Overview
Volunteer to Teach at a Township School in Cape Town, South Africa

This volunteer project involves teaching primary school children using dedicated one-on-one sessions to help bring them up to required standards. The aim is to give certain students extra attention as they have fallen behind the rest of their peers. Some of the children struggle to understand their teachers because their home language is not English. You will work through a specially designed 2 week program which has been developed by GVI and the local teachers. You will be assigned to approximately 8 students for each 2 week period and you will work with each of them individually for 25 minutes a day. Once you have completed the 2 week program with each student you will see a dramatic and measurable improvement in their abilities and the students should be more confident and comfortable once they return to their classrooms. This volunteer project is in the heart of one of the townships just outside Stellenbosch and only 45 minutes from Cape Town city centre.

Further training options are also available at this location, including a short-term community development internship.

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I feel I have made a real difference in a short space of time and am very sad to be leaving so soon!

Louis Kemp, GVI Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

Many of the primary schools in townships throughout South Africa suffer from classrooms which are severely overcrowded. Many teachers are facing the challenge of having up to 50 students in their classroom which means that they are unable to give individual children in their classrooms the attention they require to develop and learn. In addition to the large class sizes, teachers are having to conduct lessons in English which is often not their home language. Some classrooms may have up to 11 different languages being spoken. GVI has partnered with a township primary school and in conjunction with the local teachers have designed a program which can be implemented by GVI volunteers. The focus is on providing individual coaching sessions to those children that have difficulties reading and writing. In addition to helping them with their literacy and numeracy skills, these one-on-one sessions should also help them with their English language skills and building their confidence.

Highlights

Work and live in an attractive coastal village close to Cape Town and Stellenbosch, with direct exposure to local culture and communities. Optional side trips are available to Robben Island, Table Mountain, Cape Point to see Penguins, on a Cape Town wildlife safari, wine tasting in Stellenbosch. For those travelling onwards there is easy access to the Garden Route and cheap domestic flights to Kruger National Park from Cape Town.

Location

Gordons Bay is a picturesque coastal village nestled at the foot of the Hottentot Hollands Mountain Range, just outside Stellenbosch and 45 minutes from Cape Town. The area is home to beautiful swimming beaches, magnificent wine farms and popular restaurants and bars. Gordons Bay is also the beginning of the scenic and well-known Garden Route, making this the perfect base to explore the best sites and activities the Cape has to offer.

Field Conditions

Your accommodation will be inside an estate in modern apartments with typically no more than 4 people per room and within walking distance of the beach, shops and restaurants. There is electricity, hot and cold showers, and flushing toilets. Access to the internet is available nearby. Food is simple and nutritional and will be prepared for you each day.