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Children need every bit of love and attention they can get. The Matron says, “the kids love having volunteers from overseas around because they’ll be new faces who can tell them stories about their own country”.

Even something as simple as entertaining the children with stories lifts their morale and helps the healing process. As the staff at the hospital have mentioned many times, having the volunteers give the children some extra love and care is wonderful … but the extra hands are very welcome as well.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

► An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into South African culture.
► The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged children and knowing that you made a difference to them
► New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.
► An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market
► And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

The Red Cross Children's Hospital is the centre at which undergraduate and postgraduate medical students receive their core training in paediatric disciplines. Specialist paediatric nurses and allied paediatric health care providers, such as physiotherapists, child psychologists, speech and occupational therapists are also trained here.
The Hospital is equally active in preventative health care, and plays a critical role in educating community health workers, thereby facilitating the exportation of models of good practice to the community. Several services are provided, including education of children, parents and community health care workers in, for example, HIV, Aids, family planning and contraception, rehydration and nutrition. The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital performs many operations on children, e.g. Conjoined twin separations, liver and kidney transplants, to name a few. The theatres are busy 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

Some of the work at the hospital at times can be overwhelming as some of the children suffer from AIDS/HIV, which is even more reason why the children need love and attention. Your main tasks and responsibilities will be to visit the children, hand out toys, play and interact with them, and give them lots of comfort and love.
You may also assist with general non-medical support, e.g., accompanying a patient to another department, collecting folders and fetching food, etc, or assisting the pharmacy area or clinics where patients wait for their medication (which can often be for long periods of time) You may also assist in various out-patients departments as administrative support, or assist in the fund-raising shop where your duties would be to sort out and sell a range of donated goods, such as household equipment, clothing and books, that cannot be used in the wards.
Your hours may vary insofar as they will be subject to shift rotas. Therefore, you may sometimes work evenings or nights, sometimes over weekends, etc., but your time off on other days instead. During the morning you'll generally be in the toys room to pack your toy trolley. Your supervisor at the hospital will inform you which ward you'll be in for the day. They will also inform you of any wards that are out of bounds due to infection diseases. Once you have determined which ward you are going to, you will be able to stock your trolley with the appropriate toys.
You'll then join the ambulant patients in the play room where you'll distribute the toys. After that, you can give individualised attention to specific children. This is where volunteers are so valuable to both the Hospital and the patients - the personal care and attention. And you'll find that the children crave the attention and fun you can give them.
This session will usually last for most of the morning and afterwards you will be expected clear up and return the toys back to appropriate place. Sometimes the Hospital will hold concerts and events to entertain the children. Children love these performances and you will play an important role by escorting the young patients to these events.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:

• A 5- or 7-day Safari from Cape Town up the renowned Garden Route, taking in Dolphin and Whale Spotting, visits to many tourist attractions, such as a visit to a brewery(!), the Bloukrantz Bungy Jump (reportedly the highest in the world), and a guided tour of the Cango Caves
• Surfing Courses: In the buzz city of Durban.
• Paragliding Course: Soar over the impressively beautiful Drakensburg Mountain. You'll get a licence at the end of the course which qualifies you to do solo paragliding around the world.
• 5-Day Bush Survival Course: This is a fantastic experience and opportunity to see lots of wild animals in their native habitats in Game Reserves. You'll learn a lot and you'll really enjoy learning some bush skills in the great outdoors!

Travellers' placements are very flexible and you can combine this project with any other Travellers project, either in the same country or in different countries.

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

Talk to us - We're there to help you. Call Now +44 (0) 1903 502595
Most of our team are ex Travellers volunteers and are ideally qualified to offer advice and guidance because they know what you're looking for. They'll help you find your perfect project - and then make it all happen!
If you’d like more information about this or any of our projects, please email or call us! If you’d like to apply for this project, please go to our website and complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen.

It’s as easy as that.

Duration

Available all year round. Our placements are very flexible, you can choose your own start and finish dates.

Start Dates

Flexible start and finish dates you choose. Our placements are flexible and can be tailored to match your preferences. For availability please contact the office.

Costs / Benefits

Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £895 for two weeks. You can participate for up to one year, subject to visa requirements.
Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. All meals are provided, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).
You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.
Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.

Requirements

No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm! Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 17 years old upwards, and all nationalities. This placement would suit anyone who wants to make a real difference, wants first-hand experience of a different culture and has initiative.