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YDC volunteers are placed in a YFC/KZNs project, depending on where they are most needed. Working closely with local staff and interns, volunteers gain a deep understanding of the projects and the communities which they serve. This partnership also gives both the international and local staff the opportunity to learn from one another and develop themselves personally and professionally. In the first week, volunteers meet with the project coordinator and/or supervisor responsible for their placement, who explains what takes place in the project where they will be working and what will be expected of them. The more detailed information about the projects comes from the staff that the volunteers work with. Staff members will show volunteers what they do, which children they work with, how they help, and what the volunteer can do to assist this work. Regular project meetings also take place, providing a great source of learning and support. Project training usually takes place at the beginning of the year, however, there are other training opportunities throughout the year. It is also possible for volunteers to attend conferences and external training that their projects would benefit from. Volunteers are able to start at any time of the year, with the months between February and November being the most busy for YFC/KZN. It is worth noting that the June holidays last for 3 weeks so we therefore encourage staff and volunteers to take leave during this time. During school holidays is a great time to travel around South Africa while the projects are relatively quiet, but it is also possible to take holidays at other times. Volunteers often comment on the strong relationships between the staff, interns and children in the communities they serve. Volunteers get the opportunity to form valuable relationships within these projects. Along with this comes the opportunity to experience different culture and lifestyle. While this is a fundamental and special aspect of a volunteer’s experience, at times, it can also be frustrating. There is a strong focus on people and relationships which can lead to timelines being delayed, or plans being changed.. Volunteers (especially those coming from a ‘western background’) struggle with this concept, affectionately known as ‘African Time’. But once you begin to understand and accept that this is simply how South Africa is, the reason becomes clear, and the value outweighs the annoyance. Throughout a volunteer’s stay at the YDC, there is ongoing communication with the volunteer coordinator and the project supervisor. This allows all people involved to be fully aware of how the volunteer is going, and how they are fitting in with their project and the wider YFC/KZN family. If there are any problems, it is possible for the volunteer to change to a project that everyone feels would be more suitable. It is also possible for volunteers to work in multiple projects if they feel this would be best for them and the projects. At the end of each volunteer’s stay, the volunteer coordinator and project supervisor conduct exit interviews to form an evaluation of the volunteer’s experiences. This gives the volunteer a chance to debrief about their experience as a whole, while helping YFC/KZN to continually improve its volunteer program.
Volunteers have a choice of living and working in either Pietermaritzburg or Durban, and this will determine which projects they are able to work on. If volunteers are staying in Pietermaritzburg they can work with- Khayalethu
If volunteers are staying in Durban they can work with- Tennyson House |
We live where we work, Whether we’re in the shelter, You can always hear us laughing, We’re gaining new perspectives, (Australian Volunteer) |
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