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South Africa

We are working to improve literacy, and to address the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

HIV and AIDS

First lady Tobeka Madiba Zuma receives an award from Baroness Barker on behalf of VSO-RHAISA

First Lady Tobeka Madiba Zuma receives an award from British parliamentarian Baroness Barker, on behalf of VSO-RHAISA, in recognition of her commitment to improving public health in South Africa and beyond.

Around 37 million people worldwide are living with HIV. Southern Africa is the worst affected region in the world. In South Africa, 5.6 million people live with HIV – the single biggest epidemic.

VSO’s Regional HIV and AIDS Initiative for Southern Africa (RHAISA) is based in Pretoria, South Africa. It co-ordinates our work supporting communities and caregivers. Find out more about VSO-RHAISA.

We also work with governments to encourage fairer policies and legal frameworks for people affected by HIV and AIDS. In South Africa, this includes working with parliamentarians on advocacy, training and campaigns.

Literacy

VSO aims to improve the reading skills of children with improved English literacy skills as part of a project with the Foundation for Professional Development Project, funded by USAID.

Specialist education VSO volunteers will be placed in teaching resource centres build the capacity of curriculum advisors, literacy heads of department, principals and vice principals to better equip children with fluency in both African home languages and English language. VSO school management expert volunteers support the sharing of best practices from model schools across the system.

Volunteering for Development programme

The Volunteering for Development programme, funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) works to improve quality and access to health and education services as well as livelihood opportunities for the most poor and vulnerable.

The grant recognises VSO's extensive experience of putting volunteers in the right places to tackle poverty and inequality. Find out more

VOLUNTEERING FOR DEVELOPMENT

Latest updates

High adolescent HIV rates need urgent action say Parliamentarians in Pretoria meeting

Parliamentarians from across the Southern African have been gathering in Pretoria this week for the VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) regional annual conference on sexual and reproductive health.
Female inmates with their children

Are prisons the missing link to ending the spread of HIV?

Across Southern Africa rates of HIV and tuberculosis are on average twice as high - and in some cases up to 50 times as high -  in prisons, as in the general population.

Contact us

Find out more about our work in South Africa and partnering with us by contacting:

Postal: PO Box 11084, The Tramshed, Pretoria 0126, South Africa

Location: 1st Floor, Celtis Plaza South Wing, 1085 Francis Baard (formerly Schoeman street), Hatfield, Pretoria, 0083, South Africa

Tel: (+27) (0)12 342 7205 / 7541 / 3620

Fax: (+27) (0)12 342 4537

Email: Zandile.phofu@vsoint.org

Interested in volunteering in South Africa?

Find out more and see volunteer roles available.

volunteer  in South Africa