FAQ - Volunteer South Africa

• What are the total expenses for the SWAP Volunteer South Africa program?
• Is there a dress code?
• When does the visa start?

What are the total expenses for the SWAP Volunteer South Africa program?
The registration fee includes the following:
· Pre-placement in a development project for 8 weeks.
· A handbook and guide with more information about living in South Africa.
· Meals and accommodation for the duration of the placement.
· Transfer from the airport in Cape Town to the Lodge/Hostel.
· Transport to and from the project site.
· A comprehensive seven-day orientation on arrival in Cape Town, which includes tours and an orientation on safety and applicant’s proposed volunteer projects.
· Daily pick ups from the hostel when on day tours
· Accommodation at a Lodge/hostel (no meals)
· Accommodation for one night in Cape Town at the end of the project
· Tours during the orientation week, with two free days. Including a Township tour, Winelands tour, Walking Tour, Robben Island Tour
· One free shuttle service to and from the city over a weekend
· Local mobile phone SIM card and starter pack
· Bi-weekly social events calendar
· The full support of the partner organisation, SASTS, while on the project: in terms of access to the Email and the Internet, travel advice and information for after the completion of the project as well as mail holding facilities and message-taking service, and drop-in resource room with computer facilities, notice boards, and staff to deal with queries.
· 24 hour helpline
· Applicants are free to use SASTS telephone (for local calls) and computer (if available) to check e-mail etc between 9-12 in the mornings
· SASTS Working Adventures provides assistance and back-up support to all participants while in South Africa, with full onward travel advice.
· Volunteer T-shirt
· Certificate of Appreciation upon completion of programme

In regards to the cost of the flight, you should contact a Travel CUTS agent to get a quote. You will have to pay for:
· flight - Travels CUTS agent can help you with this
· insurance - Travels CUTS agent can help you with this
· meals during the orientation week (see below)
· vaccinations - contact a Travel Clinic for quotes
· Volunteers need about R800.00 spending money (obviously depending on eating and spending habits) for orientation week. There are banks within walking distance of the hostel.
· Volunteers generally spend most weekends in the city, which means they tend to spend more money. Just to give you some idea, this it what it might cost you over a weekend.
· R90.00 per night at a hostel x 2 R180.00 (average 2 nights over weekends)
· R8.00 (in a pub) it would be cheaper at a bottle store
· R20.00 (burger and chips at a take-away)
· R3.50 (a coke or other soft drink)
· R12.00 (sandwich at a take-away)
· R36.00 (movies)
· R15.00 – R20.00 (taxi in and around the city) – cheaper if you're sharing with another person
· R25.00 (Salad in a restaurant)
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Is there a dress code? Volunteers need to be presentable at all times, sleeveless tops are fine, however shorts will not fit in with the dress code of the school.

Volunteer should wear clothes that are comfortable, but it is advised that provocative clothing, short skirts, or ripped clothing should not be worn during their placement at the school.

Most volunteers dress more "freely" when they go into town over the weekends.
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When does the visa start? Participants on the Volunteer South Africa program enter on a tourist visa. This visa is stamped into the participants valid Canadian passport by an immigration officer upon entry into South Africa.
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