Adventure Club

Teaching kids how to swim and surf
Teaching and skating with the kids
Providing assistance in sports training and sport clinics
Running fun days and sports programs
Help children develop life, sport, and educational skills
Gain experience in working with children within an organisation
Provide children with new experiences
Learn about South African cultures and way of life
Develop new friendships

The Western Cape, where the program is based, is a very culturally diverse area of South Africa. There is a large integration of the underprivileged with the wealthy. The main cultures that you will be working with are Xhosa or Afrikaans South Africans. The homes they live in are often built from scrap metal and second-hand wood, usually they do not have running water in their homes. Forty percent of the families in these areas lack a male head of household and the children often have no one to monitor their educational progress or after-school activities. The children we work with live in the nearby township or settlement in Cape Town, such as Du’Noon and Wolwerivier.

Day 1: Welcome to South Africa (Saturday)
You are collected from the airport and taken to your accommodation. You will be shown around and given an understanding of the area. You have the day at your own leisure so you can explore the beach, shops, bars and restaurants. In the evening you are served a welcoming meal at the hostel.

Day 2: Cape Town City Walking Tour (Sunday)
Start the day with a self served breakfast. Your friendly project leader will teach you about the bus system before you head out to Cape Town City Center.

Cape Town City Walking Tour:
Do a walking tour visiting historical sites like the Castle of Good Hope and the Grand Parade. Learn about life under apartheid in South Africa at the Parliament Buildings and the District Six Museum. Shop for African arts and crafts in Greenmarket Square and St George’s Mall.

After the listed activity, you can take a bus or walk to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Sit back and sip a delicious coffee, enjoy some fresh fish and watch the ships in the busy working harbor or walk around and visit the shops, markets and listen to the musicians on the sidewalks.

Alternatively, you can take the cable car up Table Mountain and enjoy breath-taking views of the city, or visit the famous Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held in prison during the apartheid era. (Own Expense)

In the evening head back on the local bus to Table View where you can join the staff, guests and the locals at one of the restaurants or bars along the beachfront in Table View - all within rolling distance from the hostel where you will be staying the night.

If you choose to book extra surf lessons at an extra cost, we will schedule your lessons in for the best surf days to hit the waves in the week. On your extra surf lesson days you will be briefed on correct board use, safety as well as the ocean before we hit the first waves. Your instructor will be by your side assisting you and the rest of the group with tips on how to stand and how to go catch a wave. Your extra surf hours might be split over a few days dependent on weather and surfing conditions.

Volunteers work 5 days a week from Monday to Friday. Mondays are office based for both new and old volunteers. New volunteers receive their training and additional information on our projects and the areas they will be working at. Old volunteers assist with planning for the week, equipment maintenance, re-organising storage spaces for equipment, donation sorting etc.. Working hours are generally from 09:00-15:00. In the mornings the volunteers’ assist in one of the kindergartens. In the afternoons the adventure club program runs. volunteers are split into 3 groups that each get a day of surfing, skating and swimming during the week. Volunteers will also have a chance to learn how to surf with an instructor. These surf lessons take place on Fridays without the kids.

In this project volunteers receive a 1-hour surf lesson each week, but you can also book extra surf lessons at extra cost. Just inform your travel advisor when making the booking!

This project runs all year round, however, during school holidays we run the project according to our holiday program. We give these children an opportunity to experience new activities outside of their townships. Every day is different, volunteers generally help with outdoor and educational activities such as beach days, hikes up the mountain, visits to the museums etc. The aim of the holiday club program is for the kids to have fun and to keep them off the streets. The activities during this time are less structured and more focused on the enjoyment of the children. Please note: If a holiday club activity requires the payment of an entrance fee, volunteers will have to pay for themselves. The programme fee is used to cover the entrance for the children only, however, we do try to plan as many free events as possible. Working hours are generally from 09:00 to 15:00. Please also note that during examination times (usually a week before the school holidays) the project may be affected. During the holiday program volunteers will receive their normal surf lesson.

In addition there are a lot of public holidays spread throughout the year. Please note that during the holidays, it's a time for the kids to have fun, so the programs are less structured and may change depending on the number of children that arrive on the day.

Due to Christmas and New Year’s celebrations between December 23th - January 3rd, all projects in Cape Town are closed, however, volunteers may still use the accommodation and food and join us for Christmas lunch on the 25th. From 9 Dec - 10 Jan, participants will join the holiday club program with different activities every day. The schools are closed and the adventure program is not running to the normal schedule.

Public Holidays 2024
16, 25-26 December

Public Holidays 2025
01 January
21 March
18, 21 & 27-28 April
01 May
16 June
09 August
24 September
16, 25-26 December

School Holidays 2024
14 Dec - 31 Dec

School Holidays 2025
01 Jan - 14 Jan
29 Mar - 07 Apr
28 Jun - 21 Jul
04 Oct - 12 Oct
13 Dec - 31 Dec

With every new arrival we have a safety and orientation briefing where we discuss issues such as general safety in South Africa for example, what to do in the settlements, where not to go, what to do in case of an emergency, sea currents, HIV AIDS and crime. There is a volunteer co-ordinator with our volunteers at all times while on project to ensure the safety of the children and volunteer. We offer all our volunteers 24/7 support and assistance.

Airport pick-up
2-day orientation in Cape Town
Accommodation
Three meals a day (Monday to Friday) - Dinners not included on weekends
Transport to and from your project
One 1 hour surf lesson per week included - it’s possible to add on extra surf lessons at extra cost
24-hour support and supervision
Weekly social events
Donation to the project
Certificate of appreciation

Minimum age of 18
CV/Resume
Police Clearance Certificate
Basic level of competency in English
Acceptance subject to availability

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.