10 Volunteering Opportunities In South Africa
It’s a pretty common mistake to think of volunteering as just something nice that people can do. But truth is volunteering is about being selfless and giving back to society. Humans are interdependent and the little you do for someone could change their lives. The point is to create a chain reaction of people doing good for others without expecting anything in return whether be it through offering your time or through donating to a cause. Below is a list of organisations where you could volunteer and make a change in someone’s life.
AVIVA
Aviva is one of South Africa’s leading volunteer organisation, and regularly receives worldwide recognition for the service we provide to volunteers. AVIVA has been featured in international magazines and South African television series, as well as live TV and radio appearances.
As an established volunteering company based in Cape Town, AVIVA is committed to supporting sustainable community, wildlife and conservation volunteer projects while providing international volunteers with a life changing experience in South Africa.
http://www.aviva-sa.com/index.php
Volunteer Africa 32 South
Volunteer Africa 32 South has been operating since 2004. Since starting we have placed international volunteers into high need community and conservation initiatives and provided opportunity to make a real difference. THey provide volunteers and interns with inspiring and life-changing experiences, and at the same time helping them to deliver sustainable support to local South African communities and the environment.
http://www.volunteerafrica.co.za/
SAVE Foundation
SAVE Foundation is a registered, non-¬profit organisation (NPO) that assists communities in Africa. Their work involves setting up and facilitating sustainable community and conservation development projects in South Africa, Ghana and Kenya as well as assisting non-profit organisations that are actively involved in the local communities.
http://www.southafricavolunteerexperiences.org.za/
Volunteer Centre
Volunteer Centre is a non profit organization which is based in Cape Town, South Africa but has developed strong National and International Partnership over the past 32 years.
The Vision of the organization is “Helping Build a Nation that Cares” – and they believe that local and international volunteers can make a huge contribution in volunteering their time and skills in projects across all sectors – which include Children, the Aged, Environmental projects and many other interesting volunteering opportunities.
Each month the organization welcomes young student volunteers from various parts of the world or travel to South Africa as part of their global educational experience – to connect with local youth – to experience community based volunteering and a true intercultural experience.
Volunteering South Africa
Volunteer in South Africa offers a significant mix of Volunteer opportunities for Volunteers that are walking alongside God and want to make a meaningful impact in South Africa and Africa at large. To learn about volunteering in South Africa.
The aim with this volunteering project is quite simply, to give these children the opportunity to be just that – Children. To provide them with a safe little oasis of their own, where they can learn and play, where they are loved, cared for, have a ear that listens and a hand that assists when theirs cannot reach. But in order for us to help these children we need your help because without any ears to listen, the plea of these children will not be heard.
http://www.volunteeringsouthafrica.co.za/index.php
The South African Red Cross Society
The South African Red Cross Society is part of the world’s largest humanitarian Movement. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Movement is neutral and impartial, and provides protection and assistance to people affected by disasters and conflicts.
The Movement is made up of almost 97 million volunteers, supporters, and staff in 186 countries. It has three main components:
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• 186 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
As partners, the different members of the Movement support communities in becoming stronger and safer through a variety of development projects and humanitarian activities. The Movement also works in cooperation with governments, donors and other aid organizations to assist vulnerable people around the world. Thousands of our volunteers give their time and passion to help others every day. If you are looking for opportunities to give back to your community, learn and meet new people, have new experiences, or simply for professional development skills training, volunteering for the Red Cross is the right choice for you.
Orlando Children’s Home
Orlando Children’s Home was established in 1940 by the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society. It caters for children who have been abandoned by their parents. In 1977 the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society withdrew its support due to lack of funds. The community of Soweto took it over and prevented it from closing down. Presently the Home looks after 60 Children of ages ranging from a 3 month old baby to an eldest girl of 20 years. Orlando Children’s Home offers both curative and preventive services to deal with problems of abandonment, neglect and abuse of children. Children who get lost or are affected by crises in their families / communities also receive care and assistance from Orlando Children’s Home. The Home is registered to look after 60 children. The creché has 86 children.
http://www.och.co.za/frmHome.aspx
Door of Hope
In 1999 the pastor of Berea Baptist Church at the time, Cheryl Allen, and deacons learned with deep distress that a high number of newly born infants were being abandoned. At the time 40-50 babies were being dumped every month and left to die of starvation or exposure. Cheryl realized that many of those desperate women and girls may well have acted differently had there been an alternative.
The church made a hole in their wall and a ‘baby bin’ was installed allowing for mothers to leave their babies anytime day or night. The moment a baby is placed in the bin careworkers on duty receive an electronic signal alerting them. The baby is taken in and the anonymity of the donor ensured. News has spread and other babies have been brought personally by their mothers or have come through other means such as the police.
http://www.doorofhope.co.za/how-can-i-help/volunteering
The Wilderness Foundation
The Wilderness Foundation is one of few South African Conservation NGOs currently involved with active, sustainable social intervention programmes. Recognising that the protection and sustainability of South Africa’s unique wilderness areas and natural heritage is dependent on socio-political and economic conditions within society, the Wilderness Foundation takes a holistic approach to implementing its mandate for conservation.
Focusing on four main programme areas (Conservation; Social Intervention; Experiential Education and Advocacy & Awareness), the Foundation creates opportunities to encourage, plan and protect wild lands and wilderness, uplift the knowledge and lives of citizens and stimulate an environmental ethos among current and future leaders.
http://www.wildernessfoundation.co.za/
Nkosi’s Haven
Inspired by Nkosi Johnson, Nkosi’s Haven received a grant from the Gauteng Department of Housing, Social Housing, and Special Needs which allowed us to purchase and begin development of Nkosi’s Haven Village. Situated on a 2.5 acre plot of land just south of Johannesburg in the Alan Manor neighbourhood and currently accommodating 22 mothers and 121 children, of which roughly half are orphaned.
