Education Program in South Africa

My time in Cape Town was one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences in my life. The city itself is one of the most captivating cities in the world - naturally scenic, a multicultural cosmopolitan vibe, the compelling history, and friendly people. We were never with a shortage of things to do, whether it was hiking Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, learning about apartheid (District 6, Robben Island), visiting a township, or just a good old-fashioned braai. I love learning about new cultures and history, and Cape Town was a perfect place to do that, while also being an accessible and comfortable city for the first-time traveler to Africa. I am so thankful to Love Volunteers and their local team for enabling my volunteering experience in Cape Town - the volunteer house was perfectly situated in Sea Point in a location that was safe and accessible to all the major sights in the city. As for my volunteer project, I did a combination of teaching sports development (Physical Education) and Grade 3 class at a primary school in Sea Point. During Physical Education sessions, I helped lead exercises and facilitate activities for the students in the swimming pool and on the field. In the classroom, I provided support to the teacher in assisting with student learning, grading tests, or with administrative tasks. I even acted as a substitute teacher on several occasions (only if the volunteer feels comfortable doing so). The students and staff at the school were so welcoming and appreciative for my help, and they made me feel right at home. Saying goodbye to them was the hardest part about leaving Cape Town. For those considering this program or having any doubts, or who don’t have any teaching experience, you won’t have any regrets doing this program. I’ve done volunteer trips before, and this one far exceeded my expectations. You will learn and grow so much from this experience, from Cape Town, from learning the city; and working with children will stretch you in ways you never knew before and teach you so much - about love, generosity, compassion, and about yourself!

My 6-month adventure in Cape Town, South Africa would not have been such an amazing experience without the help of the Love Volunteers and their local partners. Upon landing, after spending a day and a half in airports, there was someone there waiting to take me to the hostel. I was greeted by the hostel manager and a volunteer and was put at ease immediately by the fun atmosphere in the hostel. I am glad I spent the first portion of my stay in the hostel, because this gave me the opportunity to build friendships with other volunteers from around the world and people to explore beautiful Cape Town with. I also spent two months staying with a host family, which I can again thank Love Volunteers for making possible. They provided me with transportation to my new home, who welcomed me with open arms. My host family spent time making me and the other volunteers they had feel at home and included us in their family activities and celebrations. I also was very connected to my volunteer project while with my host family because I would spend a majority of my day there since I didn’t have as many sightseeing things to do during the week. I was with older children in the classroom who I immediately clicked with and we learned from each other. Overall, the experience I had in South Africa was more than I could have ever asked for, and I thank Love Volunteers and their local team for what they do to make this possible for other people. They organized the projects that I spent my days volunteering at, the tours I would spend some weekends on, and places for me to stay and see what it is like living in Cape Town. I highly recommend volunteering in Cape Town and I can’t wait to go back to see the friends I made!

My time in Cape Town was something I find difficult to put into words. It just seems impossible to compress my 5 weeks in South Africa into a mere paragraph or two. On a day to day basis, new and extraordinary experiences were waiting to change and shape me in ways I'd never anticipated. From befriending other volunteers in the volunteer House who were from all over the world, to working alongside the healthcare providers in the local clinic, to exploring the constant adventure that South Africa is, I think it can probably go without saying that there was never a dull moment. The Love Volunteers local team were absolutely incredible - definitely some of the most caring and insightful people I've had the opportunity to engage with. Life in the hostel with the other volunteers was always a blast because there were always other people to talk with about the volunteer projects or how their perspective on certain things may be different from your own. Not only that, but Cape Town is packed with some of the most breath taking beauty you'll ever see where you can hike Table Mountain, hit the surf at Muzienberg, or just lounge it up at Camp's Bay all in the same day. My volunteering experience in Cape Town will always be something that I carry with me in life because it truly changed the way I look at the world from a global perspective and how simply volunteering in your own community or across the world can have positive impacts that people wouldn't believe.