Community Development Volunteer Projects

Masigcine Children's Home, based in the Mfuleni Township just outside Cape Town, is a most wonderful place that provides a home to local children and babies who have been abandoned or orphaned. The dedicated staff ensure that it provides a loving and caring environment for these children and the volunteers make a truly valuable contribution to ensuring that each child receives the emotional, physical and spiritual care that he or she needs. more...

Take this fantastic opportunity to interact with and make a real difference to the lives of children orphaned by AIDS within this vibrant Zulu community. Volunteers will have the chance not only to become intimately involved in the day to day lives of these orphans but to make a lasting difference to the community with development and HIV/AIDS education work. more...

This project is based in a rural community on the outskirts of Cape Town. Volunteers will become involved in pre-school and possibly primary school education, as well as a number of community development initiatives. A wonderful opportunity to work with young disadvantaged children and help on valuable programmes that will benfit the community for years to come. more...

Although Zanzibar is a beautiful tropical paradise, its local communities are badly affected by poverty, lack of education and training, and unemployment.  By getting involved in local nursery, primary and secondary school education, tourism training schools and environmental programmes, volunteers have many opportunities to make a real impact. more...

This project is based in Mwanza City on the beautiful Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in the world. Many children in Tanzania have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and volunteers to this project will work with these abandoned children (orphans and street children), helping to care for them and provide vital support in their early childhood years. more...

The aims of the project are simple...one nutritious meal – per child – per school day.  Volunteers joining this new project will have the chance to make a real difference to under-privileged African school children - simply by helping to provide one essential meal each day to all in need.  Providing this one meal will ensure that these children receive the food and energy they need to help them make the most of the positive educational environment at West Riding primary school near Cape Town.  Volunteers will also spend some afternoons helping out with classes in the school library where they will interact with the children, joining in with activities, listening to their reading and perhaps telling stories. more...

Home of Hope is a very special place providing safety and care for babies and young children until they can be placed in a suitable new home. This is an especially rewarding project where volunteers are able to see the positive difference their caring contribution makes to the lives of some very special babies and young children. more...

This project is based in an amazing rural community on the outskirts of Cape Town, where volunteers can become involved in local medical and community development initiatives. Volunteers will assist and observe in local clinics and communities each morning and in various rural pre-schools and day care centres through the afternoon community work. more...

This project is based in the amazing setting of the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park  – recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and offers volunteers the opportunity to gain a unique insight into medicine in rural South Africa, and make a real impact on the local community. more...

Volunteers play an active role in the development of young children at this world famous home based in the heart of Khayelitsha, the largest township of Cape Town.  Visits and donations from celebrities such as Sir Elton John and U2's Bono have provided great publicity and new buildings have been built allowing the children to be looked after in family groups - with a housemother and "brothers and sisters".  This has enhanced the feeling of "belonging" and certainly improves the lives of the children who have found a home here.  There is a real need for volunteers to help look after the younger children (0 - 5 years) with washing, feeding, laundry etc as well as contributing to the ongoing transformation of Baphumelele itself. more...

Volunteers have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the local community through a specially structured Medical Programme and to gain a unique insight into the Zambian medical field.  Volunteers do not need to be qualified -  just need the desire to help.  They will also spend time in the afternoons on worthwhile local community projects. more...

Volunteers become involved in many of the initiatives being developed in this community, based in the rural coastal town of Vilanculos, a short boat ride from the World Heritage Site of the Bazaruto Archipelago.  These include teaching at the pre-school learning centre, orphan care,  HIV/AIDS education and community work, rural home building and soccer coaching projects. more...

This immensely worthwhile project offers volunteers an array of opportunities to experience "real" Africa. Orphanages and homes in Limuru need extra one-to-one attention for the youngsters (4-15 years).  For those with a medical inclination, volunteers can help in the Kikuyu Hospital or make a difference to the lives of the people who live in the slums of Nairobi where volunteers can help in the local clinic or accompany the medical staff on visits to rural communities. The list is endless! more...

Situated in the vibrant town of Livingstone, this project - just a stone's throw from the world famous Victoria Falls, allows volunteers to make a real difference to the lives of the deprived but very enthusiastic children. Volunteers will not only help teach local children, keeping them off the streets and helping them to have a more positive future, but be involved in some very worthwhile community development projects. more...

An exciting and worthwhile project - of particular interest to sports enthusiasts - who can get involved in coaching under-privileged, but often very talented youngsters. Resources are limited but the enthusiasm and excitement shown by the children more than makes up for the shortage of equipment.  Alternatively, opportunities are available to help out in the local community - building desperately needed classrooms or refurbishing older schools.  Read on to find out more! more...