Wildlife orphanage volunteering in South Africa
Description of Wildlife orphanage volunteering in South Africa
This project provides volunteers with the unique opportunity of not only caring for some of South Africa’s most iconic species but also to inspire a generation of local school children to take pride and invest value in their natural surroundings. Situated in the stunning Limpopo Province, on the outskirts of Kruger National Park, the work involved in this project is carried out against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty.
The overall aim of this project is to engage local school children with the importance of animal and environmental conservation. The project is based in a wildlife orphanage and the majority of the animals at the
orphanage are likely to never be released due to injuries or
humanisation, which means that constant care is required, both day and
night. Every week, a group of school children arrive at the orphanage to stay, in order to learn in a hands-on environment about the importance of the animals in the wild and their conservation. The children are also taught a number of subjects that their local school-education does not cover, including health and social issues which in turn improves literacy skills and builds confidence.
Volunteers play a vital role in the project: helping to take care of the orphanage’s animal residents which include providing them with daily enrichment, maintaining and cleaning enclosures, basic first aid for the animals where necessary and monitoring their general health. Volunteers also play a role in educating the children, playing with them and generally guiding them through the learning process.
This project aims to inspire and educate these school children (many of whom are underprivileged) in the hope that they will gain an understanding of why the conservation and protection of their country’s native species and the environment are important. This will encourage them to see animals not as foes (as many of the local farmers do), but as vital parts of their national heritage that should be valued and respected. This is essential in bridging the gap between humans and wildlife with the aim of creating a sustainable future for both humans and animals.
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2027: 9 Jan, 16 Jan, 23 Jan, 30 Jan, 6 Feb, 13 Feb, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep ...
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Planet
The orphanage itself is a rare refuge for animals who have been orphaned, mistreated or injured by humans in some way, including lions, cheetahs, many species of primates and more.Many are harmed by farmers, who view them as pests and threats to their livestock and crops; while others are left alone as infants following the poaching of their parents; some are rendered disorientated and unable to survive in the wild following the destruction of their habitat through logging and deforestation.
These animals find a safe home and constant protection at the orphanage, and are nursed back to health, and wherever possible, safely released back into their natural habitats to live in the wild once more. In some cases, animals are so negatively impacted they would not cope with independent life in the wild, and so the orphanage offers permanent placements to such residents providing them with care and enrichment so they can live a happy life within the orphanage and sustain species populations.
Additionally, the project aims to reverse the cycle of negative human impact on the animals by teaching local children about the importance of their surrounding wildlife and habitats, and the vital role it plays within their ecosystem. These children are inspired at the orphanage through educative exercises and interaction with the resident animals about the importance of wildlife conservation. They leave the orphanage having learnt to view the native wildlife as an important part of their national heritage that is to be valued, respected and protected. The children are the future generations of caregivers for their surrounding environment, and providing them with this knowledge is one of the best hopes for creating a sustainable future for all.
People
This project is truly unique in its aims as it combines both wildlife conservation efforts and initiatives to improve the lives of local school children who are often underprivileged and let down by their current education.It is one thing to care for the animals that are victims of human intervention, but the aim of this project is to alter this continuous cycle by inspiring the generation of local school children to invest value and respect in the animals they share their natural environment with.
The project helps these children to learn more effectively during their stay at the orphanage, providing them with the one-on-one attention that they are unable to receive at school. They are taught basic literacy and numeracy skills, as well as other invaluable social issues including AIDs awareness.
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