Taken from letters of international volunteers from the Ottawa University in Canada…

NB!!!
LET GO OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS!
Try everything you can; take public transport; even try third class on the train; go out for drinks after work; talk to everyone you meet; be yourself; have an amazing adventure; listen to the people of South Africa, they have incredible stories to tell and lastly – Your experience will only be as good as make it, you will get out what you put in.

I first thought that volunteering was something you do when you have retired. And as my country is a welfare state, I didn’t really feel the need for volunteers in my community.

About a year ago I was teacher training in a school in a little town in England, I was enjoying it but realised that it was not the career path for me just yet so I set about looking for a job.

This year Volunteer Centre celebrates 30 years of Volunteering.  We take the time to reflect on our humble beginnings and take stock of countless achievements and milestones we’ve reached in the past 30 years.

We may not always know how to say thank you to volunteers who tirelessly labour in their communities or to the organisations who provide essential services to many. 

Ashley Felix, a 15 year old youth from Kenilworth attended the program presented by the Volunteer Centre commemorating Volunteers Week, 1 – 7 June 2008 with the theme “Youth in Volunteerism”. 

A volunteer shares her experience while she was living with Host Families during the programe. 

FIFTY young volunteers took to the open fields of Capricorn last Saturday, armed with spades and black bags, in an attempt to revitalise gardens and parks in the area.

The first week of June is internationally recognized as an opportunity to salute the sterling services of volunteers. In South Africa this serves as a reminder to the non profit sector of the critical contribution which volunteers make to essential services in our community.