Volunteer

SAVE Volunteering Humanitarian Projects

Name: SAVE Volunteering Humanitarian Projects
Brand: SAVE Volunteering
SKU: 37718
Rating: 4.83 (127 reviews)

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SAVE Volunteering

4.83 (127 reviews)

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Solo Travelers

Students

Adventure travelers

SAVE Volunteering Humanitarian Projects

SAVE Volunteering

4.83 · 127 reviews

Community Choice Award Winner

Location

Multiple Locations +3

South Africa
- Cape Town
Namibia
- Windhoek
Tanzania
- Dar es Salaam

Length

2 to 6 weeks

Project Types

Agriculture Childcare Street Children Community Development Building Projects Family Service Learning Sports Youth Wildlife Conservation Primate Conservation Education Teaching Health Education Health +5

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Program Details

Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Housing

Apartment Hostel

Groups

Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)

Travel Type

Family Solo Women

Pricing

Price Details

Includes: 3 meals a day, accommodation, transport, orientation, 24 hr support and donation to the NPO

What's Included

Accommodation Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Transportation Wifi

What's Not Included

Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Equipment SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa Wifi

Last Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Last Reviewed: May 13, 2026

Wish List

87 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

SAVE Volunteering is a Non-Profit Organisation. We are NOT a booking agent: we run, manage and fund all of our Humanitarian and Wildlife Projects with the help of volunteers.

We believe in transparent and sustainable programs that impact our local community and wildlife.

The volunteer fees go towards, food, accommodation, transport, orientation and the rest of the money gets donated to the NPO for running costs such as stationary or meals for the children and meals for the Wildlife.

Join one of our amazing projects and leave with a life-changing experience!

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Volunteers form strong bonds with children and fellow participants, experiencing meaningful teaching and community work despite occasional organizational hiccups.

AI-generated summary from verified community reviews Read reviews →

Program Highlights

Help us better the lives of the children on our Humanitarian projects and the Animals on our Wildlife project.
Educate children to better their future on our Humanitarian projects and build structures and homes for our animals on our Wildlife projects.
Form a relationship with our children and see the world through their eyes on our Humanitarian projects. Protect Africas Wildlife on our Wildlife projects.
Learn about conservation and Africa’s wild animals on our Wildlife projects. Learn about patience and hard work on our Humanitarian projects.
Have a close animal encounter with some of the human tolerant animals on our Wildlife projects. Spend time with children in need of your affection and attention on our Humanitarian projects.

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here.

Video and Photos

A happy group of children and volunteers in South Africa.

SAVE Volunteer working with children in South Africa.

Popular Programs

Sport & Youth Development Project

Volunteers support youth development in under-resourced South African communities. You’ll mentor children, lead structured activities, and teach life skills such as teamwork, discipline and confidence. The programme empowers young people, strengthens community development, and provides ethical, hands-on volunteering experience with measurable social impact.

Cape Town Community Development Project

Volunteers support under-resourced South African communities through food, clothing and social upliftment initiatives. You’ll assist with educational programmes, motivational workshops and community events such as sports and outings, helping meet basic needs while promoting empowerment. This ethical volunteering experience fosters measurable community impact and meaningful engagement.

School and Educare Project

Volunteers support early childhood education in disadvantaged South African communities. You’ll assist teachers with classroom activities, sports, marking and after-school programs, helping children learn and develop essential skills. No prior experience is required. This ethical volunteer opportunity contributes to community development and provides meaningful, hands-on educational impact.

Adventure Club Project

Volunteers support youth development in South African communities through sport and outdoor education. You’ll receive training in activities such as swimming, boxing, surfing and skateboarding before assisting local children in structured sessions. This programme promotes teamwork, confidence and healthy lifestyles while providing meaningful, ethical volunteering experience with measurable community impact.

Namibia Medical Project

Volunteers support primary healthcare delivery at a rural clinic in Epukiro, serving over 3,500 patients annually. Working alongside medical staff, you’ll assist outreach and clinic-based services focused on vulnerable San communities, where tuberculosis prevention and treatment are key priorities. This ethical healthcare volunteer programme contributes to essential medical access and measurable community impact in Southern Africa.

Skills Development Project

Volunteers use their professional or practical skills to support community development in South Africa. You’ll lead workshops in areas such as first aid, childcare, computer literacy, business skills, arts or vocational training, helping build local capacity and self-sufficiency. This ethical volunteering programme focuses on sustainable skills transfer, empowerment and measurable social impact in under-resourced communities.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.83 Rating

based on 127 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 87.4%
4 rating 10.24%
3 rating 0.79%
2 rating 0.79%
1 rating 0.79%

Impact 4.7
Support 4.75
Fun 4.65
Value 4.8
Safety 4.75

Good for Solo Travelers, Students, Adventure travelers

Showing 105 - 112 of 127 reviews

I was here for 4 weeks and in the township de noon on Disabled project called Elundini.The project was really good and I really enjoyed my time spend there .I will return to south Africa and come and volunteer and that project again .

