Ithemba means "hope" in isiXhosa, the local language spoken in the southern region of South Africa. This special daycare centre caters for children between 6-18 years with mental, and for some physical, disabilities. The goal of Ithemba is to provide children with disabilities the care and support they need. All children attending Ithemba come from surrounding poor communities and do not have the financial means to go to the 2 special needs schools in Port Elizabeth as they cost a lot of money.
As well as general education and personal care, Ithemba offers basic life skills programs to give the children more independence. The unfortunate reality in South Africa is that few children with a disability have access to any kind of education, and most children are kept at home without any day activities or chance of any independent future.
Ithemba is one of the centres where children can learn basic life skills, how to bake or wash a car and other basic skills that could provide them with a job or meaningful way of spending their time in the future as young adults.
The centre has 3 classrooms, a therapy room, office, kitchen and volunteer offices, playground and gardens around the premises ; providing daily support to up to 44 children with a team of 3 teachers, class assistants, a cook, Centre Manager and other supporting staff.
Assistance from interns who can improve the quality of services, offer personal development plans for individual children and work on improving understanding in the community as well as educating the direct families is very welcome and offers the center a way to grow further.
Project needs
As a Non-Profit Organization (NPO), Ithemba relies heavily on subsidies, parents’ contributions and donations. Next to the need for support by active involvement of interns, Ithemba also has ongoing financial needs such as:
Kitchen supplies such as cooking gas, utensils, etc.
Craft and drawing materials (crayons, pencils, paint etc.)
Toothpaste and brushes
First aid supplies such as plasters and bandages
Gardening needs such as tools, seeds and so on.
If you would like to prepare your stay at Ithemba by doing some fundraising; they will be most grateful for your support! To assist Ithemba financially, a part of your fees will be donated directly to the centre.
Tasks and activities
Interns at Ithemba can be involved in a variety of tasks and activities relating to the specific studies and as required. Interns are expected to have an affinity for working with children with disabilities; they are proactive and can work independently on tasks given. A basic understanding of English is a must.
Working days and hours
You will work Monday-Thursday from about 8h00-14h30, while Friday is from 8h00-12h00 and weekends are off. Some days might start earlier or later and in summertime, due to the heat, hours can change.
School Holidays
Please note that Ithemba will be closed for the school holidays, and that during those weeks, any interns will be supporting holiday programs for the youth at one of our other projects Izizwe Projects. Please keep in mind that the summer holidays in South Africa run from early December to mid-January.
Daily guidance
You will be welcomed by one of our Volunteer Coordinators who will pick you up from the airport, show you around the city and prepare your work activities with the projects before you start, supervise during your stay and evaluate after you leave. The coordinators will transfer you to and from the project, make sure the house is well run and organise fun outings for the weekends.
At Ithemba your work will be supervised by the Centre Manager who will introduce you and create your working schedule.
Other volunteers
You most likely won’t be alone when volunteering in Port Elizabeth and you will meet both local and international volunteers. We get volunteers from all over the world - from the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the UK and many other countries.
Ithemba only has a limited amount of interns or volunteers due to the sensitive care needed for the children.
Accommodation
The Khaya Beach House is located in a prime spot in Port Elizabeth, close to beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, our Beach House is a comfortable and relaxing space that volunteers can call home. Rated as a 3-star backpackers by The South African Grading Council, The Khaya Beach House is a quiet sanctuary where volunteers can find refuge from the world and recharge their batteries after spending all day working at the project of their choice. It is a place where friendships are forged, and memories are made. Check out our article for more interesting facts!
The Beach House is fully furnished made up of various kitchens, living areas, ample bathrooms and 12 bedrooms that can accommodate those who prefer some privacy in a single room, such as older volunteers; and shared rooms for those who prefer sharing. A recent renovation project has breathed new life into the house with added features that include an entertainment area with braai facilities, a custom-made bar and a large pool that you can happily dive into on a hot day. A great area to socialize with your fellow volunteers from all over the world. The interior of the house is laid back and cosy with an African feel and boasts a panoramic sea, sunrise and sunset views for volunteers to enjoy during their leisure time.
Wireless internet is free; just bring your own laptop or any other device to access the Wi-Fi network.
We even have a fulltime cleaning lady, as we believe in offering local employment and also in offering clean and well-looked-after accommodation. All bedding is provided, but no towels, so please bring your own.
Depending on how busy it is, you will share a room with other volunteers - some rooms are very large, which offer dorm style accommodation (4 beds in a room), others are a bit smaller for only 2 volunteers sharing. Male and female volunteers will have separate rooms and bathrooms to use. We have a total of 6 bathrooms in the house.
If you would like to have a private room, we will gladly see if we can arrange that for a small surcharge per week. Couples and older volunteers will have preference for private rooms if available, but if you want to be guaranteed a private room we will charge this extra fee. Let us know if you want more information.
Meals
Three meals per day are included and we work on a set menu per week. There is free coffee, tea and cordial juice available at any time. For breakfast you will have toast, fruit yoghurt, cereal and/or eggs. For lunch you can have sandwiches with cheese, marmalade, cold meats or other spreads.
There will be variety in our dinners, since all of the volunteers have different skills and preferences. So, if you would like to show off your cooking skills, then please do!
Please tell our coordinators about any vegetarian requirements or food allergies.
Transport
Included in your fee is your daily transport. We have well-looked-after vehicles, which are properly insured and driven by our drivers who all have required Professional Driving Permits.
Transport to and from the volunteer house and the project is included, but if you want to go out after work or at the weekend, you will be able to walk during the day or use a taxi or Uber at night, at your own expense.
