CONTENT CONTENT WHAT IS VOLUNTEER AFRICA? WHEN IS VOLUNTEER AFRICA? WHO IS VOLUNTEER AFRICA FOR? ABOUT CHRISTIAN BIBLE INSTITUTE LIFE IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA FEE STRUCTURE VISA REQUIREMENTS CBI APPLICATION FORM ICE FORM CHECKLIST WHAT IS VOLUNTEER AFRICA WHAT IS VOLUNTEER AFRICA? Christian Bible Institute (CBI) is a Bible college that was established in 1987. Over the past 30 years, we have trained many students to become disciples of Christ through the power of His Word and, through this, fulfil their unique God-given purpose. Our tag line, Where Disciples Become Leaders, is both our story and our goal. Our college curriculum has been built on four foundational pillars: WORD, WORSHIP, SERVE, EXPRESS. Through VOLUNTEER AFRICA, we plan to extend the serve pillar of our curriculum. Serve simply entails the serving of our local community through the various channels we have available. A few examples include (among others): orphanages, old age homes, soup kitchens, street clean-ups, police trauma centres, home visits, local school mentorships, building of mudhut homes, and home makeovers. Our beautiful country, South Africa, has a tragic and dreadful past which has left a far-reaching legacy of pain and brokenness. One of our passionate objectives at CBI is to aid in the relentless pursuit of reconciliation of race, culture, and gender. We have discovered, through experience, that this is much easier said than done! This is where YOU, our potential VOLUNTEER AFRICA student, come in. Our doors are wide open for you to commit a year of your life to something larger than yourself. You will be amazed at what God will do in, and through, you as you give a year of your life in service.
WHEN IS VOLUNTEER AFRICA? We will be running this program from September every year. Packaged as a one year program, we hope to appeal to students looking to have a Gap Year in line with the Northern Hemisphere academic timetable. WHO VOLUNTEER AFRICA FOR? Volunteer Africa is aimed at students in the Northern Hemisphere. It is for those who are looking to do something meaningful and life changing in their Gap Year, whilst meeting new people, experiencing a new culture and gaining immeasurable experience. ABOUT CHRISTIAN BIBLE INSTITUTE CBI is a Bible College passionate about establishing the Kingdom of God first in the hearts of our students, and then, through them, on earth. We are committed to helping each student, no matter their age, culture, country, or occupation find their own particular destiny through an intimate relationship with God. Our vibrant, multicultural approach to Christianity emphasizes relationship over religion. As a result, every enrolment is an opportunity to find incredible freedom through developing a disciplined lifestyle aimed at pleasing God in thought, word, and action. The entire ethos of CBI is irrevocably based on the Word of God which we firmly believe is entirely infallible and the only standard for Christians to live by. It is the core tenet of our faith. CBI exists to produce devoted disciples who love God with all their heart, soul, and mind and live sacrificially for Him only. We exist to disciple students into mature followers of Christ who are led by the Holy Spirit to minister effectively wherever they are called to in life. Our goal is to see whole, restored men and women making a godly difference in their generation, able to withstand all the pressures life brings and still live with joy and fulfilment, shining as beacons of hope for the lost world around them.
LIFE IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA Christian Bible Institute is based in Cowies Hill Park, a suburb of the city of Durban in the ethekwini municipality which is in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa, with a population of 3.5 million. It is the home of Africa s best-managed, busiest port, and is a major tourist centre due to its warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches. Durban Harbour is Africa s largest port, handling around 75 million tons of cargo annually. The city is also blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and is one of the most surf-friendly cities (even housing a unique surfer s museum). Durban has the largest concentrated population of Indians outside of India, who have contributed hugely to the city s culture. Durban has many cultural attractions, and examples of magnificent architecture. The city hosts several cultural festivals and events, numerous trade shows, trade fairs, exhibitions, expositions, and conventions. As South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are the opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. With this in mind, our summer months range from mid-september until late April. In South Africa, our winters are very mild; not nearly as cold or severe as an European or North American winter. During the months of May to August, we have moderate days with cool evenings as well as in the early mornings. The sun intensity is strong in South Africa, and we recommend sun block throughout the year, even if travelling in our winter. In summer, a hat and sunglasses are strongly recommended. We live in a country that s rich in diversity and culture. South Africa has eleven official languages, with English being the most universally spoken. All South Africans understand, speak, and most often write in English, so there is no need to worry about any language barriers. For your information, the other languages are isindebele, Northern Sotho, siswati, Xitsonga, Setswana, isixhosa, isizulu, Tshivenda, Sepedi, and Afrikaans.
FEE STRUCTURE PROGRAM COSTS: R20 000.00 per year (Payable in ten monthly instalments of R2 000.00) ADDITIONAL COSTS There are additional costs to prepare for. Please note: these are recommended amounts and dependent on your lifestyle of choice whilst completing your year of service. ACCOMMODATION We do not provide accommodation, however we do assist in finding accommodation in line with your budget. Option 1: Your own apartment +/- R7500.00 Option 2: House Share +/- R5000.00 Option 3: Room Share +/- R3000.00 FOOD AND LIVING EXPENSES Food is expensive in South Africa, even with the Rand conversion. If you wish to eat healthy balanced regular meals, we recommend budgeting around R3000.00 per month. TRANSPORT A variety of options available: - Car Hire - UBER Services - Local Taxi Services (not recommended) - Walking (if you live close to His Church) FLIGHTS AND VISA COSTS A return ticket to Durban, South Africa Application fee for a volunteer visa prices dependent on country TRAVEL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE All people coming to South Africa need travel and medical insurance for the duration of their stay in South Africa. We recommend you obtain the necessary medical insurance in your home country.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SPENDING MONEY There is ample free time throughout the year where we would encourage you to travel Southern Africa and see our beautiful land, however all this requires spending money! VISA REQUIREMENTS How to apply for your volunteer visa: Once your acceptance of a formal offer from CBI has been confirmed, you need to collect a volunteer visa application form from your nearest South African office abroad. This form needs to be completed and returned to the same office with the relevant accompanying paperwork. In general, your application should be accompanied by: A valid passport A letter formally stating that you will be volunteering in South Africa under the banner of Christian Bible Institute (provided by CBI) Proof that you are financially able to pay your tuition fees and have adequate means of support A medical certificate and proof of medical insurance/ travel insurance cover which must provide full cover for you in South Africa Proof of a return flight ticket It is highly recommended that you contact the nearest South African Consulate for specific information on visa requirements that may be applicable to you. Embassy contact information: Please contact the nearest South African embassy for information on what documentation you may require for entering South Africa. *Please note that volunteer students may only apply for a volunteer visa once they have been accepted by CBI and have a letter of acceptance.