A Dose of Good Hope

LocationGVI Africa, South Africa, Cape Town

Volunteer Public Health Project in South Africa

Help improve health and well-being in communities near Cape Town.

Durations:  2 - 12 weeks
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Program information

Travel to a small coastal town an hour outside central Cape Town to facilitate healthy lifestyle habits in local communities. Work alongside an international team of volunteers, interns, and staff, as well as local community members all in service to greater health.

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undefined 31 May 2022
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Included in your program

Make the most of our unique programs with these exclusively curated local adventure and wellness experiences.

Experience a shisa nyama

Visit Africa's largest art collection

Take a sunrise beach yoga class

Snorkel in a kelp forest

Paddle with endangered African penguins

Try a sunrise cold-water immersion

Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Robben Island

Hike up Table Mountain

Connect with our alumni
Want to connect with some of our past participants about their adventures? Get in touch with hundreds of friendly ambassadors all over the world who would be more than happy to answer any questions.
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Ashleigh Allen

11 Oct, 2018
GVI does a great job with their volunteers immersed in the community. This trip I was able to learn more about Cape Town’s culture and provide help and make an impact. The relationships I built with members of the community we helped was incredible. It is hard to put into words how much this trip has impacted me. I will be able to apply this to my career and life in general.

Amanda Jin-Corocoran

11 Oct, 2018
GVI made this trip life-changing for me. My goal in coming was to see how others around the world live and how we can help their communities. I loved every bit of the volunteer activities we participated in. I feel so much more confident in my teaching and communication skills with others especially with the communication barriers. The staff leaders (Katie and Mayuree) were very accommodating and understanding to our needs. They encouraged us and were very organized and knowledgeable. After this experience, I look forward to participating in another GVI travel and being able to help out in other countries.

Victoria McCart

11 Oct, 2018
GVI provided a life changing experience for me. This program opened my eyes to what other countries and cultures deal with. I am leaving South Africa with a piece of my heart and I will continue to cherish this experience for the rest of my life. Volunteering and giving back seemed like such a little task I could do to help others in any way I could, but it has taught me so much about myself and appreciating everything I have in life. I will never be able to describe how special this small two-week trip has been, all thanks to GVI!

Nicole Connaughton

11 Oct, 2018
I am so grateful that I was able to come on this trip. The activities and workshops we participated in were life changing! GVI is a great organization and I hope to work with them again in the future! The leaders we worked with (Katie & Mayuree) were great and very accommodating. They were very helpful and encouraging. I had such a great time here in Cape Town, South Africa and I cannot wait to come back!

Laura Scheinfein

11 Oct, 2018
GVI gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I feel like I have learned so much about myself and others through this experience. Not only did we have the opportunity to do volunteer work, but we also had time to experience the area and culture. This has truly been an eye-opening experience for me, and I hope to take the things I learned with me throughout the rest of my life. I would highly recommend other students to participate in this program.

Erin McCarthy

11 Oct, 2018
The opportunity to come to South Africa and work with GVI has been life changing. As nurses in the United States, we are often times not exposed to many different cultures. Coming to South Africa, working/teaching the women in the townships and with the children at the school, our eyes have been opened. Seeing the difference that teaching CPR or self-confidence made on the women and girls, allowed us to see the difference our education can make. One of the most amazing parts was seeing the sense of community within the townships. It was humbling to hear the people say it doesn’t matter your economic standings, but instead on your respect towards others. Our goal as students is to bring this mentality back to our school to show to others. Thank you GVI!

Kori Kosiorek

11 Oct, 2018
This opportunity has been life changing. I wasn’t expecting much before getting to South Arica, but upon arrival and for the past two weeks all of my memories and experiences have surpassed anything I could have imagined. Unexpectedly, this trip has boasted my own confidence regarding my nursing and teaching skills. This experience has truly helped to prepare me for my future as an adult and for my career in nursing, so I thank you! I believe GVI has helped me realize that traveling, teaching, and nursing is possible for me. I hope to do it all again in the near future and also continue learning and growing throughout my life. Thank you!

Erin Morrissey

11 Oct, 2018
Coming to South Africa to work with GVI was a once in a lifetime experience. I feel as if I gained so much knowledge and was able to be immersed in a captivating culture. I hope to carry on all of the lessons I learned to my future career as a nurse, and my life in general. I would work with GVI again in a flash.

Brittany Bushey

11 Oct, 2018
My experience in South Africa has been life changing. I really enjoyed how GVI also incorporated learning about the African culture as well as volunteering. My absolute favorite part was working in the townships. I loved learning the language they spoke but also enjoyed teaching the women and children. The highlight of this trip for me was when I taught a women or child something and they were able to relay it back to me. I truly cannot be more thankful to have has this opportunity to work with the women and children in the townships and know I made an impact. It also makes me feel good knowing that when I leave GVI will be continuing with the work that I did, and that it won’t just stop.

Abigail Harris

11 Oct, 2018
I thought this experience was unforgettable! The amount of things that we saw and people with interacted with was unreal! I learned and improved my nursing skills by teaching the women and children in the township so much. I even learned a great deal about myself and who I want to be in life. GVI is a great organization that gives back so much. You have to be a very special person to work for GVI. I can’t thank this organization enough for helping me grow and giving me an incredible experience I won’t forget.

Emily Hogan

25 Nov, 2013
I joined GVI to gain insight into the real world applicability of my studies in global health and social medicine. The biggest injustice I saw at the Masiphumelele Educare was that these individuals would not have otherwise had the opportunity to learn about their health. In Xhosa "Masiphumelele" means "we will succeed." I have no doubt in my mind that the people I had the pleasure of meeting will succeed, lead healthier lives and go on to make the difference which is at the core of GVI's mission.

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