Teaching in South Africa Experience report

Travel preparation

After completing my bachelor's degree, I decided to support a voluntary project at relatively short notice. After comparing several organizations online I settled on RGV in Cape Town. The preparation for my new adventure was surprisingly very easy, as I was in constant contact with RGV via telephone and email. For example, you got a travel guide with various tips and the flight was booked together over the phone.

Accommodation in Student House in Cape Town

I was staying at the student house and I think it's the best place for volunteering. In my time there were always around twenty people in the house aged between 16 and 29. There was always something to do and it never got boring. We cooked & grilled together, had numerous adventures in Cape Town, made trips around South Africa and sometimes watched a movie to relax. Although there were also negative aspects such as uncleanliness and minor disputes or bitching, but with such a large number of people in the house, this is normal. Nonetheless, the benefits of staying in the student house outweigh the disadvantages, especially if you are there for a shorter period of time!

My project in a primary school

I worked in a primary school and assisted the teachers in teaching a sixth grade. The school was about 25 minutes (by car) from the Student House. We were all quite tired on the way there in the morning, but with loud music and the adventurous traffic we were able to bridge the time well. FYI: In South Africa you drive on the left side of the road!

Incredibly great Cape Town

Cape Town is an incredible city with incredible landscapes! You can experience so many things that you have to manage your time really well. It's hard to single out just a few of the many adventures, but the Cape of Good Hope is a real MUST. In addition, you should definitely climb the top of Table Mountain and Lion Heads on foot. For the people who like adrenaline rushes, skydiving is an absolute must. Because who can claim to have done something like that in Cape Town. Also worth mentioning is the Safari Tour, Robben Island and Signal Hill.

Conclusion: a beautiful but far too short time

The trip with RGV in Cape Town was a wonderful time with many great experiences. I made many new friends, got to know a new culture and experienced numerous adventures. Unfortunately, four weeks is far too short to get to know the city, the culture and the people in peace. I would recommend everyone to stay at least 6 weeks.

Report by Martin P.