Trip Details

Kindergarten Volunteer Cape Town

If a hearty giggle from a tiny human warms your heart, then consider becoming a Kindergarten Volunteer in Cape Town! Here, you will be supporting local staff to improve children’s learning and development, and, well …generally having a lot of fun! Volunteering with children can be hard work; however, this is an incredible opportunity to improve your childcare skills, whilst doing something really worthwhile for the Cape Town community!

Bring a little Fun and Learning to Cape Town’s Children!

As a Kindergarten Volunteer, you will play an important role in assisting the teachers to improve the language, motor and social skills of children from 0-5 years old. Consequently, you’ll have to be adept at engaging them in activities suited to their age and ability, so your creative skills will be very much in demand!  There are just over 120 children attending the school who are from various socio-economic backgrounds, and in fact, most of the children are from underprivileged families. And, with so many children and insufficient staffing, that’s why an extra pair of hands (and eyes!) will be so valued here!

Trekking, Shopping, Wildlife spotting – so much to do in Cape Town!

Cape Town has a wealth of natural landmarks and sight-seeing expeditions for its visitors. Firstly, animal lovers will find plenty to do with penguin colonies, aquaria and nature reserves to choose from. However, if you’re more an explorer, you’ll have Chapman’s Peak and Table Mountain to conquer – thereafter, perhaps, taking a walk around the city, exploring remnants of its Dutch past. Of course, we know you won’t want an adventure every day, so your accommodation offers communal areas, BBQs at the weekends, and a swimming pool to relax in with your new-found friends.

Why be a Kindergarten Volunteer in Cape Town?

  • Make a difference in the lives of underprivileged kids in Cape Town
  • Improve your childcare skills and gain experience for the future
  • Explore Cape Town’s cities, mountains and nature reserves
  • Stay in safe and comfortable accommodation, with wifi included
  • Make new friends of fellow volunteers and plan weekend adventures
  • Enjoy great food, with all meals and beverages* included in the programme

*tea, coffee and drinking water

Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

You’ll arrive on Sunday, and have a day to relax and settle into your new surroundings; naturally, we want you to be fresh for your first day! Time zones are not too much of an issue here, as there’s only a 2 hour difference between the UK and Cape Town.

Weekly Schedule

On the first day of your volunteering placement, you will meet the local staff you’ll be working with and get a little introduction to the kindergarten and how it works. Thereafter, you will start with your regular volunteering day.

The working hours will be based on the shift you are assigned. There are 3 shifts each day which is rotated on a weekly basis

  • 07:00pm – 16:00pm
  • 07:30pm – 16:30pm
  • 08:00pm – 17:00pm

Tea break is from 09:45am – 10:00am and your lunch break will be from 13:00pm – 14:00pm

Whilst there will be some regular activities, much of your day will be spent just ‘going with the flow’. These are little ones, after all! In general, your duties will be:

  • Assisting children with eating
  • Helping them with teeth-brushing, hair etc.
  • Assistance with events (Baking, fundraising etc.)
  • Supporting the local teachers in the classroom (lessons etc.)
  • Creating teaching materials, posters etc.
  • Playing games with the children (indoors & on the playground)

As someone who loves children, you will have a natural ability to engage with these little ones, and support them throughout the day, with plenty of fun and giggles as you go!

Evenings and Weekends

After a day of hyped-up children (!), you can choose to explore the area or simply relax with your new-found friends back at your accommodation. Many of our volunteers enjoy mixing with their new volunteer friends during the week and plan their weekend adventures as they go!

Places to Visit

Cape Town, the famous port city of South Africa, lies at the foot of Table Mountain. Even though a small city, Cape Town boasts of dynamic culture and nature. Here are some of our top must-sees!

  • Table Mountains by arial Cable Car
  • Drive to Chapman’s Peak
  • Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
  • Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
  • Cape Point Nature Reserve

Please note:
Cost of transport to project locations is not included, but will usually be around £1.50 per day. Additional excursions to sightseeing areas must be arranged separately and are not included in the programme.

