South Africa

South Africa Community Development Experience

CAPE TOWN

Travel to South Africa and join a construction project in iconic Cape Town’s surrounding township areas, working to improve infrastructure and the general learning environment for disadvantaged children. This is a culturally immersive experience while supporting long term projects and interacting with local community members. As a group you will work alongside one of GVI’s local partner organisations, including under resourced Educare centres, assisting with much needed hands-on, practical construction projects. These centres typically take care of children from abusive and neglectful families, providing them with a loving, caring home. The exact work will depend on our partners’ needs at the time, but often involve some basic maintenance and renovation work, or painting and brightening up the space with murals or other artwork. The importance of these construction projects cannot be overestimated as they focus on one of our basic human rights. Through educational development, infrastructure improvement and interaction with the children, students will make a huge impact on the environment in which the children learn.

Students will review their individual and collective impact on the ground by asking questions in order to evaluate their successes and areas in which they felt more challenged. They will receive continuous support from qualified staff members who will help to show the students’ the connection between the work they have done on the project and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Each projects’ objectives are based around specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Students could be involved in initiatives based around any of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals listed below:
SDG no.1: End poverty in all of its forms everywhere
SDG no.4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
SDG no.9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and forest innovation
SDG no.10: Reduce inequalities within and among countries
SDG no.16: Promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies

Please note that we have a comprehensive curriculum based around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is available for implementation by the teacher and the group leader on the ground, if you wish. Additionally, projects can tailored to a groups’ in-class curriculum, or one of the international programs and curricula listed on Service Learning Tours home page, however specific work will always be dependent on the needs of the community and our local partners at the time.

South Africa Wildlife Conservation Experience

LIMPOPO

In Limpopo, students will largely contribute to environmental monitoring and research initiatives by collecting and reporting vital data. Students will increase their awareness of important conservation issues and their knowledge of the local area and environment, in addition to gaining a better understanding of Limpopo’s local ecosystem and how to preserve its biodiversity. Students may learn how to track and may even develop some bush survival skills!

GVI’s teams are also working with local communities to further educate them on environmental issues. Additionally, they are supporting teachers who are under-resourced and are providing reinforcement to struggling pupils. Students may also have the opportunity to assist with activity based English lessons.

With the incredible backdrop of the African bush, the week will be a mix of classroom sessions on African wildlife conservation and experiencing life in the bush first hand, under the guidance of our safari guides.

Other elements that may be examined are water security, climate energy, and access to clean energy.

Students will review their individual and collective impact on the ground by asking questions and using critical thinking, in order to evaluate their successes and areas in which they felt more challenged. They will being supported on an ongoing basis by qualified staff members who will help to show the students’ the connection between the work they have done on the project and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Each projects’ objectives are based around specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, though students could be involved in initiatives based around any of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals listed below:

• SDG no.6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
• SDG no.7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
• SDG no.12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• SDG no.13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact
• SDG no.15: Sustainable manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

Please note that we have a comprehensive curriculum based around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is available for implementation by the teacher and the group leader on the ground, if you wish. Additionally, projects can tailored to a groups’ in-class curriculum, or one of the international programs and curricula listed on Service Learning Tours home page, however specific work will always be dependent on the needs of the community and our local partners at the time.