Program Description      
Volunteer Role     
Placement Sites, Housing, Food
Length of Program
Cost of Program
Requirements

Program Description

Located approximately an hour away from Cape Town, the Cape South Peninsula where volunteers will mainly be situated is a microcosm of South Africa. There are established 'white' middle- class suburbs like Fish Hoek, old apartheid 'coloured' (mixed race) areas like Ocean View which are poor and characterized by various social problems, and Masiphumelele, which is a classic South Africa black township and very poor. Volunteers will experience firsthand the striking diversity of South Africa and participate in the great challenge to transform the inequities of apartheid into an integrated, progressive society.

Volunteer Role

Your service in South Africa will begin in late June with a week of orientation. Orientation will include introduction to life and culture in South Africa, visits to the schools and communities where we work and information on health and safety issues. During orientation volunteers will stay at a camp and then move to live with their local host families.

 The central objective of our summer project is to provide and support educational initiatives in poor communities in the Southern Peninsula of Cape Town. In the first phase of the program, roughly the first two weeks of July, we run various courses during the winter school holidays in the very poor Masiphumelele township. These have included an English literacy program for Grades 1–3, computer training for all ages, and math for Grades 8–12. We also run special projects, such as helping youngsters write books about their heroes, as a therapy and personal development process, and the development of Directories for the community, such as a guide to careers and further education. Most of our work takes place at the library in the heart of the township, which is a modern facility, built by US donors.

In Phase 2, for the remaining five weeks, volunteers are placed at a number of different primary and secondary schools in the southern Peninsula, including the 'coloured' Ocean View area and Simonstown school, where the volunteers also live on campus in a school hostel.

Volunteers typically work as classroom assistants, supporting the teachers, but there is usually plenty of scope for volunteers to use their talents in specialized ways, such as art, literacy and sport, by arrangement with the Principal. Schools and their teaching staff are under enormous pressure with very limited resources and the enthusiasm of WorldTeach volunteers is much appreciated.

There will be a Mid-Service Conference in mid July and an End-of-Service Conference before volunteers depart at the end of August.

"It was so powerful to interact with all my students because they had so little and yet they still counted themselves among the fortunate.  They valued their friendships and relationships with each other far higher than their material wealth."  Charles Cannizzaro, South Africa volunteer

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During orientation volunteers will move to their host families for the duration of the program. Families routinely cook breakfast and dinner, and volunteers can make their own packed lunch. Though volunteers can expect to have their own bedroom, they may be sharing with another volunteer although we try to limit this only to Phase 1. Most host families are situated in the wealthier areas of the Southern Peninsula and the homes offer comfort and most modern facilities; however, volunteers may have less privacy than they are used to in the United States, as other living spaces will be shared with the host family.

Length of Program

Two months (approximately late June to late August, depending on availability of flights).

Cost of Program

$4,490. This includes pre-departure information and preparation, roundtrip international airfare from a US gateway city (eg. New York City; you will be responsible for transportation to this city and to the airport there), one week in-country orientation, health insurance, transportation to your area, meals (as noted above) and housing during orientation and teaching service, and 24-hour field support.

Please read more about costs and services.

Note: WorldTeach summer programs may qualify for international internship and travel funds awarded by colleges and universities. Students are encouraged to check with their schools for eligibility.

Requirements

WorldTeach summer programs are open to qualified individuals over the age of 18 (including undergraduates) who are looking for a meaningful, short-term volunteer teaching experience. English language fluency is required. Prior teaching experience is helpful but not required. Interest in Africa, teaching and international development are plusses. Successful volunteers will be mature, resourceful, and have exhibited public service and community participation. It is important that volunteers be flexible and open-minded, capable of adapting to new situations and able to provide sensitive leadership with various ages and groups. Experience in leadership at camps would be an advantage. The program relies heavily upon close teamwork among volunteers and a positive attitude, even in frustrating or difficult circumstances, is vital.

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"I had not expected to form such strong bonds with the other volunteers and I know I have made some life-long friends here, just amongst the volunteers." Robin LeRosen, South Africa volunteer