South Africa Volunteer Programs from $25/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

Amazing experience, from the airport pickup to my 3 weeks in the volunteer house. Met some amazing people from all over the world that I will be staying in contact with, and managed to make a difference to a local community. Fell in love with the children at the school! I would suggest going for longer than you think, my time went so fast and wish I had went for longer. 100% recommend for anyone who wants to travel but also gain experience/make a difference to society. Such a rewarding experience that I will hold close to my heart forever!

Living in the reserve and being there 24/7 is something else. You never stop learning about nature even if you´re just relaxing in the camp. Having the opportunity to learn from locals and just be surrounded by nature teaches you things you would never be able to learn anywhere else.

Not only do you get to help nature develop safely, but you also get to know people from all over the world that shares the same values as you. Even though 2 weeks or 1 month of being with the same people might not seem that much time, living, working, eating, sharing spaces with them, enable to build strong relations with each other.

Im sure not only I got to grow as a person, but I also got to make some amazing friendships.

Thank you IVHQ for an awesome week of serving, teaching, and empowering. We look forward to 19 more years!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well look at our last day of impact at Christian David School. https://www.facebook.com/112967628071286/posts/pfbid02deDikrc3ewmGHc2nnrkYFwJZsYfXDCREoioahnDJXxL8AEjxJdCDZzVaMgwprByYl/

We look forward to serving youth in Puerto Rico in June 2023 and sharing the same thank you message that our Leading & Serving in South Africa Experience did as well: https://youtu.be/BJnwqS_K6uw

IVHQ made the planning process of my trip very simple and straightforward. They connected me with the local team in South Africa (Outreach2Enrich) very early on. The local team was truly the highlight of my stay. They were very open and supportive both before and during my time with them. They helped facilitate plans for activities in and around Cape Town that I probably would not have managed to do on my own. The programs they run are truly commendable and they help make the volunteer house a community of its own. I will never forget the time I spent in the Sports Development program or the amazing people I met along the way. I cannot recommend this experience enough.

This has definitely been the best experience I’ve had in my life and in this review I will tell you why.
On my first day I was really nervous, because it was my first time traveling all on my own and obviously this scared me a lot, but as the days passed that fear turned into joy, happiness and love. Everything in my time as a volunteer was jut perfect, starting with the accommodation, a perfectly located and really clean house with enough space for everyone. Then, our adviser Renae, who was always kind and willing to help us in every aspect that she could. Moving on to the food, I can say that I enjoyed every single meal from my month in South Africa, I got to try new things and I absolutely loved it. Finally, the kids from the childcare program, I can’t explain with words everything that those kids taught me. From the very first day I walked into the classroom they drowned me with love and kindness and the best part is that every day was the exact same thing, no matter what was the situation at their homes, they always walked into the school with a big smile and willing to transmit all their love to everyone.
I can say that going into this volunteering program was the best decision I have ever made, I learned and lived incredible things and I think that this is an experience that everyone should have, I will definitely recommend this and my time in South Africa will stay in my heart forever.

My time with IVHQ was unforgettable. I got to experience a new culture, meet lots of interesting people that became lifelong friends, and most importantly help communities that were in need. It is an experience that will stay with me for a very long time. It was incredible to see the immediate impact the volunteers had on those in the community. If you are on the fence about going, I would tell you to just do it. It's really a once in a lifetime experience that you will remember for years to come.

This was my first volunteer experience.   Renae, Ben and Izzy of Outreach 2 Enrich were terrific hosts.  The camaraderie with the other volunteers was excellent.  We did many activities together like watching the sunset on Signal Hill, renting a car and driving to the Cape of Hope, seeing the penguins on Border beach, walking and having lunch in Bo Kaap to name just a few of the activities.  

The best part of volunteering was the opportunity to work with and teach the children from the Capricorn and surrounding townships.  It had its challenging moments but overall very rewarding.  The pre-school kids are so pure and innocent.  They give their trust and instant love and affection.  It can sometimes be very overwhelming when >10 of them want to hug you at the same time.  The 5 graders I taught had its challenges.  At times I felt I was more the enforcer than the teacher, but at the end we were able to establish a mutual respect and had a great time together.   I miss the teachers and students and hope to come back to Cape Town to see them again.

There is nothing more rewarding than making the people around you smile.

If you are interested in seeing the beautiful Mother City, Cape Town, IVHQ is a great organization to work with to experience giving back surrounded by absolute beauty.  

On my first IVHQ trip to Ghana 2 years ago, I realized that it would not be my last.
Now, 2 years later after Kenya and Tanzania, South Africa was my 4th.
Living in the same volunteer house with 20 or more outstanding adults from around the world was truly awe-inspiring. The camaraderie of all the volunteers quickly established a bond between us. Our local hosts, Renae, Ben and Issy treated us like family.
The care free and cheerful children at the schools, on the soccer field and on the beaches made it an unforgettable experience.
Add the weekend excursions to Capetown, Table Mountain and Cape Point/Cape of Good Hope and IVHQ becomes an awesome adventure, not to be missed
I'm looking forward to my next IVHQ adventure next spring to Madagascar (Ocean Outreach) and Jordan (Food Outreach)
Julien Comeau, Canada, age 77