Culture and Customs
Gap Year Abroad As might be expected of a country with such ethnic diversity, South Africa n culture is incredibly varied. Gap year students doing voluntary work in South Africa will find it to be a very different experience from volunteering elsewhere in Africa.
Ethnicity
On a gap year in South Africa you will find that ethnicity and diversity are two key components of the nation and its culture. Within the South Africa n black majority the strength of cultural traditions varies between rural and urban communities. Those living in rural communities are often impoverished but retain various cultural traditions from their tribal past. Urban black South Africans have much less attachment to tradition and generally speak English and Afrikaans as well as their native tongue.
White communities largely populate the middle classes and their culture and lifestyles are very similar to those found in Western Europe, North America and Australasia. South Africa is also home to a large population of Asians who preserve their own cultural heritage, languages and religious beliefs in accordance with their Christian, Hindu and Muslim origins.
Food
Travel in South Africa As with any other aspect of the country, South African cuisine is diverse and comes from a variety of multicultural sources. This includes cookery from indigenous peoples such as the Khoisan and Xhosa, as well as the food habits of European and Indian settlers.
One eating preference that white and black South Africans do share is their love of meat! Gap year volunteers might be pleasantly surprised to find a universal South African love of barbeques (called by their Afrikaans name, ‘braai’) and biltong (dried meat). As a gap year volunteer in South Africa we strongly recommend that you try the local cuisine!
Sport
Volunteer Work South Africa If you’ve ever watched South African sports fans in action you’ll have realised that South Africa is a nation that loves its sport! Rugby and cricket are two of the most popular and the national teams have had great success on the international stage. The Springboks (the South African rugby team) won the Rugby World Cup in 1995 and 2007 and the country has hosted numerous international tournaments.
In 2010 South Africa is hosting the FIFA World Cup, the first time the football tournament has been held on the African continent. By Volunteering in South Africa you could be part of this proud nation during one of the most important years in its sporting history!
Music
Music is important throughout the African continent and South Africa is no exception. On a volunteer project in South Africa you may be lucky enough to experience the various forms of music inspired by African traditions and native culture.
Beyond the black community South African musicians have been influenced by European musical styles and South Africa has produced a number of world-famous jazz-musicians.