What would you improve about this program?

I will get more sponsors in to help with equipment and needs for kids

I have now volunteered twice with SAVE. Both time were amazing. The kids you work with are amazing and you create a real bond with them.

The other volunteers become like a family and this includes the staff as well.

It would be impossible for me to think of any negatives.

On the second visit I spent christmas day at the Salty Crax hostel and that was the best christmas day of my life.

I'd encourage anybody thinking of doing a project with SAVE not to think twice and just do it. The only hard bit is leaving.

What would you improve about this program?

No critical feedback whatsoever.

Hi I was an volunteer here at Save for January ,I was here for 4 weeks and was on an project called babes educare centre in the township De noon .The first day when I arrived there things was so different to the way I have seen in my country .There was a lot of kids in one small area and they all speak Xhosa .The next day my coordinator was with us on the project and he knew the kids and showed us what to do and split the kids in to they age groups .I have teach the children some great things for my time being there and they have touch my live forever .I can still see the smile on they faces when all of us volunteers arrived 'teacher ,teacher "I will be back in near future and I loved my stay there .thank you save

What would you improve about this program?

there is just to many people giving us orders what to do and where to go.

I have done the surfing project for 3 weeks and it was amazing. The accomondation was at the.beginning realy cold because the window was broken and it was during the winder time. But i got use to it. The stuff there us really friendly and helpful. In the morning i worked at a pre-school and it was a great expirience. I learned a lot about growing up in a township and start to be thankfull for my own life and childhood.
In the.afteenoon came the older kids to us for surfing.Thies was a little das because of the weather we just could go for surfing 4 times with the kids. Maybe july and august are the wrong time for doing this project.
All in all i really loved my time in Cape town and i wont miss One single moment.
I will.defnetly come back!

This has been my second time back with SAVE, and I can once again say that I had an amazing time!
The surf project is a lot of fun because you can often go to the schools and help out in the morning and still surf with the kids in the afternoons. It's so nice to be able to give the kids something to do after school!
The SAVE and Salty Crax staff are all awesome people..it's so cool to meet people who can work hard and play hard :)
I love living in the volunteer houses as well, they are super comfortable and great for the social aspect of volunteering!
Overall, this experience has changed the way I see the world and the way I want to live my life. One of the best parts is that I now know people from around the world that I will never forget, and that I'm glad to call good friends.
If you're looking to help people and maybe help yourself in the process, then SAVE is the perfect place for you!

What would you improve about this program?

I signed up through an agency, and they weren't very clear on the SAVE program at all!

I did the adventure surf club program for ten weeks and i totally loved it.
It is amazing to see much fun the kids have and how fast they learn.
Also for me it was very nice to meet new people from all over the world and the fact that you can learn how to surf makes it even nicer ;)
I had the time of my life ;)

Best experience of my life! I stayed at saltycrax over the summer and worked under Nikki. She was the best project leader ever and made the experience perfect. The projects we worked on changed my life and all I want is to go back!

What would you improve about this program?

Nothing!

In June 2011, I stayed at SaltyCrax and participated in a SAVE program. We volunteered on weekday mornings and afternoons, and we would have the evenings and weekends to ourselves.

My group (10 women) volunteered at an elementary school in the morning, and each volunteer got to help in a classroom by herself. We got to learn more about the students and the teaching environment, we established connections, and I really miss my kids! In the afternoons, we went to a township and helped prepare the foundation for a preschool. Despite not speaking the same language, the people of the township and our volunteer group got along well. Smiling faces and genuine concern go a long way.

In our free time, the staff was extremely helpful in providing ideas of things to do. During my stay, I went to Robben Island, saw a play at the Artscape, took a walking tour of Cape Town, went on a wine tour, and more. The staff made us feel safe and comfortable, and helped us arrive at all of our destinations.

I have been waiting to save money and return, but my only reservation is the cost of a plane ticket! Otherwise, I would fly back immediately!

What would you improve about this program?

If I had to think critically of complaints, they would only come from American privilege. For what SAVE has, it is amazing as it is and satisfies all needs and desires. If you need absolutely anything, the staff is friendly, welcoming, and ready to help.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with SAVE in South Africa?

I was getting quite tired of studying law at home in Norway, and wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue.

I decided to take a break from my studies and do something I had wanted to do for a long time--travel!

