South Africa

Projects in South Africa

Education

Volunteers in the School and Community Resource Project (SCRP) work to improve the culture of teaching, learning and service for students, teachers, and communities. The primary goals of SCRP are to build student capacity in English language proficiency, and to build teacher capacity to improve English language proficiency. SCRP Volunteers are involved in direct teaching, with a focus on English as a Second Language (ESL) in primary schools. In their second year of service SCRP Volunteers work with teachers to improve English comprehension, use of English as the medium of instruction and establishing learner- centered methods. Beyond the classroom, Volunteers organize activities such as boys’ and girls’ clubs, chess and debate groups, tutoring programs, and sports events for school-age youth.

Health

To support long and healthy lives and decrease the burden of HIV amongst all South Africans, Community HIV Outreach Project (CHOP) Volunteers work with organizations and communities in grassroots efforts to address prevention and care. The goals of the CHOP project are to reduce HIV infection, stigma and discrimination, and to mitigate the impacts of the epidemic among youth, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Working as health extension, community development, and youth development advisors, Volunteers collaborate with local leaders to teach families about HIV Prevention, treatment adherence, gender-based violence, mitigation of stigma and discrimination, promotion of human rights, and basic nutrition. In addition, they develop after-school activities and extend their reach to out-of-school youth.

President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

The HIV/AIDS outreach project, part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, offers a unique opportunity to play a significant role in the development of South Africa, putting Volunteers at the forefront of the country’s response to the epidemic. Volunteers are placed in all four provinces to provide HIV/AIDS services at the grassroots level.

The goal is to help organizations become more effective and sustainable while increasing the provision of HIV/AIDS services to communities in need. Volunteers provide advice to non-governmental organizations, local governments, and community-based organizations on how to improve the quality and effectiveness of their programs and services, mentor staff, and introduce or strengthen creative approaches to resource identification and mobilization.