Volunteering

Volunteering in South Africa with African Sunrise is an experience you will never forget.

All our projects are hands-on, and you will get to work with children, teenagers, adults or the elderly, depending on your interests. Every African Sunrise volunteer makes a real contribution towards a more equal society, and you will be part of building a better future for Cape Town's most vulnerable people by volunteering with our team.

Minimum volunteering period - One month
Requirements - CV, Motivational Letter and Police Clearance

1 Months

Volunteering

R

24 500

 

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Accommodation
  • Airport Transfer
  • Project Placement
  • Mentor at project
  • Introduction day in Cape Town
  • Donation to Project
  • Registered sim card to use in SA
  • 24/7 contact person at African Sunrise
  • Help wth Visa questions and papers if needed

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

  • Visa Costs
  • Flight
  • Travel Insurance
  • Daily transport costs to project
  • Food
  • If staying with a host family, food will be included
  • Loading of internet data bundles

3 Months

Volunteering

R

43 500

 

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Accommodation
  • Airport Transfer
  • Project Placement
  • Mentor at project
  • Introduction day in Cape Town
  • Donation to Project
  • Registered sim card to use in SA
  • 24/7 contact person at African Sunrise
  • Help wth Visa questions and papers if needed

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

  • Visa Costs
  • Flight
  • Travel Insurance
  • Daily transport costs to project
  • Food
  • If staying with a host family, food will be included
  • Loading of internet data bundles

2 Months

Volunteering

R

35 500

 

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Accommodation
  • Airport Transfer
  • Project Placement
  • Mentor at project
  • Introduction day in Cape Town
  • Donation to Project
  • Registered sim card to use in SA
  • 24/7 contact person at African Sunrise
  • Help wth Visa questions and papers if needed

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

  • Visa Costs
  • Flight
  • Travel Insurance
  • Daily transport costs to project
  • Food
  • If staying with a host family, food will be included
  • Loading of internet data bundles

Projects to choose from

Penguin Conservation Project

Work with penguins as a Volunteer, or even as an Internship (veterinary students)
The Penguin centre relies on the assistance of local volunteers,  interns and international volunteers in order to look after all the birds in their care and assist with the daily tasks around the centre. 
The main international programme is a 6-week volunteer programme.
There is also internships in the Chick rearing department, Penguin Nursery and Seabird rehabilitation area. 
The programmes involve working 5 days a week, weekend work included, due to the training involved and capacity needs. 
For those interested in the veterinary side of things, there is a unique experience to shadow and assist the vet team for a week or two at the centre.

Accommodation is provided near the Penguin Sanctuary, based in Table View, Cape Town. 


 

Home/Shelter for Teenage Girls

Home/shelter for teenage girls - an innovative center for young women from the Cape Metropole. It houses up to 25 girls ages 13-18 who are protected under the Child Care Act.
It aims to create an environment that allows girls to connect with the essence of womanhood, to develop strength, and to grow and flourish. Focused on developing responsible, strong, and inspired women, It is a place for girls to overcome adversity and to tap into their richest potential, all within a supportive and nurturing environment.

Marine Conservation Shark Project

This programme includes your accommodation at the Volunteer House by the sea. 
Transport to all program activities, which include training, sea experience, multiple cage diving drips, snorkelling sessions, and your clothing. 
Intake is the 1st and 15th of each months and includes airport pickup and visa assistance if needed. 

Health Outreach Project

The mission of this organisation is to practise and promote responsible citizenship in South Africa by enrolling student volunteers in health, education and social entrepreneurship initiatives in under-served communities across the Cape Flats, from Kensington to Khayelitsha. We create a supportive space for experiential learning and teaching, and address inequality through innovative and sustainable approaches to community engagement. Volunteers get to be out in the field and work with community members directly. There is transport from the University of Cape Town to the various education projects and health clinics in disadvantaged communities.

This project is perfect for Doctors, Nurses and students studying Healthcare. 
 

