Teen volunteering in Africa is a popular idea. Victoria Falls, for example, is arguably the adventure capital of the world – bungee jumping, white-water rafting, lions walks, etc – a host of adrenalin inspired activities.

On the other hand, and as part of the same trip, you can do volunteer work with lions, photographing African wildlife, teaching and nursing support with orphans, any number of things that will make a real difference to people’s lives. Everything you do will have a positive impact. For young people who want excitement and adventure but who also want to give something back, there’s probably nowhere to compare with Africa.

But quite often the TV is filled with different kinds of images. War, rioting, racially motivated attacks. Not to mention the reputation of some African cities as just plain dangerous places to be.

It is, quite rightly, a concern. Not only for a teen volunteering in Africa but also for parents and family who can, understandably, have a very negative vision of what’s going on.

So what’s the truth behind the headlines? Is volunteering in Africa safe?

Sadly we have heard stories of one gap year organization leaving a teen volunteer at the airport in Africa with nothing more than instructions to make their own way to the project. A dreadful scenario, particularly as this person had never been to Africa before. At Coltgap we would never do that. We meet every volunteer (of whatever age) at the airport.

In fact we instruct people not to find their own way to us, not to get a taxi, not to walk, not to accept the help of strangers. The safety of our volunteers is an absolute priority and a member of project staff always collects you from the airport and takes you to your accommodation.

We completely understand parental concerns – we’re parents too!

If you look through our volunteer options you’ll note we don’t take anyone under 17 – and quite often 18 – so really we’re working with young adults. Still, we’re as happy to discuss things with parents as we are with potential volunteers themselves. Although we don’t publish a phone number on the blog that doesn’t mean we don’t want to talk to you. If you or any member of your family wants to talk to someone just drop us a note with your number and we’ll give you a call.

But what about the general safety of a teen volunteering in Africa?

Well we’re not going to deny that there are parts of Nairobi, Cape Town or any other large African city that are less safe than we might like. Just like there are dangerous parts of London, New York, Paris, Munich…

But it’s a problem of cities, not of Africa, and if you are aware of it then common sense tells you to be careful. We don’t leave it to common sense though because sometimes when we’re on vacation we’re not as sensible as we ought to be (which is as true of people in their forties and fifties as it is of teen volunteers!).

Volunteers are not only met at the airport they are taken care of all the time. Each day a member of staff will take you to your volunteer project and collect you. Other volunteer leaders will be with you through the day. There’s an initial induction chat about your project when you arrive and regular briefings. Accommodation is always in a secure area.

But it’s not a prison and we are not guards.

You are volunteering but you are also going to want to relax and let your hair down. Don’t we all! If you are volunteering in Cape Town we expect that you’ll want to visit the city at night, just as you would any major cosmopolitan, multi-cultural city anywhere in the world. Same for Nairobi or wherever else you go.

We’ll always advise you which areas to avoid and things not to do – like never changing currency in the street for example. You might get a tempting rate… or you might be being set up for a mugging!

Bottom line? Nowhere in the world is absolutely safe. Sadly bad things happen in your own town, not just Africa. At Coltgap we have an enviable reputation and an absolute commitment to volunteer safety. Any teen volunteering in Africa with us is as safe as they would be at home.