All Out Africa

Aims
“To engage people and resources from around the world in the research and action necessary for a sustainable Africa”.

We develop projects that uphold our mission and we offer the experience of joining these projects to people from around the world (gap-year students, career break volunteers, working holiday travellers and researchers) as a means of supporting them. We have a vision of a better Africa through working together for wildlife and people. We believe we play a key role in Africa’s future through research and action supported through responsible tourism. We believe in conserving Africa’s natural and cultural heritage as a resource for its future. We believe in partnerships and working together and we believe in the value of Africa’s wildlife and people

We aim to:

Conduct research which furthers knowledge of southern Africa’s biota

Develop and implement conservation action plans for threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa

Educate children in southern Africa to improve their quality of life and future prospects

Provide valuable experiences for volunteers

Maintain honesty and integrity in all our work practices

Communicate positively, empathise with others, work effectively in as a team and share successes

To take individual responsibility, be accountable, efficient and effective

Strive for a better future, foster growth and opportunity, nurture leadership and reward innovation.

Economic responsibility
We are committed to using locally owned and operated suppliers such as local fruit and vegetable markets and local supermarkets (who buy their produce form local suppliers) and we employ local people as field staff, guides and expedition leaders wherever possible. We ensure that our guides and expedition leaders are in full time employment with clear job descriptions and work contracts, and that All Out staff are treated as equals and our staff are paid appropriately and in a timely fashion.

Our supplies such as food, and equipment used on our projects and expeditions are sourced from local markets (whichever country we are operating in) and local business where possible and we encourage our volunteers to purchase goods from local business rather than the large chain stores. The volunteers are also encouraged to attend the local market days where local communities sell their goods and produce.

We believe and try to ensure that our suppliers are treating their own staff equitably and fairly.

Through sending volunteers to work in and with local communities we directly and indirectly contribute to the local economies.

We encourage volunteers to raise money in conjunction with local communities to purchase essential good and services for the schools and neighbour hood care points. Our volunteers have raised money through various fundraising activities both in Swaziland and at home through fun walks, seeking donations from local communities and business, shows at the local night spot and sponsorship of children. Volunteers have raised funds for building of new classrooms, chairs, tables, desks and equipment such as pens, toys, books and paper for the care points and schools. The communities and organisations must be involved in this process to gain ownership of it.

Volunteers are encouraged to spend their leisure time on local facilities, resources and attractions such as the local craft markets, through attending local events such as soccer matches and attending local community events – supporting the communities they live in.

Accommodation is often sourced within local communities and volunteers often do homestay visits with local families, providing extra income for those families.

Some projects are also run to improve the existing infrastructure of local community care points, national parks and reserves and local schools. We have a trench garden program at a number of care points which is used to help feed the children who attend and to raise money for the care point. Building programs are run to create class rooms and improve the existing building functions of the care points. Within National parks we run walking trail maintenance and infrastructure maintenance such as improving the facilities for locals and tourists alike in conjunction with the local people and employees of the parks.

We focus on visiting and working in national parks and reserves providing access revenue toward their management. Our expeditions and projects are run in a number of National parks in South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland including, Saint Lucia, Kruger, Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation region, Hlane national park, Mlilwane nature reserve and Malolotja nature reserve. Within reserves that we carry out projects and expeditions we pay the full access fees regardless of wether we are working or touring. Our aim is to support the existing established reserves and new parks through tourism and project work

Environmental responsibility
Office and accommodation
Practices include recycling and reusing of paper and containers, minimal use of resources particularly paper and ink cartridges, communication is predominantly though electronic means (email and internet) so as to minimise usage of paper and printing is keep to a minimum.

Volunteers are encouraged to reuse supplies and resources from previous volunteers and to kept heir copying needs to a minimum. Biodegradable waste is composted at the All Out accommodations

Energy saving devices are used such as energy saving light globes. Staff and volunteers are actively encouraged to be mindful of energy usage, consumption and waste.

