Highlights
- Help to put a smile on the faces of children who have lived through trauma and neglect.
- Giving love to vulnerable children is the best gift you can give; sharing this, costs nothing, but means the world.
- Get immersed in a different culture and the challenges it faces, and work hand in hand with social workers to enable healing, growth and the possibility for children to become functioning adults.
- Witness the life-changing transformations these children experience while at the project.
- You’ll have the opportunity to be creative.
- Receive extensive support, guidance and training in social working skills
- Experience amazing tours and adventures in and around Cape Town.
- Getting personal support from the volunteer coordinator.
- Make new friends from all over the world.
- Half-day option: learn English in the morning; volunteer in the afternoon.
Project information
Still today, the project’s core is to care for and nurture vulnerable children by rehabilitating and reintegrating them into their families, thus offering them a beacon of hope and the opportunity for a brighter future. While the Christian belief is still fundamental to this project, children of different religious backgrounds and beliefs are welcome here!
The six houses, surrounded by open fileds and tranquil gardens, accommodate ten children each. They are cared for by trained and registered professional child and youth care workers. Boys and girls are accommodated in separate houses, with each house catering for a specific developmental phase.
Children mainly come from backgrounds where abuse, trauma, neglect and even abandonment are commonplace. All 60 children come via the children’s court system, and the majority have families. The project provides short-term residential care for all of them, but the ultimate goal is to see all children happily reunited with their rehabilitated families.
In order to achieve this, the project works in partnership with the Department of Social Development and a number of welfare organisations who focus on assisting the families in their local communities and are committed to reuniting families where possible.
The project’s vision is that every person who has been part of this community leaves having experienced healing and transformation through a beautiful physical and relation-oriented environment embodying a Christian ethos.
The programmes therefore provided are:
- Residential care
- Psychosocial support, therapy & counselling
- Life skills programme: (reinforce self-confidence, teamwork, leadership, communication skills, etc.)
- Developmental programmes including education, sport & culture, andrecreational development
- Spiritual development
- Family preservation
The project tries hard to ensure that every child that enters it is placed on a path toward holistic transformation, thereby equipping them to become functioning and community-orientated adults. Their healing, growth and success are what the project strives for.
Programme details
Volunteers will be placed within the Childcare department. The project follows two approaches when it comes to volunteering, depending on whether you volunteer full-time or part-time.
- Direct contact with children: involvement and helping with various programmes or homework
- Indirect/non-direct contact with children: this involves the completion of tasks that are related to the overall well-being of the children and which would benefit them on a day-to-day basis. (e.g. helping with the preparations of meals, working in the laundry room, admin assistance, assisting staff in daily duties)
Your role
Full-day volunteers will participate in the morning and afternoon programmes.
Volunteer hours are typically from 9:00 – 18:00 (direct and indirect contact with children)
Afternoon-only volunteers (who take part in our English language course in the morning) will participate in the afternoon programmes between 14:00 – 18:00 (direct contact with children)
Evenings and weekends are then usually free.
You will be assisting children in different grades. The project differentiates between:
- Juniors (5 to 10 years old)
- Intermediates (10 to 13 years old)
- Seniors (13 to 18 years)
Possible work schedule:
9:00 – 12:00: assist with ground maintenance (laundry, sorting stock and donations, general facility maintenance) and various tasks at the library like sorting books, etc.
12:00 – 14:00: prepare food and assist with preparation for the educational programme
14:00 onwards: children arrive from school, enjoy lunch together
14:30 onwards: children receive educational support (homework) or rest
15:30 – 16:30: free time
16:30 – 17:30: recreational or development programme
17:30 – 18:00: assisting staff with the children
Programme during public school holidays:
This project also takes place during school holiday periods as children will be based at the facility.
The above itinerary would then change and would instead include activities like:
- accompanying children on outings to cultural and recreational events
- participating in the life skills and values programme
- assisting to facilitate recreational, arts and cultural programmes
Volunteers will have the opportunity to make use of their own skills and talents and contribute to the programme development over the course of the holidays.
It is important to note that this description serves as an example only. The daily tasks and activities depend on the volunteer and the work that needs to be done. The final job description can therefore vary substantially from the above.
This project can be emotionally draining. It is important that you are aware of this before applying for this project. We will assist you during your stay to make sure that you are coping with the experience, but you need to be mentally prepared and open to the challenge.
Accommodation
You will live at the Volunteer House. It is a private house in an upmarket residential area with single beds and twin bedrooms. Volunteers are accommodated in twin bedrooms but may upgrade to single rooms upon request. There are 4 bathrooms to share, a communal kitchen, a dining room, a lounge with TV and DVD player and a beautiful garden with a swimming pool.
Bedding is provided. Towels are not provided.
There is a washing machine at the residence for you to use. It works with tokens which can be purchased for R40 per load.
Please note: The Volunteer House is currently closed for renovations and will be available again from early 2026.
In the meanwhile, volunteers can book the Newlands Residence at no extra cost. This residence is located in the heart of Claremont and offers single rooms with an en-suite bathroom. Bedding and towels are provided and replaced weekly. A communal kitchen, a wellness area with a mini gym, a pool and communal areas guarantee a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to meet fellow volunteers. Wi-Fi is included.
A laundry room with washing machines and tumble dryers is available at the cost of R43 per load.
Upgrades to a Homestay or any other accommodation option provided by Good Hope Studies are always possible but come at an additional cost.
Meals
Self-catering except if you choose the Homestay option. The main shopping areas as well as restaurants, pubs, etc. are within walking distance of your accommodation.
