📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Southern Africa Workcamps Association is a nonprofit, non-governmental organisation, which
encompass workcamps and voluntary movements from Southern Africa and it is has some
partnership status with the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Services
(CCIVS). In the spirit of south-south cooperation as well as building capacity among member
organisation the three sister SAWC member organisation agreed to have a joint Regional,
International Volunteer project named as isitimela. Isitimela is a Zulu word which means train.
Train is one mode of transport which was used by people from all over Southern Africa to travel
to Johannesburg in search of employment in the gold and diamond mines. The regional
international volunteer project will involve three countries namely Lesotho, South Africa and
Zimbabwe. Each Member country will host the international volunteers for one week. The
project will start in Zimbabwe, after one week the volunteers will move to South Africa, from
South Africa the Volunteer will travel to Lesotho
💼 What the programme involves
Work Zimbabwe: The orphanage is a safe house for abused and vulnerable children in Victoria
Falls. Since its inception in 2008, the orphanage has housed and saved many children who are
dumped by their parents due to unwanted pregnancies and some have the most shocking stories
you have ever heard. The orphanage is open to volunteers from 0900am to 1700hrs each day. In
close collaboration the volunteers will work with the local community in creating some
educational programmes for the kids, offer some socio life support skills, preparing meals for the
kids, general cleaning and Maintance of the children centre as well as creating some leisure activities for the
Work South Africa: Abuse & Poverty are the main contributing factors to street children and
abandoned baby in South Africa. Volunteers will get first hand activities such as baby minding
and cleaning the house. Other activities will be mentioned with consultation with volunteers as
well as matron consultation what exactly needs to be carried out during the work camp. Other
activities will include helping out at South Africa Volunteer Work camp After School
Programme in Soshanguve too.
Work Lesotho: Ts’enekeng. Ts’enekeng Primary School is one of our branches which consist of
students, vulnerable youth and community affected by the plight of AIDS. The volunteers will
work with the community on roofing two classrooms which was left unroofed due to lack of
finances. A communal garden will also be constructed for planting vegetables for vulnerable
community members, such as those with disability, those without parents or other plights. In the
evening sessions on human rights, HIV and AIDS and life skills will be conducted for in-school
and out-school youth in the area.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Basic Information Zimbabwe
Accommodation: Volunteer Guest house - Volunteers should bring their own sleeping bags and
a small mattress. Running water, water system toilets will be used.
Location: Victoria Falls Language: English
Leisure Activities: Weekends are meant to be for free tours that the group can organize by
themselves. All our work camps are reserved for cultural nights when each volunteer can present
her/his country and culture.
What to bring: Warm clothes, sleeping bag, sun cream, mosquito spray/lotion, sandals,
working gloves and closed shoes are advisable. Rain coat, light working clothes during working
hours and warm clothes at night, as it may turn out to be chilly; Torch or flash light. Do not bring
jewellery or items of personal value pleas
Basic Information South Africa
Accommodation: Accommodation will be in rooms at the project center in Soshanguve,
Pretoria. Participants will be required to bring their own sleeping bags. The accommodation has
a simple bathroom with shower and there is running water. The accommodation and work place
have flushing toilets and do have electricity.
Language: The community has multi-cultural people and English is mostly spoken with local
languages such as Sotho, Zulu, and Tshwana to name a few.
Basic Information Lesotho
Accommodation: Ts’enekeng community. Volunteers are advised to bring their own sleeping
bags and their tents as an option to community houses offered. Internet, supermarkets and
banking might be inaccessible except in Maseru City.
Location: Ts’enekeng, Semonkong, near Maletsunyane Falls, 143kms out of Maseru, the Capital
Language: English and Sesotho
Special Remarks: This community is made up of mainly, illiterate members such as herdboys
(shepherds) and young mothers.
⚠️ Requirements
The participates will contribute €150 per week per organisation, paid on arrival. The fee covers
orientation, evaluation, monitoring, project set up, office running/administrative expenses,
supporting small community projects running of activities during the project, certificate of
participation, accommodation, feeding at camp and communication prior to, during and after the
camp. Volunteers will participate in an orientation day after arrival charge, Participations are
advised to reserve €100 for, transport from Victoria Falls to Semonkong in Lesotho.
The Participation fee €450 does not cover the following.
Internal travels to and from the project station. Refreshment outside the project Air
ticket, excursions, visa and insurance Local travel and personal effects.