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)

Good for

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 57 - 64 of 127 reviews

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

What would you improve about this program?

That all volunteers are up to date with the schedule - could do a group chat?
That all volunteers have found out more about their projects before they come here - can select which ones they will feel more confident with and the ones they will have more to give.

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.

What would you improve about this program?

More volunturing

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!

What would you improve about this program?

more outings as a group because they're so much fun

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