BUNAC

Volunteer South Africa

If you’d like to be a volunteer overseas on a short-term basis, Volunteer South Africa offers you the chance to spend five to seventeen weeks working on a project in or near Cape Town. This is an exciting opportunity for you to live in and experience South Africa first-hand. You’ll also gain many personal benefits, valuable new skills to add to your résumé and feel a real sense of satisfaction and achievement.

Eligibility

You must be:

  • aged 18-35 at the time of travel
  • a current university student or recent graduate
  • a US citizen.

You also need to be an enthusiastic, energetic self-starter and able to live and work in a rural community with which you may not be familiar. Previous work abroad experience is preferable.

Accommodation and Placements

There are eight main areas of placement. These are: Environment Conservation, Wildlife, Health, Sports, Summer 'theme' camps, Housing construction, Education and Social Welfare. The working week is normally five days and you can expect to work for between 30-40 hours per week. Placements are unpaid and last for 5-17 weeks with one week’s welcome orientation given by SASTS, the South African Students Travel Service and program sponsor.

Accommodation and meals are included as part of your volunteer placement and are covered by the program costs. Participants live either in accommodation provided by the employer or in a homestay, with a room in a local family home.

Flights and Arrival

There are weekly arrival dates for the program. You may specify the month you wish to travel and once you are accepted on to the program, BUNAC provides you with the available arrival dates. The cost of the flight is not included in the program fee. You are responsible for your own travel arrangements to and from Cape Town on the designated arrival dates

Costs

The program fees start at $1865 for most of the five week placement options. Wildlife and longer term placements cost more. Please call BUNAC on: 1-800-462-8622 if you need further information on costs and for cancellation conditions.

Fees generally cover administration in the US and overseas, placement expenses, transfer from the airport to the hostel, arrival orientation including accommodation, transport to and from the project and food and accommodation for the duration of your placement. You are also entitled to any necessary help and support from BUNAC’s partner organization in South Africa.

You must submit a money order or cashier’s check for the initial payment of $420 with your initial application. You are required to send in the payment balance at Step 2.

How to Apply

Submit your initial application for Volunteer South Africa using the Work Abroad Application Form. Please ensure you send all the additional information as listed on the checklist and the $420 registration fee. Download the Application Form here or request a brochure here.

Once your application is approved, we will send you the Step 2 information and further information via e-mail on how to proceed.