SAVE Volunteering Reviews

Working with kids that live under the most unimaginable circumstances have a way of opening up your eyes to what truly matters. I work on a school back in Denmark where my students have every opportunity in the world to succeed and be happy. Still I've never been met with such gratitude like I did at Zusakhe, the kids there had nothing yet they smiled at the world like they had everything. Materialism means nothing to them compared to love and affection.
A story i would like to share is about a very special little girl named Inam. She has the biggest heart I've ever met. I can't give an example of a special big gesture she did but I can honestly say I've never before met a kid that cared so much for the other kids. Every time we went to the bathroom she would let the other kids come first. She would always share her lunch snack with the entire class and whenever someone was cold she would offer her hoodie.
I really miss this girl. She was very quiet and still if she was missing for just one day, it affected the entire class.

I was able to teach children in the age from five to six. When I came into the class I didn't knew what to expect. I mean they told us before that they might me underdeveloped but it's still something different to actually experience what they know and where they can improve.
In my time in Wings of Hope Educare, DuNoon we worked on the Alphabet, counting skills but I also started rituals in class like singing a morning song and brushing the theeth after Snack time.
So everyone has the possibility to Change something in the daily lifes of the children.
If it's just a little Thing for you it might be one of the changes that Change a Kids life so they will be able to finish High School in a few years.

It's way too hard to tell just one story, so just basicly the whole experince in SA was just amazing. I'm amazed how I felt so many feelings just in couple of weeks, just because of that I wosh I could've stayed longer! I just fell in love with the kids in Sunshine, they gave me so much. I think I've seen quite a lot in my job as in Fostercare in Finland, but I learnt so much from new coulture and so heartwarming thoughts from new people.
Things worked out well with Save, Saltycrax and everything was planned well and went well. The staff was helpful and made us feel welcomed. We had good times with other volunteers and I think I made some friends for lifetime!

Save is an organization that works with the heart. They work really for the kids to get it as good as possible, and if something resists, there is not much doubt that it will work out anyhow. Working for Save offers so much for the volunteers, one sees how much the staff work and will therefore help as much as you can by yourself. Save has helped so many children, and it's so nice to see that they actually make a change in their lives. There should have been many more organizations like Save, then the world would be a better place to live.

My time with SAVE volunteering was amazing. The SAVE program deserves a lot of credit for their work, and especially for making all of us feeling included as volunteers. My project (Sunshine) has given me a lot of inspiration and overall it is a incredible good project. I enjoyed playing with the children everyday and watching them develop and grow in confidence and in English. I really miss seeing them every morning and singing lots of songs with them.

I felt really included and made lots of new friends from all around the world. It was fun to connect with them at dinner about stories of the children. The children were so cool. It was fun to be with the small children in the mornings and teach them english through play and crafts and then to be with the older children in the afternoons learning to surf and skate (sometimes the children taught me).

Over all an amazing experience - I would love to go back.

It's so amazing how happy the kids are. The best thing was in the mornings when kids saw we were coming and they run to the gate and yell "teacher, teacher, teacher..." And the day when we put music on speaker and they love it so much! I will never forget those moments!

Capetown is also very beautiful city, i would recommend it everyone! And Saltycrax and Save people are so amazing and friendly! Everyone should go there and explore this amazing project with amazing people!

Being a volunteer at SAVE in Cape Town was an amazing experince that has changed my perspective regarding my future. When I am done with my travels I was suppose to study English and be a teacher in my home country Denmark and there is nothing worng with that! But now I know that I want to help not just educate kids but teachers too. Being at SAVE and voulenteering in a township and teaching the kids made me evenmore aware of the need for education in all aspectecs of an educational system.
I was only there for 2 weeks but SAVE gave me both a great volunteer and social experience. Staying at Saltycrax made the whole experience that much better and I will recomend it to anyone who is thinking about voulenteering in South Africa!

This was my first time ever doing anything like that, and I didn't expect it to be this incredible. Getting to know these kids was such a privilege; You always see pictures and hear things over the news about the poverty in those areas, but you never really grasp things until you see them with your own eyes. Moreover, you could never even begin to understand the amount of love these kids that live there have to give. These kids, who live in such underprivileged conditions, are the most inspiring people I've ever met. They don't care where you're from, who/what you are, they're gonna run hugging you the minute they see you. I'm never going to forget any of those special, unconditionally loving kids and I hope to see them again soon.
It's been such an overwhelming and humbling experience for me, and it wouldn't have been the same without the amazing people who stand behind this incredible organization. They're always available and are always there to listen to whatever it is you wish to share with them - they make it their goal to grand each and every volunteer the best experience they can get. They make sure the minute you get there that you think of them as family rather than just people you work for. They'll even have a drink (or probably a lot more) with you!
I've met so many incredible people from all around the world - both staff members and fellow volunteers - that have made this experience truly unforgettable. We have gone through so much together, and these are the type of true friendships that distance can't and won't break. We'll always be a part of each other's incredible stories.
Africa is a beautiful place to explore, and I would highly recommend turning your travel experience into one that will impact not only your own life, but many others', and volunteering with SAVE will be the way to do that.

I had 7 amazing weeks with SAVE in Cape Town. All the lovely people i met along my way, including the staff, the other volunteers and the kids we worked with, all made my trip the very best.

My favorite part about the project was seeing how much SAVE helps the children and the community. And getting to know the kinds, and their stories. And seeing that despite horrible experiences in some of the childrens past or present, they were able to smile, laugh and dance. I feel that I learned so much about myself during the project. And I would like to come back one day.

Volunteering with SAVE was an experience of a lifetime. Between the staff, volunteers and children at the sites the memories I made were unforgettable. All of the staff were welcoming and always helping to book adventures. Cape Town is beautiful and full of site seeing.

Working with the children at the creche everyday was more than rewarding. The children were so full of love and laughter it was hard to not fall in love with each and every one of them.

On my last day in Cape Town, I returned to the creche to deliver winter jackets, boots, socks and hats that the staff and volunteers had supplied for the children. The children and their mothers were so excited and happy to have a new set of winter clothes for the harsh cold months that were approaching. I will never forget the smiles and laughter of that day.

DO IT!