Palestine Solidarity Work Camp in Soshanguve

Type of Work: In the spirit of solidarity, understanding, and cooperation, South Africa Volunteer Work Camp Association (SAVWA) is organizing a transformative work camp in South Africa. This initiative aims to foster South-South youth exchange, empower young people through volunteering, and promote Pan-African solidarity. By scaling up global, regional, and national actions, this camp will enable participants to address young people’s needs, realize their rights, and harness their potential as agents of change. Volunteer Tasks The work camp will focus on: • Climate justice. • Decolonization. • South-South youth exchange and cooperation. Participants will engage in interdisciplinary learning and practical activities, integrating theoretical knowledge with experiential insights. The camp emphasizes solidarity with the people of Palestine, fostering integration as envisioned by Pan-African ideology.

Project Activities The program, scheduled from 10 to 24 February 2025, will include: • A week-long transformative volunteer work camp and training event in Soshanguve, Gauteng. • Activities focused on food security, empowering youth, women, and vulnerable populations. • Creation of a 23m x 8m garden to support children from the community center. • Training in sustainable agriculture, addressing climate change challenges, and fostering empathy, unity, and self-sufficiency. • Visits to places of interest in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Pilanesberg. Accommodation Participants will stay in shared spaces at the activity venue. Please bring your own sleeping bags. The accommodation includes simple bathrooms with showers and water. The venue serves as both accommodation and workplace. Languages English is predominantly spoken in the community, alongside local languages. Participants will experience a multicultural environment. Accommodation shared with the other volunteers; The accommodation is granting easy access to public transportation, shops, and various entertainment facilities and is fully equipped with modern amenities, cosy bunk beds with fresh bed sheets, cutlery, and essential toiletries. Volunteers will enjoy a variety of local South African food including Vegeterian option and great delicacy of local traditional food. Volunteers are encouraged to also bring along their local dishes for cultural night preparation.

Soshanguve is a township situated about 30 km north of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, just east of Mabopane. The name Soshanguve is an acronym for Sotho, Shangaan, Nguni and Venda, thus showing the multi-ethnic composition of the population. The major African languages of South Africa are heard in Soshanguve. For leisure there are various local entatainment areas and Weekends are meant to be for free tours that the group can organize by themselves. (On weekdays reserve some time for preparation time if needed for the activities). Recommended activities: Kruger National park, Lion & Safari park, Soweto and Apartheid Museum Tour, The cradle of Humankind, city tour in Pretoria & Johannesburg, Cape town (better to visit after the camp as they require more planning with others if possible)