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
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
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!
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!
