I first went to @SOS Children’s Villages Cape Town in Summer 2024 for my own LiA. The experience was so successful that the village asked if I could return with more scholars. So in Summer 2025 we piloted our LiA 2.0 model (where I brought 6 scholars), and the demand from SOS has been so strong that I’m returning again next summer to continue building this long-term partnership.
This will be our second year running the LiA 2.0 model, which mixes the best parts of a central LiA (shared structure, continuity, support) with the freedom of an independent LiA (you design and run your own programme + keep your stipend).
@SOS Children’s Villages Cape Town is a residential community for orphaned and abandoned youth. Scholars last summer ran dance, coding, digital literacy, wellbeing, photography, chess, soccer, reading and storytelling programs. All of them were scholar-led and left something behind that SOS can use long-term. More details regarding their work can be found here and here.
If you join, you’ll build your own six-week program for youth (age 1-17, you decide which age group to work with; all programs are welcome), live in the secure guesthouse on-site with the group (I’ll be living there and supporting you on the ground the whole time), and become part of a growing, multi-year relationship with the village. You don’t need a full proposal yet, and I'll be guiding you in the months leading up to it.
If this sounds like something you’d want to be part of, fill out this short interest form by December 5:
Interest Form (Name + Email Only):
https://forms.gle/kVzQH2nxNUZxSLw99
I’ll share more details and next steps with everyone who signed up later in December.
The aim is to select the 2026 scholar team by January at the latest.
Reach out if you have questions or want to chat more. This project is close to my heart, and I’d love to find scholars who are just as excited to make a positive impact on youth experiencing adversity.