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FAQS

What is SAEP? The South African Education and Environment Project (SAEP) is an educational non-profit organization based in Cape Town, South Africa. In the US it is registered as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation with the Internal Revenue Service. A South African sister organization is registered in South Africa as a non-profit, public benefit organization. Activities include:

· environmental awareness

· educational enrichment, academic support and supplementary tuition

· career guidance and counselling services

· bridging programmes to enable educationally disadvantaged learners to enter tertiary education institutions

· opportunities for individuals and organisations, both local and foreign, to contribute to the above and to do community service.

· support for needy educare and early childhood development facilities and services for pre-school children

· development of youth leadership skills.

The organization was founded in 1994 by Norton Tennille, a former environmental lawyer from the United States. In 2003, he was joined by Jane Keen, and experienced South African social worker and NGO manager. SAEP\sThe three main programmes are:

Early Childhood Development
High School academic support and extra-mural enrichment activities
Post matric bridging year internships for students who have finished their high school coursework but need further support before going to tertiary study.

· Does SAEP provide stipends or accommodation for volunteers?

No. Volunteers are responsible for their travel expenses to Cape Town as well as all living expenses (lodging, food, transport, entertainment, etc.) SAEP does not provide any stipend or financial support to volunteers.

Although SAEP does not have residential facilities and does not provide accommodation, we have gathered information regarding potential lodging opportunities. Sometimes it makes sense to arrange a stay in a backpacker’s lodge or a B&B upon arrival, and then find something for the longer term once you are here. We have compiled a List of Accommodation which includes several options for housing in the area which we regularly update; we can make this available upon request.

· Is there a charge or fee for volunteering with SAEP?

Unlike many other organzations, SAEP does not charge a fee for participation in our programs. We ask that volunteers who have obtained funding, or are planning to obtain institutional support, budget in a fee of $500 to help cover their project costs and the costs of providing infrastructure for volunteers, such as computers, internet access, transport to the townships, etc. Like other organizations that do not charge a fee per se, we urge those volunteers who can do so to raise the equivalent of $500 in charitable contributions to SAEP. In the USA, such contributions are tax deductible.

· How much money should I expect to spend on housing and living expenses?

You should plan to budget around R1750 for a room and a further R1500-2000 for living expenses (food and incidentals) each month, though you can get by on less. The exchange rate for the rand varies, but for the moment you can estimate conversion by dividing these figures by 7 to convert to U.S. Dollars and by 9 to convert to Euros. To find the current daily exchange rate, you may want to visit s web site like http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic or http://www.xe.com/ucc/.

· What’s the work environment like? What kind of work might I be doing at SAEP?

We are really a "family" NGO with lots of young people around, from South Africa and abroad. The atmosphere is very informal, but we work very hard.

The communities in which we work are very poor, consisting mainly of families who have come to Cape Town from the rural areas looking for better educational and economic opportunities.

There are three major projects that need volunteers: one involving support for ten township pre-schools; another that offers after-school tutoring and enrichment programs for township high school students; and a third (which is currently on hold in 2006) that provides a "gap year" for recent township high school graduates who need a year of study and self-discovery before moving on to tertiary education or a learnership. Our volunteers help with each of these programs; assignments are determined by volunteers’ interests and availability, as well as the needs of the programs.

Early Childhood Development Program: SAEP works with ten pre-schools and daycare centers in the informal community of Philippi. Each crèche has a small staff of 3-5 workers and cares for between 45 and 150 children each day. SAEP crèche volunteers support this effort in a number of ways, including: direct teaching/playing with the children, performing maintenance and repairs, delivering donations and helping with various administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, research, fundraising applications, and newsletter/web site creation.
High School Program: We currently run tutoring and extracurricular programs in five township high schools. Each afternoon, local and foreign volunteers go to the schools and work with students in subjects like English, math and science. This tutoring program is run in conjunction with TeachOut, a partner organization that recruits University of Cape Town students to serve as tutors in the high schools. In addition, we run extracurricular activities like poetry, journalism, debating, drama and outdoor/environmental education.
Post-Matriculation Program: SAEP has since 2003 run a program for high school graduates who need a bridging year to prepare for tertiary education or a learnership. Although we are not running an official “gap year” internship program in 2006, we are providing support to three post-matriculation students who are in need of guidance and academic support as they prepare for and pursue tertiary education and learnerships.

· What are some specific ways volunteers might help on these programs?

