Project Summary
Your Role
Dates and Duration
Overview
Location
Accommodation
Volunteer either at an orphanage with babies and toddlers (aged newborn - 5 years)
The babies and toddlers are hungry for love and attention, and are in need of being changed, fed and held all through the day. The home has a lovely play area outside, as well as a crèche where the infants` learning can be stimulated.
At the orphanage they try hard to be more like a family than an institution - there is also a strong focus on trying to reunite the child with its natural family if possible. These children are wards of the state waiting to be adopted, either coming through children`s court after having been removed from abusive families, or abandoned very young. This home can accommodate about 60 children, and they currently have more boys than girls. The spread of age groups is fairly fluid as there are constant changes – children get adopted and leave, and new children arrive.
The orphanages have limited resources and therefore are grateful for any help and all contributions. Having volunteers increases the ratio of children-adults, therefore enabling each child to receive more individual attention, and more chance of noticing and dealing with emotional problems before they escalate.
The babies and toddlers are hungry for love and attention, and are in need of being changed, fed and held all through the day. The home has a lovely play area outside, as well as a crèche where the infants` learning can be stimulated.
At the orphanage they try hard to be more like a family than an institution - there is also a strong focus on trying to reunite the child with its natural family if possible. These children are wards of the state waiting to be adopted, either coming through children`s court after having been removed from abusive families, or abandoned very young. This home can accommodate about 60 children, and they currently have more boys than girls. The spread of age groups is fairly fluid as there are constant changes – children get adopted and leave, and new children arrive.
The orphanages have limited resources and therefore are grateful for any help and all contributions. Having volunteers increases the ratio of children-adults, therefore enabling each child to receive more individual attention, and more chance of noticing and dealing with emotional problems before they escalate.
Your role:
:
- Play simple games with babies and children
- Assist with feedings and afternoon nap times
- Read stories to the children
- Assist creche supervisor with keeping children busy and keeping creche tidy
- Assist with cooking, laundry and gardening (optional)
- Initiate and co-ordinate activities: sports, games, drama, art, music, story telling
- Arrange and take out children on outings
- Assist with Administration work
- Play simple games with babies and children
- Assist with feedings and afternoon nap times
- Read stories to the children
- Assist creche supervisor with keeping children busy and keeping creche tidy
- Assist with cooking, laundry and gardening (optional)
- Initiate and co-ordinate activities: sports, games, drama, art, music, story telling
- Arrange and take out children on outings
- Assist with Administration work
Is the work dangerous?
No
Is there a potential risk?
Some children might be HIV+ but there is a non-disclosure policy in line with Government regulations and laws, so volunteers need to exercise caution.
Dates:
Arrival every Thursday for FREE 3 Day Orientation
Start date every Monday except during South African School Holidays
South African School Holidays 2015:
10th December 2015 – 13th January 2016
South African School Holidays 2016:
18 March - 05 April 2016
24 June - 18 July 2016
30 September - 10 October 2016
07 December - 18 January 2017
South African School Holidays 2017:
01 - 18 January 2017
31 March - 11 April 2017
30 June - 24th of July
29 September - 09 October 2017
08 December 2017 - 16 January 2018
However, if there are holiday camps running, there will be work during the above holiday periods
Start date every Monday except during South African School Holidays
South African School Holidays 2015:
10th December 2015 – 13th January 2016
South African School Holidays 2016:
18 March - 05 April 2016
24 June - 18 July 2016
30 September - 10 October 2016
07 December - 18 January 2017
South African School Holidays 2017:
01 - 18 January 2017
31 March - 11 April 2017
30 June - 24th of July
29 September - 09 October 2017
08 December 2017 - 16 January 2018
However, if there are holiday camps running, there will be work during the above holiday periods
Duration:
Min 8 weeks
Additional per week:
5500 ZAR
Highlights:
- Observe children developing and discovering new things
- Being present for babies` first words, and first steps
- Form friendships with children
- The joy of lots of loves and hugs from small people
- Developing relationships and crossing culture barriers
- Being a positive influence and guiding teens to make good decisions
- Altruistic feeling of doing something meaningful
- Being present for babies` first words, and first steps
- Form friendships with children
- The joy of lots of loves and hugs from small people
- Developing relationships and crossing culture barriers
- Being a positive influence and guiding teens to make good decisions
- Altruistic feeling of doing something meaningful
Minimum age:
18
Police clearance:
Yes
Special skills required:
- Relaxed and friendly with children, but also firm with the naughty ones
- Ability to comfort and calm distressed toddlers and babies
- Ability to play games and sing songs and be like a child
- Ability to communicate in a warm and simple way - meet children at their level
- Basic counseling and conflict management (for older orphanages)
- Assist with homework from school (older orphanage)
- Creativeness in regards to after school activities
- Good listening skills
- Ability to comfort and calm distressed toddlers and babies
- Ability to play games and sing songs and be like a child
- Ability to communicate in a warm and simple way - meet children at their level
- Basic counseling and conflict management (for older orphanages)
- Assist with homework from school (older orphanage)
- Creativeness in regards to after school activities
- Good listening skills
Language requirement:
Intermediate to advanced English for the senior project - you need to be able to communication with children and adults in the community.
