I spent 3 wonderful months at Rocky Road. I wanted to be involved in as many projects and activities as possible and Mac certainly helped out there. I spent most of my time teaching at Kurland Crèche which was probably one the most rewarding experiences of my life. The children were so happy and affectionate, amazing considering the poverty and hardship they live in.

I helped out on a couple of overnight camps at Natures Valley Trust. I also had a great time working at Ingwe Forest with groups of school children, helping out with various outdoor activities which taught them about their own abilities and developed their teambuilding skills. The obstacle course was a huge favourite - everyone got very involved and very muddy!

I met so many wonderful people - the dedication and devotion of the organisers, teachers and managers throughout all the projects never ceased to impress me. I was always made to feel so welcome and I seemed to slip into the way life with tremendous ease... it would be difficult not to. A typical weekend at Rocky Road could start with a Friday night braai in their stunning grounds: volunteers, friends and neighbours sitting around the fireball having a laugh and a beer. Perhaps a braai brunch on Saturday followed by a swim in the sea or lagoon at Natures Valley. There are so many things to do like hiking, skydiving, ziplining, whale watching, the nearby elephant sanctuary and monkeyland, the list is endless.

When my 3 months at Rocky Road came to an end I couldn't quite bring myself to leave South Africa. I extended my visa and stayed on to travel some more but before I finally left for England I spent some more time with the crowd at Rocky Road. They're awesome people with an amazing outlook on life doing some seriously good work for their local communities. Thanks to everyone at Rocky Road!

click here to go back to volunteers diary