We do have paid volunteering but we have changed the structure to circulate as much money as possible back into the community. Your payment for volunteering will help build up all the projects you will be working on.

For the time being - as we are at the very beginning of the project and the Volunteer Lodge is still under construction - we happily take volunteers without the normal fees. You will just have to provide for your own living costs and either stay in a tent or we find you a family in the village where you can rent a room. Anyone who can look after himself and would like to lend a hand to a good cause is heartily welcome. The villagers love to have people from different countries here, the children are very curious, and the landscape simply breath-taking. And there's so much work to do ...

Volunteering Prices for 2009

Short Term Volunteering - Excludes food and transport

Up to a month - R1,500 (ZAR) per 10 day cycle - Projects: Crafts, Building or Veg Garden

This is a great way to support the project and have a holiday at the same time. We do ask that you work at least 20 hours a week.
We also offer some basic isiXhosa lessons. Your one month here will build a hut for the project and provide R2000 worth of materials, eg school books, building materials etc.

Whole Month: R6,000 including breakfast and coffee - excluding other meals and transport
Whole Month: R10,000 including all meals and shuttles

Long Term Volunteering

1 month to 2 months - R6,000 per month excluding meals ~ including add R4,000
3 months to 9 months - R4,800 per month excluding meals ~ including add R4,000
10 months to 2 years - R6,800 per month including all meals and transport. Please ask about discounts if you would like to do your own meals or have your own car.

When applying for long term volunteering, please state that you will be with us for the full time - a R10,000 deposit is taken to offset early leave from the project. Valid reasons are accepted and the deposit will be returned on approval from the committee.

Please e-mail us at volunteer@mpame.co.za!

Comments from former Volunteers

Evelyne from Switzerland Evelyne stayed with us from November 2008 until mid January 2009. She was our first volunteer, right at the beginning of the project, and helped to set up the first temporary structures for Sobonana Lodge. Read her comment ...

Karin from Israel Karin was travelling through South Africa and found her way to us through Bulungula Lodge. She decided to stay a couple of days (in December 2008) to lend us a hand. See her photos ...

Mike from the USA Mike is currently volunteering with us. He is busy with the set-up of the new early learning centre, beginning from scratch. His stories about his experience will follow by mid-August ...Read about Mike

Other volunteers Some people just drop in and decide to stay a few days ... are you backpacking the Wild Coast and would like to work for a couple of days? Check out what others experienced here ... read more

Comments from former volunteers

Volunteering Prices for 2009

Comments from former Volunteers