facebook Overseas Volunteering in Africa in 2019 - Make a Difference
04 Jan 2019

It’s 2019 and perhaps it’s time for something new. Maybe you’re looking for a challenge. You want to push yourself, move out of your comfort zone, and make a difference in the world. If that’s the case our MSC Volunteering Project could be just what you need.

 

Volunteering in South Africa

Summer with the MSC Volunteering Project is an unforgettable experience

 

 

We send volunteers to South Africa for seven weeks from the start of July until the end of the third week of August. There they work alongside the fantastic team based in the Holy Family Centre. It’s in the foothills of the beautiful Drakensburg Mountains in the Northern Province, about one hour east of Kruger National Wildlife Park. Holy Family is home for up to seventy children who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS or TB. They range in age from babies and toddlers to teenagers.

 

 

 

MSC Volunteering 1

Joy, one of our volunteers, with the kids on an outing

As you can imagine it’s a lively place! The kids are simply wonderful. They are so full of life, enthusiasm and joy. They love to sing and dance, run relay races with tyres and play football, go on outings, and sit around and chat. We are looking for people who would like to take part in the project. It is aimed at those between the ages of 23 and 40 and who perhaps have some practical skills. We need people with backgrounds in teaching, nursing, carpentry, electrics, mechanics and anything else. Volunteers are asked to contribute €1,500 and we match this with €1,500 ourselves. This covers flights, food, accommodation, insurance, transfers, and training. We look to support the children, but also to share our skills with others.

 

 

For our volunteers it’s a learning experience that they will never forget. The MSC Volunteering Project made a deep impression on those who have volunteered with us.

MSC Volunteering is a signatory of the Comhlamh Code of Good Practice on ethical, sustainable volunteering.

 

MSC Volunteering 2

It’s an opportunity to work with amazing young people

 

“More so than any other time in my life…..I laughed! Every day the kids found new ways to just make us laugh! Whether we were on an imaginary Safari inside the fence of the centre, hitching a lift in a car made from a piece of wire and an old shoe or chasing the crèche children who never wanted to go to bed, we laughed! A beautiful place, a great team and the most adorable children on the planet made for a summer I will cherish dearly!” – Karen

 

“Working with the kids has been absolutely outstanding. They’re so full of life and energy they keep you on your toes and the kids are great at helping in any way they can. The feeling when you see the kids laugh and smile, you can’t put a price on it. It’s just the greatest feeling in the world.” – Kevin

 

“We have really got to know all the kids and workers here at Holy Family over the past months. We can recognise the voices calling out for us at our gate, the different cries of the crèche children and the different laughs that echo around the centre. We opened our hearts fully and really connected with each and every one. We have learned more from them than they have from us and boy o boy can these kids teach you a thing or two.” – Joanie

 

If you would like to know more about the Project or perhaps you are interest in volunteering you are welcome to give me a call on +353 (0) 86 785 7955 or drop me an email fralan@mscvolunteering.com

 

MSC Volunteering – Be Extraordinary

In the meantime have a look at some of the blogs from our volunteers.