Individuals
Give your time and skills to support our projects.
Corporate Teams
Bring your team for a meaningful volunteer day.
Skilled Volunteers
Share your professional skills (IT, marketing, admin, trades & more).
International Volunteers
Join and experience community impact in South Africa.
Ways To Volunteer
From a free day for locals to a stay of a month or more, here's how you can get involved, side by side. Every placement is agreed with us before you arrive.
Swipe sideways to compare all six options →
| Compare | FREELocal Day Volunteer | Short Stay Volunteer | Long Stay Volunteer | Private Stay Volunteer | Skills-Based Volunteering | Digital Volunteer / Digital Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Local people giving a day (or more), with no overnight stay | A first taste of volunteering, from one week | A deeper experience, from three weeks | Families, friends and groups who want the house to themselves | Tradespeople and professionals using their skills on a project | Remote workers wanting a peaceful rural base |
| Length of stay | A day at a time, agreed in advance | Minimum 1 week | Minimum 3 weeks | Minimum 2 weeks | Depends on the project; ideally 2 weeks or longer | Minimum 1 week |
| Where you sleep | Not needed: you go home at the end of the day | Shared house, with your own private bedroom | Shared house, with your own private bedroom | Private 3-bedroom house (sleeps up to 6) | Shared house, with your own private bedroom | Shared house, with your own private bedroom |
| Meals | Bring your own | Self-catering, with food basics provided | Self-catering, with food basics provided | Self-catering, with food basics provided | Self-catering, with food basics provided | Self-catering, with food basics provided |
| Volunteering | Hours agreed in advance | Around 16–20 hours a week | Around 16–20 hours a week | Around 16–20 hours a week | Project-specific | None required; optional volunteering can be agreed separately |
| Cost per weekInternational visitors | Free | R2,700 per person (≈£115) | R2,350 per person (≈£100) | R12,960 for the whole house (≈£565)20% group booking discount applied | Agreed individually; accommodation may be sponsored or subsidised | R4,500 per person (≈£195) |
| Cost per weekSouth African residents, 20% off | Free | R2,160 per person (≈£95) | R1,880 per person (≈£80) | R10,368 for the whole house (≈£450)20% group booking discount applied | Agreed individually | R3,600 per person (≈£155) |
| Join For A Day | Enquire | Enquire | Enquire | Enquire | Enquire |
Prices subject to change: 2026 prices. All costs are per person per week (Private Stay is per house, which sleeps up to 6). Food basics, such as milk, bread, cereals, eggs, ham and cheese, are provided and vary depending on what we order. £ figures are approximate, based on about R23 to £1, and change with the exchange rate.
What is Skills-Based Volunteering?
You use your professional skills on a defined project, for an agreed or reduced fee. For example:
- 🔨A tradesman doing a small build, such as repairing the fencing or the toilets at our Community Centre.
- 💻An IT professional setting up our digital systems, computers and online learning tools.
- 📣A marketing, photography or fundraising professional creating content, campaigns or grant applications.
Your accommodation, the cost of your meals, your volunteering and any donation to Opening Doors are all separate things. Before you pay anything, we'll set out in writing exactly what your stay includes. The fees cover the utility bills, and the remaining money goes to Opening Doors to help fund our projects. Looking for the house, meals and getting around? See Stay With Us.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.Mahatma Gandhi
What You Can Sign Up For
Tell us what interests you and we'll agree a placement together. These are areas of interest rather than guaranteed activities: what's available depends on what Opening Doors needs, your skills and how long you're staying.
