Cape Town

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Volunteer Work in Cape Town

Our volunteer placements in South Africa are all with community-based organizations and public service institutions, dedicated to improving the lives of Cape Town's residents. CCS volunteers help provide services in:

• Caregiving : There is a lack of qualified caregivers at day centers and daycares, leaving some organizations with up to 60 children and only a few women to care for them. Volunteers provide the one-on-one attention and care that children would not otherwise receive, helping to create a more stimulating environment. Volunteers also assist children with special needs who have been abandoned because their families could not care for them.
• Teaching : Many schools located in the townships do not have sufficient resources. Often, the ratio of teacher to learner can be as much as 1 to 60. Volunteers support the teachers in local schools and community centers, helping students with their homework, teaching English, assisting in computer labs, and planning recreational activities.
• Healthcare : Volunteers can provide support to local health professionals in non-hospital settings including hospice care, health clinics, and other centers focused on rehabilitative therapy. In most placements, volunteers will be working with people affected by HIV/AIDS, providing companionship, childcare, and support services. Volunteers can also assist with physical and occupational therapy or provide one-on-one attention to adults and children living with physical and mental disabilities.
• Community Development : Volunteers share their professional skills and experience and can work with women’s groups in Cape Town. Many women are affected by domestic violence, and others are looking for income-generating opportunities to help provide for their families. Volunteers work in local shelters and organizations that provide a safe and supportive place for the women. Volunteers offer companionship, help with household duties, and provide child care so that the women can focus on gaining new life skills and training.

Volunteer Abroad and Intern Abroad programs are offered in Cape Town. Placements are always designed to match your skills and interests to the needs identified by the community.

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Cultural & Learning Activities in Cape Town

Cultural & Learning Activities in Cape Town include bi-weekly language classes in isiXhosa and Afrikaans, insightful discussions with guest speakers on topics such as the history, origins, and legacy of apartheid, the liberation struggle, stories and heroes from the recent apartheid era, and HIV/AIDS and other social challenges within South Africa. Guest speakers are community leaders, including local non-governmental organization experts. City excursions are also offered and may include a guided walk through the historical part of the city, a visit to the townships, and tours of the Cape Castle, local art exhibits, and museums.

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Free Time in Cape Town

During your free time, you may want to explore the historical area of Cape Town. You can also visit nearby beaches and enjoy the restaurants and entertainment by the waterfront. There is also time to visit Cape Point & Cape Peninsula, Africa's Southern tip, see nearby Cape Wine lands, or tour the many galleries and museums in this fascinating international city. You may also want to visit Robben island, where Nelson Mandela and others were imprisoned during apartheid. If you are interested in seeing other areas of South Africa in your free time, such as Johannesburg, Durban, or the nearby Cape Overberg, Cape Town is a hub for travel to all parts of the country.

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Home-Base in Cape Town

The Home-Base in Cape Town, South Africa includes a common room, kitchen, and dining area. Located in a residential neighborhood named Rosebank, the house is within walking distance from the train station and close to the University of Cape Town suburb—Rondebosch. The city center, museums, shops, markets, internet cafes, and all that Cape Town has to offer is in close proximity and a short drive or train journey away.

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In-Country Staff in Cape Town

Local CCS staff in Cape Town will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home, and help you better understand South African culture and history. They will help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to answer any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate—they provide a local perspective, help you learn the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our staff in Cape Town below.

Country Director: Luann Mabakoena Hatane
Luann received a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Cape Town. She has 15 years experience working on civil society strengthening, policy development, and community mobilization. She was HIV/AIDS Coordinator with responsibility for the management of all HIV/AIDS initiatives for CARE in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland. Luann also served as Executive Director of the Western Cape Networking AIDS Community of South Africa and was the Project Coordinator with Cape Town’s Salesian Institute supervising the management, assessment, and residential care of 30 street youths. She is trained as a social worker.

House Manager: Francis Chamarengah
Francis is a Capetonian—he grew up in Zimbabwe and came to South Africa to study at the University of Cape Town where he completed a degree in Social Science. Francis has spent the last eight years working within the hospitality industry, assisting in the development of new restaurants, and he has a keen interest in training and staff development. Francis has already been instrumental in upgrading the Home-Base and is always busy trying to improve it so that volunteers can be as comfortable as possible.

