Volunteers

We would like to invite and welcome both international and local people to come and serve at Usindiso Ministries. It is a demanding, yet rewarding experience for all who are prepared to sacrifice their time and energy in loving the most vulnerable in our society. Usindiso cares for and accommodates abused and homeless women and their children and teenage girls from traumatic situations. We also have a nursery school that operates from Monday to Friday and provides day care for the children accommodated in the shelter with their mothers, as well as children from the surrounding communities. One must be prepared to form bonds and have your heartstrings pulled in many different ways.
 

Farewell to Kayla  We bid farewell to Kayla Wild, who volunteered with us from March to May 2009. Kayla is from Canada and will be returning home.  In the short time that she was with us, Kayla crept into our hearts and became one of the team.  We wish her well with her future.

 

A Farewell Party for Barbara  Barbara Hoheisel, a German social work student, spent a year with Usindiso to complete her practicals in social work as well as to volunteer in different parts of the ministry.  During her time with us, her social work was supervised by our board member Vivian Moila.  At the end of her time with us, the staff gave her a farewell party.

Requirements

Applicants must:

• be born-again believers and disciples of Jesus Christ - see Statement of Faith;
• have a God-given desire to work with women, teenage girls and children who have been abused and traumatized in their lives – the most vulnerable of society;
• be age 18 - 50 years at projected arrival date;
• be in good health;
• be prepared to come at your own expense;
• be immunized: Hep A (TB vaccination is suggested. TB can be passed from adult to child but almost unlikely to be passed from child to adult. Malaria pills are only necessary if you plan to travel further north- Kruger National Park, Zimbabwe, etc.);
• be in possession of a valid passport (and visa if applicable).

Responsibilities

• Spend time forming bonds with the women, teenage girls and children. This will help to motivate them to see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ more clearly.
• Work in the baby minder project. This is a project where the women can leave their child during the week to attend training courses, workshops, etc. The children in the project are aged from newborn to 2 years. It is important that all the children are treated the same, so that all the children grow, feeling loved. It is easy to have favourites, but this should never be projected to the children.
• Work in the nursery school. The tasks here will be given to you by the principal, but will include serving meals and snacks and helping the younger children to eat their meal.
• Helping the children and teenage girls with their homework and school projects.
• Working in the kitchen, laundry, linen room and taking stock.
• Work in a team environment with staff members of a variety of cultures and languages.
• Flexibility is a must as we have several areas of ministry. You may be placed at any of these throughout your stay.
• You may also be asked to assist in other duties such as taking children to the clinic and/or hospital, collecting food donations from local grocery stores, and small office tasks.
• Your roster of duties will be worked out during your orientation period, which will be two days, after your arrival.

Application for Volunteer Work

If you would like to volunteer, please print and read the following documents:

• Statement of Faith
• Application Form

Complete the Application Form, and mail (together with any supporting documentation) to:

Usindiso Ministries
P O Box 28229
KENSINGTON 2101
Johannesburg
South Africa

Any queries or requests for assistance with the above may be directed to Ms. Jay Bradley - email: contact@usindisoministries.co.za