Volunteering caravan through Botswana Zimbabwe and South Africa

My LTV Experience

Southern African Workcamps Cooperation (SAWC) is a network of various workcamps and voluntary organizations in Southern Africa. As a French volunteer at SAVWA for 9 months, I had the opportunity to participate in the SAWC Caravan workcamps 2026.

The caravan is a voluntary initiative that brings together international and local volunteers to promote community development, environmentel sustainability and intercultural learning.

It was organized under the theme “Rooted in Heritage, Growing a sustainable Future” reflecting the programme’s commitment to connecting the history and heritage of communities with practical action for a more sustainable future. The wider caravan brought volunteers together across Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa, with each country hosting a work-camp phase of ten days.

The Host place for each country was:

• Camp hill community trust in Otse Village – Botswana
• Sharon Cohen Special School in Chitungwiza – Zimbabwe
• South Africa volunteer Work Camp association in Soshanguve – South Africa

During the 30 days, the core focus was on practical agriculture and community gardening. The activities included etablishment and maintenance of organic garden, soil preparation, compost making, planting, package and harvesting fruits and vegetables. These activities demonstrated the importance of consistent community participation in maintaining resilient food systems. The work showed how gardens contribute not only to household and institutional food security but also to social enterprise and income generation. We also acquired practical skills from local community members.

The intercultural exchange was the most significant component of the programme. Volunteers from different countries, background lived and work together, sharing experiences, knowledges, traditional dances, music and food.

Through this interaction, we gained a deeper understanding of local cultures, community life, food system and agricultural practices. This experience reinforced the principe that international volunteering is not about assisting communities, it’s about mutual learning and building relationships based on mutual respect and cultural exchange.

The theme “Rooted in Heritage, Growing a sustainable Future” provided a strong foundation for connecting local knowledge, culture, community values and environmental sustainability with youth participation.

Participating in the SAWC Caravan enabled me to acquire practical skills in organic gardening and sustainable agriculture, soft skills (teamwork, cross-cultural communication and leadership), technical knowledge exchange with local workers and volunteers. The SAWC Caravan was an exceptional and enriching experience. It move from country to country, connecting people through shared work and heritage.