“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair." (Nelson Mandela)
| Location | Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Duration | From 2 weeks |
| Dates | All year round (except during school holidays) |
| Requirements |
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| Minimum Age: | 18 |
| Your impact | |
| Documents required | Enrolment form, curriculum vitae, letter of motivation, passport copy, proof of medical insurance, police clearance certificate |
| Day of arrival | Sunday |
| Day of departure | Saturday |
Hout Bay is a vibrant community that beautifully reflects South Africa's rich diversity, bringing together people from varied cultural and social backgrounds. The community is actively working to unite different neighbourhoods and create stronger connections across all areas as high unemployment, especially in informal settlements, exacerbates poverty and limits opportunities, particularly for young people.
However, there are growing opportunities to channel the youth’s energy and talents into meaningful pathways. The community recognises the importance of addressing youth wellness and is committed to creating supportive environments that promote healthy choices, strengthen families, and build safer neighbourhoods for everyone to thrive in.
This NGO (non-governmental organisation), NPO (non-profit organisation), trust and charity was set up by a group of enthusiasts with three goals:
Community is this project’s soul and soccer is the spark that brings everyone together. For the participants the sport is a catalyst to stimulate social change and a journey that brings friendship, love, support, understanding, growth and opportunity. Through the power of sport, the project’s mission is to provide a safe and loving environment with educational and vocational opportunities granting the children and youth within the participating communities access to further services that nurture, support and empower them to succeed.
The project’s holistic approach is therefore to recruit youth for the “soccer journey” and to then support and nurture them with their “personal development journey”.
The soccer teams span all age groups, boys and girls, men and women, from U5’s to juniors, youth, teens and adult teams and all types ranging from social soccer to fun activities, organised leagues and a high-performance programme. The badge represents the community through the rainbow stripes that surround the golden soccer ball. The ball, on the other hand, represents the beating heart of the club while the gold stands for its success.
The “Dream Factory” is the head quarter sand the base of all project operations. It houses 16 of the Elite Men’s team players and an additional 45 FTIFA Cape Town academy players. It provides office space to over 50 full-time employees and includes a canteen where all players receive meals prepared for them on-site. There are classrooms, an audio-visual room, a gym, a five-a-side court and a communal room that includes a TV, pool table and other activities.
It's the perfect location allowing the children to follow their dreams in a safe environment and idyllic surroundings with space and time to thrive. At the same time, they retain their valuable connection to home, the support of their family and community. Here they can relax, feel supported and work hard towards achieving their goals.
Activities the project is involved in are:
Full-day volunteers will participate in the morning and afternoon programmes.
Working hours are typically from 9:00 – 18:00.
Afternoon-only volunteers (who take part in our English language course in the morning) will participate in the afternoon programmes only.
Volunteering sessions in the afternoons run between approximately 14:00 – 18:00 at the latest.
Evenings and weekends are then usually free.
Volunteers are utilised for a wide range of tasks and are given a great deal of responsibility that range from coaching and teaching to administrative duties. A passion for soccer is a definite plus. Depending on the volunteers’ motivation, experience and belief as to where they would gain the most insight, they will be allocated by the CEO and the Operations Manager accordingly and will then work alongside organisation staff to support their daily operations.
Below is a list of possible tasks and responsibilities:
You may also rotate between different departments to gain comprehensive exposure to all aspects of organisational operations and to better understand what it takes to run such an organisation from the ground up.
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.
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.
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