‘If only every student could do this. It changes your life in all the right ways,’ says Chris Heritage, parent of Luke Heritage, one of our teen volunteers who has participated on two GVI programs, one in Costa Rica and another in South Africa.

We are a parent-run organisation that is incredibly serious about health and safety, and increasing the impact, as well as the long-term career benefits of our programs. Our programs help young people develop the skills to select a career path that is personally fulfilling, and live a life aligned to the well-being of our planet and the global community.

GVI is a proud member of the Gap Year Association.

Ken and Linda Jeffrey, whose son Sam volunteered with GVI in Thailand, talk about how the experience affected Sam. He also went on to volunteer with GVI again in South Africa. ‘I know it sounds like a cliche but in a sense, he did go away as a boy and he came back as a young man. Both of us could recommend GVI without any hesitation to any other parent thinking about exploring an opportunity for their children to explore the world and to see different parts of it.’

All of our programs have short-, mid- and long-term objectives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.

Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the UN SDGs. Then once you arrive on base, you’ll learn about the specific goals we have in this particular location, our various objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these.

Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to be an active global citizen after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

GVI’s journey in Cape Town began in 2009, focusing on initiatives that empower local communities and promote sustainability. Early partnerships with organisations such as WESSA, Subzpads, Ikhaya Le Themba, and Bright Star Educare Centre laid the foundation for impactful projects in childcare, women’s empowerment, and education. Key achievements include establishing the Hope Edu-care Centre in Fish Hoek and creating sustainable food initiatives like the vegetable garden at Ikhaya Le Themba Sanctuary.

The hub temporarily paused operations in 2020 due to the global pandemic but has since relocated to Hout Bay in 2025 to continue its mission. The new base allows GVI to deepen its partnerships with local organisations and address pressing community challenges, particularly in the Imizamo Yethu township.

All of our programs are designed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and contribute to meaningful, measurable change in Hout Bay. Our project work here supports local projects and aligns with the following UN SDGs:

• #3 Good Health and Well-being: Promoting holistic health through education, physical activities, and emotional support in the community.
• #4 Quality Education: Providing academic support, literacy and numeracy tutoring, and after-school care to empower young learners.
• #5 Gender Equality: Supporting initiatives that empower women through skill-building, leadership opportunities, and sustainable livelihoods.
• #10 Reduced Inequalities: Addressing systemic barriers faced by underserved communities, particularly in Imizamo Yethu township.
• #17 Partnerships for the Goals: Building strong partnerships with local organisations to drive sustainable, community-led development.

Before arriving on base, you’ll be introduced to the history and purpose of the UN SDGs. Once on-site, you’ll learn how your contributions directly support these goals. Whether you’re involved in a short-term project or a long-term initiative, your efforts will create positive change in both the local community and the global landscape.

Our Cape Town-based community development programs involve a variety of focused projects to achieve these goals, including researching, planning, and delivering classes, as well as practical skills workshops in the local community.

We also work closely with our local partner and their network of organisations on capacity building. In doing so, we contribute to these organisations’ long-term viability, which means the sustainable provision of their support and services to the community.

 

Four of the main social impact projects in Cape Town:

Education project

In South Africa,  primary school education poses a real challenge to young students who do not come from English-speaking households or have had minimal exposure to the English language within their community. Many schools teach exclusively in English (or Afrikaans), resulting in some learners falling behind in their schooling from an early age. 

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), 60% of South African students currently enrolled in grade 1 will not complete grade 12. Our education project aims to improve the student’s chance of completing secondary school and decrease the likelihood of them falling behind or dropping out of school. 

We assist in mentoring and tutoring local young learners across a range of subjects, including literacy, numeracy, and computer skills. Another element of our lessons is basic health and well-being, which sometimes includes physical education and sports. Through collaboration with our local partners, we contribute to community-driven educational initiatives by providing additional resources and support, ensuring that our efforts align with and strengthen the existing programs led by local educators.

Public health project

In Hout Bay, many communities face challenges related to health education and access to essential resources. Our public health volunteer program focuses on empowering community members with the knowledge and tools needed to lead healthier lives. Participants collaborate with local organisations to deliver health education sessions covering essential topics like exercise, mental health and mindfulness.  

A core component of this project is facilitating WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) workshops. These sessions promote good hygiene practices, safe water use, and effective sanitation techniques, all crucial for preventing disease and fostering well-being. Participants work closely with community leaders to ensure these practices are sustainable and culturally relevant.

Women’s Empowerment project

Gender-based violence has been called South Africa’s “second pandemic”. It is estimated that more than 53% of South African women have experienced gender-based violence. This is a complex issue with many contributing factors. While our programs do not focus solely on this issue, we collaborate with local organisations that create safe spaces for women to learn, grow, and build sustainable futures.

Participants have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with local women and support initiatives that promote their empowerment and growth. Short-term participants (1–4 weeks) focus on production tasks, helping create unique, handmade products with local women. 

Those staying for longer (4+ weeks) can contribute to retail, marketing, administration, design, and tour hosting. These activities help create sustainable employment opportunities and promote stability for women from historically marginalised communities.

Beyond these initiatives, participants engage in broader community development activities, fostering a holistic approach to gender equality and community resilience.

Below is a list of core ethics and best practices we believe are essential to the operation of high quality, ethical volunteer and sustainable development programs. We believe that all responsible volunteer and sustainable development operations should focus upon these principles. If you are considering volunteering, these are some of the key considerations you should question, to ensure that your time and money contributes towards positive change.

 

We want to constantly develop our own understanding of ethical best practice. In so doing, we aim to provide an exemplary industry standard for other education institutions, international development organisations, and social enterprises. Our Badge of Ethics stands for the drive to always do good, better. Find out more, click on the Badge below.

One of the major advantages of joining this program with GVI, is that it’ll give you that competitive edge you need to boost your social impact career! Not only will you get real on-the-ground community experience, you’ll also have access to tailor-made support, as well as excellent training and career-building opportunities to land your dream job.