This schedule can be changed depending on weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Trip Accommodation

Cape Town, the famous port city of South Africa, lies at the foot of Table Mountain and boasts a wealth of culture and natural landmarks. There is so much to do here when your day of volunteering is done, such as hiking, shopping, and checking out the fantastic aquariums – or even a penguin colony! It’s all there for your discover after your day of volunteering is done!

About the Accommodation

You’ll have a really comfortable stay at our Volunteer Centre! The accommodation comprises male/female dorm rooms with shared bathrooms, a communal living room and dining room.

In addition, there’s also a BBQ area and a swimming pool – perfect for relaxing and socialising with your new friends. And don’t worry about needing help – there are staff on-site 7 days a week to help you. Wifi is available in communal areas of the volunteer house so you can catch up with friends and family – if you get the time!

Food 

You’ll have two mini-kitchens to cook in should the mood take you, and there’s plenty of storage for your own food. However, all meals are provided at the accommodation, prepared by our super cook! Meals – typically western, are served 3 times a day Monday to Friday, with breakfast consisting of tea, coffee, toast, fruit, and cereal. Lunch can range from sandwiches taken along to the volunteer project, to salad and Pasta. Finally, your evening meal will likely include potato, pasta, rice, meat and vegetables. Our volunteers love braai nights (BBQ) at the weekends, when they prepare and cook their own food together in the sunshine!

Facilities

You’ll find a few small local stores that sell snacks, drinks, and any basic supplies you might need during your stay. ATM’s, banks, shops, and a local pharmacy are all nearby.

As mentioned, the volunteer accommodation has Wi-Fi in communal areas. However, if you would like to stay connected with your families and friends whilst in South Africa. we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone if you are staying for a longer period of time. Thereafter, the local team will help you to buy a local SIM card.

Transportation

Transportation is available to all surrounding areas. However, transport costs are not included in the programme and extra provision must be made for your excursions.

 

 

 

Trip Country Info

South Africa

Population: 55 million
Capital: Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial), Pretoria (executive)
Language: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Northern Sotho, Venda, Tsonga, Swati, Ndebele
Currency: South African Rand
Time zone: UTC +2

South Africa is a vast country with an incredible variety in landscapes, people, traditions, languages, cuisines and more. The country is often referred to as the “Rainbow Nation” due to its population diversity. The country is also renowned for its wines, so make sure not to miss these while you are here!

While big cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg can look quite first worldly, most of the country has remained underdeveloped. This is a perfect example of the economic inequality that exists in the country.

South Africa is an ideal destination for those interested in nature and it is incredibly varied in terms of landscapes. The country boasts a large number of National Parks such as Kruger, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which is located in the desert, Addo Elephant National Park, Simangaliso Wetland Park and many more. It is also a great place to spot the “Big Five” (African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and White/Black rhinoceros) as well as a wide range of other species.

All in all, South Africa is an ideal place to start if you wish to travel in southern Africa and get a good insight into the region.

South Africa is situated at the southern tip of Africa and has a landmass of 1 233 404 km² edged on 3 sides by a nearly 3000km coastline washed by the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic. It is bordered in the north by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and also wraps itself around two independent countries, the Lesotho and Swaziland.
Natural beauty abounds with beautiful beaches, dramatic mountains, lush forest belts and of course the famed Table Mountain. South Africa also boasts no less than 20 National Parks with the opportunity to see lion, leopard, rhino and elephants, to name but a few!  We have a selection of gap year adventures in South Africa including work at wildlife sanctuaries, work and travel in local South African communities, development projects and much more.  If you are interested in volunteering in South Africa please get in touch or read on for our latest experiences.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

DBS, Criminal Background Check
Travel Insurance
Under 18, Parental Consent

Additional Requirements

Recommended Vaccinations
Team Player
Open Mind

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Airport drop off
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa