| Organisations that promote volunteering and giving |
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There are several options for individuals wishing to volunteer or help. They can contact one of the organisations listed below (in alphabetical order) or they can search the AIDSbuzz directory to find an organisation that suits their needs and objectives. The following organisations are included:
Giving and Sharing Foundation The Giving & Sharing Foundation is an NPO that promotes the value of just that. It does this primarily through an annual awareness campaign celebrating volunteerism and philanthropy in South Africa. This happens between the second and third Friday of every November. Through an intensive media campaign the valuable work of NPOs in uplifting communities throughout the country is highlighted. It is hoped that by focusing on how much difference these organisations are making to the lives of those who are less fortunate, more individuals and businesses will be inspired to get involved. The campaign also has a special focus on encouraging a youth culture of volunteering. During the week’s campaign they also bring the public’s attention to many of the unsung heroes of this country who are quietly making a huge difference to many people’s lives. The Giving and Sharing Campaign’s website also provides information on the volunteering process and ways to help a good cause. Advice for community organisations on how to effectively manage volunteers, register as an NPO, raise funds and communicate with the media is also provided. Greater Good South Africa Address: Postnet Suite 293, Private Bag X16, Constantia, Cape Town, 7848. GreaterGood South Africa has a vision of a vibrant culture of ‘giving’ infusing all sectors of South African society, ensuring a nation of strong, interconnected communities caring for themselves, for each other, and for the places in which they live. GreaterGood works to support and encourage the accountable development of welfare and charitable organisations, so that ‘giving’ becomes truly effective and results in an improved quality of life for all South African citizens. At www.GreaterGoodSA.co.za you can find details about a large number of verified ‘Causes’ – registered non-profit and bona fide community-based organisations and charities across all fields of social interest. This website serves as a portal for donations of money, surplus goods, volunteer time, and professional skills and services. You can also give by shopping at The Good Shop – an on-line store that stocks goods made by non-profit organisations as well as other retail offerings where a percentage of the sale is donated to the beneficiary of your choice. American Express membership rewards, eBucks, Greenbacks, Voyager and other loyalty points can be earned by shopping at the Good Shop. GreaterGood South Africa’s campaigns such as Donate-A-Book, Do It Day, The Giving Exchange, Teachers Dream and Make Christmas Matter offer further opportunities for focused giving and provide everyone with a wide range of innovative ways to give, including volunteering and responsible consumer options. All ‘Causes’ featured on www.GreaterGoodSA.co.za undertake to provide their donors with feedback reports, which are then posted on the website. This ensures transparency and accountability and enables the giver to experience the ‘gift of giving’ directly. In 2005, Greater Good SA recently the ePhilanthropy Foundation’s first International Award for the best online giving solution against competitors from 23 other countries. Other Greater Good Initiatives The ‘Do It Day’ campaign, which happened for the first time on Friday October 28th 2005. During this day over 400 volunteers in five provinces helped various NPOs to complete more than 40 specific projects, ranging from developing business and marketing plans to renovating and gardening projects. This is to become a regular event. The other Greater Good initiative is the Giving Exchange Expos enabling NPOs from all over the country to exhibit their products to businesses and the general public. Two were held in Johannesburg and Cape Town in September 2005 in which over 120 NPOs exhibited their products. Nelson Mandela Foundation The Nelson Mandela Foundation encourages people to volunteer in a number of different ways to help fight the HIV and AIDS epidemic on every level, from always practising safe sex, to getting tested, talking openly about the disease, and actively supporting people who are affected or infected by the disease. This is called the 46664 Volunteer Campaign, using Nelson Mandela’s now famous Robben Island prison number. The 46664 Volunteer Campaign aims to inspire ordinary South Africans and businesses, as well other people around the world, to personally get involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and make a difference at home, at school, in the workplace and in the community. The Foundation is currently working on ways it can help to match volunteers with appropriate organisations and facilitate the volunteering process. A hotline has been set up for anyone interesting in joining the fight. To find out more, or to volunteer, call 0800 046664; SMS 08388 9429 46664; e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or visit www.nelsonmandela.org Website: http://sangonet.org.za SANGONeT is a development information portal for non-government organisations (NGOs) in South Africa. This website has a useful volunteering section, with a summary and link to a selection of general volunteer websites. Most of these volunteer organisations are not, however, specific to South Africa or HIV and AIDS. It also hosts the Prodder Directory, which is a searchable online directory of South African NGOs, development organisations, foundations and trusts. Southern African Student Volunteers (SASVO) This organisation is the leading student volunteer agency in Southern Africa. It is based at the University of Pretoria and is a joint project between The Centre for the Study of AIDS and The Centre for Human Rights. SASVO operates in the following provinces: Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and North West. SASVO has developed the concept of what it calls the ‘50/50’ approach, or meeting the communities halfway. The organisation’s slogan is ‘we do not work for communities but with them’. SASVO principles are founded on the basis of co-operative partnerships with the communities in order to bring about positive change. This approach also helps to ensure that each project remains sustainable long term. SASVO has found that communities respond well to the enthusiasm and energy that young volunteers bring to a project. Since its establishment in 1993 over 9 000 student volunteers have helped to renovate schools (40+), build new school classrooms (240+), crèches and community centres, as well as establish 15 food-gardening projects. They have also provided voter education to over 10 000 voters. As a result of its recent partnership with the Centre for the Study of AIDS (2003) SASVO’s focus has now shifted to fighting the HIV and AIDS epidemic. It does this primarily through conducting HIV and AIDS awareness and education workshops, and by establishing food gardens at government clinics so that AIDS patients have access to fresh nutritious food. Starfish Greathearts Foundation The Starfish mission is to inspire individuals throughout the world to give of their time, talents, resources and influence to provide a better future for the children made vulnerable or orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. The Foundation has developed the following ways in which individuals can help this cause. Become a Greatheart People can offer to participate as Greathearts in national sporting events such as the Comrades Marathon, the Dusi River Canoe Race or the Argus Cycling Tour. The Foundation provides imaginative ways in which Greathearts can raise sponsorship for their participation. Dinners of Hope The ‘Dinners of Hope’ is a very successful ‘giving’ programme run by the Starfish Foundation. ‘Dinners of Hope’ is the name of the initiative the Foundation starts promoting every Freedom Day on 27th April. People around the world are encouraged to host a dinner party on this day, or throughout the year, and ask their guests to give a donation in order to help orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa. In 2002 the initiative raised over R300 000. In 2004 this amount had grown to R800 000 as a result of over 13,000 people sitting down to ‘Dinners of Hope’ in 17 different countries! This money enabled the support of 2 000 orphans and vulnerable children. 2005 will be the fourth consecutive year of this initiative. The Foundation guarantees that all of funds raised from these dinners go to helping orphans and vulnerable children. To register your dinner and receive a host pack: log on to www.starfishcharity.org or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it The Thursday Club The Thursday club is an initiative that generates money for the Starfish Foundation by providing people with an easy way to help. The club’s slogan is ‘where clever South Africans connect and collect for charity’. The club invites ‘movers and shakers’ to meet for drinks once a month at different venues in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Everyone pays R100, all of which goes to the Starfish Foundation’s Thursday Club projects, and in return people get a chance to network, socialise and feel they are making a difference. The Thursday Club raised R100 000 in 2003 and over R250 000 in 2004. Those who would like to help in this way should contact the Foundation at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Voluntary Service Overseas South Africa HIV and AIDS National Volunteering Programme Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) is an international development organisation that opened in South Africa in 1994. VSO recruits skilled professional volunteers from around the world to help build the capacity of local South African NPOs. At present, there are more than 25 volunteer development workers from five different countries serving in South Africa. VSO is currently working through local partnerships with NPOs focusing on HIV and AIDS. The organisation assists by providing help with project development, small grants, training and networking. VSO also recognises that the growing number of persons taking on voluntary work means that structures need to be developed to ensure the proper support, management and protection of volunteers. With this in mind the VSO’s HIV and AIDS National Volunteering programme aims to increase support and protection of