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AGE GROUP:9th Grade & Up
TRIP SEASON:Year Round
COST:$1595/person (12-Day Trip)
Community Overview
Video
- Share Christ's love: Build meaningful relationships with people in Cape Town and demonstrate God's love through acts of compassion and service.
- Serve the community: Participate in various outreach activities, such as farm outreaches, holiday programs, meal prep, and even preaching opportunities, to address the needs of the local people.
- Explore Cape Town: Discover the city's natural beauty and diverse attractions, including beaches, forests, gardens, grasslands, mountains, nature reserves, and oceans.
Your 12-day mission trip to Cape Town, South Africa will connect your team to multiple opportunities to meet needs and encourage local ministries serving their own communities. Come and see what God is doing in Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa!
Connect directly with EM Support Staff to learn more about South Africa and Namibia, Africa mission trips — submit an interest form today!
Looking for a 1-9 month trip? View all Mission Trips to Africa
Meet our Local Partners
Local Partners
Details & Logistics
Community Profile
Shiloh
As you visit Cape Town you will meet the people of Shiloh in Klipheuwel. Shiloh means “Heavenly Place,” and that is exactly what Shiloh is. Shiloh is an umbrella over numerous different projects that uplift and bring dignity to the underprivileged and less fortunate in the Cape Town area.
Shiloh's goal is to provide those individuals with an understanding of their value as a child of God to enable them to grow and develop into their full potential. They start by helping to build a better future for children through better education and in doing so will eventually build a better South Africa.
Shiloh helps to provide training for teachers through their Jubilee Excellence School (JES). The teachers are taken through a 10-week period of training before classroom placement. They prioritize each person's spiritual and emotional well-being throughout training. The JES provides children with education, nutrition, and care on a daily basis. Shiloh also administers to the local community in the Klipheuwel settlement. The settlement consists of about 7000 individuals many feeling worthless or has hopelessness for the future. That is where Shiloh steps in to affirm them and lead them to have a sense of dignity and worthiness. Shiloh also partners with children's homes, churches, old age homes, soup kitchens, and underprivileged schools to provide meals as sustenance. They also help to distribute monthly food hampers for families along with help with medical assistance at a very love rate.
Lifestyle
Daily life is a bit of a contrast between the abundance of the city, while not having basic necessities in the township. This community lacks proper sanitation, running water, and electricity. Not a far walk from things we are used to in Western society, it's a striking boundary that is drawn between the two.
Needs
Homelessness, drugs, and alcohol are issues that paralyze the people here and lead to things like unemployment. Unemployment is a huge issue that impacts the community. Overcrowding in conjunction with the unemployment issue results in elevated crime among the locals.
Language
There are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa. English is a common language that is understood in most locations among teachers and most of the adults you will encounter. Young children sometimes struggle to understand and communicate in English. Teachers will be in the classrooms to help translate when help is needed.
Christianity in South Africa
Christianity was first introduced to South Africa in the 1600s when large numbers of Christian missionaries began arriving from the Netherlands. South Africa's religious composition was (and continues to be) deeply shaped by these early interactions. Today, the majority of South Africans identify as Christian (84.2%). The 'African Independent Church' makes up the largest Christian group. This consists of several churches and subdivisions are denominationally, ritually and linguistically diverse. However, they are all united by the fact that they were established by African initiatives rather than foreign missionaries. African Independent Churches often openly incorporate aspects of ancestral and traditional African religions with Christian practices. The largest church of this kind is the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), which presents a syncretism between the worship practices of Christianity and traditional African religions that focus on physical and spiritual healing.
Christianity and the Apartheid
Christianity has had an influential role in South African society and politics, both during and after apartheid. For example, the Dutch Reformed Church became the official religion of the National Party during the apartheid era, accumulating more than three million followers by the 1990s. This church posed a barrier to political reform as many clergy members were highly committed to apartheid. However, many Christian churches also played an instrumental role in the abolishment and transition from apartheid. Former president Nelson Mandela often called upon churches and religious organizations to help in the process of building a “new” South Africa
Traditional African Religions
The earliest known religion in South Africa was the traditional beliefs and practices of the Khoisan people, who resided in the region for centuries. Bantu-speaking groups introduced further religious traditions to the region in 1000 CE. Today, South Africa is home to a diversity of traditional African practices, with roughly 5% of the population identifying with a traditional African religion. Some South Africans adhere solely to traditional and ancestral beliefs and practices. However, it is also common to find a mixture of such beliefs and practices with Christianity, reflecting how religious demarcations in South Africa are often blurred. A respect for past and present elders plays an important role in most traditional African religions.
