4 - 52 weeks
from € 1.350
Namibia

Volunteer work in the soup kitchen in Namibia

  • Urban everyday life
  • High recreational value
  • Diverse cuisine

The Soup Kitchen is located in a socially weak outskirts of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Up to 500 toddlers and older school children are given a warm meal there and are looked after in a safe environment - an enormously important contact point in the often hard everyday life.

Location icon Windhoek
Minimum age icon from 17 years
Icon Duration 4 - 52 weeks / from €1.350
Departure days icon Wednesday, Sunday
Sustainable Development Goal 2 - No Hunger
Not hungry

End hunger, achieve food security and better nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Project ID : FA-NA213

As a volunteer
Namibia

4 - 52 weeks / from €1.350
to the cost overview

Register now
Volunteer work in the soup kitchen in Namibia

What's the matter?

In Namibia, almost 30% of the population live on just US$ 1,25 per day. In addition, a large part of Namibia's inhabitants is very young, approx. 43% of Namibians are under 18 years of age. In addition, around 165.000 of those under the age of 18 live in extreme poverty (cf. Unicef). The children's parents usually work and are unable to look after them during the day. This is where our soup kitchen comes in. Because the dedicated staff and our volunteers offer these children a safe haven.

The soup kitchen is located in Windhoek and consists of a small corrugated iron hut. There, local children receive a warm meal every day. The soup kitchen is in a community center and is run by a pastor. Tuesday to Thursday we cook for around 150 children. The project starts at 7 a.m. and volunteers cook together with the local volunteers from Namibia. The food is prepared until 10 a.m. and on different days children come from different schools in the area. Children are selected by the school, and those who either never or rarely bring their own food are allowed to use the soup kitchen. At around 10:30 a.m. the children make their way back to school, where they do the dishes in the community center. The volunteers can then go to the elementary school around 11:00 a.m. and support there until 13:00 p.m.

The volunteers should also sing and play with the children. Blackboards, chalk, pens and paper are usually available. However, the working conditions and the hygienic conditions cannot be compared with Central Europe. There is a huge rush of children at the deployment site every day - the majority of the little ones speak English. Homework support, set up by volunteers, is offered twice a week in the afternoon. On Mondays and Fridays, the volunteers only visit the elementary school, which is located right next to the community center.

The aim of your project work is to support those responsible for the soup kitchen and to look after the children in the area. Helping hands are always welcome here.

Your tasks as a volunteer

As a volunteer, you support your new colleagues with childcare. For example, you sing or play with the little ones. Your protégés also love reading stories. You can practice reading, writing and arithmetic with the older children and keep them busy in small groups.

At lunchtime you are busy distributing the food. The portions can often be small, but the children already feel strengthened for the After School Club with a small meal. Here you can pass on important rules of conduct, such as saying "thank you" after a plate has been accepted. You also need to learn how to wash your hands properly.

The After School Club takes place twice a week, where you volunteer to help with your homework in the afternoons. The children look forward to new educational games and activities with you.

For your volunteer work, you will be picked up by the staff from the Student House in the morning. So you can start the working day together around 10:30 a.m. From around 11 a.m. the smaller children are cared for, sung and played with them. Around 13 p.m. there is a change, because the small children go home and older children come to the facility. Food is usually served between 13:30 p.m. and 14:30 p.m. After that you are free. Your breaks are flexible. The after-school club takes place two days a week in the afternoon until 17:00 p.m.

Accommodation Catering

Volunteer House in Windhoek

You live in an international volunteer house. Here the volunteers have double rooms (separated by gender) available. The bathrooms are shared with the roommates on the floor and the communal kitchens with all residents of the house. There is also a small balcony and another outdoor area with a barbecue.

Some of the residents come from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and many other countries - so here you have the unique opportunity to make many international contacts.

There are housekeeping staff to keep the bathrooms and floors clean. However, you are responsible for the cleanliness of your room and you also take care of tasks such as washing the dishes after breakfast. To wash your clothes, you can use the laundry service for N$80 (approx. 4,80 euros) per 3kg of laundry.

