Volunteering
Want to do more for African children? Take the opportunity to volunteer your time and talents to help others in need.
Africa Dreams in conjunction with Starling Village Backpackers is in need of volunteers to be placed in various placements.
The after school program runs from Monday to Friday between 15:00 till 18:00 and is situated in one of the informal settlements Qolweni in Plettenberg bay. Africa Dreams introduced an after-school homework and tutoring program in a neighbourhood where literacy is 24% and the average child drops out of school at age of 12 years.
In addition, you may get involved in the feeding programme, hospital/townships visits and outreaches.
Another placement will give you the change to work in a pre-school providing extraordinary opportunity for significantly disadvantaged township children.
Africa Dreams in conjunction with Starling Village Backpackers’ underpinning philosophy revolves around the belief that the most effective way to drive positive change in South Africa, is to ensure children receive a good quality and continuous education in Africa, from pre-school to matriculation.
Plettenberg Bay is a beautiful town located on the southern coast. Plett is a popular tourist area offering the most beautiful hiking trails, elephant sanctuaries, safaris, whale and shark sea safaris, game reserves, beautiful beaches, Skydiving, highest bungy in the world, sea kayaking and traditional and market shopping.
All volunteers will be living at Starling Village Backpackers situated on the wild side of Plettenberg bay a mere 20min walk from the ocean and all its beautiful surroundings. Prices at the Backpackers has been adopted to make it affordable to volunteers who would like to make a difference in the community.
Africa Dreams’ Volunteer Opportunity
Africa Dreams volunteers have the opportunity to work within the township, with Mechelle, and provide after school support.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to work closely with the children in a supported environment.
We accept volunteers in various areas of service:
- Place of Hope Africa:
Caring for orphans, and vulnerable children ages 0-6 years old, sharing love - Africa Dream kids Program:
After school activities, sports, home work, arts, music classes, choir, dance - Kids Camps and Outings:
Monkey Land, Elephant Park, Safari, Hiking, Beach, and Vacation Bible School - Feeding Programs:
Two locations offer a soup kitchen to feed poor and needy children one meal per day
Mission Groups are welcomed. Contact us to schedule a visit with your church group or organisation.
Volunteer Profile
A minimum age of 18 applies for all Africa Dreams placements. Volunteers must have excellent English language skills and the desire to work with children aged 0 – 15 years. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum placement of 2 weeks on the Africa Dreams project to ensure a sense of security for the children.
Orientation:
Orientation is designed to provide a fun and insightful experience to introduce our organisation, projects and beautiful & diverse country to volunteers. It provides time for them to settle into their new, and at times challenging, environment as well as allowing them to develop their working relationship with the co-ordinating team and other volunteers, understand our support structures and become familiar with the workings of Africa Dreams. It includes a 2 Day Plettenberg Bay Tour before being placed into the project for a specific orientation.
- Topics and activities covered in orientation & on tour.
- Socio-political & historical developments of South Africa.
- Culture & traditions of the Xhosa people.
Project specific orientation:
- Project overview by facilitating team
- Lesson preparation and delivery unravelled
- Introduction to schemes of work/ lesson plans and structure
- Visit to the crèche
2011 Rates
- 2 Weeks: 840.00 ZAR
- 4 Weeks: 1680.00 ZAR
- Additional weeks: 60.00 ZAR per person per day
- All rates quoted in South African Rand and are for dormitory style accommodation please enquire for private accommodation rates.
For more information, please contact us at Starling Village Backpackers!
Please consider any way you can help by donations. Anything you can do to make a difference in the life of a child will be a blessing! Thank you for your urgent attention and support. Here is the link for donations
