Highlights
- Work with an inspirational team in a very welcoming & loving environment.
- Bring happiness and joy in the daily life of children - you are able to leave a lasting impact on the children’s life.
- Choose between two afternoon options.
- Volunteer in one of the most picturesque areas around Cape Town.
- Get personal support from the volunteer coordinator.
- Experience amazing tours and adventures in and around Cape Town.
- Make new friends from all over the world.
- Half-day option: learn English in the morning – volunteer in the afternoon
Project Information
The Hout Bay Children’s Programmes project provides Early Childhood Development services and care to the poor in the community of Imizamo Yethu near Hout Bay in South Africa.
This project services an Educare Centre in the morning and two After-School Programmes in the afternoon. You can either participate in the morning project and choose between one of the two After-School Programmes in the afternoon or only volunteer at one of the two After-School Programmes in the afternoon after your English course in the morning.
Educare Centre:
The Educare Centre offers basic care and preschool education for the children of the Township of Imizamo Yethu. Children are also provided daily with two warm, nutritious meals, snacks and fresh fruit and yoghurt.
Children are cared for in a loving environment and are taught Christian values and simple life skills and are prepared for formal schooling by employing teachers from the community and empowering them to become excellent professional educators.
Their mission is to give the children that vital head start for successful lives in the future South Africa.
Since 1999 the school has grown and now cares for 285 children between the ages of 1 and 6 years, with 18 staff members from the community. Since 2007 the Educare has been extended and now consists of 11 classrooms, 17 toilets, a well-equipped kitchen, 2 offices, a covered veranda and a large playground.
After School Programmes:
The projects core work is to provide a safe and nurturing space for vulnerable children between the ages of either 6 and 12 or between 13 and 18 years who have suffered from the effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and other stressful life circumstances.
This programmes offer a structured, holistic after-school care programme and family support centre.
Homework assistance, academic performance assistance, literacy and numeracy skills as well as life skills, gardening along with psycho-social activities and counselling as well as assistance in emotional resilience to negative life events is provided.
Six out of 10 children live in multidimensional poverty. This makes them vulnerable to abuse and trauma, which again leads to psycho-social problems in their young adult life.
Research shows the development of emotional intelligence, along with academic support, has the potential to help sustain learners in school and improve their prospects of employment, further education, and training.
Education brings hope for the future and promotes self-worth and dignity. All people should have the right to these.
Your Role
Educare Centre: Monday – Friday, from 09:00 – 13:00.
Generally, the role can include:
- Welcoming the children and assisting with getting ready for their day at the school,
- Meals – help with laying and clearing of tables, supervise eating during breakfast, snack & lunchtime,
- Brushing of teeth – assist with toothpaste, supervise brushing of teeth, washing of hands and toilet routine during and between lessons. Toilets, washbasins and floor are to be kept clean,
- Before morning break – prepare fruit and hand out to the children. Water/tea to be served to each child.
- Outside play – you assist the teacher to supervise and play with the children, i.e. ball games etc.
- Music ring – assist with songs, rhythmic activities, games and books.
- Sleeping time – assist with floor cleaning and preparing classroom for resting time,
- Assist in kitchen and with food service,
- Bring in your own experience, try new things and implement new programs, be creative and flexible,
- Emotional support
Furthermore you can choose between two After-School programmes, also available for afternoon volunteering only. Please contact us for details.
Primary After-School Programme called Hout Bay Children's Programmes for afternoon volunteering
Monday – Thursday, from 14:00 – 17:00 and Fridays from 13:30 - 15:30.
Tasks involve:
- Assisting in kitchen and with food service,
- Assisting with art, music, or physical science during class or in the afternoon with homework,
- Assisting specific children, paying special attention to either English, writing, drawing, maths, or general schoolwork. The coordinator will advise you where your assistance is needed,
- Teaching children small nursery rhymes and songs,
- Bringing in your own experience (try new things and implement new programs, be creative and flexible),
- Emotional support,
- Tutoring, also in groups (lesson on your home country, cooking lesson etc.).
Secondary After-School Programme called Educational Development Project for afternoon volunteering
Monday – Thursday, from 14:30 – 16:15.
Fridays from 13.30 – 15.15 and Saturdays from 9:00 – 13:00 are optional for volunteers to attend.
Your responsibilities include the following:
- Help students from grades 8-12 with their homework and assignments,
- Facilitate “ice breakers” with the students (a short activity to stimulate connection between participants at the start of or during a session),
- Engage in the life skills/leadership programme on Monday and Friday (Fridays are optional),
- Assist students in Maths on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday (Saturdays are optional),
- Facilitate and participate in English language improvement sessions for the students on Thursday. English is rarely their first or home language, they are mostly Xhosa speakers, but English is the medium of education at the school.
It is important to note that this description serves as an example only. The daily tasks and challenges depend on the volunteer and the work that needs to be done. The final job description can thereforevary substantially from the above.
Accommodation
You will live at the Volunteer House. It is a private house in an upmarket residential area in Cape Town. Volunteers are accommodated in twin bedrooms but may upgrade to single rooms upon request. There are 4 bathrooms to share, a communal kitchen to cater yourself, a dining room, a lounge with TV and DVD and a beautiful garden with a swimming pool.
Bedding is provided. Towels will be not provided.
There is a washing machine at the residence for you to use which works with tokens which can be purchased for R40 per load.