Volunteer helping a students with his assignment during IT teaching experience in South Africa

Volunteer Teaching IT in South Africa

Teach computer skills to disadvantaged children and adults while experiencing life in vibrant Cape Town

Destination

South Africa

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

4 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £2,510 for 4 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Build key computer skills

Work alongside experienced teachers in Cape Town, assisting with IT lessons and teaching practical computer skills to children and adults.

Understand IT education

Get varied insights into IT and general education settings in South Africa, working in a classroom and building your own teaching methodologies.

Build digital literacy

Help provide essential computer skills to local community members, giving them valuable IT knowledge and improving employment prospects.

See South Africa and its culture

Live with a host family, enjoy South African cuisine, and experience the incredible landscapes of Cape Town, from Table Mountain to stunning beaches.

Expand your teaching skills

Develop your teaching abilities, communication skills, and technical knowledge, gaining practical experience in an international context.

What you need to know

Overview

Do you have basic IT knowledge and computer skills? Are you looking to give back and empower others? Want to travel and experience a different culture? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the ideal volunteer project for you.

Since you’ll only be teaching basic computer skills such as Microsoft Office and using the internet, you don’t need to have specialist knowledge or previous teaching experience. You will have a local staff member or teacher who can help you when needed. You will also receive a thorough induction upon arrival so that you are fully prepared. Finally, we run regular teaching workshops where you can share experiences, plan lessons, and discuss topics of interest.

However, advanced skills are always an asset, so do let us know if you can help in other areas.

Our volunteer IT teaching placements in South Africa are open to all ages and levels of experience. It’s well suited to those who are proactive and can take the initiative. It’s also an opportunity for you to develop your personal skills, like planning.

The project is available year-round, except for a short time over Christmas and New Year. Our start and end dates are flexible, so you can choose a time that suits you.

A Day in the Life

After breakfast at your host family, you’ll be transported to your work placement by a Projects Abroad driver.

A typical day on this project runs from 9 am – 3 pm, Monday to Friday. You will have your evenings and weekends free to relax and explore your new surroundings.

If you choose to work at the community centre, you’ll spend the day teaching people from the area, mostly young adults. There will be a staff member on hand to help. However, there is scope for you to take the initiative on this project and plan your day as you see fit.

You’ll follow the syllabus for the computer training course, covering the basics such as Microsoft Office and using the internet and email. When you’re not busy teaching, you can work on updating the course manuals, assisting students with their CVs, or designing new courses.

Once you’re done for the day, you can take the opportunity to make the most of your time in beautiful Cape Town. Take part in our regular socials, where you can get to know your fellow volunteers and the local staff. Swap stories with your host family over a delicious South African-style dinner. Or discover the local markets, museums, and beaches.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to teach computer skills in South Africa to disadvantaged children and adults, helping them become more computer literate.

Computer skills are critical in an increasingly digital modern world. Knowing how to do effective research on the Internet and use programmes like Microsoft Office can open the door to better jobs. In South Africa, a large percentage of underprivileged schools don’t have computers for children to learn. As a result, these children’s computer literacy skills are low.

You’ll become part of our efforts to solve this problem. You’ll do this by teaching basic computer skills at a community centre. By equipping people with computer skills, you’ll help improve their chances of finding employment.

Join us in South Africa and use your knowledge and computer skills to work to help those in need.

Activities

During your time on this project, there are many different tasks you can get involved in. These include:

Teach basic computer skills to children and adults
Work to improve the existing curriculum
Assist where needed on general tasks
Support the development of students

Your work will focus on the following areas:

Teaching basic computer skills to children and adults

Your main role will be to teach your students basic computer skills. You will cover basic programmes such as Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel. Showing students how to use the internet and email is also an important part of the project.

At your placement, you’ll have a syllabus to follow. This makes the teaching process a lot easier. You’ll work to develop students’ confidence and abilities so that they are comfortable working on computers. This is a great way to gain even more IT teaching work experience while in South Africa.

Working to improve the existing curriculum

There is also room to improve the current curriculum, and new ideas are welcome. You can do this by updating existing course manuals where necessary or even designing new courses. For example, you could create a short course which focuses on graphic design or hardware repair.

Assisting where needed on general tasks

There are plenty of other tasks you can help with on this placement. These may include computer maintenance and repair, developing databases, and helping with administration. You might also have the chance to get involved in other areas outside of IT if you’re interested, such as running sports activities or helping with childcare.

Support the development of students

At the IT centre, you’ll spend time working to empower students and improve their job prospects. You can spend extra time with these students, helping them to develop their CVs or search for jobs. You can also find additional free courses that they can complete online to build on their skills.

Map & Location

At the southernmost tip of the African continent lies the remarkable country of South Africa, with three capital cities and 11 official languages. A melting pot of culture with a chequered past, the South African people have a distinct “Ubuntu” spirit that you will feel everywhere you go.

Table Mountain, Robben Island, and expansive national parks are just some of the sites in this increasingly popular, historic destination. Did you know it was the first (and only) African nation to host the Football World Cup?

Cape Town

Cape Town, situated on the western coast of South Africa, is a captivating city renowned for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Home to almost five million people, Cape Town has a temperate, Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters.

The famous Table Mountain overlooks the city and is one of many popular hiking locations. Beautiful beaches, world-class wineries, and exciting outdoor activities makes it no surprise that Cape Town is South Africa’s second largest city.

Food & Accommodation

Settle into South Africa like a home away from home, with everything you need for an engaging and enriching stay. You’ll have a cosy bed, three meals a day, and access to clean drinking water. You’ll be welcomed into the home of a carefully vetted local family, hand-picked by Projects Abroad, who will embrace you as one of their own.

Your new home will be clean, safe, and within 30 minutes commute of your placement, with transport organised by our staff every day. You will stay with other Projects Abroad participants, sharing a room with people who are of the same gender and similar age.

Together, you will share your international experience and learn about a new culture. You’ll enjoy delicious, home-cooked food from your host family and explore the beauty of Cape Town.

Free Time and Leisure

Known as the Rainbow Nation, South Africa has a diverse mix of cultures. Our projects are based in Cape Town, a region filled with an exciting variety of activities to do during your free time.

You can catch a wave at Muizenberg beach or just relax in a seaside restaurant. There’s plenty of local cuisine to try, including delicately spiced Cape Malay curries and the creamy milk tart dessert.

South Africa has a difficult past, which you can learn more about at the District 6 Museum and Robben Island.

For an awe-inspiring experience, you can spend the day getting lost in the towering silos that make up the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Arts Africa. Finally, no trip to Cape Town would be complete without a cable car ride up iconic Table Mountain.

We run many different projects in South Africa, so there’s sure to be other volunteers in the country with you. That gives you the freedom to explore solo or get a group together for an excursion.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our South Africa Arrival Procedures page.