SAVE Volunteering SOUTH AFRICA

Best time of my life. Staff were amazing and helpfull and everything works good. The projects are amazing and everything has been organized so good. The staff are big hearted people and they take good care of volunteers. I have been there twice volunteering in different projects and both times has been so Great. On your free time you can do so many things and explore amazing places. I have made life time friends over there and once you go there you will want to go there over and over again and never Leave.

I would highly recommend volunteering with Save. It is definitely the most meaningful and fun thing I have done in my life so far. The staff are lovely, food is great, safety is a priority and it will definitely give you a wider spectrum of life.

I did the surf program. We were with the smaller kids at their school in the townships until lunch, and went to surf with the bigger kids after lunch. It was great to get to know the bigger kids too as their English is pretty good. I felt safe and learned a lot about surfing even though it was my first time even seeing a surfboard (and I am a bit scared of the ocean). I would definitely do the surf program if I were you!

Weeks filled with a lot of new experiences, strong impressions, smiles, laughs and new friendships. I learned so much from volunteering for SAVE, and I will remember this for a lifetime. The staff are wonderful and so helpful, and the work we were doing were rewarding in so many ways. I did the surf project, and the combination of working with the younger kids in the morning and the older kids in the afternoon suited me perfectly.
Will definitely come back one day!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Cape Town, volunteering with Save. During the three weeks I have been here, I have experienced volunteering at sunshine educare project with the younger children, holiday club and also at Vissershok with the older children - all experiences which I have loved and learnt a lot from. My time here has gone so fast and I wish I was staying longer. The staff are amazing and I shall miss it a lot.

THANK YOU
Hannah

After my university studies i decided to look for a unique life experience and this is exactly what I got during my time with Save. First of all working with kids was an unique manner to learn more about the african culture. Secondly the social atmosphere with other volunteers was a great experience. To end the day the afternoon projects were the ultimate way to get to know the kids in another scenery than at the school. Sporting together is fun.

I really enjoyed my time volunteering for SAVE foundation. It was a blast working with the adorable kids in Dunoon township. I met a lot of nice people, and got to see a lot of Cape Town. The place we lived at was really nice located, close to the mall and public transport. The staff at SAVE was really kind and helpful. I will definitely come back!!!!!I highly recommend volunteering for SAVE foundation, it was a life long experience.

This journey awsome thanks to the kids thanks to Gail thanks to the support . It was unique and it has given me desire to do voluntary again maybe in an other country but with save if possible. So thanks for this incredible experience and for this "enrichissement personnel ". Kids were the kindness' everyone was listening to us and builting again well removing the school make us believe we can always do better and improve ourselves in every situation.

An amazing opportunity to work with the fantastic people of SAVE and the amazing people of the townships. I've been twice and looking to again in the next 12 months. I assure you will live the experience and make life long friends.
Working with Gail and the rest of the team Nikki and the kids with the variety of programmes available.
Our plan is to return again in the next 12 months to work with the kids again.
Originally volunteered 2015 and 2017

In 2016, I volunteered with SAVE as a little 16 year old. I loved the Educare Project at Sunshine School, my fellow volunteers, and the staff at SAVE so much that I came back this year! This project is for everybody and anybody who is willing to dedicate their time for the benefit of others, no matter of age. I was doubtful about having a better experience this year, but miraculously I did. I now feel as though Cape Town is a second home and the people I have met are a second family. Outside of project, I have made friends from all over the world and gone on adventures all over Cape Town! Project itself, however, is by far the most rewarding and enlightening experience I have ever had. While you spend countless hours teaching and assisting the students, they spend just as much time teaching you about yourself. The students are eager to learn and share laughs with you, all while claiming a piece of your heart. I returned to Cape Town to continue and further the impact in which SAVE makes daily on the lives of many underprivileged children. By far, volunteering with SAVE here has been the most incredibly rewarding, fulfilling, and fun experience of my life. SAVE does an amazing job of ensuring that we all feel safe, comfortable, and have a good time during our time in Cape Town.

I loved my time in South Africa, Cape-Town. I was part of the surf project, loved working on the preschool in the morning and spend some time with the older kids at swim, skate or surf in the afternoon. The best thing about this project is that the kids are so happy with so little. This project really shows that volunteering work can make a big difference. Besides the "work" i met so many great people from all over the world, some of them became friends for life. The housing was perfect, in a nice and safe neighborhood. Would love to come back sometime.

I really enjoyed working at Hartees Wildlife Project! One of the things I loved was that we got the chance to work with different animals at several different locations. The monkeys were the best because they would try to jump on our shoulders when were were doing feeding! The leaders were great because if we wanted a tour they would arrange it for us. The area is fairly quiet, so expect to not mingle with locals much. But the volunteers are from all over the world so it makes for a great social experience!

I participated in a SAVE volunteer program and unfortunately ended up leaving early. I did not feel welcomed, respected, or safe while working with SAVE. I was placed in a room without a lock for my first night. My program fee included three meals a day but my house did not have a refrigerator to store food, and there was no food left at the other houses where they told me to eat. There was poor communication between staff and volunteers which left me feeling confused about the work we were doing and uneasy about the program.
I am not necessarily trying to discourage anyone from working with SAVE because I am sure they are doing good work and making an impact in the townships; I just want to make others aware of my experience so they will be prepared and know what to expect.

This was my first long travel alone. I have learned more about my self during this travel, like how I handle social situations etc. My favorite memory with the kids was that one girl wondered Where I have been when I haven't seen her for 2 weeks. Also that during holidayclub when we where playing soccer, one of the kids started to call me "Messi". And a couple of weeks later that was my name for this kid. My favorite memory is also that you become so tight with the people you hang out with, you become like a family. One tips is to ask as much as possible about the projekt when you get there, also ask questions about how the people live etc, Because you learn much from it. This travel gave me perspective, to see another angle of live and What people sees as important. It have given me things to think about.

When I first entered Wings of Hope, the preschool I was working at I would have never thought that the children would make my heart grow so much. Although, finding ways to teach the children, keeping them quiet and learning about a completely different culture were challenges I was facing at the beginning, I soon fell in love with their ability to make you smile just by being themselves. I was very surprised about how willing the children are to learn and how fast they do so. If you like children, teaching and experiencing something different and new, this is a place you will enjoy. I do, however recommend that you stay at least one month, as this will allow you to get to know the children best, learn more about their routine and personalities and for you to really settle down. Nevertheless, besides the work, you will meet amazing people from all over the world with whom you get to enjoy everything that Cape Town has to offer.

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.