Canadian residents pay in Canadian funds at the preferred exchange rate of 1.36
Established in Montreal in 1982.
Outstanding summer programs for teens since 1982
South Africa Volunteer Program for Teens
This teen volunteer program in South Africa is filled with unbelievable wildlife, scenic landscapes, and a rich cultural exchange. We have a long-established relationship with Eco Children Klaserie and you will get the opportunity to work closely with the local youth. This South Africa summer travel program uses a service-learning framework, where our staff provide guidance and reflection on the impact of the work we do throughout the program and promote the value of empathy and cultural sensitivity. You will gain as much from this experience as the young students you will be privileged to spend time with. Top that off with an unforgettable safari to see the Big 5 in Kruger National Park and this is a summer experience sure to create life-long memories.
Program Highlights
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Embark on a sustainable project with a local school.
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Safari in Kruger National Park to see the Big 5.
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Play soccer and run activities with local children.
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Learn to surf in Muizenberg.
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Help students practice their English with songs and games.
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Learn about African wildlife conservation.
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Taste the rich flavors of South African cuisine during a cooking class.
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Enjoy spectacular views at Cape Point & the Cape of Good Hope.
Service Projects
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Eco-Children Training – Klaserie Private Nature Reserve
Our project with Eco-Children Training focuses on hands-on environmental education amongst the youth in the Hoedspruit and Acornhoek areas of the Klaserie Nature Park. Eco-Children Training has committed itself to becoming involved in local schools to spread the theme of conservation through creating awareness, teaching, and inspiring youth to appreciate nature in many areas. In the past we worked alongside the students of the Primary School to construct vegetable gardens. We dug holes for the foundation, laid the bricks, filled the gardens with soil and compost, planted seedlings and erected a fence around the mini eco-village.
About Eco-Children Training
Eco-Children Training’s mission is to empower children rural Mpumalanga and Limpopo by developing their capacity as catalysts of positive change in their communities. They sow the seeds of change by improving the quality of education and providing opportunities for talented learners.
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Kidz Africa - Cape Town
You will have the opportunity to use your creativity to plan and implement activities for the children supported through Kidz Africa. You will help teach the children English through songs and play games in these informal settlements to support the families and communities. Regardless of which volunteer project the community is in need of, you will serve as a role model for youth, impacting them through sports, recreation and the arts.
About Kidz Africa
Kidz Africa is an organization that uses sport, adventure and performing arts as tools to mentor future generations of at-risk youth living in rural communities. The aim is to develop effective young people, by coaching and mentoring around character, discipline and respect, creating effective adults, who are Africa’s future leaders.
Activities
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Johannesburg - Klaserie - Hoedspruit
Your adventure begins with an orientation to South Africa as well as to one another by whitewater rafting the Sabie River. Take part in a team-building workshop to facilitate collaboration amongst our group. Visit the Apartheid Museum and take a tour of Soccer City – one of the stadiums of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Heard of the Big 5? Scout with bush trackers for elephants, leopards, rhinos, Cape buffalo and lions on an exciting safari drive in Kruger National Park, home to South Africa’s most varied wildlife. Discover Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world, and take in the beauty of Bourke’s Luck Potholes.
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Simon’s Town, South Africa
At Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, experience spectacular views from some of the southernmost tips of the continent. Explore Boulders Beach and the colony of African penguins which call this bay home. Experience a Seal Island boat cruise and see firsthand where some of the incredible scenes from the Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth were shot.
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Cape Town, South Africa
Welcome to Cape Town, South Africa’s oldest and most striking city! Journey up to the top of Table Mountain and be amazed by the sights and the views of this world-class city. Descend by cable car and then explore the V & A Waterfront for hidden treasures and to check out the seals basking on the wharf in the South African sun. Soak up the scenery atop Elsie's Peak and prepare delicious dishes at a traditional Cape Malay cooking experience. Learn to surf in Muizenberg, one of the best surf beaches in the world! Ferry out to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Robben Island and tour the Maximum Security Prison where Nelson Mandela spent many of his 27 years in prison.
Accommodations
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Johannesburg, South Africa
The Holiday Inn is conveniently located ten minutes from O.R. Tambo International Airport and a great place to start your South African adventure. Rooms have TVs and WiFi.
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Simon's Town, South Africa
Each bedroom at the Quayside Hotel has a magnificent view of either False Bay and the Simon’s Town yacht basin or the majestic Simon’s Kloof mountains. The rooms are all comfortably furnished with Wi-Fi and TVs.
About This Program
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What It’s Like
The perfect balance of meaningful service projects, cultural immersion and unforgettable adventures.
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Cultural Sensitivity
This program requires an open mind to experience a different culture, new foods and comfortable hotels.
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60 Community Service Hours
A certificate of completion detailing the program's service hours and projects will be issued after the trip.
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Recognition
Your service hours are eligible toward the President's Volunteer Service Award.
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Service Projects
Everybody participates together in each project. Specific projects are confirmed in late spring and are similar to those described.
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Accommodations
Hotels & lodges.
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Meals
Includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
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Activities
Includes all recreation & activities listed.
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Transportation
Chartered, air conditioned vehicles with a professional driver.
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Group Size
Up to 24 participants.
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Dietary Options
We can accommodate most dietary preferences and allergies.
More Details
Frequently Asked Questions
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What if I need to contact my teen during the program?
Participants may bring their cell phones so parents may call and message their kids directly. You may also contact our Communication Centers which serve as the official link between programs on the road and parents. We are staffed every day during the summer and have somebody on call for after hours emergencies ready to assist you 24/7.
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Who are the staff and what are their qualifications?
Our staff are educators, guidance counselors, coaches, college and university students, former camp counselors, residence life coordinators, community volunteers, world travelers, and other leaders with diverse backgrounds. Many are former participants themselves who couldn’t get enough of the Westcoast experience! Learn more about our summer leaders.
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How are roommates assigned?
Giving everyone a chance to make new friends creates a cohesive group and the warmest and most welcoming social environments in our industry!
On our Active Teen Tours, Global Adventures and Community Service programs, rooming rotation is as follows:
To promote this we’ve found the best system is for the Program Director to assign the rooms for the first and second stops. For the first stop, independent travelers room with other independent travelers and any friends who enrolled can room together. All participants will be assigned a different roommate for the second stop. After the first two stops, choice of roommates is always up to you!On our Pre-College Enrichment programs & Career Experiences, rooming is as follows:
We assign independent travelers with another independent traveler for the duration of your stay. Any friends who enrolled together can room together.Important notes:
- Depending on the hotel bedding configuration, all friends traveling together may not be able to room together for the first stop.
- Roommates are assigned based on gender identity. We welcome all genders, inclusive of those anywhere on the gender spectrum.
- On a few programs where we spend an extended period of time at the first stop, participants have the opportunity to rotate after the first two nights.