Projects for Street Children

These projects aim to provide a comprehensive level of assistance and care for street children in Cape Town. Many street children try their best to survive by working or begging, with many becoming vulnerable to criminal elements and abuse.

The projects we work with have a set of criteria to help create a meaningful response to the phenomena of street children, by employing several effective programmes, which include: Early Intervention and Protection, Street Outreach, in addition to drop-in centre and shelter provisions for the street children.

At these projects, the children are taught to read and write, arts and crafts, sports and recreation and a lot more. There are further opportunities to undertake fundraising events, organise programmes and activities.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care and community development.

Special Care Centre

This Special Care Centre works with profoundly intellectually and physically disabled children and young adults. This project provides twenty-four-hour nursing care as well as therapeutic care to improve the resident's quality of life and prevent further illnesses and infections. This level of specialised care is often beyond the capabilities within their family units. 

In conjunction with the specialist medical treatment each child receives, their families are encouraged to interact with the Care Centre who can refer them to counselling and related organisations.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care, specialist learning development and healthcare.

Organisation for cultural, social and economic integration of migrants, refugees and South Africans into local society

Perceiving migration as an opportunity, this project is committed to alleviating poverty and promoting development in the Western Cape while fostering integration between migrants, refugees and South Africans. In providing assistance, they advocate respect for human rights and use a holistic approach that considers all basic needs.

This Project focuses on six main areas: Advocacy, English School, Employment Access, Unite, Welfare and Women's Platform.

This organisation aims to challenge and dismantle the stigma of migration and asylum while ensuring that avenues of dialogue and participation of all South African are encouraged and welcomed. Through cooperative ventures, group discussions, workshops and skills training, the integration for migrants and refugees can create a positive impact for the Western Cape Province.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care, migrant integration and community development.

School for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This School uses a combination of one-on-one sessions and group teaching. Structured teaching (TEACCH), Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), Augmentative Communication Methods and South African Sign Language are used to help learners. A safe space is provided where routine, scheduling and life skills are taught to help the learners fit into everyday society.

The school looks at varied approaches and keeps up to date on the latest research with regards to teaching learners with Autism.

Moreover, this schools have a range of different approaches and keeps up to date with the latest research in the field of teaching learners with Autism. Furthermore, the children can learn and interact in a safe and welcoming environment. This is an excellent opportunity for Psychology, Social Work and Teaching students, as well as volunteers wanting to help with daily activities.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care, specialist learning development and healthcare.

Home of Safety for Boys from Vulnerable Backgrounds

This project focuses on boys of all ages, including teenagers, from vulnerable backgrounds. They live in the Home of Safety for various reasons, including an unsafe home environment and abuse. 

Every child or teenager is there from a referral by a social worker or workers and placed at the Home by order of a children's court. The boys are often removed from homes and environments where violence and substance abuse were commonplace. Many, if not all the children have suffered from physical, verbal, emotional or sexual abuse.

The role of the Home is to give the boys a structured daily and weekly schedule, with an emphasis on education, completing homework, as well as groups sessions, sports activities and valuable play time. As a volunteer, you will assist with homework, group sessions, sports activities and valuable play time. Outings and fun days will also be part of your volunteering duties which are also a welcome break for the boys.

The Home is a full-time facility, and the boys live onsite. Everyone has regular sessions with a qualified social worker, who may also work with the child's family for family reintegration purposes.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care and community development.

Children’s Hospital Programme

This Children's Hospital works with babies and children of all ages, most who have severe or terminal illnesses. The Hospital takes in any child that needs specialist care, ranging from full-time hospital admittance to working with families who tend for their little ones at home.

In addition to the attention to detail and busy patient schedules, the staff also do as much as they can to provide love and comfort for these brave children. Anyone who works at this Hospital will help nurses, medical staff and other team members with their duties. But most importantly – they'll spend time with the children by playing games and bringing joy to their lives.