Program Officer: Tahira Kassiem
Tahira, who has over ten years experience as a qualified social worker, is a Capetonian from the Cape Flats. She previously worked as a school social worker and counselor for Rockland’s High School in Mitchells Plain. While there she counseled students, parents and staff on a wide variety of issues including discipline, parenting skills, behavioral problems, substance abuse, trauma, sexual abuse, domestic violence, divorce, teenage pregnancy, and depression.

At the Cape Mental Health Society, Tahira worked as a Public Education and Volunteer Manager, and designed and presented exhibitions, workshops, and radio interviews to NGOs, CBOs, and educational and religious institutions on stress management, depression, stigma, and rights of the disabled.

As a social worker, Tahira worked at the Cape Clothing Bargaining Council in Salt River. She counselled clothing industry workers on a wide variety of issues including substance abuse, parenting, domestic violence, abortion, pre/post HIV/AIDS test, depression, mental illness, sexual abuse, rape, trauma, and bereavement. Additional social work employment includes three years spent at the Cancer Association of South Africa.

Tahira has a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Cape Town and was responsible for supervising undergraduate social work students in their final year at the University of Cape Town. She is a native English speaker and has basic knowledge of Afrikaans.

Administrative Assistant: Liezl Siegelaar
Liezl assists with all administrative duties and responsibilities in the CCS-South Africa programs. Liezl also assists volunteers with all matters pertaining to airport transfers, lost baggage, and other administrative matters related to their stay in South Africa.

Cook: Simone Moema
Simone grew up in the Northern Cape and has lived in the suburb of Retreat for the last ten years. Simone comes from a big family where food plays an important role in bringing people together, and she is also a descendent of the original Nama people who were living in the Cape when European settlers arrived. Simone has worked in different sectors through her career, including home care for the elderly and catering services for different NGOs. Simone also holds a learnership degree in community development from Boland College and she has completed a number of other courses. Simone loves cooking and working with people (especially CCS volunteers), and treating them to local dishes.

Kitchen Assistant: Nolundi Mndai
Nolundi is young and full of energy. She lives in Macassar (a township near Khayelitsha), but has strong roots in a rural village in the Eastern Cape called Qumbu. Nolundi came to CCS from school, but was unable to finish because of financial reasons. While in school, Nolundi supported herself by working housekeeping and child care jobs during her holidays and weekends. Now that she is working with CCS, Nolundi is hopeful that she will be able to complete her schooling remotely in her spare time. Nolundi is very excited to be a part of the CCS South Africa team and to teach volunteers about Xhosa culture.

Drivers: Wonga Calana and Israel Groenewald
CCS drivers will pick you up and drop you off at the airport and provide transportation to and from the volunteer placements. Both Wonga and Israel have a history in airport and tourist shuttle services, and provide safe and reliable transportation for all CCS volunteers.

Housekeepers: Veronica Elese and Natasha Mshwadi
Veronica and Natasha both live in Khayelitsha, a township about 30 minutes from Cape Town. As the CCS Housekeepers, Veronica and Natasha work hard to keep the Home-Base clean and comfortable. Veronica hails from Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape, and has worked as a housekeeper for many years. While she comes across as quiet and reserved, she is a very keen singer. Natasha is also a good singer, she is lots of fun and has a great sense of humor.

Home-Base Guards: Nieklaas "Nic" Meyer, Thamsanqa "Tami" Brooks, and Mawetu Tofile
As the CCS South Africa guards, Nic, Tami, and Mawetu are in charge of the safety of the house and all of the volunteers. Nic is our most experienced guard and has many years of experience working in hospitality and security. Nic is welcoming and friendly to all our volunteers and also ensures that they do not forget important security and safety measures. Nic is an avid gardener and is passionate about keeping our Home-Base garden looking beautiful and making it an enjoyable place to relax in. Tami hails from the Eastern Cape, and has many years experience working in security in the Uitenhage area of South Africa. Mawetu is also from the Eastern Cape, from the large town of Butterworth (Gcuwa), but has lived for the past seven years in the neighborhood of Nyanga Junction in Cape Town. Mawetu has five children and is patiently awaiting grandchildren. Mawetu has done various contract labor work over the years and he is very wise in the Xhosa traditions— he is our very own Home-Base elder, or tata.