About
Protea Child Care Centre is a governmental organisation and functions as a place of safety for vulnerable children. This Place of Safety is situated in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and provides temporary accommodation for children between the ages of 6 to 12 years who have been removed from parental care in terms of the Child Care Act. The centre is part of the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development and Special Programs and children are placed here under court order.
The mission of Protea is to provide for the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of each child, by using a holistic and developmental approach. Children in their care are mostly placed at the centre because of physical and mental neglect and/or sexual abuse.
Protea can use assistance from interns in the following fields of studies:
- Social Work
- Child Care
- Pedagogic Studies
- Psychology
- Any other related social studies
Protea provides temporary residential care for approximately 50 children, who are divided into 3 groups: 20 Boys ( between age of 10-12), 10 Boys (between age of 6-9) and 20 Girls ( between the age of 6-12.
Tasks and Activities
A variety of programs can be part of your internship such as:
- Administration and Therapy for group or individual counselling
- Assisting of the care givers on various groups
- Assisting in the Primary School (own school on the premises)
- After-school care program
Profile of potential student interns
Since you are participating in a program that works with highly traumatized children, we have set some requirements for completing your internship at Protea. We are looking for students with the following skills:
- You are proficient in English
- You have great people’s skills and are easy to talk to
- You are independent and can use your own initiative
- You have a heart for working with children
- You have a problem solving attitude
- You can work well in a team and can interact well with all staff
- We require our students to apply for a police clearance from their home country
Project needs
There is, besides daily aid and assistance, also a need for financial support. Any possible gifts and donations provided by interns and their network of people are extremely appreciated.
Working days and hours
Normal working hours are from 8:00am until 15.30pm, Friday until 12.00 and weekends are off.
School Holidays
During school holidays we shift our focus to holiday programs for the youth. Please keep in mind that the summer holidays in South Africa run from early December to mid-January and that we will be closed for 3 weeks over Christmas and New Year.
Daily guidance
One of the Khaya coordinators will pick you up from the airport and show you around. They prepare you for your work activities at the project and will be assisting you during your stay. They will transport you to and from the project, make sure the house is clean and meals are ready and organize fun outings for the weekends.
At the centre, you will be supervised by one of the Protea staff members according to your study requirements.
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 interns from the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the UK and other countries.
Accommodation
YOUR ACCOMMODATION
Superbly located in a prime spot in Port Elizabeth, close to beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, our Lodge accommodation is a comfortable and relaxing space that volunteers can call home. Rated as 3-star backpackers by The South African Grading Council, the lodge is a quiet sanctuary where volunteers can find relax and enjoy this time with others. It is a place where friendships are forged, and memories are made.
The Lodge is made up of various spaces, living areas, bathrooms and 3 bedrooms with other rooms optional for couples and older volunteers. The house has a nice entertainment area with barbecue (braai) facilities, a comfortable lounge with fireplace and a sparkling 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 Lodge is laid back and cosy with an African feel.
MEALS
Three meals per day are included and we work on a set menu per week, lovingly prepared by our cook with your assistance. There is free coffee, tea and drinking water available at any time.
For breakfast you will have continental buffet with a choice of bread, fruit, yoghurt, cereals and/or eggs.
For lunch, you can make your own sandwiches with cheese, marmalade, cold meat or other spreads to take with you to the project.
Dinners are a variety of hearty healthy meals such as soups, stews, pies, oven dishes and other options.
We cater for vegetarians and vegans but please inform us before arriving to prepare accordingly.
TRANSPORT
Airport transfers are included in your fee. We also include your daily transport to your project and back to the accommodation.
If you would like to go out after hours and on weekends you can easily book an Uber or Bolt.
OTHER VOLUNTEERS
We host volunteers from all around the world including the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the UK and many other countries.
Fees & Dates
| DURATION: |
EURO |
USD |
GBP |
| Long Term p/week (min 12 weeks) |
€ 210,00 |
$235,00 |
£190,00 |
Included in the full Volunteering Fee:
- Information and assistance before departure
- Pick up upon arrival and drop off at the end of your stay (on week days)
- Free 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
- Transfers to and from the project daily
Excluded are the following:
- Private expenses
- Costs for weekend outings to safari parks etc.
- Air tickets
- Insurance
Where does my money go?
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 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 pro-rata.
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 all our projects 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!
7 Day Tours:
14 Day Tours:
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!
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