The day care centres we work with are focussed on providing support to the children of local communities just outside Cape Town. For many of these children, their family life is affected by poverty and a lack of parental guidance; the projects seek to provide a structure for young children to develop their educational and social skills from an early age.

By focussing on early childhood development and learning through play, the staff help the young children to develop a routine of education. This method of learning encourages the children to enjoy being in an educational environment and gives them a head start when they join schools.

Each child receives support from the staff at the centre and interaction with other children which creates a positive environment for them to learn and grow in.

Each day will differ but volunteer tasks may include assisting with:

• Reading to the children
• Supervising and interacting during play time
• Playing games
• Singing and dancing
• Music, singing, dancing and art activities
• Supervising rest / nap time
• Sports coaching
• Food preparation, feeding time and clearing
• Cleaning
• Admin
• Preparing for the next day’s lessons and activities

Working days and hours

Volunteers normally work 4 days per week, Monday to Thursday, with long weekends off. Volunteers start at 8am and finish at 2pm. On your days off there are a variety of free time activities for you to get involved in.

Other volunteers

There are usually 2-4 volunteers at each day care centre, but there may be up to 20 volunteers in total.

Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Child and vulnerable adult protection

Pod is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults - please see our Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy.

All volunteers are required to have a criminal records check, which we will arrange with you.

Volunteer reviews

Read about volunteer experiences and challenges in our South Africa Children’s Day Care reviews.

Why are volunteers needed?

As the day care centres are often short-staffed, volunteers are able to provide the one to one attention that the children would otherwise not receive. Volunteers also offer an extra pair of hands to the organisation’s staff by assisting with feeding, clothing and playing with the children.

The centres provide an environment where the children are safe, supported, well cared for, given nutritious meals and learning opportunities. Volunteers and local staff can act as positive role models for many children who may not have this at home.

South Africa

South Africa is situated at the southern tip of Africa and ranges from desert to sub-tropical. With dramatic landscapes, amazing wildlife and a rich and diverse culture and interesting history, South Africa has something for everyone. Popular activities in South Africa include:

• Spotting the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) on safari
• Travelling the Garden Route
• Visiting Cape Town and sampling some of the local wines

To find out more, see the Lonely Planet South Africa.

Local area and free time

The project is based in the town of Strand which is approximately 40 minutes from Cape Town. Strand is situated between the Cape wine lands and one of the Western Cape’s longest stretches of beach. It combines landscapes of imposing mountains and views of the Indian Ocean, so it’s a beautiful place to be!

Volunteers will live in Strand, which has beautiful long beaches and a promenade where volunteers often sit on the beachfront with an ice cream watching the world go by. The beach is great for surfing too and many volunteers will spend their afternoons sunbathing and catching waves.

You can use your long weekends to explore the Western Cape. Being so close to Cape Town means that you can take advantage of the sights and activities it has to offer such as Table Mountain, Robben Island, wine tasting and whale watching. The historic town of Stellenbosch is only 25 minutes away and has an array of cafes, pubs and wildlife attractions.

Accommodation

Volunteer apartments are fully furnished and have all modern conveniences. Bedrooms are shared with 1-2 other volunteers. Bathrooms are shared between volunteers.

Jessie

“This volunteer project of working at the day care center in Cape Town, South Africa was amazing. I loved the people I worked with and the kids were absolutely adorable. I gained a rapport with them all so quickly. I felt I was free to help when and where needed and at the same time was given direction on what was needed to be done. There was a good balance.

The second I walked in the door in the morning I was greeted with all the kids screaming, “hello” and when I was leaving and they were actually supposed to be in nap time, would all scream, “goodbye.” I would highly suggest anyone who wants to volunteer not only to do it but also to do it with this company POD. This was my second year volunteering for them and both times was perfect!”

Kathryn

“My experience working in South Africa was fantastic. I was slightly unsure about doing volunteering as I am slightly older than the average but would recommend it to anyone. I loved working at the crèche - the kids were so cheerful and welcoming. You felt you were really making a contribution. There was also plenty of opportunity to explore the area and make some memories.

Most rewarding was being asked to read one of the books I had brought to the kids. Just relax and enjoy it. Don’t worry about anything - you’ve got the support of a great company who can help you with anything. It is such a rewarding experience. You’ve feel so proud of yourself afterwards.”

Caroline

“The staff at the project were friendly and obviously enjoyed having the volunteers there as I was made to feel very welcome. The children were a delight-always friendly and so appreciative of anything that was done for them. It helps to give us a perspective about what is important in our lives whilst doing something that is immensely rewarding. I loved my stay at the project and would love to return.

The routine was very well structured which meant that we knew exactly what we had to do each day. We just helped the children with all the things that they did in the centre. Each day I helped with feeding, playing, schoolwork and anything else I could do to be useful. Most rewarding was the work with the children and their appreciation of all that was done for them.”

Lacey

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take part in such an amazing experience! I had a brilliant time! Seeing the children’s face light up when you walk in is something special that will stay with me forever! I’m 18 years old and was a bit wary about going to South Africa on my own! I can honestly say I had the most amazing time!

The sense of achievement the project brings, and the smile on the children’s face when they see you is something I can cherish for the rest of my life! It helped me to grow up and very much influenced my career path! The sense of achievement when the children come and hug you or when you teach them a new word and they remember it. Brilliant!”

Read more reviews

Before you go:

• Carefully selected and vetted volunteer project
• Support from our friendly and highly experienced Pod UK team
• Single point of contact - Iona is your dedicated Pod Volunteer Specialist
• In-depth volunteering and planning your trip guides
• Travel information - visa, health and safety advice
• Help arranging criminal record checks
• Access to specialist travel insurance at exclusive rates
• Recommended travel agency for flights and tours
• Access to special deals and resources
• Fundraising guide and support
• Financial protection for monies paid to Pod

On your placement:

• Child care volunteering placement
• Airport pick up (Cape Town) and return transfers
• Accommodation - a shared room
• Daily travel to the project site
• Induction
• Tour of Cape Town
• Support from local team
• Support from Pod UK office by phone and email
• 24/7 emergency back up
• Incident Management and Emergency Response Plans

On your return:

• Contact from your Pod Volunteer Specialist
• Feedback scheme
• Volunteering certificate (on request)
• References (on request)
• Member of the Pod community

Not included: Flights, travel insurance, visa (if required), criminal records check, food. Budgeting guidance is provided in our Volunteering Guide which we will email you when you apply.

Pod Volunteer is run as a non-profit organisation. Fee levels are set to match costs and any surplus monies are distributed to the projects we work with via the Pod Charity.