I am 20 years old and my boyfriend and I would like to go away to Africa next summer to do charity work. We would fully fund ourselves but want the opportunity to work with children who are underprivileged. I am currently doing my degree and he is a bricklayer by trade. We dont mind doing anything strenuous and are willing to do anything that would help. We dont speak an foreign languages but we are eager and hard working. We would be availible from June to mid-September.
2006-08-14 08:51:34 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ South Africa
If you want to do specifically missionary work, your church would most probably be the best starting point.
But if any voluntary work would do, a useful site on the internet: www.idealist.org/volunteer/travel
The site lists various opportunities and has links. Good luck - what you are going to be doing is really commendable. English should be OK in most if not all African countries, your positive attitude will be much more important than your language skills.
2006-08-14 10:30:32 · answer #1 · answered by confused 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, well I have done quite a bit of mission work in and around South Africa and I am from SA too, so i woudl say try to go through an organisation such as YFC or Operation mobilisation...I know OM is fantastic!!!!
If you are wanting to work specifically with children try contacting Gods Golden Acre http://mzone.mweb.co.za/residents/csread/gga/gga.htm
http://www.godsgoldenacre.org.uk/
Or Lily Of the Valley
http://www.lilyofthevalley.org.za/
They have an Ameirican Site too
http://www.lilyvalleyusa.org/
I know Lily has residences where you can stay if you are wanting to help out there and they will use whatever skills you can offer them..I think your boyfriend could help with the builing and renovations they are doing and you coudl help with the kids.
Its a bonus to come to South Africa because it will be cheaper for you becaus eof the exchange rate...trust me you will love working with these children..they are amaizng, brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.
If you need any other info you can email me.
I know my church has just has a young student here for the last 4 or so months and he has just has such a great attitude, he was willing to get involved anywhere and he experinced so much, and even came on our young adults mission to Mozambique. So yeah you could even try to contact a local church who would have people who could set you up with thinsg to do or give you a few contact details of people involved in those sorts of fields.
2006-08-15 07:16:07 · answer #2 · answered by Michelle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi there!
Have a look on this site for some charities that you could help. I didn't go into basic details with this as i thought that you would like to choose one that you would like to help.
http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/social_delivery/charities.htm
This next link goes to a site where you can donate money to the underprivileged children. I'm not sure if you are willing to donate but just in case you are then here is a link....
http://www.imibala.com/
You are a wonderful person and we need a lot more people like you. Thank you for your kind and generous heart!
Kim.
2006-08-14 19:29:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont worry about foreign languages... South Africa's main lanuage is english, then afrikaans, then zulu,sotho,sepedi,xhosa,venda,tsotsi tal "lanuage the thieves use" and im missing a few.. you will do just fine speaking english here... i know a place where you can work, but not with under privileged children. but vervet monkeys the are abandoned.. if you interested mail me at xrostag@yahoo.com.. o, alsomst forgot, its in limpopo province, south africa.
2006-08-14 19:09:04 · answer #4 · answered by Hector 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.adventures.org/a/trips/level3.asp?id=1809
http://www.missionadventures.net/cms/outreaches_locator.html
these are some places to start. You can probably find a local church that has a mission trip if you google "summer missions Africa" and include the name of your state too. Good luck. Missions is really rewarding and exciting, I hope you get to go!
2006-08-14 14:37:07 · answer #5 · answered by Jenn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know the email but try Youth with a mission. Ywam I think they call it also. It is a Christian organization that does short term missionary work.
2006-08-14 10:42:11 · answer #6 · answered by Constant_Traveler 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try contacting your local clergy to see if they have any contacts for mission work of that kind or perhaps Unicef or the Peace Corps might be able to help you out as well.
2006-08-14 09:00:11 · answer #7 · answered by Molly M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check with the foreign mission board they should be able to help
2006-08-14 09:06:27 · answer #8 · answered by fallen_but_forgiven 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