The Salesians welcome volunteers who share our dreams and are prepared to join our existing teams with their enthusiasm and skills. There is no single policy regarding volunteers in our Province, because the communities vary considerably with regards to their abilities to accommodate co-workers. It is best to contact the community of your choice directly should you want to join them for a period of time. Generally speaking we prefer volunteers who are prepared to spend six months or more with us, because it takes a while to build up a trust relationship with the youth. Screening is done as a matter of policy.

Manzini, Swaziland: Accommodation is provided. Minimum period : Contact: Fr Larry McDonnell sdbosco@realnet.co.sz

Maputsoe, Lesotho: Contact: Fr Marian Kulig stluke@leo.co.sz

LoveMatters, Daleside: Accommodation and food is provided. Minimum period: one calendar year. Contact: Fr Robert Gore boscoypt@iafrica.com

If you are interested in accompanying young people on one of LoveMatters' programmes, are between 19 and 29 years of age, are willing to give a year of your life for the sake of the Gospel, are not afraid of hard work, and are a committed and practicing Catholic, then you may be interested in applying for a volunteer position on the Youth Ministry Team at Bosco.  Applications are now being accepted for the next year Jan – Dec 2009.

For further details and application forms please contact:
Bosco House, P.O. Box 25, , Randvaal, 1873
Tel: 011-949-2360                  
Email: boscoypt@iafrica.com

All Cape Town projects (including Salesian Institute Youth Projects, Life Choices, SPDO): We do not provide food or accommodation.

SPDO and Life Choices: Please send an updated CV as well as two reference letters to the Development Manager, SPDO, PO Box 14290, Kenwyn, 7790 or to info@salesians.org.za stating clearly what your areas of expertise are. At present we need some administrative assistance and monitoring and evaluation experts.

Salesian Institute Youth Projects: Contact Nelly Burrows fundraiser@theinstitute.org.za or Dan Brown learntolive@theinstitute.org.za or Greg Berry hostel@theinstitute.org.za
Tel: +27 21 425 1450 Fax: +27 21 419 1312

Thank you!

My tasks during my internship at the SPDO consisted of writing articles about the youth work of Salesians in Cape Town. These had been published in catholic newspapers and also were used for the new homepage of Salesians in South Africa.

Though my internship was just four weeks I’ve learned a lot about the work of Salesians and especially the need of their work. By doing interviews for my articles, I’ve met a lot of kids from townships and unemployed youths, who joined projects of Salesians (f.e. the Life Choices Project and the YES programme). Thus I got to know many people who want to change their personal situation and who are not willing to accept their socially and economically disadvantage.

Especially a young girl from township Khayelitsha had impressed me. Before she joined the peer education programme of the Life Choices Project she was very shy with low self-esteem. With the knowledge she acqured through the lessons and experiences, she has started a kind of wellness programme in her community. She tells others how to solve conflicts, how to protect themselves against HIV or how to stay away from drugs. She told me that her life has changed.

I realised that the work of Salesians is very important. But there is still a lot to do. The projects are a crucial mile stone to minimize the consequences of Apartheit.

I really enjoyed my internship. Especially the teamwork with Sandy, Yolanda, Liz and Fr Eddie was very pleasant.