Further Information
Teach and Travel in Southern Africa for 12 Weeks

The care centres, crèches and neighbourhood care points in South Africa and Swaziland provide orphans and vulnerable children with basic food, education and care. Sadly there is a growing number of ‘child headed households’ where no parents or adult relatives are around to lead the household and look after the children, often due to the increasing HIV pandemic. These children are particularly vulnerable and often need much support.

At the crèches you may work with a local staff assisting them and taking on responsibilities as your skills and experience allow. In general volunteers play three different roles:

1. Teaching – the children are generally without any kind of education and need the basic foundations of English and maths

2. Care Giving – most of the children come from homes in which they do not receive much attention. Volunteers play an important role in giving the children this attention; playing games with them, teaching them basic life skills and giving them the care and attention they need at their age

3. Centre Development – volunteers are often involved in painting educational murals, organising fundraising events, building up the playground and working on the care points agricultural projects. Volunteers may also help to construct basic shelters, gardens, water systems and other physical structures needed at care points and child-headed households.

In both South Africa and Swaziland the schools are overcrowded and under-resourced, so they desperately require additional support. Volunteers will help teach children English to improve their prospects for future employment. Other popular subjects include maths, science, geography, social studies and religious studies (but it’s best to focus on one or two of these topics). Volunteers assist local teachers to help make the classes more manageable and, in some cases, you may take your own class (depending on your skill, experience and confidence). You do not have to be a teacher to take part in and enjoy our teaching project; all you need is to be motivated and sensitive. We will help you settle in to a role that will be beneficial to the children you work with, while gaining valuable skills yourself. Placements are usually in primary schools, as this is where we believe there is greatest need for our support.

On both projects there are many other activities that you as a volunteer might like to get involved in: sports (football, netball or you could introduce a new sport at the school), art, drama, music (bring an instrument and teach some kids to play), agriculture and fundraising for the development of the schools.