Childcare Volunteer in South Africa & Tanzania

After returning home from volunteering in Tanzania for four weeks, I've realized my heart is still in Africa. My next goal is to continue volunteering in South Africa (Cape Town) in May-June 2015 for four-six weeks through an organization called "International Volunteer HQ". The program I plan on participating in focuses on childcare volunteering. After the South Africa leg of the trip, I hope to return to Tanzania and participate in the same program again! In hopes of being able to pay for my flight, travel insurance, accommodation fees, visa, as well as any other expenses for the trip; I am going to try to fundraise approximately $5,000. If I can reach this goal, my dream of returning to Africa to continue volunteering will come true! Being an optimist, I believe I will be able to fundraise this amount and hopefully a little extra. If more than $5,000 is raised, I will donate the money to daycare centers in need of financial help in South Africa. Africa is a beautiful place in need of volunteers! 

Here is some more information about the organization International Volunteers HQ!

http://www.volunteerhq.org

Information About My Trip to Tanzania

From June 27- July 27 I took a trip to Tanzania to volunteer in an orphanage for 4 weeks. The second I arrived, I felt right at home. I was placed as a volunteer at two different orphanages where I poured my heart into my actions every single day. Everyday I played, taught, cuddled, and genuinely loved every child I came in contact with. Fellow volunteers and I brought in many donations for the orphanages, we organized two different HIV testing clinics to test the children, and we helped plant vegetables so sustainable nutrition could be available. I promised one of the owners that I would never let his orphanage leave my heart. Seeing how sometimes mere presence of volunteers at the orphanage made the kids smile is pushing me to offer my help at other orphanages in need as well. I promised myself I would return to Africa as soon as possible and I intend on keeping that promise. Volunteering is an emotional, physical, and spiritual roller coaster and it is the most rewarding experience I can imagine and I would give anything to continue offering my services and help to those in need. 

Information About My GOAL TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA

The following passage is taken directly from the IVHQ website regarding the childcare volunteering trip:

"Providing care and education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds is the top priority of volunteers on the Childcare project in South Africa. Volunteers on this project are placed in day care centers attended by children from poor backgrounds and broken homes. Some of the children have lost their parents to crime, alcohol or drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS, forcing them to live with their relatives or neighbors, who often do not have the means to take proper care of them. In addition to teaching and caring for these children, volunteers on this project are also involved in organizing games and activities, and helping with general duties of the center, including cooking and feeding the children."