As an SAEP volunteer, you have a chance to support our efforts in a number of ways. You can:

Work directly with children through playing and teaching at the crèches
Perform maintenance on the crèches such as painting, plumbing, repairing roofs and walls, and gardening
Sew curtains, mattress covers, and other necessities
Teach crèche principals and staff members computer skills
Tutor high school students in academic subjects (math, science, English, and others)
Work with high school students in after-school extracurricular activities, such as debate, poetry, journalism, drama and environmental education
Help organize weekend hiking and outdoor education activities
Perform research and administrative tasks at the SAEP office
Work on fundraising programs and initiatives
Help in the office with bookkeeping and auditing
Deliver donated goods
Help with filling in forms and fundraising applications
Work on newsletters and other forms of media to increase SAEP’s exposure

§ Take pictures of program activities for the SAEP website and other projects

§ Plus…Any other projects that fit your specific talents and interests…!

· Is it possible for volunteers to work on more than one program?

Yes – volunteers may work on more than one program, but you will need to concentrate on one as your primary focus. There is definitely room for flexibility, since plans change according to the needs of the moment and the relationships/new projects that develop during the course of the programs.

· Does SAEP have a web site?

Yes! Please check it out at www.saep.org. You may reach us by e-mail at norton.tennille@gmail.com .

· Where is the SAEP office located?

SAEP has an office at Erin Hall, 8 Erin Street, in the Cape Town suburb of Rondebosch. The office is accessible to public transport.

· Is Rondebosch safe?

We can't absolutely guarantee anyone's safety, since Cape Town and South Africa generally have a high rate of crime related to a very high rate of unemployment. One assumes a certain level of risk in working in a developing country like South Africa. Rondebosch is a relatively quiet residential suburb, but there is a crime problem (burglaries, car break-ins, etc) in all residential neighborhoods in Cape Town, including Rondebosch. There is an active neighborhood watch program that monitors the situation and provides advisories regarding any incidents. It is important to always take precautionary safety measures like keeping doors and gates locked, not going out for walks at night, etc.

· Will I be safe working in the townships?

Though we have had relatively few incidents over the years, there is no doubt a higher risk of crime in the townships than elsewhere in the city. SAEP will do all in its power to provide for the safety of volunteers but we ask that everyone be aware of their surroundings and take necessary safety precautions. In order to protect yourself and your property, it is recommended that you leave all valuables at the SAEP offices when you visit the townships. If you would like to take a camera, please make sure it is insured before bringing it with you.

· Does SAEP provide transportation to and from the township projects?

SAEP will provide transport for volunteers between the main office and project sites. It is your responsibility, however, to arrive at the SAEP office prior to the scheduled departure time.

If you have access to your own transport, that is highly encouraged, as this will provide you with greater flexibility and freedom to work on projects at various times of day. It is also a great advantage if you are able to drive a manual car on the left side of the road. Though this is not a necessity, this again will allow you more flexibility in your scheduling.

· Does SAEP accept both long and short term volunteers?

Though SAEP does accept both long and short term volunteers, we recommend staying for as long as possible. Ideally we would like volunteers to come and work with us for six months to a year, but we realize this is not always possible. We have found that volunteers who are able to stay for at least 2-3 months can make significant progress in working with our projects.

This is not to say that we won’t consider taking on volunteers for shorter periods, of course. The shorter time you volunteer, the more practical your tasks will be (maintenance projects at various sites, gardening, etc.) However, if you are most interested in working and building relationships with students and organizations, we recommend volunteering for at least 2-3 months.

· What are the work days and hours?

In general, SAEP’s office is open Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm. Mornings are usual spent in meetings and preparing for work at the projects; volunteers spend most afternoons out in the schools or crèches. Of course, your schedule may vary depending on your availability and the schedule of the particular project you work on. There are also occasional outings and meetings on weekends.

· Do I need vaccinations?

Immunizations are not required to enter South Africa. However, depending on your past travel history and health conditions, should consult with your doctor or local travel clinic to see if they have recommendations for standard immunizations such at tetanus. The SAA Netcare Travel Clinic located in Cape Town, recommends getting Hepatitis A & B vaccines if you will be working with children or in schools. Cape Town is not in a malaria-stricken area, but if you plan to do any traveling during your time here, you may want to consult with the Netcare Travel Clinic regarding what immunizations or other prophylactic measures are advisable for the destinations and time of year of your travel.

· How do I apply? What is the application process?

The application process involves sending us your CV and two references with e-mail addresses. It is a good idea to apply as early as possible, as we have received an unusually large number of applications recently. We will then be in touch to discuss your interest and assess whether volunteering with SAEP would be a good fit.

· How many volunteers are accepted?

Our number of volunteers varies throughout the year; at any given time we may have up to 4 or 5 full-time people and up to 20 part-time volunteers.

· Are there any special requirements for becoming a volunteer?

The most important requirement is a great attitude! Our volunteers must be open-minded, flexible and have a willingness to really engage with people involved in our projects as well as a desire to learn from every experience they encounter. Much of your experience is dependent on you and what skills you have to share in the areas of academics, extra-curricular activities, early childhood development or practical skills.