Improve children’s literacy, basic English and numeracy in a township school just outside Cape Town

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Help educate youth in the surrounding townships of Cape Town, an unbeatable city that offers adventure and charm, in subjects such as basic literacy and numeracy.

Due to overcrowding, you may likely assist local teachers with classes of up to 50 students! In doing this, you can help ensure that all children receive guided support and attention throughout their lessons. By participating long-term you will observe how your presence promises continuous and reliable aid to improve students’ development.

The school year offers a few scheduled holidays when you can explore the surrounding areas such as Stellenbosch for wine tasting tours, Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Garden Route and Kruger National Park.

Life on the Program

Your initial orientation will include sessions on South African culture, life in a township, successful lesson-planning, caring for young children, insight into curriculum structure and basic local language lessons.

Each day you will work with excited and eager students to improve their basic numeracy and literacy. School hours are from approximately 9:00am to 4:00pm, although once you return to your accommodation you may take more time to prepare for the following day’s lessons.

The work week runs from Monday – Friday providing the weekends for exploration. School holidays will also provide you with longer periods to travel around South Africa. If volunteers wish to take further time off, they must coordinate with the Project Manager.

Program Details

Each day you will assist local teachers with their curriculum while teaching a range of subjects to the children, mainly focusing on literacy and numeracy. This will allow the teacher the opportunity to pay close attention to their students and even provide one-on-one support with those who need it. Volunteers will also be asked to lead groups of students in reviewing and revising their work throughout the year.

You will meet weekly with your assigned teacher to discuss the students’ progress, and go over any additional material they aim to cover. Once classes end each afternoon, you will work on your lesson planning, participate in homework workshops or create progress reports.

Volunteer Testimonials

Gemma Edwards, United Kingdom

The school has been very rewarding and I have learnt so much by being here. The children are amazing and so eager to learn without complaint. I don’t feel I would have gained so much if it wasn’t for the opportunity GVI gave me to work in the school and help children through their exams. I feel I have got so much working with GVI, I feel I have made a difference to children’s lives and learnt a lot about myself in the process. I have met so many amazing people here from all around the world.

Sarah Parkes, Australia

South Africa is a vibrant community of extremely resilient people who have welcomed us into their world. They really value education so they stand up proudly when I collect them from the classroom. I have so much admiration for them, they have hard lives out of school, and little fuel in the tank, but they come in with so much energy and enthusiasm. I have seen their English literacy improve so much. Two of the students have just finished reading their first book. It’s incredibly rewarding to know I will have helped them pass grade 6 and hopefully continue their education.