There is also a strong aspect of working with the children's families, as they undergo incredible amounts of stress and need comfort and support.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care and healthcare.

Home of Safety for Children from Vulnerable Backgrounds

This Home of Safety is for infants, children and adolescents, both male and female. Every infant, child or teenager is there from a referral by a social worker or workers and placed at the Home by order of a children's court.

The children are often removed from homes and environments where violence and substance abuse were commonplace. Many, if not all the children have suffered from physical, verbal, emotional or sexual abuse.

The Home is a full-time facility, and the children live onsite. They have a set daily schedule which includes education, sports and other activities. Everyone has regular sessions with a qualified social worker, who may also work with the child's family for reintegration purposes.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care and community development.

Homeless Shelters for Men and Women

African Sunrise partners with a group of Homeless Shelters situated in Cape Town. Each organisation provides temporary shelter, seven days a week. While using their facilities, each person can access related services, such as physical care, social welfare, and family reunification services.

There are also spaces for those that have been in alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres and are working a programme. Additionally, the advice is available for anyone who is struggling with substance abuse issues and would like referrals to various AA and NA meetings in the area.

Every Shelter serves hot meals and beverages. There are opportunities to undertake skills training and to attend various empowerment-based workshops. A qualified social worker visits every Shelter weekly and offers one-on-one counselling sessions, which includes an updated casefile for each participant.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care, addiction treatment, and community development.

Homeless Outreach Programme

Breaking Bread Community Development works with homeless people in the suburbs of Salt River and Observatory. They run a Feeding Programme from Monday to Thursday, serving two meals a day – typically breakfast and dinner. On Friday, they host a mobile soup kitchen in Observatory called Soup Sessions. It's a chance for local people to drop by and get to know some of the homeless people in their community.  They also encourage any local musicians or performers to join them.

Breaking Bread also assists the local children with an Afterschool Programme to help with their homework. And during the school holidays, there is also a Holiday Programme that involves taking the children out on educational, community-based and leisure activities.

Volunteers can run workshops and arrange the Holiday Programme schedules.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in community development.

Shelter for Abused Women and Children

This Home is for abused women and their children, where they provide shelter and other ongoing support to assist when leaving an abusive environment.

In addition to this, the Home provides workshops, childcare, training programmes, group therapy and counselling. The women are also empowered and undergo personal growth through their intimate involvement in the actual running of the homes.

The women and children are victims of various kinds of abuse and traumas. It ranges from emotional, physical abuse to sexual and psychological abuse. The effect this has on their children can result in learning and behavioural problems such as difficulties to concentrate and participate in group work, stubbornness, aggression, as well as inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Through monitored sessions and counselling, both the women and children that use this Home will be able to work through their past trauma so that they can live a life free from abuse. The women are encouraged to use this safe space to learn new skills which will empower them to take control of their own destiny, and that of their children.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care and community development.

Home for Babies and Children up to 5 years old

This Home of Safety provides full-time care for up to forty-nine babies and children, from birth to five years of age. Every infant or child is there from a referral by a social worker or workers and placed at the Home by order of a children's court.

The infants and children are either neglected, abandoned, abused or orphaned. Every baby or child that needs their care are accepted, regardless of their HIV status, ill-health, race or gender.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care.

Home for abused women and children

This organisation is a one-stop centre for women and children who are survivors of abuse. Their vision is the creation of a safe and secure society in addition to a human rights culture where women and children are empowered to exercise their full rights.

The organisation has a substance abuse unit where they focus on prevention and treatment; not only women in the facility but women and children from the surrounding areas too. Volunteers are needed to assist in this process, and to join the staff in visiting the surrounding areas to work with addicts – women as well as young children and teenagers – who have become addicted to substances.

A great opportunity to really get involved and work within a community, at the Home.

An ideal opportunity for volunteers with interests in social care, addiction treatment, and community development.

Volunteer in South Africa