Cultural Atlas, South Africa, Religion by Chara Scroope, 2019
Typical Schedule
Your time in South Africa will be coordinated by the EM Africa staff with local community partners. During your trip, you may have the opportunity to help with farm outreaches, holiday programs, meal prep for the less fortunate, packing food parcels, preaching opportunities and so much more. Below is a basic schedule for the week, but we also like to “build the plane as we fly it.” We allow time for plans to change so that teams will live in the moment. Our primary focus is building relationships with the local community and sharing the love of Jesus.
Each morning there is time for your own personal devotions. This is a time we strongly encourage everyone to spend with God journaling and processing their thoughts as the days pass.
In the evening, the EM Africa staff leads a time of debriefing alongside the team leader(s). This is also a great time to spend time in worship if you have those that are gifted in those areas.
There are also a few added bonuses that we include during your experience, including visiting Table Mountain, The V&A Waterfront, the botanical gardens, and much more.
Day 1
Groups Arrive
Leader's Meeting
Dinner
Orientation Meeting
Team Time (time for your group alone)
Day 2 - Day 5
Ministry in Cape Town area communities
Day 6
Additional Ministry TBD
Day 7
Church
Day 8-11
Ministry in Cape Town area communities
Day 12
Depart for the U.S.
*Experience Mission works closely with local leaders to identify work projects and ministry opportunities that address authentic needs within the community. We ask that you come with a servant's heart and willingness to adapt to the unique qualities represented in each location. Opportunities can vary significantly from one week to the next. Your team may work at one location or serve at multiple locations each day.Due to the changing needs of our community partners, we cannot confirm your specific activities until your team arrives.
Lodging, Food & Transportation
Lodging
Teams will be staying at Logos Christian Church in Cape Town. The rooms are set up with bunk beds or single beds for the team members. There is also a swimming pool and other areas for team time and quiet time.
Sleeping
Beds including bedding will be provided for your team. There will be rooms designated for males and females. Nights between June and August are our winter months in South Africa so you can expect cooler evenings.
Showers & Bathrooms
There are hot showers and bathroom facilities available at Logos.
Water
There is running water at Logos and teams will be provided with purified drinking water at all times.
Electricity
There is electricity provided at Logos. With that being said the electrical service in South Africa is not as dependable as in the United States. Power outages are fairly common in the winter months.
Security
Logos Christian Church is a safe place for teams to stay. There is a security guard on the premises.
Food
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided. Teams will also have the opportunity to experience local, cultural food while serving in various parts of the community during the day. The local staff members will typically prepare those meals for the team. There will be occasional times when teams will have the option to eat what we serve or to purchase their own meal. Curious about EM's ability to accommodate food restrictions? View EM's Food Policy
Local Area
Around the area of Logos Christian Church there are many shops with food and clothing should the team need anything. A hospital is also located nearby in case of an emergency.
Air Travel
Destination Airport: Cape Town International Airport. Team members are responsible to cover the cost of their round-trip airfare to Cape Town International Airport.
Passports & Travel Documents
Each team member must carry a valid passport. If you do not have a valid passport, it is of the utmost importance that you apply as soon as possible. The processing time for a Passport can take several weeks once your application has been submitted. An expired Passport is not considered valid.
Notarized Letter of Parental Consent
All team members under the age of 18 must carry a written, notarized letter from their parents giving them parental permission to leave the country. They must carry the original notarized copy of this letter. It cannot be a photocopy of the letter.
- If the minor is traveling without parents, both parents must sign the letter.
- If they are traveling with one parent, the parent that is not traveling with them must sign this letter.
- If their parents are separated or divorced and both parents do not want to sign the same letter, they must have a notarized letter from each parent giving them permission to go.