Food will be provided to you at the Volunteer House, which you can use to prepare your breakfast. These include oatmeal, porridge, toast and peanut butter, as well as coffee, tea and milk. You can easily buy more in the surrounding area. There is a gas station, shops, restaurants and bars where you can shop. It takes about five to ten minutes to get there by taxi. You can also use the taxi to drive to your location. Depending on your project, it will take you about 20 to 25 minutes to get there.

There are also plans for joint activities: every two weeks, the team and volunteers go out to eat together or meet up for a sundowner.

Guesthouse in Windhoek

As an alternative to the Volunteer House, there is the option of staying in the guesthouse with up to 9 other volunteers. The rooms at the property can be booked as either single rooms or shared rooms and are each equipped with a bathroom and a small kitchen with a mini oven and 2 hotplates. Outside there is a barbecue area and a pool.

Here, too, you will be provided with food that you can use to prepare your breakfast. These include toast, peanut butter, oatmeal, porridge, milk, sugar, coffee and tea. You can easily buy more in the surrounding area. About a 20-minute walk away is Wernhil Park, a shopping center with a large grocery store.

The Volunteer House is only about 300 meters away, which means nothing stands in the way of contact and joint activities with the other volunteers.

Location

Windhoek

Owe Uya Po! - Welcome to Namibia!

Namibia is the northern neighboring country of South Africa and only very sparsely populated. For this reason, you have the chance to discover breathtaking natural landscapes and a fascinating world of flora and fauna. Our main location in Namibia is the state capital Windhoek. 

The lively and varied city is located in the middle of Namibia's interior. About 460.000 people live here. In Windhoek you will find neo-baroque buildings, modern skyscrapers, colorful markets, green parks and densely populated townships right next to each other. Outside, various deserts impress with their unique atmospheres. Of course, the multicultural city also has a lot to offer in culinary terms: from traditional African to Asian to Mediterranean and more.

Urban lifestyle, deserts and breathtaking sunsets - these are just some of the things that await you in Windhoek. So let's go!

Free time in Windhoek

Your free time in Windhoek

Windhoek offers a variety of leisure activities for every taste. One of the most famous sights is the Christ Church, which was built in 1910 and is an example of German colonial architecture. You can also get an insight into the exciting history and culture of Namibia in the Namibia National Museum, for example, which has a fascinating collection of artefacts and exhibits. 

You can also spend your free time in the Daan Viljoen National Park, which is only a few kilometers from the city of Windhoek. There you can go hiking or camping, but also game viewing and even horseback riding is possible. 

The dunes of Sossusvlei, a salt-clay pan near Windhoek, are also perfect for outdoor activities. These dunes are among the highest in the world and offer breathtaking views of the Namib Desert. If you are a sports enthusiast, you can even try quad biking, sandboarding or camel riding there.  

Also, don't miss the local markets in Windhoek. The Katutura Township Market is known for its unique handicrafts and local specialties. This is also a great place to chat with locals and learn more about the country and how people live. 

On-site procedure

Arrival in Windhoek

Arrival in Windhoek

After landing in Windhoek, a taxi driver will be waiting for you at the airport to welcome you and take you to your accommodation. The drive to your accommodation takes about 45 minutes. Rest a bit and admire the grandiose landscape that passes you by!

Orientation in Windhoek

Orientation program in Windhoek

On the first two days on site you have time to get used to your new home and your surroundings. You get to know your roommates - students and volunteers from all over the world! You can settle into your room and explore the area. To make it easier for you to settle in, the team will bring you closer to Namibia and everyday life on site during the approximately three-hour orientation program. Our team will introduce you to the use of public transport/ taxis and explain how to withdraw money or go shopping. You will also go to one of the many cafés in Windhoek together. You will find out what customs and customs there are and how the people here organize their everyday life.

