IH Study & Voluntour SA – Programme Outline

The world ‘Voluntour’ refers to the combination of organised voluntary work with study and/or leisure travel. The IH Study & Voluntour SA programmes provide students with the unique opportunity of being able to combine English language courses with a diverse range of volunteer projects. This ensures that students not only benefit from learning English, but also from an environment where they can interact with locals, participate in responsible tourism projects and most importantly leave a personal legacy behind them, before returning home.The International House (IH) ‘Study & Voluntour SA’ programmes provide young people with the opportunity to stay in Cape Town at the start of their visit in a supportive and friendly environment where they can become comfortable with the language and culture, before transferring to their Voluntour Programme. It is critically important that Volunteers Embrace and fully understand the nature of their chosen Voluntour programme if they are to derive the maximum benefit from this experience.

IH Study & Voluntour SA Programmes:

THE AIDS ORPHANAGE & HOSPICE

Nature of the Project Duration 4 weeks Standard English
Humanitarian 8 weeks Voluntour
Nature Of Work Total Cost $ 3760
Child Care

Volunteers assist the hospice staff by feeding, stimulating and playing with the children. They also assist with the transport of the children, taking the children that are well on outings, and any other general help or administration around the hospice. Any HR, social, welfare or medical training and experience are always in demand. A genuine love for children is essential! Due to the nature of the work at the Aids Orphanage, volunteers will be carefully screened before being accepted at the project.

EMYEZWENI CRÈCHE & PRE- SCHOOL

Nature of the Project Duration 4 weeks Standard English
Humanitarian 4 weeks Voluntour
Nature Of Work Total Cost $ 3105
Child Care

The children from Emyezweni reach the foundation phase benchmarks so quickly that they often skip a year when they get to primary school! Emyezweni means ‘a fruitful garden’ and strives to be just that. The crèche and pre-school is organized safe environment in which children are loved, valued and encouraged to achieve their full potential. Volunteers assist with the Practical up-keep of the classrooms, Teaching, Training, Supervision in addition they may be asked to become involved in Office Administration, Building Renovation Projects, taking children out on day trips and assisting with the set-up and management of any other activities as deemed necessary by management.

UMNQOPHISO PRE- PRIMARY SCHOOL

Nature of the Project Duration 4 weeks Standard English
Humanitarian 8 weeks Voluntour
Nature Of Work Total Cost $ 3760
Child Care

Umnqophiso Pre-Primary School, the After Care Centre and Phakamani, the skills development facility, are making a major contribution within the community. Every year an average of 90 pre-school children are provided with a safe and structured environment where they can grow and attain the desired levels of school readiness. Activities and learning opportunities are provided for older siblings as well as a variety of skills development opportunities for the parents and other adults. Volunteers assist with the Practical up-keep of the classrooms, Teaching, Training, Supervision in addition they may be asked to become involved in Office Administration, Building Renovation Projects, taking children out on day trips and assisting withthe set-up and management of any other activities as deemed necessary by management. Additional activities may include organising specific fun Projects for the after School Group (ages 6-12), fundraising events, and improving the book corner in new classrooms.

PROCHORUS – KAYAMANDI

Nature of the Project Duration 4 weeks Standard English
Humanitarian 4 weeks Voluntour*
Nature Of Work Total Cost $ 3105
Social & Community Development

*8 weeks Voluntour available on request

There are altogether 9 crèches, housed in various buildings although only 3 of these crèches are registered with the Department of Welfare. The other crèches are all in shacks which make it impossible to register them with the Department of Welfare. Volunteers collect the children from the different shacks in the morning and walk with them to the hall. They follow a specific prescribed routine which consists of playtime, music, art, stories and games. It is not necessary for the volunteers to have any prior training, as they act as assistants to the teachers. All tuition is through the medium of English and volunteers will be involved in teaching basic computer literacy, arranging sporting activities and general office administration.

