Purpose
Improve access to quality education
Start dates
Programs start on the first and third Monday of each month
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 are interested in education and teaching English, maths and life skills. As you’ll be volunteering with the support of IVHQ’s local team and placement staff, you don’t need to be a qualified teacher to participate, but some relevant experience or training like a TEFL course would be useful.
Project details
Interested in being a volunteer Teacher in South Africa? International Volunteer HQ’s Teaching project empowers volunteers to assist in local elementary schools in Cape Town. Volunteers gain teaching experience assisting local teachers and working with students in entry-level classes. Schools in low-income communities often have too few teachers and there is little chance for students to get individual attention, so volunteers provide valuable help creating an all-round better learning environment.
What to expect and how you’ll make an impact
Many schools in low-income parts of Cape Town lack funds, staff and have high workloads and little chance for students to get close attention. As a volunteer, you’ll help to address these factors and give students a higher standard of education.
As a Teaching volunteer you will be placed in public primary schools, assisting local teachers and working in classrooms for students in entry-level classes. Teaching duties may vary but usually include:
- Teaching English
- Assisting with other lessons including basic maths
- Teaching life skills
- Helping a local teacher in the classroom
- Arranging educational activities and sports
- Tutoring children one-on-one or in small groups
Please note, if you apply for the Teaching project during the school holidays, you will be switched to a school holiday project. Keep in mind that towards the end of each term, exams will be written and teaching work is therefore limited during these periods.
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 Teaching volunteering in Cape Town with IVHQ?
When you volunteer to teach in South Africa you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving educational outcomes for children from disadvantaged communities
- Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining teaching experience
- Immersing yourself in South African culture
- Discovering South Africa’s amazing wildlife
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
- 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.