Experience Mission can provide a sample copy of a permission letter or you can create your own letter that must include the following:
- The full name of both parents and their formal signatures
- The full name of the child
- The full name of the Adult Chaperone serving as the Team Leader
- The specific traveling dates for each country
- The destination country
- The reason for travel to the destination country (e.g. "youth group function")
- The Airline itinerary (if applicable)
If you have further questions regarding required travel documents we advise you to contact the US State Department: www.travel.state.gov
*Experience Mission works closely with local leaders to identify work projects and ministry opportunities that address the authentic needs of the community. We ask that you come with a servant's heart and willingness to adapt to the unique qualities represented in each location. Opportunities can vary significantly from one week to the next. Your team may work at one location or serve at multiple locations each day. Due to the changing needs of our community partners, we cannot confirm your specific activities until your team arrives.
Ground Transportation
Upon arrival to South Africa, EM Africa will provide safe and reliable transportation. From airport pickup to airport drop-off, and everything in between.
Health & Safety
EM's Health & Safety Plan:
Emergency Response Plan: Based on the severity of each emergency, EM has a plan for appropriate response.
If a team member becomes seriously ill, they will be taken to a local doctor to receive appropriate medical attention and medications. If they are a minor, their Team Leader along with our staff will accompany them to the clinic. If needed, their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our staff.
If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life-threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, Experience Mission staff will locate the Team Leader, contact parents or guardians (providing the injured is a minor), and provide safe but quick transportation to a local clinic.
In the event that an accident occurs that is life-threatening or has the potential for permanent damage, emergency medical care will be secured and arraignments will be made if necessary, to transport the injured person to the United States as quickly as possible providing they are serving in one of our International locations. In our domestic locations, local 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted immediately to assist in guidance for an appropriate response.
All medical care is the sole responsibility of the team member. Experience Mission requires every team member to be covered by domestic medical insurance and recommends that team members traveling abroad carry additional international travel insurance to cover any medical needs their domestic medical insurance may not cover.
Immunizations: As with all mission trips, it is essential that volunteers are up to date on all childhood immunizations. Each volunteer must also have a tetanus shot.
For more information about health concerns and recommended immunizations, you can visit the CDC travelers guide to South Africa. You should consult your local doctor prior to receiving any immunizations.
Check out EM's current Covid Guidance
Registration & Payment
Experience Mission has specific policies regarding team registration and withdrawal. Please refer to the document below for specifics.
View EM’s Mission Trip Registration Policy
INDIVIDUALS
All volunteers on a week-long EM mission trip to South Africa must be part of a team of at least six (6) people, with at least one team member age 21 or older to serve as the Team Leader. Not part of a group? All young adults ages 18-30 are eligible to apply for EM's IMMERSION program.
Mission Trip FAQs
Mission Trips involve many details, and we know you probably have a few questions about EM mission trips.
View the Experience Mission FAQ page
Upcoming Trip Dates: Cape Town, South Africa
We’d love to connect with you!
Dont hit a snag in your mission trip planning! Fill out an interest form or call (888) 475-6414 (Mon-Thu, 9am-5pm ET) to ask questions and learn more about upcoming EM mission trips.
Recent Blogs & Stories
Hear from recent EM mission
trip team leaders!
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What’s the best trip for your group? Answer 5 multiple choice questions and get instant mission trip recommendations!
What’s the best trip for your group?
Answer 5 multiple choice questions, and get instant mission trip recommendations!
Make your Mission Trip a reality!
1
Fill out a Group Interest Form
Only takes a minute! Simply choose the community and trip dates you’re most interested in—no commitment necessary.
2
We’ll personally follow up with you this week
Answering your questions and walking you through the process of finding the best trip, registering your group, and preparing to serve together.
3
You and your team serve on a cross-cultural mission trip!
Organized and led by EM field staff or local partners, your trip will bring encouragement and light to people in difficult circumstances, as you learn what it means to care for all people, whoever and wherever you are.
Read our Mission Trip FAQ and Registration Policy. If you have additional questions or don't see the dates you're looking for, fill out an interest form for the trip closest to what you're hoping for and let us know the needs of your group.
Don't let fundraising slow you down!
Download the free EM Fundraising Guide for all our best tips and ideas for making fundraising for your next trip fun and easy.
Don't let fundraising slow you down!
Download our free Fundraising Guide for all our best tips and ideas for making fundraising for your next trip fun and easy.
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