The Haven Night Shelter is a non-profit welfare organization providing shelters and support to the homeless established in 1978 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1983 The Haven was registered as a Section 21 (a) (Not for Gain) Public CompanyTheir vision “No one should have to live on our streets” The Mission “To get the homeless to a home”

The organisation provides temporary shelter rehabilitation opportunities, social welfare services, family reunification services, physical care and support to adult people living on the streets who are committed to reintegration. They promote community awareness of the social problems arising out of destitution and encourage the participation of the public in the alleviation of such problems therefore reducing the opportunities for people to continue to live on the streets.

- Assisting with various administrative duties (e.g. filing and sending out thank you letters to donors on a regular basis).
- Initiate fundraising ideas, including phoning for food donations from businesses in the surrounding area, record keeping and report writing.
- Help find innovative ways to sustain existing projects and activities at the shelter.
- Attend all project activities, understand local dynamics and become part of the team.
- Assist and participate in setting up activities, sustainable and self empowering projects and ensuring the completion and the handover there of thus allowing continuity of the project/activity once the volunteer’s term has been completed.
- Attend and participate in planning sessions and meetings relevant to the shelter.
- Clear and honest communication with the clients and staff of the shelter in order to develop a good working relationship and to be a positive role model.
- Take responsibility for learning through active integration into the organisation.
- Maintaining, developing and implementing various projects at the shelter, including assisting with existing projects i.e.organic garden and earthworm farm, the sewing project and the candle-making project.
- Find creative ways to empower clients esteem and dignity through using innovative mechanisms and methodology.
- Assist with the Marketing of the shelter’s products made by their clients, which include organic vegetables, earthworms, cushion covers and candles.
- Sorting out clothes and other donations received at the shelter.
- Train or educate the shelters clients with basic ( Microsoft word, Excel and PowerPoint) computer skills with the objective to enhance their self worth and esteem
- Develop a skills development plan for the shelters clients

The volunteer male / female should be 19 years and older and have sound computer skills. The volunteer should have compassion, be hard working, and have a willingness to learn. Volunteers should be able to work in a diverse team.

Holidays: All Public Holidays. Volunteers who are in South Africa during December/January are encouraged to take holidays as local organisations are closed.

Wynberg, Cape Town

Volunteers will be living with host families who will provide meals. A small lunch allowance may be provided, should placement organisation not supply meals.

Social Development: volunteers would have experienced living and working within an alternate social environment, as opposed to the popular tourist notions of our country.
Personal Development: this volunteering experience could influence their future life choices as well as the direction of academic pursuits and careers.