BAPHUMELELE CHILDREN'S HOME | Volunteer Project

Volunteers to Baphumelele can play an active role in the development of young children at this world famous home based right in the heart of Khayelitsha, the largest township of Cape Town and home to over 1 million people. Visits and donations from celebrities such as Sir Elton John, Beyonce Knowles, U2's Bono and the Manchester United Football Team have provided great publicity and new buildings have sprung up allowing the children to be looked after in family groups of about eight - each with a housemother and several "brothers and sisters". This has enhanced the feeling of "belonging" and certainly improves the lives of the children lucky enough to have found a home here. There is a real need for volunteers who can help to look after the younger children (0 - 5 years) with washing, feeding, laundry etc as well as contributing to the ongoing transformation of Baphumelele itself. This project will particularly suit emotionally mature volunteers who would like to make a positive difference to the lives of a wonderful group of young children.

General Information

The spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is having a huge effect, particularly in southern Africa. More than 14 million children world-wide have lost either one or both parents to AIDS and this number seems set to rise further over the next few years as many parents infected with HIV develop AIDS. It is estimated that this year there will be 2.5 million children in South Africa alone who will have been orphaned by this epidemic and have been abandoned and abused as a result.

The Children's Home at Baphumelele was established in 2001 as a centre to care for these abused and abandoned children and has since then provided a safe and loving place for those who would otherwise face a life on the streets. There is no discrimination on age or medical grounds, and all children who are in need are accepted. To-day Baphumelele is home to approximately 150 chilren ranging from newborn to 18 years of age and volunteers work mainly with those in the 0 - 5 years age group helping the permanent staff who are mainly of Xhosa and Sotho origin.

This is a very special project which will especially suit mature volunteers who are looking to make a real difference to these wonderful little children. The project is open to volunteers aged 18 years or above on arrival who can spend between 6 - 12 weeks. Previous experience of working with young children is an advantage but not essential.

Daily Routine

Volunteers work in teams on shifts of 3 days at Baphumelele, staying overnight at the volunteer flat at the Home. This is followed by 3 days off, staying in the volunteer accommodation in Observatory, which gives plenty of free time to explore the exciting city of Cape Town. Working days start at 7.00 am and finish around 7.00 pm, but with plenty of breaks in the day and an opportunity to relax during the evenings. During the working day volunteers will take part in the following activities:

There are plenty of other tasks if time allows such as cleaning up areas of the grounds, painting and decorating, working in the kitchen garden etc. There are also occasional outings and fun activities at weekends which appreciate help from the volunteers.

Options for your spare time ...

There is plenty to see and do in Cape Town - one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Sports enthusiasts can choose from nearly every water and land-based sport imaginable - or watch cricket or rugby at Sahara Park Newlands International Stadium. There are opportunities to try shark cage diving, sky diving, paragliding or abseiling from Table Mountain or volunteers can just explore the city and its many museums or perhaps taste some great South African wine at a nearby estate. The Artscape Theatre in Cape Town has a year round programme of ballet, shows and plays and many international singers and bands play at the Grand West Arena. There are also many overland tours to connect with the rest of South Africa, Kruger National Park, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and beyond. Why not talk to Amanzi Travel about taking an Overland Tour at the end of your placement?

Support

Support and advice is available from the local Project Managers whilst on the project and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.
Find out more about Amanzi Travel support

Orientation

A comprehensive information pack will be sent to all volunteers upon booking their placement and further advice and information will be provided by telephone and email before departure. All placements will commence on a Monday. The first visit to Baphumelele will normally be on the first Wednesday of the placement, when a full orientation will be provided by the on-site co-ordinator.

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation at Observatory

This house at Observatory provides a safe and secure home for volunteers and is near the main rail and bus links giving easy access to the centre of Cape Town and the Western Cape. Observatory has great nightlife with a variety of clubs and restaurants and lots of interesting shops and is a popular destination for the locals of Cape Town.

The house is comfortably furnished and has separate male and female dormitories. There is a lounge with hi-fi, satellite tv and dvd and a telephone for incoming calls. The house is a Wi-Fi hotspot and a computer is available for volunteers to access the internet.

There are kitchen facilities to prepare your food. A selection of cereals, fruit, yoghurts, milk, bread, margarine, tea, coffee, sugar etc are provided for breakfast each day. All other meals are self catering. Each volunteer will have a lockaable cupboard for their valuables and food.

There is a nice garden with tables and a built in braai (a South African style bbq).

Accommodation at Khayelitsha

Teams of volunteers spend 3 out of every 6 nights in the volunteer accommodation at Baphumelele, which has three bedrooms, a shower, bath, toilet facilities and a kitchen/lounge area. Self-service breakfast items are provided and all other meals are self-catering.

Getting There

Volunteers should fly into Cape Town International Airport where they will be met by a local representative and escorted to the volunteer house in Observatory (a suburb of Cape Town). Volunteers should ensure that they arrive in time to join the project on a Monday. Accommodation for additional nights can be arranged if necessary through Amanzi Travel.

There may be a number of ways to reach your destination airport – for further information or advice, please contact Amanzi Travel.