Youth Development and Social Work in South Africa

I had the great pleasure to volunteer at the Youth Development Centre in Knysna last year (July and August). This was one of my best experiences and I can only suggest to be part of this program.
Besides of spending an amazing time in one of the most beautiful countries, exploring Garden Route and its natural beauty, I learned a lot about the way of life and culture.
I had the possibility to assist with sports, music, art and teaching...
Working and spending time with these kids gave me a sense of personal fulfillment and definitely made an impact on my life.
Everything was perfectly planned and organised by the team of Volunteer International Adventures. Even if it's your first time in South Africa - don't hesitate! You will gain an unforgettable experience.

My experience with the Social Work, Education & Youth Development project with Sharon and Rustin was life-changing. It was meant just to be a stop on a year-long participatory research project. I planned to commit to a month with this organization and ended up extending twice. Needless to say, my expectations for this project were exceeded in every category. Social impact and activities: If you prioritize local-community centered, ethical and grassroots organizations, this project has to be at the top of your list. The organization itself supports at-risk youth and the kids themselves are talented, engaged and earnest. You will spend much of your time learning from and laughing with bright young people while facilitating programs that nurture their development. In your off time, you can immerse yourself in the outdoors (some of my favorites included ziplining, game drives and nature reserve hikes) and explore part of the Garden Route or even just hang out in town with your new friends at many of the locally owned cafes. Location, safety and support: Knysna is a gorgeous, easily navigable and friendly town. People know one another and in that way, it is a great place to connect with folks with similar interests. There is a great sense of community, people’s networks are often interwoven with each others and acquaintances become like family at an unprecedented rate. Overall, I encourage anyone who’s interested in either the broad category of social welfare or even just has an interest in visiting South Africa to come and learn and experience under the guidance of Sharon and Rustin who go above and beyond to provide you with the best experience. Their generosity with their time and efforts and their passion for this work is evident in the way they organize this project and others for and with their community. Working with organizers as dedicated as they are and a community that is so engaged is really an incredible opportunity not to be missed.

I loved my time in South Africa, working with locals and planning lessons/activities and spending time getting to know new people and exploring a new continent. I made Memories that will last a life time, 3 weeks flew by and we managed to fit so much in to the little time we had! Sharon was amazing making sure we explored all areas, helping us to book excursions and taking us to local places that are a must see after travelling so far! I would highly recommend volunteering to any one as it’s so much more than just volunteering!!

An excellent learning experience for young and older adults alike. This was an impressive programme, working with children and young people who were not in school and who were therefore at risk within their communities. What was especially impressive was the programme’s “whole child” focus, looking not just at the child/ young person’s particular individual needs but taking account of their family and community context and working collectively to achieve progress. In spite of often limited financial resources, the programme staff had developed a significant range of skills and personal resources to support the children/young people. Their commitment was very evident and was much valued by the children/young people.
In the end, it was lovely to be reminded that all across the world and irrespective of the huge variation in the challenges they face, children/ young people are very much the same. They all have dreams and aspirations, they all recognise the importance of their families and communities, even where these may sometimes present risk. With the right support, even the most isolated and excluded children/young people can recover, can thrive and they all deserve the very best efforts of those adults who can provide them with that support.

Rewarding and engaging programme which has been hugely beneficial for all participants. Very participant focused and the staff are passionate and selfless and ensuring they get the most out of it. The project helped those in need get back on their feet and each individual was taken care of and shown compassion by all volunteers helping out. As a volunteer this was a completely unique experience and each day was well spent contributing what I could to the project. Highly recommend to anyone travelling.

This was a wonderful experience. I got to meet a lot of great people and was made to feel very welcome from the start. It was also nice to give back to the local community and feel that I was making a difference to these young people’s lives. I volunteered in 2010, teaching maths and English, as well as assisting with the youth football team. I have a lot of fond memories of my time there and would not hesitate to recommend this experience to others. My only regret is that I was not there for longer!