Volunteering with rescued chimps, in Spain

We ensure that more than 90% of the funds generated through our volunteer placements go directly back into our primate rescue and rehabilitation project. We employ local people at the sanctuary who work as caregivers for the primates. The rest of our team are volunteers. We promote local restaurants and hotels through our website and we also email our guests an information pack with local accommodation, restaurants in the nearby medieval city of Girona. We use local produce to feed the primates and staff. We also use local building materials and equipment and local builders.

We recycle paper, cans, bottles and plastic. We also actively promote recycling of printer cartridges and mobile phones to our staff and supporters. We use recycled paper for administration purposes. We email information and our newsletter to our supporters who have access to email. In the UK office we use energy efficient light bulbs and turn off lights, computers etc.

We previously collaborated with a local NGO called Fundacio Natura and we have planted 6500 young trees of different species to improve the biodiversity of the area of land within the sanctuary. We do recycle waste at the sanctuary and we (and our volunteers) are aware of minimising our water and energy consumption.

Our education department was specifically set up to introduce local children to the amazing world of primates and to promote respect and understanding of these magnificent animals. We give lectures and interactive workshops to children aged 3 – 14 years. One of our main aims is to help children realise that our lives and the lives of other primates are not so disconnected and that everything we do has a direct effect on all other animals. We want to help children recognise that our behaviour and lifestyle is directly linked to nature even though we often forget that it is.