What's included:
- Airport Transfers
- CAPE TOWN ORIENTATION: 3 nights accommodation, orientation that covers everything the volunteers need to know about staying in South Africa (from
social skills to transport and safety), two meals per day, bus trip into town, lunch (on the Friday), walking tour of the city, a train ride back to there
accommodation and day trip (on the Saturday).
- All paperwork, placement and liaising with Volunteer Program
- Appointed Supervisor for duration of program
- Accommodation
- Two meals a day - Breakfast and Dinner
- Donation per month to the Volunteer Project, to assist in their funding.
- A South African sim card that works on a pay-as-you-go top up system
- Monthly socials for volunteers to get together and meet other volunteers (cost depends on social)
- Certificate & Report on Volunteer`s Program should this be required for studies or other purposes
- FREE 2 Hour Surf Lesson
- CAPE TOWN ORIENTATION: 3 nights accommodation, orientation that covers everything the volunteers need to know about staying in South Africa (from
social skills to transport and safety), two meals per day, bus trip into town, lunch (on the Friday), walking tour of the city, a train ride back to there
accommodation and day trip (on the Saturday).
- All paperwork, placement and liaising with Volunteer Program
- Appointed Supervisor for duration of program
- Accommodation
- Two meals a day - Breakfast and Dinner
- Donation per month to the Volunteer Project, to assist in their funding.
- A South African sim card that works on a pay-as-you-go top up system
- Monthly socials for volunteers to get together and meet other volunteers (cost depends on social)
- Certificate & Report on Volunteer`s Program should this be required for studies or other purposes
- FREE 2 Hour Surf Lesson
What's excluded:
- The cost of a visa in the case of your volunteer stay being longer than 90 days
- Medical Insurance which must include work, emergency evacuation. Please make sure you understand how your medical insurance works in South Africa
as You2Africa will be unable to pay for any doctors accounts or the like in lieu of being refunded by the medical scheme
- Weekend excursions
- Local Transport
- Lunches (not provided by host/host family)
- Towel and toiletries
- Accommodation if Volunteer arrives before start date
- Transport to Accommodation if Volunteer arrives before start date
- Medical Insurance which must include work, emergency evacuation. Please make sure you understand how your medical insurance works in South Africa
as You2Africa will be unable to pay for any doctors accounts or the like in lieu of being refunded by the medical scheme
- Weekend excursions
- Local Transport
- Lunches (not provided by host/host family)
- Towel and toiletries
- Accommodation if Volunteer arrives before start date
- Transport to Accommodation if Volunteer arrives before start date
Closest town:
Cape Town Athlone
Surrounding area:
Transport:
FREE Transport to/from Project Daily
- Volunteer House: shared rooms between 3 - 4 volunteers
- Communal lounge and Kitchen
OR
- South African Host Family in local community - own room or shared with another volunteer
- Communal lounge and Kitchen
OR
- South African Host Family in local community - own room or shared with another volunteer
Meals:
Good wholesome fresh meals cooked daily by our You2Africa chef who provides a great cereal breakfast and tasty delicious dinners with weekly menus to suit all culinary tastes.
Lunches are for the volunteers own account and should be taken and eaten at the volunteer project.
Lunches are for the volunteers own account and should be taken and eaten at the volunteer project.
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