local volunteers working in this field, and is actively engaging with other volunteering programmes and organisations throughout the country to achieve this end. Its programme has a particular focus on helping women and children. Voluntours This organisation is aimed at the overseas market and charges for the volunteering experience, which includes board and lodging. Participating NPOs receive a percentage of the fee charged to the volunteers. Voluntours recognises that there are many people who have skills, compassion and time who really want to help but are not quite sure how. They have therefore made it easy for people to volunteer and make a difference and have chosen a few rewarding opportunities for a ‘voluntouring’ experience in South Africa. The projects that have been chosen include several focusing on helping people affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. Voluntours also has a corporate volunteering programme, which involves setting up and managing a volunteer programme that is in line with a company’s social investment policy. Volunteer Centre This organisation recruits volunteers from all age groups, and of varying skills and abilities, and then matches each person with one of around 500 NPOs registered on its database. Approximately one third of its member organisations have HIV and AIDS as a main focus, although many of the other organisations include programmes relating to this disease because of the extent of the epidemic. The centre registers between 30 and 100 new volunteers per month – the numbers vary depending on the time of year and current publicity campaigns or media exposure. Most of these volunteers are matched with an appropriate member organisation within two months of registration. Volunteers have to complete a registration form. This can be done via telephone, email or in person at the Centre’s offices in Somerset Hospital, Mitchell’s Plain or Khayelitsha. Details regarding age, qualifications, skills, field of interest, preferred area and time on offer are taken. This information is then used to match the volunteer to the most appropriate organisation in the Centre’s database. Though most of the member organisations are in the Western Cape there are several members from other provinces. The Volunteer Centre is, however, able to refer volunteers looking to help in other provinces. The Volunteer Centre gives motivational workshops and talks to promote volunteering as well as orientation workshops for volunteers. The Centre is affiliated to the International Retired Seniors Volunteer Programme (RSVP), which is an organisation that promotes volunteer opportunities for people over the age of 55 years. People in this age group have a wealth of knowledge and experience that could make a dramatic difference to the capacity and effectiveness of an organisation. They also have the time and are not usually looking for activities that generate money but rather make a positive difference to the community. Programmes to encourage volunteering amongst the youth, targeting schools and youth groups, are also undertaken by the Centre. The Centre will visit an organisation to advise on setting up a volunteer programme or how to improve an existing one at no cost. Various training programmes (one or two days in length) are held for organisations wanting to find out how to utilise their volunteers more effectively. These training programmes are very reasonably priced and are held at the Cape Town premises or in-house at the client’s premises. A corporate programme, called Employee-Supported Volunteering (ESV), is also run by the Centre. Read more
The registration costs are R25 for an individual, R30 for a school, R120 for an organisation and R500 for a corporate. To register email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 021 418 1116. The Volunteer Centre is affiliated to the International Association of Volunteer Effort (IAVE) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV). Volunteer Child Network The Volunteer Child Network (VCN) is the result of an initiative undertaken by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Crime Prevention Centre (CSIR –CPC) in close consultation with a number of organisations and individuals working with children. The Network was initially launched in October 2002 as a web-based database of organisations active in the prevention of child abuse and the support of orphans and vulnerable children. The Network provides potential volunteers with access to information and contact details of relevant organisations, and also facilitates networking among organisations. It assists in the process of matching the skills and preferences of volunteers to the specific needs of individual organisations. More than 500 organisations are registered with the Network countrywide, many of which have a strong focus on HIV and AIDS. A paper version of the database was launched on the 30th May 2005 during Child Protection Week and is being distributed countrywide to police stations and social welfare offices. Potential volunteers are encouraged to:
Relevant organisations are encouraged to:
The Network offers assistance to both organisations and the volunteering process. Information about the service providers who give support in this area is also provided.
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