We use environmentally friendly cleaning products and all equipment and lights are turned off at the end of the working day and when not needed for longer than 1 hr to reduce energy consumption

Vehicles
We aim for limited usage and try to combine trips with other activities. Trips to Mozambique and South Africa by staff are arranged so as to travel with the volunteers on transfers, staff arrange meetings at our care points and schools to coincide with existing trips to these areas, site visits and meetings are combined as often as possible so that all staff travelling to certain areas can travel together

Use public transport where possible

Provide bicycles for volunteers to use as an alternative means of transport

Minimise usage wherever possible and encourage both staff and volunteer to travel together to minimise fuel consumption

Vehicles are maintained and serviced regularly to ensure fuel efficiency

Water
We ask volunteers and staff to ensure the following occurs at all times, to always use water sparingly-

Have showers not baths and restrict the amount of time spent in shower

Always turn taps off when not in immediate use

When washing dishes do not just run the water use a plug

Encourage others to maintain healthy practices around the camps, accommodation and work areas with regard to the cleanliness of stored and running water

Don’t leave taps running when brushing teeth

Plants and animals
We promote responsible practice when working with flora and fauna. We carry out projects that conserve biodiversity especially threatened species and ecosystems. Our current projects include:

Monitoring populations of the critically endangered Blue Swallow

Monitoring and recovery planing for the critically endangered Cycad populations in Swaziland

Monitoring and tagging population of the threatened Marabou stork and Vulture populations in Swaziland

Carry out research on the Short eared trident bat that is only known from one unstudied population in Swaziland

We carry out research to further knowledge about flora and fauna in southern Africa. Our research includes

Studies on the bats of Mozambique to determine presence, absence and ecological and biological data on the species present

Elephant, Rhino and Lion studies to determine habitat, feeding preferences and impacts in small game reserves.

Dolphin and whale shark research in Mozambique

Coral reef and turtle research

We spread awareness of the need for conserving wildlife through discussions, presentations, printed material and publications. Our research papers are all published in reputable journals and will soon be available on line, we are in the process of setting up a biodiversity portal for Swaziland on our website so that the research information we have will be freely and readily avaiabe to the general public. We arrange presentations for our volunteers and other interested parties on a monthly basis regarding our work and other relevant topics and other areas of interest. Our staff and some of the research volunteers participate in conferences and seminars regarding specific research and biodiversity and conservation.

Guidelines for volunteers

Never feed the native animals unless as a specific part of a scientific project

Do not approach animals in the field unless part of scientific work

Do not pursue or chase after animals in the field

Do not remove plant or animals material unless for scientific purposes from reserves and national parks

Do not collect flowers, seeds or plant matter from the field unless as part of a scientific project

Do not buy endangered animal products from markets as this only encourages further poaching and the illegal trade in endangered animal products- Always ask where the animal product comes from

Make the volunteers aware of which products they can legally buy- which are endangered species

All volunteers are given training before being allowed to handle or interact with animals on scientific projects to ensure the well being of the animals and volunteers

Waste and waste disposal
We aim to minimise our impact on the environment though the reduction and sustainable disposal of waste by:

Minimising the use of plastic bags in shops

Encouraging the volunteers to reuse their own water bottles rather than continually purchasing more.

Cigarette butts should always be placed in receptacles and not dropped on the ground

Recycling and composting is used in all accommodations and rubbish is sorted and disposed of according to type of waste and recylability

General
All Out carries out scientific and environmental work with national parks and areas of important biodiversity improving information and action for effective biodiversity conservation in southern Africa. Our research with the Bald Ibis has enabled us to make recommendations to the environment authority to inform decisions on management actions for the parks where they reside. Our ongoing research projects on elephants is helping to inform management decisions for Hlane Royal national Park in Swaziland with regard to the management of their elephant populations. Our head researcher is also actively involved in the biodiversity conservation strategy for Swaziland.

We have contact with and input from the local university, national parks, tourism and environmental organisations and adhere to management direction from the National park authorities. Our projects are endorsed by the National Biodiversity Program Implementation Committee and National Biodiversity Database Unit.

All our research is scientifically based and is analysed and published thereby adding to our knowledge base and making a direct impact on decision making on conservation initiatives. Our research is also carried out to the highest ethical standards regarding capture and handling of animals in the field.

Volunteers are taken to areas of natural and cultural significance such as the cultural village, bushman paintings, national museum, and the 2 major cultural ceremonies the Reed dance and Incwala which occur annualy. The volunteers are also given the opportunity to experience the natural areas with guidance from researchers and locals alike as well as in their own time. We also arrange tours of the most significant natural heritage places within our geographic region to help foster appreciation of the natural resources. Some of the areas included are execution rock, Mlilwane wildlife sanctuary, Shebas breasts and Sibebe rock, and the local bushman paintings.

