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Volunteer Opportunities Africa

Volunteer Opportunities Africa

There is a great need in Cape Town to assist the many children at risk. The Girls Home is one of the organisations that responded to this call. It has a rich legacy that dates back more then 100 years to 1862 when the first children were taken in. The Girls Home is a registered Children’s Home with the Department of Social Development. It provides a place of safety for girls who have been abused, abandoned, neglected and orphaned. This home strives to provide a secure and loving home environment, specialised care and education. Caregivers empower the girls to give them the necessary skills and knowledge to become confident individuals. The home can care for up to 40 girls between the ages of 5 and 18. The majority of the girls at the home are in their teens.

The Girls Home as part of Volunteer Opportunites in Africa

As part of Volunteer Opportunites in Africa, Volunteers Direct allows volunteers to assist the girls with their homework or projects in the afternoons. Not many of the girls are involved with extra mural activities at school and appreciate activities organised at the home like dance sessions and singing. You can also help to expose the girls to the wider world with your knowledge and skill. During the school holidays many of the girls go home to their families but volunteers often take the remaining girls, on excursions.
Volunteer Opportunities Africa

Project Code
GHCT

Age of girls
 Between 8 and 18

Minimum age of volunteer
18

Minimum commitment period
The minimum period is 6 weeks. The average stay is 3 months or longer.

What will I be doing?
During the term you will be spending time with the girls in the afternoon when they get home from school. You will assist them with their homework and projects, introduce fun activities such as dancing and singing and act as a role model and an inspiration.

How much time per week?
Monday to Friday from 2pm to 6pm during the school term. Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm during the school holidays.

School term calendar
This project runs throughout the year from mid-January until early December. Please note that many of the girls go home to their families during the midterm school holidays.

  • 15 January to 10 December 2010
  • 21 January to 9 December 2011
  • 20 January to 7 December 2012

Volunteer requirements
There are no special skills or qualifications needed for this project but volunteers must be:

  • Motivated to help young girls
  • Be patient and understanding
  • Be good role models
  • Be flexible
  • Be open to new cultures and a different approach to life
  • Get along with a wide variety of people from all over the world
  • Have a good sense of humour

For information on this and other Volunteer Opportunities Africa please contact us.

Volunteer in Africa