Adventure Sports Development Programme
The Adventure Sports Development Programme is a community-based youth development programme focused on supporting children from underserved areas such as Du Noon and Wolwerivier.
- Minimum 2 Weeks
- Cape Town
- All /levels Welcome
- Accommodation Included
Adventure Sports Development Programme
Youth Development, Sports & Community Support Project
The Adventure Sports Development Programme works with young people from Dunoon and the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town through a structured curriculum of swimming, surfing, and skateboarding — using active outdoor education as a framework for personal development, confidence-building, and risk-behaviour prevention.
What You Will Do
As an intern, your role will involve a mix of educational support and active engagement through sport and mentorship:
SWIM LESSONS
Co-facilitate structured swimming lessons for young people who have never accessed the ocean despite living within kilometres of it
SURF COACHING
Support surf coaching sessions at Muizenberg and Big Bay under qualified instructor supervision
SKATE SESSIONS
Lead and assist skateboard skills sessions at the Dunoon skate ramp
LIFE SKILLS
Plan and deliver life-skills components integrated into active sessions
About the Program
Why Join this Programme?
This is not a recreational programme. It is grounded in peer-reviewed research demonstrating that sport-based interventions in South African townships produce measurable reductions in risk behaviour when delivered consistently by trained, caring adults. SAVE Foundation has worked with hundreds of young people from Dunoon since the programme’s inception. Eight participants have achieved top-three positions in local and provincial surf trials.Support children, gain experience, and make a real community impact.
activities you will be involved in
20+ Sports & Outdoor Activities
Previous volunteers on this program have had the opportunity to work with:
Learning experience
Programme Structure
- 2-day orientation in Cape Town to prepare interns
- Intern placement runs 5 days per week
- Minimum stay of 2 weeks
- Combination of early childhood support and afternoon youth programmes
- Ongoing guidance and support from local coordinators
package
Accommodation & Intern Experience:
- Shared intern accommodation near Cape Town’s coastal areas
- Weekday meals provided
- Opportunity to explore Cape Town and surrounding areas
- Social environment with other international interns
- Optional activities such as surf lessons included
measurable outcomes
Community Impact
- 8 SAVE participants placed Top 3 in local & provincial surf trials.
- 44% of Grade 10 learners in the Western Cape are sexually active.
- 82% of sport-based youth interventions in Africa show real, measured impact.
- 1 skate ramp built and funded by SAVE Foundation.
would you qualify?
Who will you work with?
Interns work with different age groups throughout the day:
- Morning Programme: Children aged 3 to 7 in educare centres
- Afternoon Programme: Youth aged 10 to 15 in adventure and sports-based activities
This dual structure allows interns to contribute to both foundational learning and teenage development.
Do I need to be able to surf or skate to apply?
No. Enthusiasm, patience, and the ability to build trusted relationships with young people matter far more than personal skill level.
How old are the young people in the programme?
The programme primarily works with young people aged 8–18 from Dunoon and surrounding Northern Suburbs communities.
Is physical fitness required?
A reasonable level of fitness is helpful, as sessions are active and often outdoors.