What to expect when you’re…expecting
by CJ ROPER, DIRECTOR, AFRICAN SUNRISE VOLUNTEERING
So, you’ve decided to volunteer or do your internship in South Africa. Considering the media, you are probably expecting something completely different to what your experience will actually be like. Let’s give you a small rundown on what to expect when you book your place with us.
South Africa in general does not have the best reputation. The media have always labelled our country as one with the most crime, the most poverty, the most dangerous. So it is completely understandable that you may be a little scared. Cape Town itself is not a war-zone. We have crime, just like any other country. But rest assured, you will not be thrown into the middle of a crime-infested, unsafe city. Safety precautions are the same as anywhere else – just watch your belongings, like your cellphone, etc.
When you arrive at the airport, we’ll be there to pick you up. You’ll usually find us holding your name on a sign (most times next to a long row of Emirates staff). From there, we’ll take you to your home for the duration of your stay – all of the accommodation is in a suburb called Observatory. It is fill of students, artists, lovely coffee shops, book stores, restaurants and a few bars. Your house will have other people in it, and we’ve found that these people soon become your best friends, and the friendships last well beyond your stay. There is wifi (although it is much slower than most other countries I would say), running water, electricity, and most of the things you are used to having at home.
The transport is a bit different over here. The busses run mainly in the city centre, and not really in the Observatory area, so if you are going out at night, an Uber or a taxi service is the cheapest way to go. You will also get to experience the ‘mini-busses’. These are unique to most African countries, and are very well-known in South Africa. You just put your arm up at any point on the side of the road, and they will stop for you. You’ll generally be squeezed inbetween people, and the music will be pumping – one volunteer described it as a mobile disco. You can ask the ‘gaatjie’ (man who you will pay your fare to), to stop anywhere on the route. It is very cheap, about R7 for a trip. It is also a very unique experience!
Our staff will take you on an introduction day, so you get to see a lot of Cape Town and its diversity – it is a city full of culture! We also go with you on your first day at your new project – where you will have a mentor ,and other staff around you so that you feel welcome, and you will always be safe.
When you expect things from your internship or volunteering experience, you will generally find that everything will be completely different. It will be life-changing. The people you will meet, the friends you will make, the opportunities you will have to make a real different to another human being, are hard to describe. There will be things that might make you cry, and children that will definitely make you laugh. The poverty is heart-breaking, but helping people in need will make you a better, stronger person, and it will make the world of difference to them.
Come over with an open mind, a heart that is willing to give and receive love, and a spirit for adventure.
So, you’ve decided to volunteer or do your internship in South Africa. Considering the media, you are probably expecting something completely different to what your experience will actually be like. Let’s give you a small rundown on what to expect when you book your place with us.
South Africa in general does not have the best reputation. The media have always labelled our country as one with the most crime, the most poverty, the most dangerous. So it is completely understandable that you may be a little scared. Cape Town itself is not a war-zone. We have crime, just like any other country. But rest assured, you will not be thrown into the middle of a crime-infested, unsafe city. Safety precautions are the same as anywhere else – just watch your belongings, like your cellphone, etc.
When you arrive at the airport, we’ll be there to pick you up. You’ll usually find us holding your name on a sign (most times next to a long row of Emirates staff). From there, we’ll take you to your home for the duration of your stay – all of the accommodation is in a suburb called Observatory. It is fill of students, artists, lovely coffee shops, book stores, restaurants and a few bars. Your house will have other people in it, and we’ve found that these people soon become your best friends, and the friendships last well beyond your stay. There is wifi (although it is much slower than most other countries I would say), running water, electricity, and most of the things you are used to having at home.
The transport is a bit different over here. The busses run mainly in the city centre, and not really in the Observatory area, so if you are going out at night, an Uber or a taxi service is the cheapest way to go. You will also get to experience the ‘mini-busses’. These are unique to most African countries, and are very well-known in South Africa. You just put your arm up at any point on the side of the road, and they will stop for you. You’ll generally be squeezed inbetween people, and the music will be pumping – one volunteer described it as a mobile disco. You can ask the ‘gaatjie’ (man who you will pay your fare to), to stop anywhere on the route. It is very cheap, about R7 for a trip. It is also a very unique experience!
Our staff will take you on an introduction day, so you get to see a lot of Cape Town and its diversity – it is a city full of culture! We also go with you on your first day at your new project – where you will have a mentor ,and other staff around you so that you feel welcome, and you will always be safe.
When you expect things from your internship or volunteering experience, you will generally find that everything will be completely different. It will be life-changing. The people you will meet, the friends you will make, the opportunities you will have to make a real different to another human being, are hard to describe. There will be things that might make you cry, and children that will definitely make you laugh. The poverty is heart-breaking, but helping people in need will make you a better, stronger person, and it will make the world of difference to them.
Come over with an open mind, a heart that is willing to give and receive love, and a spirit for adventure.
