Our Program
Arrival and orientation
Arrive in Umtata under your own steam, either by road, rail or air and you will be picked up and transported to Tshani village in our prearranged transport. Here your local hosts will welcome you as you arrive in Tshani Village.
Prepare to have your breath taken away by the stunning views. You will be hosted by a Xhosa family in their home for two nights. During this time you will have the opportunity to “live like a local” and learn more about the village, the community and the culture and will enjoy cultural and language orientation by trained professional during the day.
Once you've settled in
On day 3 you will be welcomed into your new home for the remainder of your stay: a beautifully designed, low-impact, communal Xhosa homestead, built in the traditional Xhosa style. During the week you will spend half your day contributing to community projects run by Tshani Village community members and TransCape NPO coordinators. Your remaining time will be spent experiencing the exquisite local environment, immersing yourself in your new community and learning through sharing knowledge with your new neighbours.
See Projects for further details.
FAQs
- Do I need to worry about malaria?
- Do you have an unanswered question?
- What if I can't afford it?
- Where your money goes?
- Can I create my own community project?
- What recreational activities are there?
- Is there hot water?
- Is there electricity?
- What is included?
- Do you accept people for periods less than 4 weeks?
Quotes
“If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time.” – Marian Wright Edelman
“We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us, and the more we gain, the more is our desire; the more we see, the more we are capable of seeing.” – Maria Mitchell
“The universe is transformation; our life is what our thoughts make it.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy
“You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters are continually flowing in.” – Heraclitus ca. 500 BC
“To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.” – Henri Bergson
“The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.” –Gloria Steinem
“I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.” - Georg C. Lichtenberg
“In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” – Eric Hoffer