Community & education support
- Support supervised digital-skills activities and assist with job-readiness resources
- Volunteer in a local school that we partner with
- Help prepare school-uniform distributions and community events
- Support fundraising, communications and awareness campaigns
Young mothers & family support
- Help organise supplies and resources for young mothers and babies
- Assist with preparing baby bags and family-support parcels
- Help with practical organisation and donation sorting
- Contribute to educational resources and projects that support young mothers
Practical & community projects
- Help with organising donated goods and supplies
- Assist with suitable maintenance, gardening and community projects
- Contribute to preparations for events and distributions
- Support defined projects that make practical improvements for the community
Skills-based contributions
- Website development, IT and digital systems
- Digital learning content and training resources
- Marketing, social media, photography and communications
- Fundraising, grant research and donor engagement
- Teaching, business administration and project management
- Construction, building maintenance and other trades, subject to qualifications, permissions and supervision
Smallholding & animal activities
- Gardening and general outdoor maintenance
- Feeding and caring for animals under supervision
- Helping maintain outdoor areas and practical facilities
Before you arrive, you'll receive an outline of your planned activities, the expected hours, your supervision and any physical requirements.
How Volunteering Works
From your first hello to your first day, here's how it works.
- 1Send us your interest
Email info@openingdoors.co.za: the email opens with a few questions to answer, so we can get back to you quickly.
- 2We come back to you
We review your request and reply with information and any questions. For some roles we may ask for references or screening.
- 3Say hello
A short video call for introductions.
- 4Provisional booking confirmed
We agree your dates and placement, and send you in writing what's included and our cancellation terms.
- 5Secure your booking
Pay 50% to secure your place. Booking less than 8 weeks before you arrive? Full payment secures your place.
- 6Book your travel
Flights, travel insurance and a visa if you need one. These are your responsibility.
- 7Welcome pack sent
Everything you need before you arrive, including your arrival details: how you'll get to us, your arrival day and time, and an emergency contact.
- 8Final payment
The remaining 50% is due 8 weeks before you arrive.
- 9Arrive & volunteer
A warm welcome and an induction covering safeguarding and house rules, then you get started. You can receive a certificate of participation where appropriate.
Volunteering as a Local Day Volunteer? You only need the first two steps, plus the short video call: tell us you're interested, and we'll agree your day together. There's nothing to pay.
Volunteering Questions
Questions about accommodation, meals or getting around? See the Stay With Us questions.
Do I need previous volunteering experience?
No. Enthusiasm, reliability, respect and a willingness to learn matter most for most placements. Specialist roles may need relevant qualifications or experience.
Do I have to work with children?
No. You can tell us your preferences, whether that's practical projects, digital skills, fundraising, administration, gardening, animal care or other suitable activities. Direct work with vulnerable children depends on our safeguarding requirements and on whether the placement is suitable.
How many hours will I volunteer?
Around 16–20 hours a week for all volunteers, with the hours and days agreed before you arrive. This can be discussed if you have other wishes.
Will I have free time to explore South Africa?
Yes. Volunteering isn't meant to fill every day. Your schedule includes free time, and longer stays can include weekends off. Because we're rural, we'll suggest attractions and plan with you, and we'll take you to some local attractions, agreed during the sign-up process. Ubers are available if you'd like to travel and explore.
Will I need a police clearance or other screening?
That depends on the role, particularly if it involves children or vulnerable people. All volunteers follow Opening Doors' safeguarding, confidentiality, conduct and health-and-safety requirements.
Can I receive a certificate or reference?
We can offer a certificate of participation where appropriate. References reflect your actual attendance, contribution and conduct, so they can't be promised in advance.
What about visas and insurance?
You're responsible for checking the right immigration permission for your planned activities, as well as travel insurance and any health requirements. Unpaid volunteering doesn't automatically qualify under every visitor status, so please check before you travel.
What injections (vaccinations) do I need?
Please speak to your doctor or a medical professional about the vaccinations you need. Our area is not usually considered a malaria area, but some game reserves and parts of northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are, so check before you plan any trips.
Can I volunteer my professional skills instead of paying the full fee?
Potentially. Skills-based placements are arranged individually, based on the value and suitability of your contribution, project needs and accommodation availability. Any subsidy or fee reduction is agreed in writing before you arrive.
Coming To Volunteer? Stay With Us.
Our guest house sleeps up to 6, and our home doubles as a small farm — goats, donkeys and all. Come for the volunteering, stay for the countryside.