Dutch Sports Science student Kirsten van Arkel (21) spent three months teaching surfing and school sport with Projects Abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of her school’s internship program. 

Kirsten gushed about learning more than she could have imagined during her time in Cape Town.  ‘Physical Education teaching in South Africa is so different to the practice in Holland – you can’t even compare the two,’ she marvelled. 

Kirsten enjoyed the gratitude and enthusiasm of her students at Muizenberg Beach and Floreat Primary School in the low-income suburb of Steenberg.

‘The kids who came to surf were completely enthralled by the beach – the water, the sand, the people – it was a world apart from anything they’d known before and it kept them from becoming involved in gang culture in their communities,’ she pointed out. 

‘Although the children at Floreat Primary were still in their everyday school environment, they relished the daily 45 minutes spent outside and didn’t care what sport we played – lessons could involve everything from soccer, hockey and cricket to baseball and volleyball sessions,’ she laughed. ‘The school is desperately under-resourced and I am so grateful to my school back home for donating money for some of the equipment necessary to enjoy some of these sports,’ she added.

Although Kirsten worked hard during her daily teaching sessions, she insisted that each sweltering summer’s day was a wonderfully worthwhile experience for her.  ‘The kids were just so precious, energizing me with their continual hugs and smiles,’ she shared.  ‘They were never upset with me – even when I grew angry with them, ...

Efter en hård første uge, med meget hjemve og kulturchok, har jeg haft to super dejlige og fantastiske uger. Vil faktisk påstå, at jeg så småt er ved at forelske mig i dette fantastiske land! Jeg har oplevet en hel masse fantastiske ting. På projektet begyndte jeg virkelig at nyd at være blandt hundene, har sjældent fundet noget så livsbekræftende! Men trods det flyttede jeg til hospitalet, da det jo mest er det, jeg skal bekræftige mig med. Den første dag fulgte jeg en dyrlæge, som var elendig til engelsk, så jeg observerede mest operationer, hvilket er hovedsagligt sterilisationer og kastrerer. Men dagen efter kom der en veterinærsygeplejerske og han fortalte mig alt! så det var så nice. Igår gjorde jeg så to hunde helt selv klar til operation, fandt blodåre første gang og en slange ned i halsen, det var så vildt! jeg har tænkte mig at fortsætte på hospitalet i hvert fald en uge mere, jo længere tid man er der, jo mere må man. jeg gav også infektion via nål i en kat. Nårh det var lidt om projektet, men jeg har også været ude og opleve en masse. I sidste uge tog ud med en båd, hvor vi skulle ned i et bur, hvor der så kom hajer så vildt tæt på, det var så vildt. Dens fede hale kom ind i buret, hvor jeg var, så jeg måtte rykke mig, det er vildt at være så tæt på et så stort dyr. Dog har de dog fucking store bølger hernede, det er slet ikke til at forstå, så jeg fik det såå dårligt, da vi skulle ind igen, men har det hele på film, altså hajerne, den ...

Twelve months since the SPCA book shop opened at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in Grassy Park, almost R80 000 has been generated fri sales of second-hand, quality books sold through the shop and at charity book sales around Cape Town.  This would not have been possible without generous donations of books.  The SPCA Book Shop, located at the CoGH SPCA (corner 1st Avenue and Firdt Road, Grassy Park) is open every Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 2pm and on certain Saturdays from 8am to 12pm.  For more information on book sales or donations please contact Natasha Johannes on 021 700 4155 or e-mail awareness@spca-ct.co.za

1) Our Seabird Partner Project (SANCCOB) is located in the Northern Suburbs about 45 minutes away from our main office in the Southern Suburbs, where all our host families and projects are located.  So you will be working/living with other volunteers, but not necessarily other Projects Abroad volunteers.

2) It is imperative for the volunteers at SANCCOB to be able to understand and speak English well.

3) Volunteers work 5 days a week and one of the 5 days will be either on a Saturday or Sunday.

4) SANCCOB prefers new volunteers to start on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

For an overview of the tasks you may do at SANCCOB, please visit the link below:

http://www.sanccob.co.za/volunteering/international-volunteer/121-volunteer-task-video.html.

So after eating my way around Taste of Cape Town on Friday night, Saturday morning I meet a couple of the others at the train station as we planned to spend the best part of the morning at the Old Biscuit Mill.

Train was due at 9.10am, 9.30am no train, 9.40am no train…..gotta love South African time and Cape Towns reliable network of public transport! Train arrives just after 9.45am and we’re fnally on our way to Salt River.

Cape Town weather has been like Melbourne weather of late – four seasons in one day, when I left the house it was cool by the time we arrive at the Old Biscuit Mill it’s sunny and the temperature is rising – at this stage I was wishing I hadn’t worn jeans!

Benny, Isabella, Ben and I browse the market which is a smaller version of Bondi Markets, local designers selling their latest collections. I see a few pieces I like but the prices are on par with Sydney designer market prices so I have my sensible hat on and decide to admire and get snap happy with my camera.

It’s well after 10.30am and given no one has had breakfast we decide that it’s time to eat and there is talk of breakfast champagne. The food hall at the Old Biscuit Mill is a foodie’s heaven – there are so many choices – NY bagels, coffee (which is actually good!), gourmet German hot dogs, falafel, an omlette station, pizza, some French pizza, burgers, paella, tarts, cheesecake, wine, beer, fresh juices, sangria and champagne! It’s definitely more of a brunch menu than a breakfast menu but it doesn’t deter me from trying the chicken shawarma served in a pocket pita bread with hummus, lettuce, tomato and onion.

We get a bottle of champagne which is only about AUD12 and find a spot on one of the communal tables.

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