Project summary

A unique opportunity to play a life-changing part in the lives of some of South Africa’s most under privileged children. You don’t need to be the next Kelly Slater to enjoy the southern cape swells off one of Cape Town’s most picturesque beaches, no previous experience is needed, just an abundance of enthusiasm and a desire to bring new value to these young lives. 

The project not only provides local kids with an opportunity to try a sport that would usually be beyond their means, it also offers them hope and support for a better future.

As if all that isn’t enough to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn to surf, for free, in one of the world’s most stunning locations, and for those who are already at ease on the waves what better way to make a difference than by doing something you love?

A typical day

Waking up at the volunteer lodge, you’ll have time to have some breakfast with other volunteers before making the 10 minute walk down to ‘the office’, otherwise known as Muizenberg beach. Once there you’ll meet up with the children on the project and members of the project team before donning your wetsuit and heading off for your daily board meeting!

Between waves you’ll have the chance to talk to the kids about their lives and offer advice on how they can avoid many of the problems experienced by youngsters in South Africa.

Come the end of the working day you’ll be required to provide a report on the children’s progress before enjoying some free time on the beach, back at the lodge or, if you’ve still not had enough, back on the water.

The location

You'll live in Muizenberg, a 20 min drive from Cape Town. It is a very well known, beautiful holiday destination on the shores of False Bay. The project base where you'll work is located in Capricorn which is approximately 20 mins walk from the lodge where you live.

How you can make a difference

By volunteering with us you'll play your part in ongoing projects working with township children to build their confidence and develop their abilities.  As you provide the children with confidence on the water, you’ll also give them confidence in their daily lives and an underlying belief in themselves.

Not only do we develop the children's sporting skills through coaching but we also address their mental, emotional and spiritual needs through mentoring and life skills coaching.  Many of the kids we work with have very little education or guidance on how to approach adult life and work.

The project currently reaches around 50 children per week and volunteers have seen significant improvements in the lives of its members. From a heightened awareness of what makes a good diet to all-round manners and respect, the children are benefitting on all fronts, not forgetting the fun and excitement they take from learning to ride the local waves.

What's included

• A comprehensive information booklet
• Travel advice and assistance
• Being met on arrival at Capetown airport
  
• Accommodation (shared room)
• Self-catering budget provided
  
• Ongoing support, help and advice from our local team

What else to budget for

The following items are not included and estimates are given as a guide for your budgeting: flights (£600-£800), travel insurance, personal spending / living costs (£20-£50 per week).

Other projects you might also be interested in....

* Football coaching in South Africa

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More details

Background information about the project

Cape Town’s townships are incredibly disadvantaged places where the poor of South Africa survive in cramped ramshackle housing with unreliable electricity, open sewers and no hopes for a better life. 

The surf project was founded with the aim of getting children off the streets and away from the common route of begging and substance abuse. We aim to offer the children something constructive to do with their time whilst using surfing as a medium to instill valuable life lessons and tools that will help them overcome the difficulties with which they are presented.

The surf school has provided a strong positive focus for the children and given the chance to mentor them mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  We have an amazing fun time with the kids and our volunteers provide strong positive role models for the children to aspire to.

In your first few days you will have an introduction to the area, a free surf lesson and preparation training for your volunteer work.  Thereafter you’ll work with the team of volunteers having an amazing time getting to know the children, developing their sporting abilities and enjoying the surfing yourself.

Volunteers are asked to do daily reports on the children and how they are progressing on the project.

Volunteer accommodation and food

Volunteers will be staying at a clean modern lodge in shared rooms. You will be supplied with bedding and a towel on arrival. Food is cooked for you each day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

The lodge is located a 10 minute walk from the beach.

Freetime and travel opportunities

In your spare time you can relax at the lodge, go surfing, hang out at the local beach or there are many fantastic local activities, such as hiking, kayaking, wine tours, safaris and trips to see the Garden Route. These can all be arranged for you on arrival.  You'll have free time every weekend.

Challenges

As this is a physical project volunteers should be reasonably fit and healthy.  You will also face a degree of emotional challenge as we are working in extremely poor townships, supporting children who have been born into poverty and hardship.

It is core to our approach to use our contact with the children, to provide guidance and care to help them on the path to a better more fulfulling life.  So it is essential that all volunteers act as good role models.

Where does your money go

PoD is run as a non-profit organisation and does not receive any external funding. We charge a fee for all our placements to cover the overseas costs of volunteering and the costs of running our organisation in the UK. 

For this project approximately 70% of the fee you pay is passed to South Africa.