Overview

South Africa is a place of stunning physical beauty and rich cultural history.  It is one of the most developed countries in all of Africa, and is home to many of the continent’s top universities.  However, despite all of its cultural and economic development, it was also home to some of the greatest civil injustices of the 20th century. Though apartheid rule nominally ended in 1994, the effects of this discriminatory political system are still evident in many spheres of South African life.

One Heart Source Volunteers will be working in the townships outside of Cape Town to provide some of the most disadvantaged students in the world with opportunities to excel academically and personally.  Our volunteer program offers university students from around the world an opportunity to make a lasting impact in the lives of many of South Africa’s youth by providing quality education both in and outside of the classroom.  Through a combination of teaching in schools and leading after-school programs in music, arts, dance, and sports, OHS volunteers will serve as leaders and mentors to many of South Africa’s most under-served students.

Teach Cape Town

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

-Nelson Mandela

Work within some of Cape Towns most impoverished townships to teach kids in a variety of topics ranging from HIV/AIDS awareness to English and mathematics.  Our educational initiative in the classroom focuses on the central issues that are specific to each different school and to the individual needs of the students.  Volunteers may teach subject-focused classes in math, English, and science as well as a general health education. By being taught in a variety of subjects, students learn to empower themselves through both academic and practical knowledge.

Through the use of alternative team teaching methods, volunteers will have a chance to bring a new style all their own to the classrooms of South Africa.  Volunteers will teach in groups of two or three allowing them to present information to students in a variety of creative ways.  These methods are used to keep students engaged and to allow discussion to flow, showing students that learning can be a fun, interactive experience.

After School

Work with South African teachers and students alike to lead and facilitate after-school programs that allow underprivileged students with an opportunity to develop their skills in an array of areas.  Students can get their creative juices flowing in programs focused on Music, Art, and Dance or they can improve their team-work and physical health through various sports education programs.

Peer Education Programs

Volunteers will also lead peer education initiatives, in which older students are given the opportunity to educate their younger peers about General Health and HIV Prevention.  Volunteers will serve as a guiding force and model for the students to learn from.  They will teach lessons in Health and HIV Prevention that the older students, who will then use what they have learned to then teach back to a younger group of students.  Volunteers will be advising students on not just what to teach but how to teach as well.  This method gives student the chance to improve their public speaking ability by learning to present information in a way that is both logically organized and captivating.

Cape Town Life

Volunteers will live together in a home just outside of the Townships they will be working in. Volunteers will have the opportunity to live and work with a diverse group of motivated young people from all over the world in a communal living environment. Three meals a day, consisting mostly of traditional South African cuisine, will be provided each day and prepared by a local cook. Living in a home with other driven young volunteers allows for the sharing of ideas to occur, and strengthens the overall ability of the group.

Program Dates

One Heart Source is an education-based pro­gram seek­ing dri­ven, enthu­si­as­tic stu­dents and college-age indi­vid­u­als who are cre­ative thinkers, eager learn­ers, and moti­vated to take action.

We are cur­rently tak­ing appli­ca­tions for 2013 vol­un­teer programs.

Programs in Cape Town, South Africa:

*This program is specifically designed for college graduates and professionals who do not have 4 or 6 weeks time off during the summer months but would like to participate in One Heart Source.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and we advise you to apply as early as possible. There are limited volunteer spaces available in each program, and they fill up quickly. Also, applying early allows you to find out the status of your acceptance earlier and therefore have more time to fundraise your program fee and prepare for the program.

Learn More and Apply Now!

Overview

For most who visit this tropical island off the coast of mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar is a tourist haven and luxurious hideaway. However the true statistics behind the veil are staggering:

23% of primary school age children ages 7 to 13 have not been enrolled in school.   Most unenrolled children are from rural poor families and are most likely girls. (HBS 2005)

46% of households throw garbage outside of their compounds.  Without a strong waste management system, environmental degradation is quickening the contamination of the island’s natural resources, such as the limited soil for food growing and limited safe water (HBS 2004/05).

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS has not been contained.  Stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS is high at 76%, with just 44% of women and 20% of men having comprehensive and correct knowledge on HIV/AIDS.  This is a significant barrier that needs to be overcome as education is still currently the only vaccine. (TDHS 2007/08)

     Sources: Household Budget Survey 04/05, Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 07/08

We want volunteers to fully engage this incredible land and people while simultaneously addressing the deep historical inequalities that continue to the present today. Volunteers will have a unique opportunity to proactively develop new programs and assess the needs in this community.

