Our Origins
Africa United Volunteers was founded by a group of international volunteers whom I hosted in 2016. They met each other at my house for the first time and one evening at the dinner table, and came up with the idea that I start my own volunteers organization. What a vibrant group of young ladies they were. They came from Germany, Sweden, America, and Norway – so you can imagine the diverse conversations at the dinner table over a period of 6 months. the beauty of it all is that they remain friends up to this day, and 3 of them returned to Cape Town to live with us.
The program is twofold.
We have young adults (students 18 and older) who wish to volunteer at organizations and teenagers (14 to 18 years old) who attend local schools.
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Young adults
We found that this experience is somewhat different to the school program. After volunteering for a while, they will appreciate the passion with which we work, as well as the organization’s philosophy to not only provide them with nice memories, but to change something for the better, and make a sustainable impact and create an environment/experience from which both benefits, ie the volunteer and the Organization.
Our Volunteer Programme includes the following:
Education / Child Care
Day Care | Orphanage | Children with Learning Disabilities
Health & Wellbeing
Special Needs Children (Physically Challenged) | Elderly (Frail care)
Community Service (Primary Schools)
Arts and Culture at NPO’s | Sport | Activities
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Teenagers
This programme is geared towards teenagers ranging from the ages of 14 to 18 years old. These young people are welcomed into a warm South African family, attend a local school, and improve their English while making lifelong friends along the way.
Partnerships
We are fortunate enough to be able to partner with several credible public and private high schools and organizations who are committed to ensuring a memorable exchange experience for both foreign and local students alike. Each school has its own liaison person/school coordinator that has been identified by the school to assist students and host families with school related matters. The same method applies to the student that is placed at an Organization to Volunteer. We are proud that this understanding is a life-long and far-reaching result of our program.
Our success
The program has been running successfully for many years, it offers foreign students an exciting yet safe opportunity to immerse themselves into the vibrant culture we have in South Africa. We are driven by the belief that travel and living in other countries increases confidence and maturity in a young person, and promotes understanding and tolerance amongst cultures. We provide them with a service that not only shows the way everything is organized, but we also help the person in their personal growth and development.
Gallery
Testimonials
Unforgettable
“We were hosted by family Levendall during an internship in South Africa in July 2015. We very much appreciated their hospitality and kindness. They showed us around in the city of Cape Town and discussed with us the life in South Africa. It was a pleasant stay which we will never forget. Seven years later, we are still in contact and they offered us all possible help when I inquired about a possible new research internship
in Cape Town. Very much recommended!”
Hildert Bronkhorst
Coolest host parents
From: your favourite Argentinian host daughter (Cata).
To: The coolest host parents (Cathy & Barry).
For Cathy and Barry.
The only thing that I can say is THANK YOU, you did a lot of things for me, and I’ll always be grateful. I know (and every exchange student knows) that you are the best host parents. Always trying to help us, making us laugh a lot, teaching everything and giving us a lot of food (smile face). You make my exchange an amazing experience and now I have a lot of funny memories (like Cathy almost moore 3 people).
I’m so glad that I met you, your family and your friends’ thanks for giving me this opportunity. Don’t forget about me, that in the future I’ll come back, or you can come to Argentina (I know Barry wants to go, after visiting Cuba). I’m going to miss you a lot. I wish you all the best in your life
ALLES VAN DIE BEST.
Cata
Best volunteering program
I was looking for an organisation to volunteer in during my stay in Cape Town for a year, but planning and booking a whole trip, accomodation and work online was as overwhelming as it could get. I stumbled upon Africa United Volunteers’s website by accident and sent a request. Cathy advised, and coordinated with the best suited program’ supervisor, supplied all the documents and information and helped the process be as smooth as possible for me. All I had to do was apply for a Visa. When I arrived, Cathy and her family were so accommodating and helpful in assisting in my transition. They accompanied me throughout the whole year and intervened when necessary as mediator with the program. Though there never was a need for concern, as the program they paired me with was perfectly fitting to my needs, and everyone I worked with were absolute wonders of human beings. The whole team along with Cathy’s Organisation were extremely supportive and attentive, offered me opportunities to learn and were always present to advise or consult when need be. I met incredible people, both while staying at Cathy’s or within the program. Friends that have become family and an experience I will never forget. I am looking forward to coming back to my South African home and family. I am so thankful for Cathy and her family for their constant assistance and the warm and loving home they have provided for a stranger, and the best volunteering program I have ever participated in.