Cape Town Community Volunteers

Make a real difference in the lives of local communities with our fantastic volunteer projects! As part of a team of volunteers, you will provide children from severely underprivileged backgrounds with new skills, create new opportunities for poorer communities, and brighten the futures of countless local people.

International volunteers have already made a huge difference in these communities. In the last few years, volunteers have built and established 3 new preschools, taught computer skills to over 1200 children, taught 300 children how to swim, and started construction on a brick school for disabled children. Now it’s your turn! Join this Cape Town volunteering project and continue the good work!

Cape Town

Cape Town is a stunning city on the coast of South Africa. Dominated by the dramatic flat-topped Table Mountain, this city is full of life, with friendly locals, gorgeous beaches and vibrant bars. The city has poorer areas too, and it is here that your volunteering will be so helpful, providing much needed assistance and opportunities for underprivileged communities. These volunteer projects are an incredible way to experience the two faces of South Africa while making a difference in people’s lives.

The projects

After a 2-day orientation in Cape Town you’ll get started with your volunteering. There are a range of fantastic community volunteer projects which you can take part in in Cape Town.

• Community settlements. Help with education at crèches and adult learning projects, plus assist with social events and empowerment projects. Get involved with building and improvement work, as well as educating the community about subsistence farming and vegetable gardens to help alleviate poverty.

• School/Crèche assistant. Volunteer in pre-school educare centres around Cape Town and work with kids aged 0 - 7. You will be assigned to a class and help the teacher with daily tasks such as marking and teaching. You will be able to run your own lessons and help children develop life and educational skills.

• Disabled school assistant. Assist with learning and care at an incredible township school for disabled children. The school is the only one of its kind in the local area and provides all-day care for children with disabilities in the community. You will help with teaching classes, mind stimulation, physiotherapy, speaking English to the younger children, and fundraising for the school. This is a challenging but deeply rewarding role.

• Adventure swim and surf club. Teach swimming and surfing to local kids at an after-school club. The main aim of this project is to keep children occupied and away from negative influences and local gangs. The club is an incentive for children to do well at school, and teaches them important skills such as teamwork - as well as just being great fun for them! You will also assist with computer lessons in the mornings before the club starts.

• Skills development projects. If you have specific skills to share, you can volunteer at a specialist skills development project. Skills can include life skills such as basic wound care and HIV awareness, sports development such as soccer and dance clinics, and business skills such as craftsmanship, woodwork and entrepreneurship. This will help out of work adults find new jobs and opportunities.

• Sport and youth development. Plan and deliver sport sessions to children at a local recreation centre, as well as assisting in morning classes. Teach kids new skills and promote teamwork and leadership. This aims to lower socio-economic problems such as delinquency, petty crime, and teenage pregnancy.

You should choose one project to focus on, and most of your volunteering will then take place at this project for the duration of your stay, although you do have the flexibility to move projects if you wish.

Let us know your project preference when you book so we can get the ball rolling on your volunteer experience.

Example itinerary

Volunteer projects will adapt to the needs of the local community at the time of your visit. The following is an example of a typical 18 day itinerary.

Day 1, Friday

You will be welcomed at the airport by a coordinator who will transfer you to your volunteer house accommodation. You will have an introductory orientation session. The rest of the day is free for you to check out the shops, beach, bars and restaurants. In the evening you will be invited to a Braai (a traditional South African BBQ) at the hostel.

Day 2, Saturday

After breakfast you will meet your local tour guide who will explain the busy South African bus system, and help you purchase your ticket and travel unaccompanied into Cape Town centre. You will be met by a tour guide and taken on a walking tour where you will visit historical sites such as the Castle of Good Hope and the Grand Parade. You will visit the Parliament buildings and the District Six Museum where you will learn about life under apartheid South Africa. You will be taken to explore St Georges Mall and Greenmarket square where you can purchase African arts and crafts.

At 2pm you can take a bus or walk to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Here you can relax, eat some fresh fish, drink a cocktail or two and watch the ships come in and out of the harbour. You can explore this area and find shops, markets and musicians.

From 4pm or after you can head back to the hostel and start planning your next day. In the evening you can join your fellow staff, tour guides and locals at a beach front restaurant a stones throw away from your hostel or head and to sample the local nightlife.

Day 3, Sunday

Free day.

Day 4, Monday

Breakfast is from 7.45-8.15am on all volunteer days. Project volunteering from 8.30am-12/12.30pm. Afternoon – Volunteer meeting to discuss planning, problems and challenges, help with donations, lesson planning, training on how to teach and plan activities with kids, tips on behaviour management and age-appropriate lessons.

Days 5-7, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

Breakfast 7.45-8.15am. You will take part in your volunteer programme at morning sessions, running from 8.30am-12/12.30pm. Lunch is between 12-2/3pm on all volunteer days, and afternoon volunteer sessions run from 2-4.30 for settlement or teaching projects and 3-4.30pm for the swim/surf project.  During the evenings you will set aside some time for project or lesson planning.

Day 8, Friday

A flexible day where you can help with handing out donations to local settlements, do training or planning sessions or get involved in fundraising activities in the local area. You will also have some free time to yourself.

Days 9 & 10, Saturday and Sunday

Free days.

Day 11-14, Monday-Thursday

Your second volunteer week will follow the same schedule as the previous week.

Day 15, Friday

Another donation or fundraising Friday.

Day 16, Saturday

A social event will take place, for example – sunset hike to Lions Head, hop on hop off bus pass, lunch at Mzolis, township tour, drumming workshops and many more.

Day 17, Sunday

Chill out on the beach, shop in Cape Town or just hang out with your new friends on this day of relaxation.

Day 18, Monday

You will say your goodbyes and depart from your hostel after breakfast.