Itinerary
Day 1 (Monday) Arrive at Cape Town Airport (airport code CPT) where you’ll be met and taken straight to your new home, a journey of around 45 minutes during which you’ll get your first sight of the iconic Table Mountain. You’ll need to arrive by 4pm so that you’re in time for orientation at 5pm, otherwise you should fly in a day early. The Project After a good night’s sleep, it’s time to get into it. This morning you’ll head off to meet the project team at the surfing academy and then after a short orientation including health and safety matters it’s time to get suited up, grab a board and enjoy your first surf lesson with a fully qualified surf instructor. The project operates Tuesdays to Saturdays and every morning you’ll have access to surfboards and wetsuits so you can get out there and practice your own surfing skills. The kids start arriving around 2pm, and before they hit the surf they get lunch and complete their homework (volunteers help both with lunch prep and with homework). There are usually around 20 children each day, between 8 and 17 years of age. Once homework is finished, you’ll hand out wetsuits and surfboards and then it’s into the water! Muizenberg Beach is very safe and an experienced instructor will always be nearby – each volunteer is allocated one or two kids to look out for and keep safe. These kids and their families simply can’t afford to do any of this on their own, so you’ll really be having a positive impact on their lives. Once surfing is complete you will help pack up and if you like you can assist the team dropping the kids off back at home, a chance to meet their families and gain a further insight into their lives, perhaps even to visit their homes. Sometimes there is a break from the surf and the afternoon activity is a hike or a game of soccer – either way, volunteers are involved and vital to the success of it. Aside from working with the kids your help is appreciated with all manner of support tasks such as office admin, project marketing through photography, blogging and social media, polishing or fixing surfboards or helping out in the shop. Weekends Spend your free time as you please, your weekends are yours to enjoy. Cape Town offers so much to do. There are loads of stunning beaches to choose from, go for a surf or check out a penguin colony. Maybe you’d like to climb Table Mountain, visit Robben Island, explore the city with its fascinating museums and art galleries….or even go wine tasting. You’ll also want to kick back and chill in the garden or around the swimming pool at the volunteer house.
Your last day (Monday) It will be sad to say goodbye to your newfound friends but you’ll have so many special memories to take back with you. Save around $30 for the airport transfer, which our coordinator will arrange for you. |
Accommodation
Our large volunteer house in Cape Town will be your home, only a short distance from the shops and beach. The house accommodates up to 20 people in single-sex bunk-rooms with up to 6 sharing. There are lockers for your valuables, a kitchen, lounge area, balcony, a nice garden and barbeque. A $100 security deposit is payable on arrival. You’ll be self-catering during your stay, and can cook your meals in the communal kitchen complete with stove, fridge/freezer, microwave and toaster – or use the braai (BBQ) outside. We recommend you budget around $70 per week for groceries – markets and shops are nearby. There are also heaps of take-aways, bars and restaurants about 10 mins walk. Fish Hoek’s main street is only 10 minutes’ walk away where you’ll find a laundry, supermarket, serviced laundry and internet café, as well as banks and other shopping. The beach is just a stone’s throw beyond that! Bars, restaurants, more shopping and more beautiful beaches are only 10 minutes away by taxi. Taxis to Cape Town CBD cost around $30 - Fish Hoek is also on the train line, this is also a great way to get around. 
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