Teach Zanzibar

As a volunteer, one of your most important responsibilities will be teaching Community Health Education in public schools, with a focus on HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. The Zanzibar government has recognized the significant need to bridge the gap on HIV/AIDS prevention education and is pushing to get the island’s youth educated in decreasing stigma of the disease and stopping the spread of the virus. American, British, and Tanzanian volunteers will work together in small teaching groups and each be assigned a primary or secondary classroom at a local public school.

All OHS volunteers are trained to teach Community Health Information with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS prevention education. During in-field orientation, we provide an outline and strategies for teaching, but it will ultimately be up to the volunteers to decide how they want to organize their lesson plan to better engage different age groups.

Outreach

Community Outreach

Beyond the classroom, volunteers are also responsible for teaching community health education and spreading HIV/AIDS awareness throughout the adult community. Opportunities to teach in the adult community are many, such as teaching at markets, stores, and local hangouts.

As we enter the third year of our programs in Zanzibar, it is incredibly important that volunteers show initiative and resolve in helping us establish and expand these programs, as well as generate new ideas for enriching the community.

Other Activities

• Organize beach soccer and other outlets for physical education for kids in community. Teach the importanceof staying healthy–from nutrition to physical fitness to hygiene.
• Teach English in schools and provide one-on-one English lessons for children in your homestay.
• Help keep the beach and village environment trash-free and respected by organizing trash pick-ups and teaching about the benefits of protecting the ocean and environment in general. Everything from plastic water bottles, carpet scraps, to old linoleum washes up on the beaches in Zanzibar, much of which comes from the construction of new resorts nearby.
• Organize art classes as a medium for kids to gain creativity and confidence in self-expression.
• Learn Swahili and explore this beautiful island.

Jungle Village Life

Volunteers will be living in rural island villages for the duration of their stay on the island. The villages are tucked away between tropical forests and hug the shorelines. Village life revolves around the ocean, the tides, fishing and small scale farming. We want our volunteers to experience a different side of Zanzibar that tourists never see, and to realize the disconnect between the pristine beach resorts and the island communities. Over 1 million tourists travel to Zanzibar each year–greater than the population of Zanzibarians–and yet a missing link is pushing greater struggle into the daily lives of the people.

OHS volunteers will live in homestays with Zanzibari families in order to better understand and better serve their community

effectively. Our home-stay program not only enhances the organization’s connection to the surroundingcommunity, but it also amplifies each volunteer’s personal and cultural experience in Tanzania. One Heart Source selects Tanzanian families who are eager to provide a home for volunteers. Volunteer safety is a priority, and we maintain a well-trained security team with a strong communication base. Volunteers can feel at ease when they go to bed knowing that our askari are on patrol 24/7, and we have never had an instance in which volunteer security was compromised.

The dynamics of each homestay is different, but most families include young children who are eager to learn anything from you. You may find yourself doing a lot of basic math and English teaching combined with fun arts and crafts. Many families also have teenagers who are studying hard to graduate primary or secondary school and may need your help as a tutor. Elders tend to take it easy and will be more interested in learning English and talking about life.

Program Dates

One Heart Source is an education-based pro­gram seek­ing dri­ven, enthu­si­as­tic stu­dents and college-age indi­vid­u­als who are cre­ative thinkers, eager learn­ers, and moti­vated to take action.

We are cur­rently tak­ing appli­ca­tions for 2013 vol­un­teer programs.

Jungle Programs in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and we advise you to apply as early as possible. There are limited volunteer spaces available in each program, and they fill up quickly. Also, applying early allows you to find out the status of your acceptance earlier and therefore have more time to fundraise your program fee and prepare for the program.

Learn More and Apply Now!

Overview

For most who visit this tropical island off the coast of mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar is a tourist haven and luxurious hideaway. However the true statistics behind the veil are staggering:

23% of primary school age children ages 7 to 13 have not been enrolled in school.   Most unenrolled children are from rural poor families and are most likely girls. (HBS 2005)

46% of households throw garbage outside of their compounds.  Without a strong waste management system, environmental degradation is quickening the contamination of the island’s natural resources, such as the limited soil for food growing and limited safe water (HBS 2004/05).

