Community Development in South Africa

My volunteering experience in South Africa has been the most rewarding and enjoyable experience I have ever had. For the first two weeks, I lived in the Eastern Cape of South Africa in a town called Chintsa and we were helping with the construction of a classroom in a nearby township.
I was in a group of ten and we lived in a house provided by the host organisation Volunteer Africa 32degrees South. Almost every day we went to the school, interacted with the children and helped build an additional classroom. I really felt like I was making a difference to the township and especially the education.
Both the VA32 and ISV were available to support you at ANY point from the lead up to the trip, whilst you were there and even after the trip.
The second two weeks were spent travelling across South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique completely immersing ourselves in the local culture and participating in so many activities. ISV certainly aims to push you out of your comfort zone, but it is so rewarding and fun and you get to meet some absolutely amazing people along the way.
Before I went on the trip, I did think the costs were a little high, but having been there and seeing where the money was going, I think I actually got a great deal! From swimming with a whale shark to kloofing down a canyon, from caving to riding an elephant and seeing the big 5 or even just interacting with the kids in the township, I certainly gained a lot from my trip and I plan on going back again. I would also recommend this trip to EVERYONE.