SAVE Volunteering Reviews

It was so much fun. Last summer I did three weeks of volunteer work in Cape Town, South Africa. For me this was a special experience that I won't soon forget. I didn't know beforehand exactly what to expect, but in the end the volunteer work gave me so much more than I had anticipated.

During my stay I worked with children. My duties included supervising activities, playing with the children, and helping wherever needed. What struck me most was how much joy the children could get from the smallest things. A game, drawing together, or just getting attention could already bring a big smile. This showed me how valuable it can be to give someone your time and attention.

What I really loved about the volunteer work was that no day was the same. Every day there were different activities and something unexpected happened. At first I had to get used to the environment and the way of working, but I felt at ease more and more quickly. The children were very enthusiastic and made sure I went to my volunteer work every morning with pleasure.

I also found it special to work together with other volunteers from different countries. Everyone had their own background and experiences, but we shared the same goal: to mean something for others. Through this I learned not only a lot from the children, but also from the other volunteers. Outside of the volunteer work we spent a lot of time together and discovered Cape Town together. This also led to friendships that I hope to keep.

Another important part of my experience was getting to know the local environment and culture. South Africa differs from the Netherlands in many ways. Precisely because I stayed there for a longer time and wasn't just traveling as a tourist, I got the chance to get to know daily life better. This changed my perspective on certain things and made me appreciate what I have at home more.

Of course there were also moments that were a bit harder. Sometimes I found it difficult to see that not all children have the same opportunities as children in the Netherlands. At the same time, this taught me that you don't always need to make big changes to mean something positive. Even a few hours of attention, enthusiasm, and involvement can be valuable to someone.

Looking back on my three weeks of volunteer work, I am incredibly happy that I took this step. I met new people, learned a lot, and especially made a lot of beautiful memories. It was sometimes outside my comfort zone, but that is exactly why I got to know myself better.

I would definitely recommend volunteering abroad to others who are open to a new experience. You not only get the opportunity to help others, but at the same time learn an enormous amount about yourself, other people, and another culture. For me, this was therefore not just a trip to South Africa, but above all an experience that I will carry with me forever.

Original:
Afgelopen zomer heb ik drie weken vrijwilligerswerk gedaan in Kaapstad, Zuid-Afrika. Voor mij was dit een bijzondere ervaring die ik niet snel zal vergeten. Ik wist van tevoren niet precies wat ik kon verwachten, maar uiteindelijk heeft het vrijwilligerswerk mij veel meer gebracht dan ik vooraf had gedacht.

Tijdens mijn verblijf werkte ik met kinderen. Mijn werkzaamheden bestonden onder andere uit het begeleiden van activiteiten, spelen met de kinderen en helpen waar dat nodig was. Wat mij vooral opviel, was hoeveel plezier de kinderen uit de kleinste dingen konden halen. Een spelletje, samen tekenen of gewoon aandacht krijgen kon al zorgen voor een grote glimlach. Hierdoor merkte ik hoe waardevol het kan zijn om tijd en aandacht aan iemand te geven.

Wat ik erg leuk vond aan het vrijwilligerswerk, was dat geen dag hetzelfde was. Iedere dag waren er andere activiteiten en gebeurde er wel iets onverwachts. In het begin moest ik nog wennen aan de omgeving en aan de manier van werken, maar ik voelde me steeds sneller op mijn gemak. De kinderen waren erg enthousiast en zorgden ervoor dat ik iedere ochtend met plezier naar mijn vrijwilligerswerk ging.

Daarnaast vond ik het bijzonder om samen te werken met andere vrijwilligers uit verschillende landen. Iedereen had zijn eigen achtergrond en ervaringen, maar we hadden hetzelfde doel: iets betekenen voor anderen. Hierdoor heb ik niet alleen veel geleerd van de kinderen, maar ook van de andere vrijwilligers. Buiten het vrijwilligerswerk trokken we veel met elkaar op en ontdekten we samen Kaapstad. Daardoor ontstonden er ook vriendschappen die ik hoop te behouden.

Een ander belangrijk onderdeel van mijn ervaring was het leren kennen van de lokale omgeving en cultuur. Zuid-Afrika verschilt op veel gebieden van Nederland. Juist doordat ik daar langere tijd verbleef en niet alleen als toerist op reis was, kreeg ik de kans om het dagelijks leven beter te leren kennen. Dit heeft mijn kijk op bepaalde dingen veranderd en ervoor gezorgd dat ik meer waardering heb gekregen voor wat ik thuis heb.

Natuurlijk waren er ook momenten die wat moeilijker waren. Soms vond ik het lastig om te zien dat niet alle kinderen dezelfde mogelijkheden hebben als kinderen in Nederland. Tegelijkertijd heeft dit mij geleerd dat je niet altijd grote veranderingen hoeft te maken om iets positiefs te betekenen. Zelfs een paar uur aandacht, enthousiasme en betrokkenheid kunnen voor iemand waardevol zijn.

Als ik terugkijk op mijn drie weken vrijwilligerswerk, ben ik ontzettend blij dat ik deze stap heb gezet. Ik heb nieuwe mensen ontmoet, veel geleerd en vooral veel mooie herinneringen gemaakt. Het was soms buiten mijn comfortzone, maar juist daardoor heb ik mezelf beter leren kennen.

Ik zou vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland zeker aanraden aan anderen die openstaan voor een nieuwe ervaring. Je krijgt niet alleen de mogelijkheid om anderen te helpen, maar leert tegelijkertijd ontzettend veel over jezelf, andere mensen en een andere cultuur. Voor mij was het daarom niet alleen een reis naar Zuid-Afrika, maar vooral een ervaring die ik voor altijd met me mee zal nemen.

A great experience with a lot of different perspectives. My volunteering experience was truly unforgettable. Spending time with the children at a school was both meaningful and inspiring. The children welcomed us with so much joy, energy and curiosity, and I learned just as much from them as I hope they learned from us. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful and eye-opening volunteering experience. Beyond volunteering, I also got to experience some of the best of Cape Town, including hiking, surfing, exploring the city and beautiful nature. These experiences made the trip even more memorable and gave me the chance to meet new people, try new things and truly experience the culture and beauty of South Africa.

I enjoyed my time a lot here, very nice staff, and would definitely go back there again, if you want to change rooms that was always easy but just text the manager about it. You also have every Thursday a social and then you go to a restaurant and you have food and have fun with each other. The kids are super nice to you and their manners are good aswel. The staff thinks with you about things if you are stuck with something or you don’t understand something. You have a lot of free time as well!😁

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.