Kayamandi Community Project

More than 70% of the population in Kayamandi lives in squatter camps without a proper infrastructure. The average level of education is low with approximately 71% of the population uneducated and 42% unemployed. In these camps there is a very high rate of malnutrition, poverty and HIV/Aids and crime.  The literacy-rate is also very low. This programme is looking for bakers, craft workers, sports teachers, IT teachers or similar to help this community grow.

Volunteer duties could include:

• Painting, maintenance and cleaning of buildings.
• Administration work in office. Volunteers with PC knowledge are needed.
• Teaching craft skills.
• Youth work. If a volunteer is studying for ocial worker qualifications, they can assist the local social worker with the home-based orphan programme.
• Sports coaching.
• Delivering groceries to poor people in the community.

Tyilani Community Centre

The centre provides residence for women irrespective of race, colour or creed.  During the past two years they have taken care of 170 people. They give support, counselling and accommodation for as long as necessary.

This home is the only place of safety of its kind in the Herlderberg Basin. They network with organisations such as Rape Crisis, Patch, Victim Empowerment Programme, Procare, NICRO, Badisa, ACVV, Child Welfare and the police.

One  or a series of incidents over a period of time can cause trauma.  Although hidden, the psychological and emotional effects of abuse remain long after the physical scars have healed.  For many other people, home can be the most dangerous place in the world.  This is where women are battered; children are abused or where incest takes place. The community centre helps people who come from circumstances like this.

Volunteer duties:

• Associate with teenagers and play with children.
• Assist with crafts, for example fabric painting, sewing, beading and mosaics.
• Upliftment of clients for example hygiene, good manners, health, eating habits, and so on.
• Assist schoolchildren with homework.
• Help prepare meals.
• Assist with children’s washing.
• Be responsible when house parents are out.

Eljada Aftercare Centre

This is a residence for intellectually disabled adults.  All volunteers are required to complete a two-week orientation programme in the centre.  During this period you will gain a basic understanding of the needs of intellectually disabled adults.  The programme will expose you to both a theoretical and a practical component. You will learn about the different subsections of the service.  Every volunteer will spent at least four hours in each section as part of this process. 

Every volunteer will spent at least four hours in each section as part of this process.  The sections include the following:

• Dormitory: under the supervision of a 'house mother.'
• Medical: under supervision of a staff nurse.
• Workshop: under supervision of an instructor.
• The Busy Bees (a programme equivalent to nursery school).
• Catering department: under guidance of the kitchen staff.
• Administration: under supervision of the manager.

Horizon House

This house is situated in one of the beautiful suburbs of Stellenbosch and is home to 58 mentally handicapped adults from the age of 18 to 63 years.  It also provides a day care for 15 mentally handicapped adults from the surrounding area.  Horizon House trains the resident so that they can  reach their full potential. The residents live on the premises of Horizon house. The House provides full care and therapy for the mentally handicapped person and an environment is created in which the mentally handicapped person can feel happy, safe and secure.

A volunteer will assist and take responsibility for tasks like the following:

• Elementary drawing lessons
• Elementary aerobics and other exercises
• Games
• Making small objects
• Singing and dancing
• Mime and dramatic presentation. 

Tehillah Community Project

This is a 24 hour multi-purpose centre that cares for the frail. The project also plays an important role in the treatment and support of HIV/AIDS victims. The 'Tehillah Community Collaborative' consists of four clusters: health, education, social services, and arts and culture. They currently have 20 home-based nurses.

V olunteer duties may include:

• Computer skills training
• Presentation of life skills
• Assisting the nurses during their home visits
• Helping to prepare soup for 700 people
• Teaching of special skills such as arts and crafts to people in the community   
• Assisting the teacher in the needlework department
• Handing out food in the community.