Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, which was originally the dialect that developed among the Afrikaner Protestant settlers in South Africa. The language Afrikaans has its roots in seventeenth century Dutch but it has been influenced by many languages including: English, Malay, German, Portuguese, French and some African languages. Up until the 19th century Afrikaans acted only as the spoken language and Dutch was used as the formal and written language.
The language was promoted alongside Afrikaner nationalism after 1948 and played an important role in minority white rule in Apartheid South Africa. With the new constitution of South Africa (1996) it was again accepted as one of the official languages of South Africa.
It is important to note that Afrikaans is spoken by all races and ethnic groups in South Africa and much has been done in recent years to promote varieties of this language that were suppressed during the years of Apartheid.
Afrikaners
Afrikaners are white South Africans of predominantly Calvinist Dutch, German, French Huguenot, Friesian and Walloon descent. The term Afrikaner encompasses disparate communities of white Afrikaans speakers. Originally it distinguished those Dutch speakers who saw themselves as local, i.e. "African", from those who still primarily identified with Europe; it was later used to distinguish between Afrikaans speakers and English speakers among the white population.
In recent years there has been a movement by some Afrikaners to encourage the mixed race (sometimes referred to as "coloured" in South Africa) population of South Africa, most of whom speak Afrikaans as their first language, to consider themselves Afrikaners. The Afrikaans word for the coloured people of South Africa and Namibia is "kleurlinge", but sometimes they are called "bruine afrikaners" or "bruinmense", meaning brown people. This has seen some success despite the history of exclusion during the colonial and apartheid eras. However, many Afrikaans-speaking coloureds feel they have developed a separate identity from white Afrikaans speakers due to the strict segregation policies of the apartheid years.
Recently, some liberal Afrikaans-speaking South Africans and Namibians have started rejecting the label 'Afrikaner', because of its negative connotations of racism, conservatism and religious intolerance. Instead, the racially neutral term "Afrikaanses" is now increasingly used to refer to all persons whose mother tongue is Afrikaans, regardless of racial identity or apartheid-era categorisation.
Set up and run sports and teaching sessions for children with virtually nothing. Introduce them to sports they don’t know, like rugby, netball and cricket, or help them improve at football. Use your initiative and you’ll be well rewarded.
Give some much-craved attention to girls from a township. Help them with their schoolwork, teach them vital computer skills or direct them in a play or dance show. They have few possessions but lots of enthusiasm.
Behind the glamour of Cape Town's centre, there are many underprivileged townships that are in great need of assistance in many different infrastructural areas. This is the perfect project for anyone who is looking to help improve the education of underprivileged children, in a way that will make a difference to their lives.
This unique project based in the Kruger National Park looks at the role of the game ranger in managing a game farm or wildlife reserve. It is ideal for those interested in wildlife, African conservation and people who want to learn something during their grown up gap year.
You will have a unique chance on this project to work closely with the beautiful black-faced Vervet monkeys, along with other African wildlife, caring for their welfare, and rehabilitating them before allowing them to be released back into their natural habitat.
As a volunteer on the rewarding project, you will help to provide the many orphaned and disadvantaged children of the rural Arusha region in northern Tanzania, with a better start in life as well as hope for the future.
This programme deals with the rehabilitation and care of abused horses in the Wild Coast area of South Africa, and is a must for anyone who really loves horses. You will ride on trails through the dramatic scenery of the Wild Coast, passing through beach lagoons and lush green game reserves.
If you are interested in African reptiles and hands on conservation, then you should consider joining this unique voluntary project. Working directly with reptile experts, your days will be varied and full of adventure.
Help to take the fight against poverty and AIDS to the very heart of the Wild Coast community in South Africa; make a huge difference to the long-term prospects of the village and its people.
The project is situated at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains to the west of the renowned Kruger National Park. The emphasis is in offering the students a unique bush experience on horseback, walking and driving, where attention is paid not only to the animals, but also to all aspects of local ecology. Volunteers complete an informal course to learn all about conservation in Africa.
The project is in need of volunteers with a love of books and children! This teaching initiative takes children away from the over-crowded classroom environment for one-on-one tuition sessions. See the pupils reading and writing improve, providing them with a vital life skill.
On this volunteer programme, you have the opportunity to work with African children and contribute to the under-privileged communities in a positive way. Join this programme and really make a difference by sharing your skills through sports or computer literacy training.
The South African town of St. Lucia and the surrounding area has a population deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. This project is about making a difference to the communities living in the area through the tools of education, caring for those suffering and for the many children made orphans by the virus.
Put your medical skills to use in area with many sick children. Help out at a clinic, or, if you’re not medically qualified, get involved with education, building or community projects.
Get involved in several projects, based around two schools. Run craft and sports sessions, work with orphans, pass on vital skills and generally help lift the area out of poverty. A varied and rewarding programme.
Gain invaluable experience through coaching cricket to children in schools, clubs and townships, under the guidance of the highest level instructors - plus get paid for the privilege! Have the rare opportunity to play local league cricket for a South African side, and practice two evenings a week with your new team mates.
Spend your time encountering and photographing a large variety of animals and birds, the project also involves you spending time amongst the local communities, communicating to them the areas conservational needs.
The chance to engage in the conservation and research of Great White Sharks! If you have an adventurous streak and love the outdoor lifestyle then this could be the perfect programme for you. You will have the most amazing once in a lifetime experience, as you get up close and personal with these notorious creatures!
If you are looking to learn more about the diversity of Africa's animals and eco-systems during a career break, this programme will provide you with a special experience. The project takes you to the forefront of numerous species re-introductions and conservation work.
The Ultimate South African adventure! Tour South Africa’s world famous Kruger NP, work on projects with underprivileged communities in Swaziland and flop on an Indian Ocean beach and relax in Mozambique.
Do you have a passion for art and wildlife? If so, join the Wildlife Conservation Art Course. Our wildlife art course offers a unique African bush experience with a focus on observing wildlife in their natural surroundings, capturing images on paper, developing and improving skills and developing the creative instinct.
Improve your cricket and get paid to coach others. Work on your fitness and skills at the academy, with help from past and present cricket stars, and earn some cash by running sessions for school children.
Spend a year in South Africa and become a fully qualified field guide. Learn about field research, game capture, patrolling and more, through practical tuition and on-the-job training. You’ll then be eligible to work all over Africa.
After redundancy, Sally decided to see the world. She enjoyed our South Africa Wildlife Course so much that within 48 hours of arriving back in the UK she booked onto the Malaysia Orangutan Experience and the Thai Adventure! Read more..
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Gap Year for Grown Ups have many Career Break Voluntary Projects in Africa for grown up gappers. Because Gap Year for Grown Ups is the leading authority and only specialist source of ideas and options for grown up gap years, it has the widest range of volunteering programmes in Africa. These include animal/wildlife conservation, teaching English in Africa, community volunteering in Africa and Voluntary work with children in Africa.
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