Your airport pickup is included in your fee when arriving on Monday or any other day of the week. If you choose to arrive on a weekend, we will gladly organize a cab to pick you up (or you can take an Uber) to any accommodation of your choice. We will collect you there on Monday morning at 9AM to start your stay with us.
If you prefer to come directly to us, or leave, over the weekend, we will charge an extra Weekend Fee of R200 (15 EUR) for your pickup or drop-off. An additional R250 (20 EUR) are charged per night for any extra nights outside of your booking dates. Please discuss your personal preference with us to make sure all is prepared for you.
Living with other Volunteers
As a volunteer from Khaya Volunteer Projects, you will be staying in a house with many different nationalities - which means you will eat together, work together and so on. We arrange an informal social on a weekly basis where you can relax and have some fun, getting to know other volunteers as well as your coordinators.
Every Friday is "Casual Day" and after your volunteering at your project we have our "Khaya Social Outing" - free of charge of course.
The outing is weather permitting. It can range from a trip to the beach where we can have a picnic and swim; we can go for a walk or a hike; to the city centre or even some retail therapy at the shopping mall. Or a pre-weekend drink at a pub - a good way to start your weekend after a long week of volunteering!
Fun stuff!
Our on-site volunteer coordinators will be there to assist with anything project-related, but we also provide a variety of fun social activities. Sandboarding down the giant dunes, having close encounters with peaceful pachyderms at Addo Elephant Park, hiking in the lush coastal countryside around Port Elizabeth…and much more. Extra costs for activities may apply. There will be something exciting on the program every weekend, so feel free to join in if you like! We are very open to suggestions - give us your ideas.
Fees & Dates
EURO
USD
GBP
8 weeks
€ 1,785.00
$1,900.00
£1,565.00
Extra Weeks
€ 160.00
$170.00
£175.00
EURO
USD
GBP
Long Term p/week 2018 (min 12 weeks)
€ 160.00
$200.00
£140.00
Long Term p/week 2019 (min 8 weeks)
€ 200.00
$245.00
£175.00
Included in the full Volunteering Fee:
Information and assistance before departure
Pick up upon arrival and drop off at the end of your stay
Welcome pack with information guide, free SIM-card, maps, etc. upon arrival
City Tour and Introduction Program
Accommodation in volunteer house close to the beach (7 nights per week of volunteering booked)
Onsite volunteer coordinator available 24/7
3 basic meals a day
15% direct donation to the project’s needs
Transfers to and from the project daily
Offer of weekend trips and outings (extra costs apply) to enjoy yourself on the weekends
At Khaya we believe in transparency and openness about where your money goes and how the fees are made up. Your fees go to a variety of costs (both short-term and long-term ) and cover staff costs, volunteer house (even when it is empty it needs to be paid for), and transport - but also includes a direct donation of 15% to the project.
We believe that the projects we work with need more than just your hands, they need money to keep their doors open, and pay for rent and electricity. That is why we believe that we need to include a monetary donation with the fees, so we can truly help to sustain our projects with their biggest needs.
If you have any questions about our fees, please do contact us and we can gladly explain more about this.
Starting dates
Starting your volunteer work is on Mondays only. If you will be arriving before Monday, we will gladly assist with accommodation and your pick up - extra days will be charged prorata.
On Monday, you will be given your introduction and shown around the area, so that on Tuesday you can start your volunteering work.
Participation is per full weeks only and the project will be closed for about 3 weeks over Christmas and New Year’s every year.
Add Ons To Your Trip
10% OFF on your Nomad Africa tour when booking through Khaya
Nomad Africa Adventure Tours offers organized tours over Africa. Whether you’re young or young at heart, adventurous or more relaxed, it doesn’t matter, you will always find a fitting tour with them.
Their tours ensure you safety and give you the chance to meet new friends along the way. They are an exciting way of travelling that allows you to explore the country and its surroundings at affordable rates and without having to worry about anything yourself!
And we can make it even better. If you book your next Nomad Tour with Khaya, you will get a 10% off the tour price! We have picked a few of our favorites to combine with this project, check them out below!
10% OFF on your BazBus tour when booking through Khaya
Hop-on Hop-off backpacker bus. Door-to-door. Meet interesting people. Safe and fun way to travel around South Africa. Great alternative to car hire.
Check out their travel options on their site, BazBus. By booking your Bazbus travel with Khaya, you will receive a 10% discount. If interested, please contact us and we’ll help you further with great pleasure.
10% or 20% OFF on your CapeXtreme Adventure when booking through Khaya
The best adventure company in Cape Town! They organize action packed activities and overland tours in Cape Town. On top of that they also do trips from Cape Town to Addo and the Port Elizabeth Area.
Surfing, cage diving, sandboarding, skydiving, everything is possible with Cape Xtreme. You can see the Garden Route or enjoy a day visiting the cape peninsula, or what do you think of a daytrip to Stellenbosch and Paarl for the most amazing wine tastings?
As a Khaya Volunteer, you can get an amazing discount of 10 or 20% depending on the adventure you book. After confirming your booking with us, you will get a voucher code that will ensure you your discount. Simply go to their website CapeXtreme , choose your tour and date, insert the voucher code, proceed to check-out, make your payment online, and enjoy the trip!
15% OFF on your Mzansi Travel when booking through Khaya
The most comfortable & affordable way to do Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Travel Tickets in South Africa. Meet fellow travelers. Fun stops along the way! Travelling on a small budget? Then Mzansi is definitely something for you.
Get a 15% discount on direct tickets, hop-on hop-off tickets and Mzansi Passes. After confirming your stay with us, you will get a voucher code sent to you that you can use on all your Mzansi bookings. Just go to their website Mzansi Travel, make your booking online use the voucher code and off you go!
