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Volunteer in South Africa - FAQ
Q. What is Edzimkulu and what are its current projects?
Q. Where is Edzimkulu situated in SA?
A. A weekly Edzimkulu team meeting will determine which project(s) each volunteer will participate in for the upcoming week. Volunteers may also be asked to go to Ndawana for specific purposes i.e.: to manage the clinic or teach a specific course. Volunteers are expected to be willing and flexible as priorities may change day to day depending on many variables. Volunteers with specific skills in certain critical areas may be assigned to ongoing work related to their skill areas.
Q. Are volunteers expected to work designated hours during their volunteer placement?
A. Volunteers are expected to work a 7:00 a.m. to 4: p.m. workday Monday to Friday. There are periodic weekend work requirements, including (but not limited to) a weekly home base meeting.
Q. Are volunteers allowed to take personal time for sightseeing, visiting game farms, safaris, etc during their volunteer placement?
A. To minimize disruptions on current projects, any extended trips (i.e.: longer than a weekend) should be taken before or after your placement with Edzimkulu. Exceptions may be made for long-term (e.g. 6 month or longer) volunteers. The weekly home base meeting takes precedence over weekend trips, but the meeting time can be negotiated among the volunteers present at a particular time.
Q. Do I require a Visa for volunteering in South Africa?
A. A volunteer visa is required for any volunteer placement longer than 90 days. Potential volunteers are encouraged to complete their own research in this area by contacting the South African High Commission in Ottawa to ensure current information on both visas and passports. For shorter placements, a visitor visa may be obtained upon arrival at the airport.
Q. Are volunteers required to get immunization before entering SA?
A. Yes, please get in touch with your local Travelers Health Clinic regarding vaccinations and medications pertaining to this area of SA. The Underberg and Ndawana regions of SA are malaria and bilharzias-free areas.
Q. As a volunteer, do I need medical insurance?
A. Volunteers are required to obtain all of their own medical insurance pertaining to their stay in SA. Edzimkulu assumes no responsibility in the area of healthcare insurance for volunteers.
Q. Is healthcare available in the vicinity?
A. Yes, Underberg has private health physicians.
Q. Is there a supermarket, pharmacy, post office, bank, etc. in the vicinity?
A. All major services are available in Underberg (10 minutes away by car - 50 minute walk).
Q. Are there pets at the headquarters?
A. Yes, we have two dogs: a Jack Russell Terrier and a Border Collie cross. Both are very friendly and well socialized. They are an integral part of life here, and people who are not comfortable with dogs might want to consider this reality before applying.
Q. Are volunteers expected to drive during their volunteer placement with Edzimkulu?
A. Yes, volunteers are required to be comfortable driving a standard transmission vehicle. An international driver’s license is required by SA law, but we have never been asked for the international license. Your Canadian license should be adequate for driving in SA. Training in manual transmission will be provided as necessary.
Q. What expenses can I expect to incur while volunteering for Edzimkulu?
A. Volunteers are responsible for (but not limited to) the following expenses:
A. The local currency is SA Rand (ZAR - check worldwide currencies on the web to determine the rate) and is available through bank machines in Underberg at a charge of $3 CDN per withdrawal transaction. There are 2 major banks in Underberg. Traveler’s cheques are NOT recommended as they can be difficult to cash throughout SA.
Q. What are the accommodations for volunteers? Do volunteers share rooms?
A. There are a variety of accommodations. Where a volunteer will be staying and whether they will be sharing a room is dependent on the number of volunteers at any given time. The accommodations are situated on a spectacular valley and are very comfortable with both running water and electricity. Edzimkulu strives to provide the best situation for lodging according to the current number of volunteers and their situations i.e. couples volunteering would be situated together.
Q. What are the arrangements for meal preparation?
A. Each volunteer is responsible for their own grocery shopping and meal preparation. Grocery shopping can be done in Underberg, 10 minutes away. Volunteers often prepare meals together, but that depends on personal preference.
Q. Are food and personal items expensive in Underberg?
A. Food is generally less expensive than in Canada, especially for meat, vegetables and fruit. Toiletries and other personal items are comparable in price to those in Canada, perhaps slightly more expensive. Clothing is very inexpensive, electronics are much more expensive.
Q. Are there laundry facilities?
A. A washing machine is available to volunteers on weekends and evenings. All drying is done on clotheslines.
Q. Will I have access to a phone and internet?
A. Yes, both services are available to volunteers at specific times and at the local rate.
Q. Do I need to bring converters or adaptors for my personal electronic devices?
A. There are two issues: 1) the electrical specs of the device you want to power, and 2) the shape of the plug.
The shape issue is to do with being able to physically plug the device into an outlet in SA. The plug type for SA is unique to SA and most travel plug adaptor kits do NOT include the adaptor for SA. However, there are actually two different plug standards in SA. One is the original and unique 3-prong plug and is what is accepted in any wall power outlet there. The other is the European 2-prong plug, but in SA it is found only on power bars. You can also easily buy (even in Underberg) plug adaptors that convert between the European 2-prong and SA 3-prong plugs. So if you are taking a device that has only 2 prongs, then just be sure to take a European 2-prong adaptor and you can buy the adaptor to convert from that to the 3-prong SA standard in Underberg.
You can also get plug adaptors that convert from North American 3-prong to SA 3-prong, but they are a little harder to find.
If you want to take a device that accepts only 110 Volts and 60 Hertz, then you need a transformer and they can be big and heavy and, therefore, are not recommended.
Q. What is the weather like in the Underberg region and what clothes would you recommend volunteers bring?
A. May, June, July - winter months. Both days and evenings are cool to cold. The Underberg region does experience snow and there is no central heating. Specific clothing recommendations: Fleece, warm jacket, gloves and hat, warm bed clothes, slippers.
August, September, October - spring-like weather. Cool to warm days, evenings & nights still quite cold. Days can be windy. Specific clothing recommendations: fleece, wind breaker and raincoat.
November, December, and January - summer weather. Days are very warm and can be hot. The sun is very direct and you can burn quickly. This is also the rainy season and it tends to rain most afternoons. Evenings are almost always cool. Specific clothing recommendations: rain coat and hat, shorts, t-shirts and tank tops, sturdy sandals. A sun hat is essential.
February, March, April - fall-like, cool days and colder nights.
Footwear: Sturdy hikers or sneakers are recommended for all seasons. You will want to bring sturdy sandals also.
Pants: Most African women do not wear pants or shorts, though that is changing with young people. Women from Canada can wear shorts or pants, but may be more comfortable wearing skirts at times.
General: Clothing worn in Underberg is very casual. There are a number of good restaurants in the area, and dress-up clothing (e.g., suits and ties) is rarely seen. A long skirt is handy. Same observation for church, though African women tend to dress up for many occasions.
Q. Are there other recommended items?
A. A good flashlight is essential. Buildings at home base are separated and the ground is steep. A daypack is very handy, as is a water bottle. Summer sun is very bright, so eyeshades and sunscreen are recommended.
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