HELDERBERG NATURE RESERVE

Nature of the Project Duration 4 weeks Standard English
Environmental 4 weeks Voluntour*
Nature Of Work Total Cost $ 3105
Environmental / Conservation

*8 weeks Voluntour available on request

This 400 ha reserve has various facilities that are staffed and maintained by volunteers including an Information Centre, Indigenous Nursery and an Environmental Education and Resource Centre. A love for the environment and the outdoors is a must as well as a genuine desire to make a difference in conservation. Volunteers must be fit and healthy and be prepared to work outside, assisting the permanent staff and local community workers with the staffing of the Information Centre, small curio shop in addition to assisting the Environmental Education Officer to co-ordinate activities at the centre. This will include, but not be limited to preparing presentations and hands-on programmes to school children and young learners. Volunteers assist the botany personnel with any planting, weeding and seeding that have to be done in the nursery and must therefore be fit and healthy as the work includes light manual labour in an outdoor environment.

PRETORIUSKOP-Kruger National Park**

Nature of the Project Duration 4 weeks Standard English – Cape Twon
Wildlife /Environmental 4 weeks Voluntour – PretoriusKop
Nature Of Work Total Cost $ 3206*
Conservation Research/Wildlife

* price excludes local travel from Cape Town to Pretoriuskop
**detailed information available on request

A love for nature and wildlife, in addition to a genuine desire to make a difference in conservation, is a must. Volunteers must be fit and healthy and be prepared to work hard! Volunteers will be allocated assignments and work responsibilities after their arrival at the camp upon completion of a 3 day introductory period. Volunteers will receive training in basic First Aid and are assessed in terms of their skills and interests. The initial Orientation period will allow volunteers to acclimatise, understand park regulations, concession rules, camp schedules, and generally become more comfortable living and Working inside a national park and big game area. Volunteers will Then become involved in a Bush Craft Training module whereby Volunteers will receive training in animal, birds, reptile and tree identifications; acquire some useful and practical bush skills; as well as receive instructions on the required competency to assist With research projects and data collection for survey work.

Born to be Wild – Lion Care

Nature of the Project Duration 4 weeks Standard English – Cape Towb
Wildlife / Environmental 4 weeks Voluntour – Port Elizabeth
Nature Of Work Total Cost $ 4060*
Conservation/ Wildlife Project

*price excludes local travel from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth

An unforgettable voluntour experience working with the Born to be Wild Project, based in Port Elizabeth set in a small reserve that includes over 40 different wildlife species from giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, caracals and variety of antelopes. Volunteer’s daily activities may include the hand rearing of lion cubs (when possible), preparation of feed, upkeep and maintenance of the lion enclosures in addition to general lion observation and assessment for their re-introduction to the wild. Volunteers will also participate in daily conservation activities that include basic flora and fauna education, identification of mammals, wildlife spoor and assisting with the upkeep of the reserve such as fencing, road maintenance and the removal of alien vegetation. Depending on staffing levels volunteers may also be asked to assist with general administration and interaction with the paying public.

Cheetah Rehabilitation & Conservation

Nature of the Project Duration 4 weeks Standard English – Cape Town
Wildlife/ Environmental 4 weeks Voluntour – Hoedspruit
Nature Of Work Total Cost $ 4140*
Conservation/ Wildlife

*price excludes local travel from Cape Town to Hoedspruit

The cheetah wild population has reduced by half since the 1970s which has made them vulnerable to extinction. Conservation volunteering at Hoedspruit is an active and rewarding pursuit that brings you into close contact with cheetahs, their cubs and a number of other animals in rehabilitation or breeding projects. This unique camp is situated 20kms from the Kruger National Park and will allow volunteers to get intimate with Africa’s wildlife heritage and to enjoy a cultural experience with a difference.

Activities will include a range of activities from rock and wall climbing, conservation & Ecology training, computer map work, Garmin GPS course with certificate , obstacle course , mountain biking , river rafting , cultural experiences with the local Shagaan tribe and much, much more. Animal Rehabilitation and rearing is a slow gradual process that requires care and attention, with volunteers helping with the conservation of the cheetahs in addition to taking part in their daily care, upkeep of their enclosures and other general duties as required.