Calum's year volunteering in South Africa

Calum's year volunteering in South Africa Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Calum's year volunteering in South Africa, Education Website, Simon's Town.

Today I was involved with the horse riding session this is when the child sits on the horse and is lead by the horse tra...
24/09/2018

Today I was involved with the horse riding session this is when the child sits on the horse and is lead by the horse trainer.

The horse trainer explained to me that riding a horse is a form of therapy for many different things from addiction to trauma. It can be therapeutic because horse's are considered calm and peaceful animals that reflect these qualities onto the person riding the horse.

The walk took place in a open green area in the countryside with hills to be seen in the distance my role was to walk behind the horse act as a support in guiding the horse it was a long but very enjoyable walk!

24/09/2018

A couple of days ago was volunteers day at the children's home this is were all the volunteers come together and do several activities from getting to know the other volunteers better to training by child care workers.Then we have lunch all together afterwards.

The day started off with a group session where the volunteers where to stand in a circle and connect hands with two people across from us then try and untangle our hands without letting go of the hands we were connected to. This was difficult however was a nice active activity to start with after this we where given a talk from a childcare worker who gave useful advice and tips and allowed time for us to ask questions.

After this the director of the children's home gave us a talk about the childrens home and also said he would like us to do a dance routine to entertain the children at the end of term presentation in the next couple of weeks all the volunteers were up for the challenge. Then the staff member present and other fellow volunteers shared a lunch with us.

Today I attended the "Future champions" sports day consisting of about 5 children's home competing in all athletics disc...
15/09/2018

Today I attended the "Future champions" sports day consisting of about 5 children's home competing in all athletics disciplines: 100 meters,long jump, 200 meters, short jump, relay, across all ages from the under 5s right up until the Children's home staff.

Planning for Today's activity started yesterday evening just before I went on night shift at 19:00. As their was a quick meeting at a hall announcing who would compete at what event. After the meeting they all left the hall all the children where extremely excited for the athletics it was like they clicked on a switch making them full of energy from them listening to the coach attentively to discussing the event between themselves which spread and spread flickering like wild fire all the children where outside of the houses and where running around very excited some had drums and were making a nice beat some had jumping space hopper's and all where chanting and singing songs.

The only way to describe the atmosphere was it was like carnival took place in Rio if Brazil won a football match thus spirits where all running extremely high. At one point a wee boy was scared of the dark ran into the dark and was crying and scared to I helped guide him back to the house and calmed him down and told him everything will be okay.

Once they had calmed down slightly,not by much, I then had the almighty task of settling them which was challenging however mission was completed especially as I reminded all them them that Usain Bolt does not stay up all night and dance and sing before his Olympic final.

So when the day of the athletics arrived I was exhausted after having night shift the night before and not sleeping.

Buses came to pick everyone up at 7:15 am. The event started at 8 with a Olympic style flag procession with the childrens home banners the other volunteers joined the kids and staff in attending the procession.

After procession the national anthem of South Africa was sung then their was quick speech by organisers who informed us all that the event this year will be dedicated to at 19 year old boy who lived at one of the childrens home competing and who used to win lots of medals at previous 'future champion' events who had been brutally stabbed to death. It just made me reflect on how this young boy could of been a 'future champion' and was taken so young.

After all sporting events where done at 4:30pm involving lots of singing dancing and taking the small kids to the toilet. The results where in and the children's home I am volunteering with- WON! I was completely exhausted but was nice to see the kids where so happy. Now back on night shift and it is accurate to say that it did not take long to settle the boys as they where all tired from a very successful sports day and so I am.

Today after my night shift finished at 7 I was lucky enough to travel with other volunteers to a place called Boulder be...
11/09/2018

Today after my night shift finished at 7 I was lucky enough to travel with other volunteers to a place called Boulder beach with hundreds of penguins on a very beautiful sandy beach it was incredible

then after that we went further up the coast to another beach with colourful huts and beautiful back drop of table mountain.

This was my first trip in Cape Town and it was amazing now on night shift.

11/09/2018

I have had a very busy and challenging first few days at the children's home where I am volunteering for this year. The Children's home is located in a rich suburb of Cape Town in order to give the children who come from troubling family backgrounds a nice peaceful place to live in.

My volunteer work started the day I arrived when I did a night shift starting 7.00pm and ending at 7:00am. It consisted of settling the boys to bed and then sitting in the corridor and waking some of them up to go to the toilet and then waking all of them up at 5:00 am for school.

This is probably the most challenging thing I have ever done especially as I am having to learn on the job of what exactly to do but it has been very rewarding.

To help in a small way especially considering that many of the children have no parents to look after them and for the hours I am working that I am looking after them and caring for them..

Now since I have done a second night shift I am more confident on what I have to do and not as unsure. I am settling in well I feel even after finding the first day tough.

09/09/2018

Just in the Airport waiting to fly to Cape Town!

Here is a video from yesterday's trip: some traditional Soweto Zulu Dancing

My tour of Soweto today was a incredible insight into South African's history and culture. We started the tour by visit...
08/09/2018

My tour of Soweto today was a incredible insight into South African's history and culture.

We started the tour by visiting a village called 'Elias motsaoledi' named after a famous ANC member who got killed the day before apartheid ended.

The ANC is the current governing party in South Africa a famous member was Nelson Mandela and was a organisation set up to oppose apartheid when it occurred.

The village was very basic with all the huts not having running water or electricity and with so many people in such small space which was really shocking however they where very happy with the little they had and did dancing to entertained themselves it truly shows how fortunate we are in the UK.

After the tour we visited Hector Petierson apartheid museum which was dedicated to Hector who got brutally killed by being shot by Jo'burg police for protesting against Afrikaans being implemented as the only language taught in school during the Soweto uprising he was aged 13.

It was really amazing hear about these school children's stories who where extremely brave and stood up against apartheid.

We then visited Regina Mundi church which was a centre of protest of apartheid. The guide who showed us around told us that the church was a place where student's against apartheid group and Jo'burg police clashed he also showed us gun shot holes still in the church and where Nelson Mandela spoke and signed in the visitors book and where Michelle Obama gave a talk.

Tomorrow I fly to Cape Town which is exciting and is the next step in my Journey

All is go! That is me now arrived after my eleven hour flight from London to South Africa to one of it's largest cities...
07/09/2018

All is go!

That is me now arrived after my eleven hour flight from London to South Africa to one of it's largest cities- Johannesburg. Today was consumed with sorting sim cards and making sure bank cards are working.

Tomorrow will commence two days further training with the South African co-ordinator and visiting the township Soweto and then the apartheid museum.

Then early morning on Sunday I will be flying to Cape town to start my volunteering in the children's home where I will do my first shift which is a night shift from 7pm to 7am all is go and going well.

It is now under 7 weeks till I will be flying from Glasgow to South Africa as part of my gap year volunteering in a chil...
16/07/2018

It is now under 7 weeks till I will be flying from Glasgow to South Africa as part of my gap year volunteering in a children's home located on the outskirts of Cape town.

As preparation and as the start of my gap year journey I attended a training course last week where I travelled to the remote island of coll where I was informed of important information and skills to help me while I'm their.

I met some amazing individuals who I will be going with, I look forward to seeing them in Africa in the very near future.

16/07/2018

hello and Welcome to my page!

this page will keep you up-to-date with my journey volunteering In a children's home in South Africa throughout the year

I have fundraised all the money I am required to raise and I want to say a massive thank you to all those who made donations, gave their time, hosted and attended events to make my year volunteering possible.

I leave for SA this September so look out for posts then.

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Simon's Town

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