Kaya Health and Medical Volunteering Projects in South Africa

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Equine Therapy for Disabled Children in Cape Town

Volunteer abroad on our specialized project and help to provide equine therapy to disabled children in South Africa. This incredibly unique and highly sought after project, works to aid children with very little mobility by giving them the chance to experience freedom in their limbs through horseback riding. With the assistance of volunteers and trained instructors, disabled children can have access to free therapy sessions, helping them to develop their motor skills while increasing their confidence and strength.

HIV/AIDS Education and Day Care Volunteering in South Africa

Spend time HIV/AIDS Education and Day Care Volunteering in South Africa and help the local team led by Zulu staff. They are dedicated to improving education quality in the local rural communities of St Lucia. This project focuses on community education through supporting 8 local creches with the preparation of young children for primary school and a range of additional community based activities. The goal is not just to improve the education of the children but also to develop the skills of the teachers, many of whom have had no professional training.

The project works in two villages located close to St Lucia, a beautiful relaxed small tourist town just outside of Isimangoliso, a wetlands zone. Community involvement and cooperation is present with regular meetings with various groups and also the Induna (village chief) helping to establish priorities and to discuss the impact of activities.

The project works in two villages located close to St Lucia, a beautiful relaxed small tourist town just outside of Isimangoliso, a wetlands zone. Community involvement and cooperation is present with regular meetings with various groups and also the Induna (village chief) helping to establish priorities and to discuss the impact of activities.

The HIV prevalence rate in the area is over 45% and although many are taking ARVs adjusting to the drugs can be difficult. Some families benefit from home assistance and children that have been orphaned and have no close relatives stay in a children’s home and only visit their extended families when it is possible. Many young children are left alone during the day, while their carers work, and creches and an after school club provide them with a safe place to play,. This is where volunteers can help. Working with the project team you can assist the elderly, young mothers and the sick through support groups as well as with practical tasks such as gardening, playground repairs and painting. It really is a great project that is having a real impact so volunteer with us in St Lucia and be inspired by the local efforts to improve the lives of their communities.

Support the Recovery of Children in a South African Hospital

Volunteer abroad in South Africa and get to the heart of the local community through assisting local medical staff and carers by offering support to this busy children’s hospital. The children at this hospital in Cape Town are mainly those recovering from Tuberculosis (highest rate in the world in S.A), burns, broken bones, respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS and all types of recovery processes. The hospital is available to all children but it mainly treats and assists those children whose parents cannot afford private health care. Funding for the hospital comes partially from the government funded but they only provide 30% of its yearly operating costs; the rest is through fundraising and volunteer help and donations. For some families living in townships it is difficult to keep medicine refrigerated, almost impossible to keep wounds clean and monitor the child’s progress, so this recovery hospital is invaluable to Cape Town’s poorer families. It doesn’t matter what the economic position of the family, all little ones need love, attention and stimulation which the staff at this recovery hospital are often too busy to offer, despite their desire to do so.

Community Health and Home Based Care Volunteering in South Africa

Join us in St Lucia and bring your enthusiasm, willingness to help where needed and interest in healthcare on this project focused on community health and home based care volunteering in South Africa. This grass roots level project helps bring support the most vulnerable in two communities where HIV prevalence rates are 45%, many elderly ladies (Gogos) live on their own and nutrition levels are low. Access to support with getting to clinics, picking up medicines, the provision of nutritional supplements such as Epap, and home visits to dress wounds, take vitals and give counselling is invaluable. A large clinic staffed by resident senior nurses, pharmacists and doctors has visits from specialists each months in fields such as dentistry, physiotherapy, speech therapy so getting patients to their appointments is essential and the local team facilitate this.

The cooperation and engagement with these communities is undeniable. The daily project work is led by a Zulu lady who has strong ties with community health workers. Drugs are provided free of charge by the clinics but there are calls and messages seeking further support for the community. With strokes, diabetes, wounds due to accidents and a range of infections some of the common ailments it is easy to see why community health and home based care is essential. Volunteer in St Lucia and learn how project cooperation with local healthcare supports those in most need.