We’re delighted that you’re interested in volunteering forDurban Children’s Welfare. Please read this information carefully and also read the FAQ’s on the website. If you have any other questions email us at and if you decide to apply, please download the application form and the guidance notes from the website or email us so we can send them to you.Application deadline: Sunday 31st January 2016 midnight.

Project summary

There is the opportunity for a team of volunteers to travel to South Africa for four weeks on the30th July 2016. Volunteers will be assigned to one of three amazing projects including Durban Children’s Welfare (DCW).

DCWis a centre for young people who have been victims of abuse, or have been abandoned or orphaned due to HIV and Aids. It’s two homes, the Edith Benson baby’s home and William Clarke children’s home are based in the Sherwood district of Durban.Unfortunately many of the young people have had a very difficult start to life and are HIV positive and DCW aims to give them the medical attention, education and care that they need. Volunteers stay in a near by backpackers hostel and will travel to the DCW to work from 9 to 5 every day.There is the option to stay on for some (self-funded) free time at the end of the four weeks.

Durban Children’s Welfare and the volunteer work

Durban Children's Welfare was constituted on the 1stOctober 1999 as a result of the merger between Durban Child and Family Welfare Society, Child Family and Community Care Centre, and Umlazi and District Child Welfare Society. The former Durban Child and Family Welfare Society and Child, Family and Community Care Centre had 81, 73 and 75 years of service respectively.

William Clark Gardens/Edith Benson’s Children's Home, situated in Sherwood is registered for 200 children and accepts children from birth to 18 years of age. Edith Benson Babies Home is a section of WCG/OCH that is reserved for babies and toddlers. Within this structure is the Special Care Unit that provides for the special needs of HIV positive and terminally ill children and children who are mentally or physically challenged. The majority of children are abandoned or orphaned with an ever increasing number of HIV infected sick children placed. Since manyof the children are young (under five years) there is much movement and focus on finding family care placements with foster or adoptive parents.

In the morning volunteers will help the childcare workers (called auntie’s) looking after baby’s and children aged from 1 day to 5 years. Work will include playing, helping the aunties with their daily routine of changing, washing and caring for the young people. Sometimes there may be a chance to help with taking the children on excursions.

In the afternoon volunteersgo to William Clarke Garden’s children’s home for young people aged from 6 to 18 years. At William Clarke the young people live in six cottages, looked after by their house auntie or uncle. Each volunteer is assigned to a cottage and will spend time with the young people in the afternoon once they get home from school, helping with homework, chores, organising afternoon activities, playing games and generally becoming a friend to everyone in the cottage.

Project details

Dates - The group will depart on 31stJuly 2016 and return after four weeks volunteering on approx 28th August 2016 or if you would like a week free time you would return on 4th September 2016.

Travel - The team will meet up at Leeds Beckett and travel together by minibus to the airport. The flights haven’t yet been finalised but volunteers will normally fly to Durban. Volunteers will then be collected from Durban and taken to the accommodation. You will take a taxi to and from the children’s homes every day.

Support for volunteers– Your Team Leader is a staff member called Mary and she will be travelling as part of the group and will be there to support the volunteers. In addition the Durban Children’s Welfare staff will make you feel welcomed, supported and well equipped to do your work. The staff in the volunteering office at Leeds Beckett will also be on hand and there will be someone on call 24/7 for the duration of your trip.

Accommodation– volunteers will stay in dorm rooms at The Happy Hippo Backpackers Hostel, which is close to the beach area of Durban.The Sports Coaching Project volunteers will also be based there.

Free time – the working hours will be set most days and you will have someplanning and other preparation but it won’t be all work though and there will be some free time during the four weeks to relax on the beaches, hang out with your new friends or take part in some of the many cultural activities that are easy to organise. After the project work has finished, volunteers are free to explore and travel if they wish for the rest of the time. Please note that you will need to plan and fund this part of the trip yourself. Don’t worry; we can give you ideas of things to do depending on your budget.

The costs

The overall cost for each volunteer is about £1400 (including return flights to South Africa, transfers in the UK and accommodation). However all students are eligible for a £200 bursary off this cost if this is their first Leeds Beckett international Volunteering project.

What’s included:

  • Flights
  • Accommodation for 4 weeks volunteering
  • Insurance
  • Transfers in the UK and Durban
  • Team hoodie and two t-shirts
  • Handbook

What isn’t included:

  • Spending money – we recommend £10-£15 per day
  • The cost of the free time in week five
  • Vaccinations

Pre-departure activities and commitments

There’s quite a lot for volunteers to do before departure. If you are interested in applying you must make sure that you will have enough time to prepare for the trip in between your studies and your work. As well as fundraising activities there will be compulsory team meetings. In addition to this you will need to do fundraising some of which will be as a group and some you will probably do on your own. There will be other compulsory meetings to help you get prepared for the experience and talks about essential health information and environmental issues. Although it’s not spread evenly, we’d recommend allowing an average of 3 hours a week from when you find out you get a place to departure.

Don’t forget that the preparation for the trip will add to your personal development!

Below is a list of key dates. Dates for the sessions that are not listed below will be sent out to the team or agreed in the first team meeting.

9th December / 1st Team Meeting
February tbc / 2nd Team Meeting
March tbc / 3rd Team Meeting
April tbc / 4th Team Meeting
23rd & 24th April / Great Big Volunteering Abseil
May tbc / 5th Team Meeting

Please note that in addition to this volunteers will need to arrange for vaccinations.

Insurance

As part of your accepted place on the volunteering project; you can apply to be covered by our University’s comprehensive travel insurance policy. This free policy will cover you in the event of any medical problems, lost baggage, lost passport, flight cancellations and many other incidents. We are able to extend this cover if you stay on for a holiday in the same country so long as the holiday period is no longer than the volunteer trip period and up to a maximum of 4 weeks. If longer, you must arrange your own cover for the holiday period. University Insurance will email you a form to apply for the free cover and send the insurance documents and travel security website access when received. Please note that there are limitations of claims for personal possession losses/ failure and we advise you not to take expensive items with you or items that are irreplaceable.

Fundraising

Fundraising for the charity that you will be working with is a requirement to being accepted on the trip. As well as providing much needed funds for the organisation you will be visiting, we think it’ll be a great way for you to get to know your team. Lots of our previous volunteers have had great success fundraising and some have continued raising money after they got back (after being so inspired by the work of the organisation). We’ll help you with your fundraising and encourage you to work as a group. Previous examples include cake sales, abseils, sponsored walks and even approaching companies for donations. Don’t forget, volunteering and fundraising look wonderful on your CV!

Minimum fundraising target: £100

How to apply

Application forms can be downloaded from the South Africa section our websitehere. Suitable applicants will then be invited to attend a selection event. Selection will be based on your suitability for the role and the potential for personal development.

More information

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us on the team at d we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as we can. Don’t forget to read the Application Process part of our website.