We practice minimal disturbance on our camping and expeditions and all tour leaders, guides and field staff adhere to best practice when dealing with the environment, flora and fauna.

Best Practice and Minimal Disturbance includes

Not disturbing animals on game drives, particularly those with young

Maintain a respectable and safe distance from the animal to minimise stress

Never chase animals for a better view or to make them move or “perform”

Do not disturb the animals any more than absolutely necessary

Unless with qualified rangers volunteers and passengers must remain in the vehicle at all times

No plant or animal products shall be removed from the national parks and reserves

When involved in scientific research volunteers should only approach and handle animals where instructed

Ensure that waste disposal has minimal environmental and aesthetic impact

Keep vehicles to designated tracks and roads

All waste is either disposed of correctly on site ( if facilities exist)or taken with the expedition

Camping is in designated areas only and volunteers are strongly encourage not wandering off existing paths and create new tracks within fragile environments

Social responsibility
Volunteers and staff have a code of conduct which they must adhere, to ensure not only their own safety but also to maintain the good relationships we have with local communities.

Staff Code of conduct
As staff we represent All Out Africa and accordingly our conduct needs to be appropriate:

Honesty and integrity in dealing with each other and all of our work partners, operators and communities

Dress shall be culturally appropriate, shall project our brand and be neat and tidy in appearance

Maintain a professional, positive and respectful attitude in all dealings and communications with colleagues, local people, project partners and businesses

Staff to model correct behaviours in regards to the local communities and environment and good environmental and social practices shall be observed at all times both in the office and in the field

All staff shall be treated with respect and without prejudice

The privacy of sensitive personal and company information shall be respected at all times.

Volunteer/Client/Travellers Code of Conduct

All volunteers shall adhere to staff code of conduct.

All volunteers shall receive a comprehensive pre departure pack with accurate information on their destination country, suggested packing details, cultural and historical and political information, cultural etiquette and natural history

The information officer is available for queries from the volunteers before they arrive and whilst they are here. Other office and field staff are also available to assist the volunteers as required.

The Information Officer calls the volunteers at least once and emails them three times before their arrival to ensure that they are well informed and also to answer any queries or concerns that they may have.

Volunteers are informed about where to buy locally produced crafts and souvenirs which support local communities and local businesses as well as information on local destinations to visit and how to get there and where to stay.

Volunteers are informed on good environmental practices including water and energy saving techniques and the importance of saving water and energy.

Volunteers are informed of sound social and cultural practices including wearing culturally appropriate clothing when working and when visiting royalty and royal land.

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in local festivals and events which will enhance their cultural experience and understanding of local people

Volunteer and staff are encouraged to speak basic Siswati so that they can interact on a basic level with most people that they will meet

We aim to provide employment for local people by using local guides and locally owned and operated services. All our field staff are from the local communities where we are based and the organisation is run and staffed by local Swazi people.

Our volunteers have a major focus on social responsibility through our teaching and care placements which aim to educate vulnerable children to improve their quality of life and future opportunities.

Projects and volunteer placements are developed in conjunction with local communities and organisations and charities to ensure that appropriate, needed and useful work is carried out. We aim to foster mutual respect and understanding between volunteers and the local communities. The volunteers are given an induction and introduction into their local community and work place by one of the local staff employed on the projects.

We ensure that volunteers, who wish to, bring appropriate gifts for local people and children and that they are presented in an appropriate manner. Appropriate gifts that volunteers are encouraged to bring are stationary, books clothing and educational toys and games which are distributed evenly throughout the schools and between the children. We discourage volunteers and staff from giving money away to beggars or perceived 'poor people' we also discourage giving away sweets and other unhealthy foods to children. Volunteers are given advice about local bargaining customs and basic guidelines to normal process to avoid problems with bargaining and haggling.

We have the All Out Africa Wildlife fund and children’s fund where volunteers and others can donate to specific projects and contribute to school fees for underprivileged children and child headed households if they feel they would like to contribute rather than directly handing money to people. Volunteers are given an induction into Swazi/African culture lifestyle and their work place and projects on arrival they are also supplied with information on how to interpret local customs and how to behave appropriately. Our projects directly involve the local communities and schools through skill sharing, training, and infrastructure and curriculum development.