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS has not been contained.  Stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS is high at 76%, with just 44% of women and 20% of men having comprehensive and correct knowledge on HIV/AIDS.  This is a significant barrier that needs to be overcome as education is still currently the only vaccine. (TDHS 2007/08)

     Sources: Household Budget Survey 04/05, Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 07/08

We want volunteers to fully engage this incredible land and people while simultaneously addressing the deep historical inequalities that continue to the present today. Volunteers will have a unique opportunity to proactively develop new programs and assess the needs in this community.

Teach Zanzibar

As a volunteer, one of your most important responsibilities will be teaching Community Health Education in public schools, with a focus on HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. The Zanzibar government has recognized the significant need to bridge the gap on HIV/AIDS prevention education and is pushing to get the island’s youth educated in decreasing stigma of the disease and stopping the spread of the virus. American, British, and Tanzanian volunteers will work together in small teaching groups and each be assigned a primary or secondary classroom at a local public school.

All OHS volunteers are trained to teach Community Health Information with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS prevention education. During in-field orientation, we provide an outline and strategies for teaching, but it will ultimately be up to the volunteers to decide how they want to organize their lesson plan to better engage different age groups.

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Outreach

Community Outreach

Beyond the classroom, volunteers are also responsible for teaching community health education and spreading HIV/AIDS awareness throughout the adult community. Opportunities to teach in the adult community are many, such as teaching at markets, stores, and local hangouts.

As we enter the third year of our programs in Zanzibar, it is incredibly important that volunteers show initiative and resolve in helping us establish and expand these programs, as well as generate new ideas for enriching the community.

Other Activities

• Organize beach soccer and other outlets for physical education for kids in community. Teach the importanceof staying healthy–from nutrition to physical fitness to hygiene.
• Teach English in schools and provide one-on-one English lessons for children in your homestay.
• Help keep the beach and village environment trash-free and respected by organizing trash pick-ups and teaching about the benefits of protecting the ocean and environment in general. Everything from plastic water bottles, carpet scraps, to old linoleum washes up on the beaches in Zanzibar, much of which comes from the construction of new resorts nearby.
• Organize art classes as a medium for kids to gain creativity and confidence in self-expression.
• Learn Swahili and explore this beautiful island.

Island Village Life

Volunteers will be living in rural island villages for the duration of their stay on the island. The villages are tucked away between tropical forests and hug the shorelines. Village life revolves around the ocean, the tides, fishing and small scale farming. We want our volunteers to experience a different side of Zanzibar that tourists never see, and to realize the disconnect between the pristine beach resorts and the island communities. Over 1 million tourists travel to Zanzibar each year–greater than the population of Zanzibarians–and yet a missing link is pushing greater struggle into the daily lives of the people.

OHS volunteers will live in homestays with Zanzibari families in order to better understand and better serve their community

effectively. Our home-stay program not only enhances the organization’s connection to the surroundingcommunity, but it also amplifies each volunteer’s personal and cultural experience in Tanzania. One Heart Source selects Tanzanian families who are eager to provide a home for volunteers. Volunteer safety is a priority, and we maintain a well-trained security team with a strong communication base. Volunteers can feel at ease when they go to bed knowing that our askari are on patrol 24/7, and we have never had an instance in which volunteer security was compromised.

The dynamics of each homestay is different, but most families include young children who are eager to learn anything from you. You may find yourself doing a lot of basic math and English teaching combined with fun arts and crafts. Many families also have teenagers who are studying hard to graduate primary or secondary school and may need your help as a tutor. Elders tend to take it easy and will be more interested in learning English and talking about life.

Program Dates

One Heart Source is an education-based pro­gram seek­ing dri­ven, enthu­si­as­tic stu­dents and college-age indi­vid­u­als who are cre­ative thinkers, eager learn­ers, and moti­vated to take action.

We are cur­rently tak­ing appli­ca­tions for 2013 vol­un­teer programs.

Coast Programs in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and we advise you to apply as early as possible. There are limited volunteer spaces available in each program, and they fill up quickly. Also, applying early allows you to find out the status of your acceptance earlier and therefore have more time to fundraise your program fee and prepare for the program.

Learn More and Apply Now!