Volunteering in Windhoek

Your first day in the project

You can start your project work the day after the orientation program. Together with a team member, you drive to your assignment site, get to know your contact persons and become familiar with the area. Depending on how much previous knowledge you have and depending on the assessment and needs of the local specialists, you will be introduced to the work or given your own tasks straight away.

Pricing

  • base fee
    € 1.350, -
    4 weeks of participation
  • extension week
    € 160, - / week
    up to 48 weeks

included
Services

Before departure

  • Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
  • Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
  • Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
  • Non-binding flight advice
  • Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
  • RGV t-shirt

On site

  • Orientation program with the team on site
  • Support and guidance from the on-site team
  • RGV 24h emergency number
  • Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
  • Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
  • Accommodation in Volunteer House
  • Meals: Basic foods for breakfast are provided

After return

  • Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
  • Reflection course on your experiences abroad
  • Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
useful additional services

not included
Services

  • Round trip
  • Private expenses on site
  • Excursions with microlight flights
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Visa and Vaccinations
  • All nights outside your agreed accommodation
  • Public transport and extra transfers
  • Daily drive to the project
  • Drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Picture must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

Flight booking icon
" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Flight offers with maximum flexibility

Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.

The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.

These special tariffs give you special added value:

  • maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
  • generous baggage allowance
  • Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Insurance icon
" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
The 4 in 1 insurance cover for volunteers and internships abroad

You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.

The following building blocks are included:

  • Health Insurance
  • Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
  • Travel insurance

Windhoek Team
site

Our team leader awaits you in Windhoek Stefanie. She comes from Germany and studied social pedagogy and social work as well as international action skills in Regensburg. Stefanie is supported by a team. They are your contacts on site, will be there to support you during your stay and will be happy to help you with any questions you may have. Welcome to the "Smile of Africa"!

Portrait team in Windhoek, Namibia

Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!

Testimonials

My time as a volunteer in a soup kitchen in Windhoek, Namibia

Although it was very exhausting and also stressful to see so much poverty, it was an absolute enrichment, full of moments of happiness, to be able to help in so many ways in this project and to show initiative in many unusual situations.
Testimonials

Experience report of volunteering with children in Namibia

During this time I learned so much and experienced so much. I've learned to appreciate more what you have at home, to just be happy with what you have and not to always want more and more.
Testimonials

My experiences as a childcare and wildlife volunteer in Namibia

My time in Namibia was indescribably beautiful for me and I would recommend it to anyone! I would do it again anytime.
Testimonials

Volunteering at a soup kitchen in Namibia

Hi! I'm Emma and I was a volunteer in a soup kitchen in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, from January to March 2022. I can say that my time in Namibia was probably the best time of my life so far!

More testimonials
Browse our magazine

RGV FAQ
to the project

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

What visa do I need in Namibia? (Windhoek)

For Namibia, a work visa must be applied for for a stay of up to 90 days, which costs around €105.

If your stay lasts longer than 90 days, you must also apply for a special work visa. It costs around €235.

What language skills do I need for the project?

In order to be able to communicate well with the team on site, you should definitely have good English skills.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?

If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

When does the social project always take place?

You can register for social projects all year round. But note that during the local school holidays In some countries, child care is limited or not available at all. Contact usif you are unsure whether the project will be managed in your desired time frame.

What are the requirements for the social project?

There are no special requirements for participation. What is important is enjoyment of working with children, a sense of responsibility, exemplary behavior, use of appropriate language, initiative and empathy. Comfortable clothing appropriate for a children's center is recommended, as is clothing that can get dirty (when painting, for example). Smoking should not be allowed in the presence of children.

What do I need to bring for the social project?

When working on the project, you must wear proper clothing that covers your knees and shoulders.

You are also welcome to bring small gifts for the children, such as pens, colored pencils, balloons, stickers or soap bubbles.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to get involved as a volunteer in Namibia? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

Register now

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

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With RGV you achieve flexible volunteer work in different countries worldwide. Maybe there is one too Internship abroad the ideal choice for you to gain valuable experience abroad.

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