South Africa Volunteer Project Cape Town Feeding Project Gap Year Career Break Volunteer Work Africa South Africa

AFRICAN SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

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. These children are hungry to learn, and with the help of volunteers they will never learn to go hungry. 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.

This project is funded directly from volunteer fees, so whether you have only one week available, or would like to add some time at the school to another project, please consider these children and help us to make their school day the best it can be.

Location:

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Dates:

Placements commence on a Sunday in time for your first work day normally on a Monday.

Fees:

£345 - 1 week

£535 - 2 weeks

£1,875 - 10 weeks

£2,095 - 12 weeks

Payment:

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

Reference:

AV041

General Information

The project is based at West Riding, a primary school in Parklands, a suburb of Cape Town. The school is close to Blouberg Beach which is famous for its classic postcard view of Table Mountain and the area is also home to a penguin rehabilitation area. It is only a five minute drive from the school to the volunteer house at Table View.

The school caters for around 300 children from 5 - 13 years of age. The children come from a variety of African countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola and the Congo. Almost 100 of these children come to school each day without food as their parents are unable to afford even this basic need. Currently help is given to the children most in need but with further support it is hoped to be able to feed all the children who unfortunately find themselves in this position. Volunteers will spend the mornings helping to prepare a simple nutritious meal - hearty soups, curries and stews - and this will be served to the children at about 10.30 am - the time of their first break. For many children this will be the first meal of their day. After the meal has been served it will be time to clear up, take stock of what is available and peel and chop vegetables for the next day. There will be shopping to do and volunteers may also get involved in collecting food donations from local supermarkets which is of great help in making sure that there is enough food to go round. 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. This project is open to all volunteers aged 18 years or older on arrival and no experience is necessary - just a desire to help meet the project aim of "One nutritious meal - per child - per day". Volunteers may perhaps wish to spend a week helping out at this project in conjunction with other projects they may be supporting in Cape Town.

Daily Routine

The first day at the school will normally be on Monday. The day will begin at around 8.30 am when volunteers will be transported to the school, returning to Table View after lunch or early afternoon depending on the needs of the day. All volunteers will have a personal time-table and will know in advance which days they will be working at the school. On average they will be busy for 4-5 days per week with all evenings and weekends free for other activities.

“The project far exceeded my expectations, it's really hard to know what to expect when you're coming to Africa, it is so different and the project actually gave me more than I thought I was coming for. Working with the kids is like the biggest blessing on earth. They are so incredibly beautiful and they are so loving and appreciative, and they give you more than you could ever give them. This has been an incredible experience for me, I would just say do it, do it, do it!

The teachers and staff are amazing and have really accepted the program and given me opportunities to do things I would never get an opportunity to do. I have been involved with cooking and preparing food, teaching kids and reading in the library. It's taken me to a whole new world and it's all thanks to them, they have been very very open to us doing stuff above and beyond cooking.

I think they didn't know quite what to expect when we first arrived, but within one or two days, and especially when we started interacting with them in the classrooms and library, they just love you to death, they mob you with love and they are just so easy to get on with. I can't describe how great these kids are, they embrace you as part of their family and make you feel so welcome and that you belong with them.

My advice to you if you are thinking of joining is stop thinking about it and just do it. I thought about it for a year, and an opportunity came for me to go. It will change your life, it changes your perspective of how we live and how fortunate we are. When you interact with these kids, the smallest bit of love you show them just lights up their day and I can't tell you what it does to you when they respond to that.

I've done it only for a week, but it's one of the best experiences of my life. I have kids, and I've done motherhood, marriage and all that stuff - this is up there with the best experiences. Don't think about it anymore, do it!

The project is amazing and when you go to the volunteer house, you are mixing with the most incredible like-minded people and it makes the whole experience just 100% fantastic and worth it. Any doubts you have, any concerns you have, put them away because it's so worth doing. You will meet incredible people, and you will experience the love of kids like you've never had in your life. The people at the house are fantastic, the girls are amazing, I've just had a great great great time.

The good thing with the project is it gives people that have a busy life an opportunity to get a taste for volunteering, so if you’re faced with lying on a beach and pampering yourself, or doing this, you're going to be so much better for doing this and will probably go home looking so much better than if you'd just pampered yourself, because you get this energy from the kids and they bring you to a new level of life, I'm so glad I've done this.

There is just something about Africa, there isn't a word to describe it, you have to come and experience it. There is something unique about Africa that you will not get anywhere else, and that's the people, the culture and the places. A word of warning, once you've been in Africa it gets in your blood, and you will keep coming back. I love it.”

Teresa from Austalia - 50 years old - first volunteer on the project June 2010

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 rubgy 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.

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.

Accommodation and Meals

The excellent volunteer house at Table View provides a safe and secure home-from-home and is near the main bus route. A really good value taxi service is available giving easy access to the centre of Cape Town and the Western Cape. In Table View there is a wide range of shops and restaurants and some great beaches with scenic views of Table Mountain and Cape Town across the bay.

The house is well furnished and has separate male and female dormitories with plenty of toilets and showers. There is a lounge with comfortable chairs and settees, 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. The house is cleaned daily (Monday - Friday) and there is a inexpensive laundry service available each week. The project manager is available from 8.00 am - 5.00 pm each weekday and is on-hand for emergencies if required. She is able to offer help and advice particularly when planning trips and excursions in spare time.

The kitchen is extremely well equipped with facilities for preparing and storing food. A selection of cereals, fruit, yoghurts, milk, bread, margarine, tea, coffee, sugar etc is provided for breakfast each day. All other meals are self catering. Each volunteer will have a locakable cupboard for their luggage, valuables and groceries. Fridges and freezers are also available.

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

Getting There

Volunteers should fly into Cape Town International Airport where they will be met by a local representative and taken to the volunteer house at Table View. Volunteers should aim to arrive in time to join the project on a Sunday (the first working day will be 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

Transfers between Cape Town International Airport and the volunteer house at Table View, on arrival and departure
All transfers between the volunteer house at Table View and West Riding Primary School
Welcome pack and orientation/briefing from local staff
Accommodation and self service breakfasts
A contribution towards funding the children's meals
Advice and support from the local staff including help in arranging off-duty visits, tours and adventure activities