Purpose
Improve wellbeing through physical activity
Start dates
Programs start every Monday
Duration
Choose from 1-24 weeks
Volunteer hours
Up to 5 hours a day
Age
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Accommodation
Volunteer house
This program is ideal for:
Volunteers who can swim well and want to help improve the lives of students from low-income communities through recreational activities. You can learn to surf and skate on this project if you need to.
Project details
Ready to get on board as a Surf, Skate and Swim volunteer in South Africa – Table View? International Volunteer HQ’s Surf, Skate and Swim project is an exciting way for volunteers to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children from disadvantaged communities. Volunteers gain experience in youth work and teaching while providing opportunities for students to learn valuable life skills and teamwork through surfing, skateboarding and swimming.
What to expect and how you’ll make an impact
This is an after-school project with a difference, providing fun activities with real x-factor for students from low-income communities. By keeping children occupied after school and providing them with confidence-building activities, volunteers can support and foster general positivity in the lives of vulnerable young people.
As a Surf, Skate, Swim volunteer you will help to teach valuable life lessons and teamwork through surfing, skateboarding and swimming. You’ll help to teach and practice these skills, and occasionally other sports, to students who range in age from 10 to 16 years old.
For many of the children this is the highlight of their day. The project is an incentive for them to do well in school, as only those who attend school every day, behave in class and study diligently are able to attend.
You should bring your own wetsuit with you, as the wetsuits on the project are given to the children first. If you don’t have one, you can buy one in Cape Town – if you don’t want to take it home with you, you can donate it to the project when you leave.
As the Surf, Skate & Swim project is run in the afternoons from Tuesday to Thursday, you can expect to spend mornings assisting in the Childcare project or having surf/skating lessons. You’ll get a free lesson per week, and extra lessons can be arranged through our local team at an additional cost. All outdoor activities are weather-dependent, and you’ll take part in indoor activities or plan future activities if the weather isn’t suitable.
The Surf, Skate & Swim project is not available during the school holidays. If you apply for the Surf, Skate & Swim project during the school holidays, you will be switched to the Holiday Club project.
School Holidays:
- 23rd September – 30th September 2024
- 11th December 2024 – 12th January 2025
- 29th March – 6th April 2025
- 28th June – 20th July 2025
- 4th October – 12th October 2025
- 10th December 2025 – 17th January 2026
Why do Surf, Skate and Swim volunteering in Table View with IVHQ?
When you volunteer to teach young people surfing, skating and swimming in South Africa – Table View you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Providing socially positive experiences for disadvantaged youth
- Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining teaching and youth work experience
- Immersing yourself in South African culture
- Exploring South Africa’s beautiful beaches
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
- All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English.
