cape Town, som er en helt fantastisk by med smuk natur, strande og mange spændende aktiviteter. Jeg fik hurtigt gode venskaber med de andre frivillige, og vi fik mange sjove og hyggelige oplevelser sammen, som jeg sent vil glemme.

Både børnene, personalet og de andre frivillige var utrolig søde og imødekommende, og jeg følte mig velkommen fra start til slut. Jeg kan helt klart anbefale Save til andre, der gerne vil kombinere frivilligt arbejde med nye oplevelser og minder for livet.

My time at Dunbar was amazing, So many fun kids that you get to know and have fun with. The Program I was a part of was the best thing I could have hoped for, both the school in Du’noon and Adventure club. You get to work with kids from a very different age group that makes it more fun. The surf lessons with surf life made the week go by faster on the hot days and it is a wonderful experience and just a fun thing to change your whole week. Thank you for this opportunity, it has been a pleasure.

I have had a great experience here for the last 2 weeks. The time went by sooo quick. You get a lot of freedom and the other volunteers were amazing. The surfing lessons were great. The surfing teachers were very good and they taught me a lot of new things in only 3 lessons. I even booked an extra lesson, because it was so good. The houses were also well organized and the two lovely interns did a great job with organizing everything. The only thing the annoyed me, was that the information that I got about the program wasn’t entirely correct, but for the rest I would definitely recommend it if you like hanging around kids.