Program Photos
Siyakhula Creche Volunteer - Kayamandi Township
Location: South Africa: Cape Town (Kaapstad)
Program Duration: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months (includes high school academic semester abroad), 7-12 months (includes high school academic year abroad)
Volunteers for International Partnership
http://www.partnershipvolunteers.org
70 Landmark Hill Suite 204 Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 United States
Call Us
Phone: 1 802 246-1154
Description
Duties for the volunteers will vary from feeding, playing and teaching, to helping with preparing meals and making educational toys and learning aids. Volunteers need to be flexible and willing to help wherever help is needed. It is also important that they understand the local community situations and the local challenges associated with these types of placements, and must be able to take initiative in assessing the needs at the creche.
Kayamandi is a black informal settlement. People in this township are underprivileged and from disadvantaged backgrounds. The homestay will be within walking distance of the school.
Highlights
Often referred to as The world in one country South Africa is a land of extraordinary beauty, mystery and adventure. Although this expression alludes to the varying climatic conditions, vegetation and the abundance of animals, it can also be used to describe the diversity of cultures, languages and religions, and the extremes of first world development next to third world difficulties.
Working with VIP in South Africa gives the volunteer first hand knowledge of a new nation working toward a vision of unity and prosperity. Many serious problems need to be tackled if this vision is to be realized, such as poverty, AIDS, and inequality. This is where volunteers can make a real contribution, in areas such as education, health care and environmental projects.
Qualifications
A love for children and lots of patience are very important for the volunteer. In the areas where Xhosa or Afrikaans is mostly spoken, the volunteer would need even more patience as most of the children cannot speak English. The language barrier is not really a problem as the kids are very eager to learn. A willingness to help in other areas of the project would also add value such as in working on upgrades to the facility or finding creative ways to make educational and learning materials.
Languages
- English
Cost in US$:
Cost Includes:
Credit Available
no
Volunteer Types
- childcare/children
- teaching
This Program is open to
Worldwide Participant.
Typical Living Arrangements
- Home-stays
Participants Travel to South Africa
Independently
Application Process Involves
- In-Person Interview when Feasible
- Online Application plus Application Assessment
- Phone/Video Interview
- Written Application
Post Services Include
- Exit Debriefing Abroad
- Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
Volunteers for International Partnership's Mission Statement
Volunteers for International Partnership offers each international volunteer an opportunity to learn a culture from the inside while doing valuable community service, peer to peer, in a stimulating new environment. VIP is committed to: *Careful selection and preparation of the volunteer, host family and Host Organization. *Emphasis on the education and self-awareness gained through international community service and volunteering. *Planning the volunteer's intercultural experience to highlight enrichment from cultural differences. *Full immersion in the host culture through orientation, language training, worksite and housing selection. *Individualization of volunteer placement design to take full advantage of volunteer differences in skill, age, experience and diversity. *Effective evaluation of the experience and the Host Organization. *Strong efforts to enhance the volunteer's social adjustment to regional habits and customs. *Choosing volunteer service projects that are worthwhile, safe, meet the needs of the local community and are conducted responsibly with regard to environmental, social and local issues.
