Cultural Embrace offers life-changing volunteer and travel opportunities in several African countries. Imagine rescuing and hand feeding wounded animals in the wild such as baby cheetahs and antelope.  Or building a school to improve the education of village children. Do more than imagine...go and experience it! Amazing volunteer opportunities, breathtaking African wildlife, and the stunning scenery of Africa will create memories you will cherish for a lifetime.

Cultural Embrace arranges volunteer and travel opportunities in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.  Among the vast majority of people there is a strong desire and will to build and strengthen their communities and nations. Each country is full of energy and optimism, adding to the charm of these countries. You will fall in love with the people, the communities, the wildlife, and the dazzlingly diverse African culture.

So stop dreaming about it and begin your search for a wonderful volunteer project today! Projects include working at animal rehabilitation centers, mentoring at women's and youth centers, training to be a game ranger, and many more. Minimum volunteer duration of two weeks is required for most projects.

Discover the Similarities - Share the Differences!

Ghana
A peaceful and welcoming country, Ghana satisfies one’s appetite for both modern and traditional life. You will start with an included six-day arrival orientation in Accra and one day in your host region. During the orientation, you will be introduced to the Ghanaian culture including language and cooking lessons, host family issues, safety, cross-cultural differences, project duties, immigration, health, money, transportation, and food matters.

A wide variety of projects are available throughout Ghana (ie: Accra, Cape Coast, Ashanti & Brong Ahafo region, Northern/Upper East/Upper West regions, Eastern region) which may consist of: health care/medical, orphanage assistance, social service, community development projects, HIV/AIDS assistance , agricultural/environmental/ecotourism, teaching/tutoring, librarian assistance, sports/athletic coaching, and much more.

Basic room and meals are included in your program. Most projects you will be living with a carefully selected and screened host family, that has received foreign volunteers in the past; or some volunteer projects have shared accommodations on site. Meals consist of a lot of beans, vegetables, and rice, and you should be budget purchasing your own recommended bottled water.

Kenya
Work at a local home for abandoned or orphaned children. Most of these children have come from poor families or parents affected by HIV/AIDS. Volunteers will be picked up at Nairobi’s International Airport and transferred to the homes’ site ~45 minutes drive. Assist the limited staff to care for these children. Organize recreational activities, educational activities, sports, arts, crafts, and be the nurturing heart and helping hand that can encourage the children and local staff. Additional projects to garden/farm, paint or provide maintenance/construction services are available.

Single females will be living on-site in a dorm-style room with other volunteers, and male and coupled volunteers will live with carefully screened and selected host families within 3 minutes walk with the home. Meals will be prepared and organized in a family-style fashion, consisting mainly of beans, vegetables, and rice.

South Africa – Community Center
Support children and their families with physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and mental needs in Limpopo Province, South Africa. This home is located ~450km North East of Johannesburg or 90km from the Kruger National Park. This home offers a holistic approach in serving underprivileged and orphaned children. There are two locations offering support to local schools and community programs that provide a safe and educational haven for the children and their parents. Volunteers may assist with teaching/tutoring, organizing recreational and/or social activities, distributing food, clothes, and other necessities to the villages, gardening/maintaining the grounds, or helping with construction and cleaning projects.

A volunteer apartment is available for participants to share. It contains a fully furnished kitchen, living room, bedrooms and a bathroom. On average, there are six volunteers that share the apartment together, which is more than enough space to live comfortably. Food is provided at the volunteer apartment with breakfasts and lunches typically self prepared, and then a cooked dinner is prepared and brought to the apartment by the local staff.

South Africa – Kapama Game Reserve
This program’s aim is to equip volunteers with the aptitude and to actively participate in conserving the wildlife of Southern Africa. It is based in Kapama Game Reserve, home to cheetahs, wild dogs, Black-Footed cats, lions, African wild cats, Ground Horn Bills, Sable antelope,and more. You will be part of a ‘hands-on’ team which mediates the well-being of the animals at the center. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to visit numerous places of interest and attractions in the area, including the renowned Kruger National Park. Included in the program is an unique and memorable experience of an elephant-back safari!

Volunteers are accommodated in thatched huts (2pax each) at a campsite within the boundaries of Kapama Private Game Reserve. Separate facilities are available for females and males. Three meals per day are prepared in the camp, which often develops in to a valuable team building experience. There is a kitchen with fridges in the camp, as well as barbecue facilities. Sundays are ‘days off’ and are spent at leisure, with plenty of fun and adventurous activities (ie: hot air ballooning, river rafting, biking, horse riding, etc) available in the area.

Zimbabwe
Work at a wildlife Orphanage that offers a home to orphaned, abandoned and sick wild animals. The mission of this orphanage is to: 1) Preserve wildlife reared or born in captivity and to provide a home for the many injured, sick orphaned confiscated or abandoned wild animals; 2) Educate the public, especially children, through lectures and film series of the different wild animal species; 3) Teach people, especially children, to appreciate wildlife and not to take it for granted that they will always be there without care and awareness; 4) Research captive animals (ie: body growth and development, dentition and gestation periods, etc).

Learn and practice how to be a living example of nature conservation and in the wildlife. Duties include restoring and improving the grounds and facilities. Basic room and board are available at the Rehab Center’s site for all volunteers to share. 

