Cultural Embrace's Volunteer in Eastern Cape, South Africa Projects - by Emlyn Lee

I spent a few days meeting with my partners from the Eastern Cape area. If you have been following my blogs, you will know how awe-struck I am of how GORGEOUS this region is. Although the Eastern Cape is considered to be the poorest province of South Africa…I find it rich with amazing topography, rugged coastlines, surfable waves, green valleys and meadows (even with a three year drought), good international food, laid back and friendly people.

You can fly in to East London (quick 1-1.5 hours from Capetown and Johannesburg respectively), or do what Liz, Dex, and I did on this trip and drive up, or take one of our partnering hop-on, hop-off buses, which takes you along the breath-taking Garden Route and Sunshine Coast. Cultural Embrace’s local coordinator, Mike, and his crew will pick you up from the airport or bus station, and take you to your volunteer lodge. Housing is included, yet varies depending on the project, occupancy level, and season, but are clean, comfortable, and exceeds my expectations. All meals (delicious by the way, with plenty of fresh fruit) are included, and are able to meet special dietary and allergy requests. Private ground transportation is included to transport volunteers to and from your project site and accommodation, as well as any cultural and social activities that volunteers opt to do over the weekend. However, many volunteers choose to walk to their project sites since it allows them a chance to exercise, walk on the beach, and it’s very safe. I visited each project’s sites and housing, and they are awwwesome! I’ll write a brief description about the volunteer and housing arrangements in paragraph form.

Schools Projects-we are working with three local schools to help fundraise and facilitate a computer literacy program. Small computer labs have recently been built, and Mike (who has degrees in education and English) has created a full curriculum to teach the students computer skills matched with life skills. If you are fond of sports, there is an Interactive Sports Development project, where you will train, coach, and play with the children at school. We are trying to encourage health, nutrition, and exercise at a young age. Group sports like football/soccer, basketball, and other team-building games are taught. Creche Projects are equivalent to at-need nursery schools and preschool education back in the States. Many of the local crèches are not meeting the standards enforced by the Ministry of Health (usually because no one is enforcing them), so we need individuals and groups to volunteer in maintenance, renovations, painting, gardening, cleaning, playground building, and other fun and rewarding physical work. All volunteers will live in a lovely volunteer home that overlooks the water. Double and triple rooms are available, with shared bathrooms, kitchen, patios, living and dining room. Self-catered breakfasts and lunches are included, and family style dinners are prepared daily.

Wild Life Conservation Project provides volunteers to work on a private game reserve to help local rangers to track and preserve cheetahs, lions, birds, and insects. Positions are rotational, so you will never have a dull moment of feeding the animals, cleaning the stations, removing snares (barbed wires that poachers put up to trap the animals), track and monitor wildlife and fauna cycles with conservationists, and much more. Experience and background skills of animals and fauna are helpful but not required. There are super skilled conservationists that train and be with the volunteers at all times. Housing is located on the private reserve in a shared basic tented camp. Meals and social areas are located not far along a trail in a large platform tent. There is a barbecue pit and bar area for the volunteers to relax and enjoy the stars at night.

If you like horses and interested in working at a Horse Trail & Rehabilitation, a local farm is home to over 40 abused horses. Volunteers will assist with feeding, mending, and visual medical check of the horses. Volunteers from the horse rehab project will be living at the volunteer’s lodge with the School Project volunteers.

If you are interested in any tourism, hospitality, wildlife, and environmental interested opportunities, Cultural Embrace and our local partners offer a Field Guide Training Course. This one month nature and field guide training course is available for personal or professional development for FGASA (Field Guide Association of Southern Africa). You will live, work and learn under the professional tuition of Dennis Taylor as your lecturer. Dennis is walking encyclopedia of every animal, plant, and fauna species, and will train you for FGASA Level 1’s accreditation. Who knows, you can always take the Field Guide exam to be a safari naturalist, environmentalist, work at a lodge, or improve your personal wealth of knowledge in a fun and educational environment.

I can go on and on as far as fun and recreational things to do in or near Chintsa. There are some of the most beautiful beaches that I have seen on this planet, people from all over the world flock to this area to learn and catch killer waves for surfing. Paragliding, kite-surfing, canoeing, tubing, cliff diving, and hiking are just a few recreational activities available in the area. And chances to spot dolphins, whales, and a wide variety of fishes are prevalent.

I encourage you to take the plunge to Volunteer and Travel in South Africa. Chintsa has a lot to offer to serve children, communities, and the wildlife; as well as provide ample opportunities for you to have an exciting and memorable experience in a beautiful setting.

--Emlyn Lee
Owner and President of CE