Callum joined us on a Law and Human Rights programme in South Africa last summer.
“I would say the experience overall was incredibly insightful and taught me so much about myself. Being away from home and getting stuck into the work was truly inspiring, educational and life changing.”
Read all about how he got on and what he got up to!
First Impressions and Settling In
I had no preconceptions when I arrived in South Africa. It was my first time solo travelling and I had only been abroad one time previously. I think I assumed it to be quite hot and dry and full of culture given my knowledge of the country.
The first night was very tough. I think this was due to it being a shock to the system and not being surrounded by a busy airport or the hustle of city life. It took some time to adjust and it was even harder not knowing what to expect for the following day, that anticipation was my biggest struggle and fearing the unknown. But after time I found ways to manage this: I resorted to journaling, phone calls home and speaking to the locals quite frequently.
Everyone at the accommodation was so kind and caring and completely understanding of the circumstances I was in. Homely and warm are what come to mind when I think about where I stayed. The vibrant house colours, staff members who were always happy and the consistent joyous atmosphere I was greeted with every day. Later down the line some more volunteers joined and it was great to show them around on what we had already discovered and tried, it felt as though we were really making ourselves at home during our stay within the country.

The Law and Human Rights Programme
Before I left I had expected to gain a deeper insight into my own career and the human rights around the work, along with being able to return with my own stories and experiences and newfound independence after taking on this massive adventure.
I think Vocational Impact did a great job in preparing me for what was to come, the timetable was amazing – I got to see what I would be doing day to day and how I should structure my week accordingly. Whilst there I got to see first hand how fast things move within the legal sector, from taking a case to the resolution in a matter of days, and the impact that had on people’s lives.
I also helped to take on caseloads for people with the most extraordinary stories and experiences from all walks of life. A lot of my cases dealt with refugees and asylum seekers looking to obtain visas and citizenship within South Africa and the struggles that came with that such as healthcare access and education.
Other parts of my work involved the rights of LGBT individuals and identity markers. This was led by Kayan who worked endlessly to provide detailed overviews, perspectives and legal knowledge to ensure I was able to provide my most effective proposals.
Carol and Kayan at the clinic were outstanding. The most incredible minds and dedication to their work, they are people that have and will continue to have a profound impact on how I work and approach things. I cannot thank them enough for everything they did for me and others.
The foundation hosted many outreach programmes to help those struggling to apply for asylum and the best approach for them to take. At these events we got to hear experiences that were not often heard at the clinic and provide real time answers and solutions. One of these that really stands out was National Refugee Day, although I think it’s hard to encapsulate one experience as I got to do so much. I would say the experience overall was incredibly insightful and taught me so much about myself.
Being away from home and getting stuck into the work was truly inspiring, educational and life changing. I was constantly using different aspects of law and learning new ways to research and draft. During my time there my current law firm heard about what I was doing and offered me a placement opportunity for the current year. Without doing this programme I don’t think I would have been able to undertake my current placement, the experience truly shaped a pathway for me.

Community Outreach in Johannesburg
The community organisation was amazing. I think it is an incredible place, the work time and effort that goes into ensuring that a standard of care for mothers and children with HIV is consistently maintained can be tiring but they ensured I was looked after every step of the journey. Grace and Sister Cynthia were incredible. Grace took time to make sure I always had a full belly of delicious food and Sister Cynthia always ensured we were well looked after there.
I also volunteered a little with another children’s foundation where I met Dalene. Dalene is an amazing woman, the most pure of hearts and has generosity that I am so grateful for. She really made sure to look after me while I was away from home and took time to show me around. I thoroughly enjoyed our hikes together and will forever be thankful for the care and nurture she took with me.

Adventure Opportunities In South Africa!
I would say my evenings off and dinner time during my stay at the community organisation were my favourite moments – getting to hear about everyone’s day and sharing stories with all these people from different walks of life.
While I was there to volunteer I was also a tourist and got to do amazing safaris, eat amazing food and attend some really cool events and parties. I think some of my favourite parts were discovering things for myself. I got to go on safaris; visit an elephant sanctuary; The Mandela Museum; did many hikes and saw wildlife.
While hiking I was able to see many parts of South Africa’s magic from wild animals to waterfalls, amazing landscapes and breath-taking views – and the sunsets every day were incredible. Most weekends I would go for amazing dinners with other members of staff, while other weekends I attended amazing events such as rooftop parties and wine tasting. In the days I would go on hikes or sightseeing around Johannesburg.

Tips for Future Volunteers!
- Check the weather! I was under the assumption that because ‘it’s Africa’ it was going to be warm during the summer months – however I was very wrong! I ended up having to buy extra warm clothes while I was there.
- It’s one massive journey, take it one step at a time but most importantly enjoy it, it can be scary and different and certainly wasn’t easy, but it will be something you are forever thankful that you did.
- I have already encouraged friends to reach out and some have even applied to the other programmes! I think this placement can open so many doors for others and that you should be able to take the trip in order to further your careers and outlooks on life.
- I took some social media pics and TikToks and also had a personal journal that helped me get through my time there.
Overall, it was an incredibly insightful experience.