Volunteering in Africa Offers:

• An unforgettable experience helping and improving at-need communities
• An opportunity to broaden your perspective and worldview
• An opportunity to participate in and learn African cultural activities (e.g.: language, cooking, crafts, music, dancing)
• Memorable travel experiences with the chance to see exotic sites you have always dreamed about 
• The ability to make lifelong friends from around the globe
• A valuable work experience that strengthens your resume, exhibiting your diligence, independence, and intercultural experiences 
• A great way to develop and support your self-confidence and interpersonal skills  

Cultural Embrace Offers:

• Guaranteed Volunteer Placement Prior to Departure
  Cultural Embrace pre-arranges your volunteer project before you leave home to ensure an easy and hassle-free transition to your new life abroad.   
• Housing Assistance
  Basic accommodation is provided in lodges, thatched log cabins, bamboo huts, camp sites, apartments, or homestays, depending on the volunteer project. All meals are provided, except on the first night of arrival. 
• Visa Assistance
  Cultural Embrace will assist you with information to obtain a visa, but we have no control nor the ability to guarantee government issuance and/or visa availability.
• Arrival Assistance
  We will arrange an airport pick-up and transfer for you, depending on the project. Most projects will have accommodations arranged for first night on arrival in to host country. 
• Travel Insurance:  Basic Major Medical Coverage 
  Our policy provides basic medical coverage at your volunteer location. Cultural Embrace highly recommends additional travel insurance.
• Cultural Embrace Kit
  Useful tips, advice, and information to prepare you for the amazing adventure of living and working abroad.
• Full-time Representation
  Cultural Embrace provides representation in the United States and your host country prior to, during, and after your placement. 

• You must be at least 18 years of age.  Or, if younger than 18, you must have parental or guardian consent  
• Enjoy providing a service and working with others in a challenging environment 
• Open to foreign cultures and living abroad
• High level of responsibility
• Dedication to the full term of commitment 
• Criminal background check may be required by some projects and positions

You can customize the length and activities of your volunteer project. Fees will vary based on each placement. For exact prices and more information, please contact us. Examples of popular volunteer programs include:

O-Orphanage/Streetchildren Assistance                        
T-Teaching/Tutoring                                                    
S-Social Welfare                                                          
M-Medical/Health
W-Wildlife Conservation
E-Environment/Agriculture
C-Construction/Maintenance

COUNTRY	PROGRAM		PROGRAM FEES
South Africa (Limpopo Province) Min 1/3 weeks, Max 12 mo.	O, T, S, M, W, E, C		Community Center:   1 week: $725/ €495                            Add'l week: $250/ €170 Wildlife Preserve:  3 weeks: $2885/ €1945
Kenya (outside Nairobi) Min 1 wk, Max 12 mo.	O, T, S, M, E, C		1 week: $680/ €465    Add'l week:$130/ €190
Ghana Min 4 wks, Max 12 wks	O, T, S, M, W, E, C		4 weeks: $1615/ €1100     Add'l week: $310/ €210
Zimbabwe Min 2 wks, Max 12 mo	W, E, C		2 weeks: $1725/ €1173 4 weeks: $2655/ €1805    Add'l week: $690/ €470

1. Obtain the Volunteer Abroad Application Forms & Procedures documents in one of three ways:

(a) Download the forms:  Volunteer Application (pdf) and Volunteer in Africa Program Details and FAQ (pdf).

(b) Fill out an online application request form and the forms will be mailed to you within 7-10 days.

(c) Call Cultural Embrace at 1-512-469-9089 or 1-888-214-8750(US toll-free) to have the forms mailed to you in 7-10 days.

2. Read the instructions carefully and complete all forms.

3. Submit your completed application packet to:

CULTURAL EMBRACE
7201 Bill Hughes Road
Austin, TX 78745 USA

Completed packet should include:

Volunteer Program Application

Signed Volunteer Agreement

Copy of your passport (information page only)

Copies of transcripts, diplomas, or certificates related to field of interest (if applicable)

Resume/CV

Cover Letter explaining what you want to do and why you want to provide a service in Africa 

Two References: preferably professional and/or character references

Doctor’s Certificate verifying that you are in excellent mental and physical health

Copy of Police Clearance (obtainable from your community's local police station) 

Two 1½" x 2" official passport-size photos, signed on the back

One smiling full-length photo of yourself

US$200 non-refundable deposit (credited towards your program fee) 

Upon receipt of your application, a Cultural Embrace coordinator will contact you for a 20-30 minutes phone interview. Once we accept you in to our program, you will receive an invoice for the remainder of your program fee. In order for us to contact our local partners to start your placement process, we require at least 50% of your program fee.

We recommend submitting your application and program fee at least 12-16 weeks prior to your desired start date in order for us to organize and arrange your internship.

*Cultural Embrace requires an expedited application fee for those applying 12 weeks or less before the desired date of departure. Applications received 8-12 weeks prior to desired departure date will be charged $150. Applications received less than 8 weeks before the desired departure date will be charged $250.

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@culturalembrace.com or you can call us at 1-512-469-9089 or 1-888-214-8570 (US toll-free).