Volunteer Reviews

Jennifer, 28, American – 4 weeks volunteering 

 I came to South Africa to somehow impact the lives of the boys of MBC. Little did I  know how they would impact mine. Learning to surf in Muizenberg was wonderful.  The location, prime. The beach, excellent. The town, just the right amount of quaint.  The coffee shop next door, cherry on top. Beyond all that, though, there is this amazing  group of kids you’ll meet whom I call the MBC boys. Indeed, come, explore,  tour  South Africa by all means. But more importantly, come to MBC to invest in the kids.  You have, at minimum, four very short weeks. Find out their stories. Give of your time  & see how you’ll experience the real South Africa through them.

Dan, 19, Scottish Student – 6 weeks volunteering 

 Being a part of MBC could only be described as a privilege by myself. Arriving with a  completely open mind, I was utterly blown away by every aspect of my trip. South  Africa seemed to steal my heart, with its unique beauty and constant welcoming  atmosphere and wonderful people. Not to mention the extremely special people  involved with MBC. From walking into the office the dudes here made me feel totally  at home in my surroundings, and being a surfer already, quickly made me realise how  great the region is for people like us. Surfing and doing other activities with the great  kids at the club is very rewarding, spending time with them flies by daily and you’ll  constantly finding yourself making excuses to stay out for just another wave. They’re a  truly amazing bunch, always full of laughter and enthusiasm to be out in the water or playing some soccer, they never fail to make every moment spent with them a new favourite of your trip. Staying for 6 weeks was my only regret and I’d fully advise future volunteers to stay far longer since you’ll completely be bewitched by everything that is on offer for you to see and do in this incredible place. I’ll definitely be returning to fulfil the multi-page list of things I was unable to do out there and I’m sure I’d be able to say the same for any other volunteer I met on my travels.

Holly, 27, Irish Social Worker – 2 months volunteering 

I volunteered with Muizenberg Beach Club for 2 glorious months at the start of 2013. As a Youth Worker it is a wonderful to see a grassroots charity, where the young people needs are the centre focus. It is charity that is continuing to grow and help more young people in the Cape Flats area. It uses fun activities and exercise to help young people to find focus and learn life skills. All the young people get so much out of the activities and look forward to surfing, hiking and football every week. I loved getting to know all the young people and getting an insight into there daily lives and culture. There are great group of young men and boys who I have very fond memories of and look forward to seeing them again next year. MBC has a very relaxed atmosphere and volunteers input and time is highly valued. I would recommend volunteering at MBC to anyone,you get to live in the gorgeous Muizenberg, meet like minded people and contribute to worthwhile cause.

MBC MAKING MEMORIES,CHANGING LIVES..

Benjamin, 22, French Student – 5 months volunteering 

After five months leading the Muizenberg Beach Club, I am on my way back to Paris. Time always passes too quickly when you’re having fun.

For the second time in South Africa, I had the most wonderful experience of my life with the MBC members and all the volunteers who came to support us. Life in Muizenberg is also amazing. Our organization is now like a small family. it is well structured, our twelve members are like our own children, and this is what makes the strength of our project.

I could get to know each child and share special moments with them. For those who love nature, surfing, children, education, I suggest you take part with the MBC if you don’t want to miss the best experience of your youth.

Thank Ant Scholte, CEO, who gave me the responsibility to drive the bus to pick up the kids, make videos with them to present our activities, to create this website, train volunteers, and enjoy surfing in Muizenberg!

I  want more than ever to run my life in an ethical way, and to be helpful to others …

THANK YOU to MBC, my second family here in South Africa.

Dan, 20, British Student – 5 weeks volunteering 

Life in Muizenberg is unbelievable, from the picturesque beach to the unmissable food market. And with Cape Town just a train ride away it is the perfect base to explore this beautiful country.

Spending time with the MBC members was the highlight of my week. I felt as though it was a really worth while use of my time whilst having the best time of my life. They quickly made me feel comfortable and I ended up having a great laugh with the boys.

I definitely recommend volunteering at MBC to anybody who wants to see the world, make a change or simply just want to have a good time. I wish all the boys good luck for the future, I’m sure I’ll be back.

Jessica, 17, British Student – 2 months volunteering 

Volunteering with MBC has been the best experience of my life. I have completely fallen in love with South Africa and the pace of life – I have no doubt that I will return one day soon. The boys themselves are a pleasure to interact with and the amount of experience I have gained from being involved is phenomenal. I am so privileged to have had the chance to take part in such a wonderful organisation and I wish all members of the team the best of luck in the future!

Antoine, 22, French Student – 2 months volunteering 

I advise everyone to come and have this experience. First of all, South Africa is a beautiful country which gathers a considerable diversity, both culturally and geographically. People are very hospitable here. I believe it is better if you stay for a longer period of time, for example a minimum of 2 months, to integrate in the local lifestyle and to have time to discover Cape Town.

I will keep good memories of my experiences with MBC. The kids are very energetic and it’s easy to share a really good connection with them. We make activities to enable kids to enjoy themselves in a safe environment, as it is supervised by volunteers, who come from different origins.

I hope MBC will give them opportunities to fulfill their dreams in the future and I wish them all the best

Robbie, 22, British Student – 3 months volunteering 

Having spent 2 months with the MBC this year, it’s safe to say I will be going back. I had such a great time with them on my 5 month stay in Cape Town; the kids, the surfing, the beautiful landscape, and most of all the chance to understand the every day struggles of kids living amongst the Cape Flats. It didn’t take long for me to realise how worthwhile the MBC activities are for those involved. If you love sun, surf and want the chance to live in a beautiful country then DEFINITELY get on it!

Luca, 26, Italian Student – 6 months volunteering 

Since I am a surf instructor I focused mainly on the surfing activities. Kids love surfing so it’s not difficult to keep them motivated and happy when it comes to go surfing. After a fast warm up we just run into the water and have fun! Spending time in the water with the kids, seeing how much they enjoy it and how grateful they are is just an amazing experience. Having the chance to spend six months in Cape Town, I got to know the kids, their particular needs, their strengths and fears and that helped me teach them even better. It’s been awesome to see their surfing improving so much under my eyes. I  also have to thank all the other volunteers who worked for MBC. Even if  some of them were not the best surfers, their support on the beach and into the water has been essential. Besides the volunteering activity, living in Cape Town is an incredible experience, it’s a city that mixes amazing landscapes, outdoor sports, super fun parties and cultural activities. I would suggest anyone to spend some time with the MBC and the amazing kids I got to meet.

Julia, 19, Swedish Student – 6 weeks volunteering