CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation, South Africa relies to a great extent on the support of volunteers to deliver services to the children and their parents.

There are different categories of volunteering within CHOC:

• Caregiver Volunteers
Caregiver volunteers are mostly hospital based and interact with the children and parents through the medium of play, arts and crafts, activities etc. This programme runs mostly during the week (depending on the division or hospital) and potential volunteers need to have time available (either a morning or afternoon) during the week to volunteer.

Unique to the Johannesburg Division (Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital) is the Young Adult Volunteer Programme. This programme, also hospital based, caters specifically for young adults in their twenties to thirties who have time available over weekends and wish to interact and play with the children.

Some of our divisions also provide the opportunity for volunteers to interact with, play and do activities with the children at the various CHOC Houses.

Because of the nature of childhood cancer treatment, caregiver volunteering; whether hospital or CHOC House based and during the week or weekends, is subject to an intensive selection, training, orientation and supervision process. Monthly meetings also provide the opportunity for sharing, debriefing and ongoing development.

Recruitment is done on a needs basis.

• Fundraising Support Volunteers
Fundraising support volunteers assist the CHOC Fundraiser and/or Fundraising Support Volunteer Manager/Coordinator in the successful implementation of fundraising events, promotions and awareness programmes.

Briefing and orientation is received prior to or on the day of the event.

• Voluntary Committee Members
Parents who have been through the process of having their child diagnosed and treated for cancer or a life threatening blood disorder and wish to ‘give back’ by assisting CHOC’s work can serve on a CHOC Divisional Committee and offer their skills and professional expertise.

• Parent supporting Parent Programme
The Parent supporting Parent (PSP) programme consists of a group of parents who have had the experience of having their child diagnosed and treated for cancer or a life threatening blood disorder and wish to offer support to other parents whose children have been newly diagnosed.
They have been trained by the CHOC psychosocial team and their role is to LISTEN and provide emotional support in adjusting to the stresses of the diagnosis and treatment.

As with the caregiver volunteer the full process of selection, training, orientation and supervision applies.

• CHOC House Support Volunteers
The CHOC House support volunteer fulfills the role of ‘stand-in house parents’ over weekends, holiday periods and other times when the house management is away. This is a specialised role and the full process of selection, training, orientation and supervision applies.

• Student Volunteers (Secondary and Tertiary)
Many students (both secondary and tertiary) who are expected to complete community service approach CHOC to offer their services. Once again, depending on the specific needs of the organisation, the student’s time and commitment may be utilised in a variety of ways depending on their experience. Opportunities are often limited but do enquire. Direct interaction with the children, however, is not always possible because of the children’s treatment requirements and hospital procedures.

• SOLID (Survivors of Long Term Illnesses and Diseases) Volunteers
SOLID is a volunteer group for young adults who have survived childhood cancer or a life threatening illness. SOLID volunteers not only provide support to children currently on treatment but also strive to address issues related to survivors. If you are a survivor and wish to be part of the survivor’s network you are welcome to apply.

• Parent Empowerment Programme (PEP) Volunteers
The stay at a hospital or CHOC House can be long and devastating for a parent while their child undergoes treatment. Through the PEP programme, parents are empowered through the various practical skills, such as knitting, sewing, needlework, arts and crafts, baking etc.’ they are taught. They can take these skills with them once they return home after their child’s treatment and apply it to earn an income. If you have any practical skills and a couple of hours a week to offer please apply.

• Ambassador volunteers
CHOC often needs a person to speak at fundraising or public events; to receive a cheque on their behalf and/or to create awareness of the organisation and the work it does. If you have a good command of language and are comfortable with public speaking you are welcome to contact your nearest CHOC divisional office for more information. You will receive the necessary orientation and training.

Availability in the different categories of volunteering depends on the specific need of the Division where you reside. Should you be interested, you are welcome to contact the divisional office nearest to you for further information or click on the link below.