I’m working at a youth center run by the Norwegian Red Cross in Oslo, and I wanted to bring my experiences from that into a completely different place. And SAVE was perfect.

What made this volunteer abroad experience unique and special?

Everything! It’s not an underestimation when I say that I had the time of my life! I made friends from all over the world, and the friendship we developed was something really special.

We worked together, ate together, partied together, spent our free time together, we really did everything together! And of course, seeing the kids react so thankfully for the work we do.

It is a wakeup call for all of us coming from rich countries where people are taking all the material goods for granted!

View Entire Interview

Tell me about one person you met. [It could be a local, a fellow program participant or a member of the SAVE staff]

It’s pretty hard to choose one from all of the amazing people I met. My best friends down there – Mike, Frederik, Marc, Sofie and Kristina – made my stay ten times better than I ever expected, and I’m so happy that I have kept in contact with them.

But I think the one that made the greatest impression on me was Nikki. She runs the project in Skandaalkamp. Even though I wasn't in her group, she made me realize what a true hero she is.

She was always concerned about getting enough food for her babies in Skandaal, but she always found a way to figure it out! She made t-shirts with the handprints of the kids and sold them to the volunteers.

She also made bracelets and did everything she could think of. She is a person that thinks more about the kids than herself, and thanks to her, the kids in skandaalkamp can get food and education!

What was the best moment of the entire trip?

This is not an easy question either, haha! My entire trip was awesome, and it’s difficult to pick one moment. But one day we had swimming lessons with the kids where we were trying to teach them how to float.

One of the girls was holding onto me really hard, begging me not to let go of her. I asked her to relax, and said I would be right there. I held her back under the water while she laid flat, and after a while, I removed my hands from her.

She was floating on her own, and I have never ever seen a smile that big! She was hugging me, saying thank you, and wanted to float around in the pool all day!

The christmas party afterwards at Elundini was also perfect! All of the kids got a gift, and they were running around with big smiles the whole day!

How has this experience impacted your future? (Personally, professionally, etc)

Well… I decided to continue with my law studies when I got back to Oslo. But, I was more motivated than before I left.

Now I’m sure that I want to use my law degree to work for human rights and children’s welfare! Personally, the trip made me a lot stronger.

Traveling alone to a completely unfamiliar country was a good experience.

Even though I was terrified when I left Oslo, I came home with hundreds of impressions, and felt like I could never ever complain about my life in Oslo again.

I still think about all the kids I got to know in Cape Town, and I miss them more and more.

Before I left to South Africa, all the poverty was just something I had seen on television. Now, I relate the poverty to faces. The faces of the kids that I was so lucky to work with every day…

Amanda Lind

2013 Alum

Marc Eversdijk

Marijke Fleury

Nick van de Klundert

Tom Visser

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Wellington has many good memories of traveling across Africa. One of his favourite memories was traveling to Paternoster with all the volunteers and staff for a weekend away. When they got there, there wasn't enough room in the tents, so he slept on the bus with his sleeping bag.

It was a really fun experience for him.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I feel welcome here, it's like being at home, all the people are so friendly.

I have been able to take a lot of initiative through this work and it has made me believe in myself and make me more confident and have more self-belief. Working here has opened my eyes to different cultures and walks of life.

View Entire Interview

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

There was a volunteer that always said she liked my driving and the African music I play in the car when I drive them to project and back. When she left, she also said she missed the way people drive in the township we work in. She sent a message to me that she is definitely going to come back to see me, drive around listening to music together.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

There are so many to choose from it's very difficult to decide. If I had to choose just one, I think I would go to Sunshine.

I like Sunshine because the school is so big and the space for the children to play is also big. They can play freely, and there is also a clinic for the community in case there are any emergencies

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

When you work with Shannon, she is always there for you. Occasionally things don't go according to the plan, but even when they do, Shannon is understanding and we work together to fix the problem.

I always feel like an important part of the team and that my ideas are valued. As a team, we are able to overcome things together with Shannon leading the way.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

If you want to make a successful company, it is important to listen to your employees. They are a part of the family and make the company run properly, without them being happy the company will not run properly. Things will start to fall apart and go wrong.

I love children; I have 7 of my own. It's important to remember why we do this - for the children. "Better to build children than repair men".

About SAVE Volunteering

SAVE Foundation is a registered non-profit organization (NPO) that assists communities in Africa. We are NOT a booking agent, all of our community projects are run and funded by our local NPO/ Foundations on the ground. Our work involves setting up and facilitating sustainable community and conservation development projects in South Africa, Ghana...

SAVE Volunteering Humanitarian Projects

SAVE Volunteering Humanitarian Projects