The Mabandla Experience is an integrated, authentic cultural and community volunteer work experience. There is no better way of really getting to know a community than by working alongside them and joining in daily life. By night, visitors are ‘billeted’ out in pairs to host families, which ensures an authentic cultural experience and by day, work alongside the community until lunch. In the afternoon a social programme enables you to meet, kick a ball and interact with the people as well as learn about important traditions. You will get to spend time with a traditional herbalist (Nyanga) as well as a spiritual healer (Sangoma) and if possible attend a traditional ceremony that may be happening during your stay.
Participants are required to raise funds (£50.00 / participant), which are used to buy the materials for the volunteer work programme.
In addition to a unique insight to one of Africa’s most well known tribes there is a more serious objective to the programme, which aims to encourage participants to:
- Appreciate all people irrespective of race, wealth and status.
- Respect culture as something that enriches our lives and the planet.
- Reflect on life – where you are at this point in time and where is the path you are on taking you?
- No matter where or who you are, you can make a real difference to the lives of others.
Mabandla village qualifies as a destination for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Gold Residential Stay.
