South African Students’ Travel Service (SASTS) is a not-for-profit (section 21) student and youth travel organisation dedicated to providing high quality, affordable international educational and work exchange programmes to students and young people.
SASTS has played an integral role in facilitating student and youth travel for almost 40 years and is well equipped to help students realise their travel dreams. Working with reputable and internationally recognised partners and being members of international associations such as the Federation of Experiment in International Living (FEIL) and the World Youth Student and Travel Confederation (WYSTEC), SASTS programmes are run in accordance with guidelines put in place by these international organisations.
SASTS was set up in 1972 to provide affordable travel opportunities for South African students. It was the travel division of NUSAS, the National Union of South African Students, whose activities took root in the days of Apartheid. During the past few years SASTS Working Adventures has branched out to include exciting opportunities for foreign travellers to experience South Africa by implementing Work South Africa, Volunteer South Africa, Groups and High School South Africa.
Currently we work with up to 20 countries that send us young people that we assist to find work or we place in social, educational or environmental projects in local communities where they volunteer for 5 to 33 weeks at a time. During their placement, volunteers make a valuable contribution in terms of assisting at local community projects.
Over the past 8 years SASTS has worked very closely with disadvantaged communities, projects and institutions. The organisation endeavours to make a difference in the local community by offering training skills development programmes, stimulating local economies and creating opportunities for people from different cultures. It’s an opportunity to learn from others, respect other cultures and embrace the concept of working together. Through this process we hope to achieve greater development within these communities.
SASTS believes that international voluntary services help empower local communities by developing self reliance and sustainability, whilst providing guidance and support on global issues such as poverty alleviation, skills training and development. We aim to help improve the quality of life of many local South Africans, whilst uniting groups of people with a common cause, and empowering them to make a difference in society.
