Home of Hope is a very special home, which provides an interim place of safety for babies and young children for a short period of time until they can be placed in a suitable home. The children come from diverse circumstances, some abandoned in dustbins, others abused, neglected, raped or infected with HIV. Home of Hope provides the children with a loving and caring environment.

The dedicated team work closely with Social Services to evaluate each child so that a plan of action can be put in place to meet their specific needs. This includes medical, developmental and emotional assessments prior to placing the children with suitable families, in the hope of securing a promising future for them.

As a Home of Hope volunteer, you will be involved with the daily care giving of the children. We work to a well-structured daily routine, which allows for volunteers to use their initiative regarding the specific needs of each child. You will be responsible for preparing breakfasts, lunch, snacks, dinners and formula feeds; cleaning and sterilising the bottles used during the day; feeding of babies and toddlers; giving of medication and recording it according to the instructions of the Doctor or management; recording and evaluating babies and toddlers according to their milestones and the general behaviour of the baby/toddlers to be able to get a profile of the child for future placements; changing nappies, bathing (according to our strict hygiene rules) and keeping babies/toddlers clean and tidy; stimulating babies and toddlers according to our set out programme; keeping their work area’s hygienically clean and tidy.

Home of Hope works closely with the local township communities, profiling foster families and providing them with the tools and knowledge needed to care for a child. When a child is placed with an adoptive or foster family, Home of Hope provides the family with everything they need for the child - this includes a cot, bedding, clothes, a pushchair, feeding bottles, sterilising equipment and many more useful items that many families from the poverty stricken townships are otherwise unable to afford. Follow up visits and ongoing support for the families are also important aspects of Home of Hope's community involvement.

This is an especially rewarding project for emotionally mature volunteers, who will be able to see the positive difference their contribution has made to the lives of some very special babies and young children.

What's included?

• Cape Town Airport collection and drop-off.
• A comprehensive welcome brief from a member of the AVIVA team.
• A Welcome Pack complete with many useful items that will help you settle in and an opportunity to let your friends and family know you have arrived safely.
• An embroidered AVIVA Fleece.
• Accommodation at AVIVA House (in Table View, Cape Town).
• Self-service breakfasts for the duration of your stay.
• Transfers between AVIVA House and Home of Hope.
• A donation to Home of Hope (payable by AVIVA).
• A full-day Peninsula tour which includes lunch, visits to Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape Point, Simon’s Town, Boulders Beach Penguin Colony and much more. An incredible day rich with history and some of the world’s most beautiful scenery.
• A half-day Cultural tour, a fascinating introduction to South Africa’s recent political history before and after Apartheid. Includes highlights of Khayelitsha, South Africa’s second largest township after Soweto.
• A full-day tour to the Cape Winelands including the Paarl, Franschoek and Stellenbosch regions. Wine tastings and lunch are included.
• Advice and support from our experienced team during your stay.
• Our booking service for attractions, events and tours.
• An attractive certificate recognising your contribution to the Home of Hope Project.
• If required, extra nights can be added to your stay to meet your flight dates for only R120 per night. This may help you to take advantage of any cheaper flights that arrive in Cape Town before your planned arrival date.