Wildlife Sanctuary and Community Education

  South Africa

• Other Cities in South Africa: 
Hoedspruit

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Every Saturday throughout the year.

Description: Volunteer in South Africa on this Wildlife Sanctuary and Community Education programme for 4, 8 or 12 weeks. Whilst living in a spectacular wildlife sanctuary, volunteers help to educate South African children and care for sick and vulnerable wild animals. Whether part of your gap year, career break or ethical holiday; volunteering in South Africa on this worthwhile project gives you the chance to inspire and educate local children, and contribute to the future of South African wildlife!

Volunteer in South Africa on this exciting Yomps programme to work with children and animals in a breathtaking wildlife sanctuary. For either 4, 8 or 12 weeks, volunteers' on this fantastic adventure assist in the education of South African children and care for the animals of a wildlife sanctuary. Volunteers adopt a more nonconventional, hands-on method of teaching the children learn about their natural environment by interacting with the African wildlife themselves. By reinforcing their pre-existing education and caring for the animals at the Wildlife Sanctuary on a daily basis, in a hands-on manner, we'll help to improve the children's futures, as well as the orphaned wild animals.

Many children growing up in South Africa today never have opportunity to see, let alone experience, one of the nation's most famous aspects of its national heritage the wildlife. The vast majority of children in South Africa grow up in rural villages with little amenities and poorly developed infrastructures, without ever having the resources or opportunity to experience the wildlife that they are surrounded by in the national parks and game reserves. Therefore, the majority of children who grow up in these areas have never seen a giraffe or similar wildlife treasure. This Wildlife Sanctuary and Community Education volunteering project provides these underprivileged children with the opportunity to experience the Wildlife Sanctuary for weeks at a time, where they gain hands-on experience with the animals and are educated by us and our fellow volunteers.

Because of the excellant work that this project does with wildlife education in the community, various wild animals have been saved as Constant Hoogstad from a local game reserve explains;

"This wildlife sanctuary and community education project educates children from the trust areas around Karongwe Private Game Reserve on a weekly basis. They have had some fantastic results, just the other day one of the children from the trust area phoned the project to come fetch a duiker which they found in the bush. Without the proper education this little duiker would have been killed with sticks and stones and eaten. I also recently received calls from the local area to come and an help them with a problem leopard and the most amazing of all a cheetah female with four cubs. Both these calls were linked to children that went to this project". Constant Hoogstad Reserve manager of Karongwe Game Reserve.

Cost in US$: 1,980

Experience Required: yes

No previous teaching experience is required to join this volunteering project. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and speak English. Additionally, everyone must be able to work as part of a team and have a strong interest in wildlife, the environment and conservation. Participants must also be enthusiastic, have a good sense of humour and be respectful of the host country's environment, cultures and animals.

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Year Founded: 2006