Africa Volunteer placements, Gap Year, Career Break, Mature volunteer placements working in childrens home in South Africa

MASIGCINE CHILDRENS' HOME
MFULENI TOWNSHIP, CAPE TOWN

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.

Masigcine is the Xhosa word meaning “Let us Protect” and is the name of this children’s home based in the Mfuleni Township area, 20 km south east of Cape Town. There has been a settlement at Mfuleni since the late 1970s but it has grown, alongside Khayelitsha, and is now a community of more than one million people. Until 1999 many thousands of people lived in very primitive conditions without electricity, water or sewerage, There have been great improvements since then but there are still problems - with high unemployment, a high HIV/AIDS infection rate and high infant mortality. Despite all this it is a vibrant community and many volunteers return more than once to this very special place.

Location:

MFULENI TOWNSHIP, CAPE TOWN

Dates:

Regular dates throughout the year. Starting on Mondays. Minimum stay of 4 weeks – maximum 12 weeks

Fees:

£850 - 4 weeks

£1,170 - 6 weeks

£1,480 - 8 weeks

£1,795 - 10 weeks

£2,095 - 12 weeks

Payment:

£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure

Reference:

AV033

General Information

The spread of HIV/AIDS is particularly rife in southern Africa. More than 14 million children worldwide have lost either one or both parents to this disease and sadly this number is rising. In South Africa alone it is expected that 2.5 million children will be orphans by the end of this year. The Masigcine Children’s Home can accommodate up to 28 children from 3 months to 6 years of age. All the babies have their own little cots and the older children have beautiful little beds - with a teddy bear on each pillow. The staff are committed to helping the children in the best way possible and create a lovely homely environment - to which the volunteers are most welcome. The children get all the emotional, physical and spiritual help they need and the House Mothers help to provide good family values and raise healthy, happy and well balanced children. There is even a naughty chair in the kitchen! The ultimate aim is to see each child reunited with their own family or placed with a family who will adopt them as their own.

Children who have been abandoned or neglected are referred to the Home by Social Workers from different organisations or by the local children's courts. Sometimes the mothers are too young or perhaps the parents have died from HIV/AIDS or other related illnesses. Some children are still babies whose mothers have experienced complications during pregnancy, and some require special care.

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. Previous experience of working with young children is an advantage but not essential.

Daily Routine

Volunteers will work, in teams of two people, in shifts of 3 days, staying overnight in a very comfortable volunteer room at the Home for 3 nights at a time, followed by 3 days off and 3 nights staying in the volunteer house in Observatory. This gives plenty of free time to explore Cape Town and the surrounding area. The working day normally begins at 7.00 am and finishes around 7.00 pm. There are plenty of breaks during the day and time to relax during the evenings. Volunteers will spend most of their time helping the Mamas to care for the young children and babies (from one month to six years) and activities will include:

Preparing feed bottles and cooking meals
Feeding the babies and toddlers
Changing nappies and helping with potty training
Helping children to get ready for school
Assisting with bath time
Helping to provide structured play for the children
Washing up, hanging out the laundry, and changing the beds

There are always plenty of jobs for those keen to do more – perhaps some painting or decorating, or helping with donations – and even helping out with occasional outings.

Ideas for your spare time ...

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and volunteers should take any opportunity they can to see something of the city and the surrounding countryside. Although these are not included in the fees paid, the local project managers will be happy to assist with any arrangements volunteers may wish to make.

Sports enthusiasts can take advantage of many water and land based sports or take in a cricket or rugby match at Sahara Park Newlands International Stadium
Sky-diving, paragliding or abseiling from Table Mountain
Shark cage diving
Exploration of Cape Town and its many museums or wine tasting at a nearby estate
A visit to the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town which has a year-round programme of ballet, shows and theatre or the Grand West Arena which often hosts international singers and bands
Take advantage of an overland tour to see the rest of South Africa, Kruger National Park, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe or beyond – these can be arranged through Amanzi Travel prior to departure.

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. A full orientation programme will be provided on arrival by the project manager.

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation and meals at Observatory - Cape Town

The volunteer house at Observatory (Cape Town) provides a safe and secure home from home for volunteers working on local projects and personal belongings may be left safely while undertaking shifts at Masigcine. The house is near the main rail and bus links with easy access to the centre of Cape Town and the Western Cape. Observatory is renowned for its nightlife with many clubs, restaurants and shops to suit all tastes and pockets. It is a popular destination for locals and there is a launderette within two minutes’ walk which offers a drop-off and collect service, as well as many local shops for food and personal needs. Breakfast is provided on a self-serve basis but all other meals are self-catering.

The house is comfortably furnished and has the following facilities:

Full-time volunteer co-ordinator available Monday – Friday, 8.00 am – 5.00 pm plus emergency cover during evenings and weekends
Separate spacious male and female dormitories – with good quality mattresses, bedding and linen provided
Kitchen with oven, fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle and everything needed for preparing good South African food
Selection of cereals, yoghurts, milk, bread, margarine, tea, coffee, sugar etc for volunteers to create their own breakfast each morning
Telephone for incoming calls only
Comfortable lounge with hi-fi, satellite TV and DVD
Showers and toilet facilities
Daily cleaning (Monday – Friday)
Private garden with tables and barbecue (braai)
Good wi-fi reception and computer available for internet access. Hotspot accounts can be set up in advance and charges are reasonable
Storage for luggage and personal items
Coded magnet key to allow volunteers to come and go 24 hours a day

Accommodation and meals at Mfuleni

The volunteer accommodation at Masigcine – for teams with a maximum of four people (occasionally 5) - is basic but comfortable and includes:

One air-conditioned bedroom with two beds, good quality mattresses, quilts and pillows and fresh linen (to be taken from the volunteer house for each shift and returned afterwards)
Fresh linen provided for every team change
En-suite bathroom with shower and bath
Kitchen facilities for preparing extra food, tea making etc
Fridge freezer for storing personal food items
Shower and toilet facilities

Breakfast is on a self-serve basis and meals will be the same as those provided for the children. As there is no housekeeper at Masigcine volunteers will be responsible for keeping the accommodation tidy. Please note that Masigcine is a no smoking area.

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.

Fees

What is included

Transport between Cape Town International Airport and the volunteer house in Observatory on arrival and departure
All transfers between the volunteer house in Observatory and the Masigcine Children’s Home
Welcome pack and orientation/briefing from local staff
Accommodation and meals at the volunteer house in Observatory and the Masigcine Chilren’s Home
A contribution to the project itself
Advice and support from the local staff including help for arranging off-duty visits, tours and adventure activities