What we are about..
We share a mindset not a demographic
We want all shapes, sizes, colours, flavours, ages, races. Volunteering in its popularity is attracting everyone, whether you are experiencing the releasing of shackles from education or you are not quite ready for the pipe and slippers and want to take retirement to another level. Basically If playing tourist doesn’t cut it and you want something a little more meaningful… welcome!
Be Interactive
This space is not just about US telling YOU (we have a whole website for that) We want to hear from you…. Questions, comments, posts, blogs, Video, pictures, presentations…. It’s all about sharing the love!
Are you drowning in a sea of Media? If your little blog is desperately holding onto a cybic piece of drift wood, aimlessly bobbing along – drifting out into the open waters….. Then hop on board our raft, because it is big enough for everyone.
A love affair with Zanzibar
Zineb Benkaddour – a past volunteer from our Volunteer Teaching & Community Project In Zanzibar, Tanzania, gives us an inside view on her journey during her time with us…
“I really feel connected with you, even if I only had a short period of time with you.
I remember you as a beautiful, exotic continent.
You gave birth to a magnificent, extraordinary island called Zanzibar. I miss Jambiani deeply. I didn’t feel any solitude with the nature that surrounded me. The sound of the sea reminded me that it is one of God’s magnificent creations. Her lively sound, who said hello in the morning and goodnight in the evening. You did calmed and comforted me. I can picture the energetic children who’s faces were always smiling or screaming just for a little of my attention trying to understand the difference between our white and their black skin. They were unaware of our diversity, our communities and our western way of life.
This reminds me of a Quranic verse which is very close to my heart: `O mankind, we created you from a single pair, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other.’
I visited you as a volunteer to teach and impact your inhabitants. I was surprised by the backwards impact and I hear you calling me back in your direction.
I embraced your rich Swahili culture that was formed by the interaction between Middle Eastern, Arab and Asian influences. I was enriched by your spoken language, your architecture and your spicy east coast cuisine. I learned about your lovely Swahili songs with Arab and Indian melodies, elegant African women wearing colourful Kangas that were made with their own creativity and extreme care. I learned so much from you, Africa. The people and environment had a great impact on me, emotionally and spiritually. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to reflect on my stay and my own personal struggles in life. It has been a true life experience and life lesson!
You’re always in my heart.
Life is about moments!
To Toni: you are the reason those children are smiling. I still feel your positive energy. Keep up the good work.
To Dulla: thank you for getting to know your culture. Thank you for your stories and chats during biking.
To Rahima: sweet precious Rahima, you are so little and innocent in your own world. Your memory keeps you close to me. I miss you.”
This project base is on the beautiful East coast of Zanzibar Island, in a village set on a pristine stretch of coastline. In these amazing surroundings we invite you to join our experienced project team and other international volunteers in their noble work in various teaching and community projects.
For more information on our Volunteer Teaching & Community Project In Zanzibar, Tanzania, click here.
Or if Zineb has confirmed your decision to join us as a volunteer, email us at: info@africanimpact.com
Farewell to the North Boys
Sunday 5th Feb 2012 was a sad day for Thanda and the volunteers as Night and Nile the resident 3 year old North boys bid their final farewell to Thanda and departed for their new home.
It was on an overcast sky, early morning when the vet and reserve manager darted the 2 boys who had been staying in their boma since October 2011. The boys soon fell asleep and were carried into the waiting trucks to be transported.
The boys have been sold to another reserve as they were starting to interbreed. New genes are now required at Thanda to expand the beautiful prides we have.
The North Boys were born at Thanda in 2009 along with their sister who will remain at Thanda. They have provided the guests, volunteers and staff with some amazing moments over the last year and they feature often in the photographs taken by our volunteers.
Once their father died the North Boys became the dominant males and formed a ruthless coalition not only in taking down many buffalo, impala and wildebeest but also bullying the South pride males off kills and away from their normal territory.
They have given us many delights in sharing their lives with us and we all wish them a fond farewell and Good Luck in their new home.
Want to help us with the Big 5 and conservation in Thanda? Check out our volunteer projects below:
Large Predators Research & Conservation Project, Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Elephant & Rhino Research & Conservation Project, Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
African Wildlife Big 5 Conservation Project, Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
African Wildlife Photography And Conservation, Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Looking smart for school
I always use to hate my school uniform. Childhood memories of teachers continually barking at me to tuck my shirt in or pull my frayed and ragged sleeves up. Looking back I didn’t realise how fortunate I was.
In Mozambique the price of school uniforms is 250mnt (about $9) for shirt and trousers or skirt. Many families here live on less than $1 a day and the price of a school uniform is unrealistic and in many cases is a deterring factor for children enrolled in school.
Thanks to donations from our Sponsor a Child programme we have been able to provide 30 children from our oldest Pre-School with a new school uniform to start at the local Primary School..
We usually don’t like giving handouts as Mozambique has a problem with people becoming dependent/expectant of foreign aid. But with such dramatic prices causing such a deterrent to children’s attendance we are able to supply uniforms as a short term solution. However, we continue to work with the local community to build more longer term, sustainable outcomes.
The mums were extremely grateful, and it was incredible to see the children’s reactions. Next year a small fee will be charged to 25-50 MNT ($1-2) for each uniform to give a greater sense of ownership and pride and to ensure they are look after.
Thanks again to all our donors who have made this possible.
Fancy helping out in tropical Mozambique?
Check out our Pre-School Orphan Teaching And Community Project!
Walking on the wild side!
At Antelope Park ALERT is pleased to announce a new study in association with Utah State University. Derek O’Donnell, supervised by Dr Julie Young, will be arriving at the project in early March to conduct a PhD study “Can captive-origin lions learn the skills that make them suitable for release into the wild: a comparison of the development of wild and captive-origin lion cubs” (provisional title).
Alongside ALERT we are implementing a meticulously researched and carefully carried out programme of releasing captive-bred lions into the wild through using a 4 stage process. We see this programme as an African solution to an African problem.
Translocation for reintroduction to support declining lion populations is one conservation approach that is thought to be increasingly necessary for the African lion. Though there are several advantages to using wild-caught animals in translocations, there are many biological, social, and political problems that may arise from using these animals. However the approach also offers several potential advantages for successful, long-term conservation of African lions that cannot be ignored.
There are many speculations of the risks involved in using captive bred lions as a source of reintroduction programs, however there is no published scientific information on the ability of such a program to succeed or fail. The African Lion Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild Program will begin conducting research on the cubs born in a release area to answer the fundamental question associated with captive-origin reintroduction programs: can the cubs born in a managed-wild environment to captive-bred lions develop and behave in a manner similar to truly wild, free-ranging lion cubs, such that they will learn the skills that will allow them to survive in the wild post-release? Developmental, social, territorial and other behaviours, will be studied in the offspring of our released lion pride at the Ngamo release site, and these behaviours will later be compared to those expressed by the offspring of truly wild free-ranging lion prides to answer this question.
To help with the development and research of our hands on with lions programme in Antelope Park click here!
From romance to reality – a real perspective on volunteering!
Sarah Wade – a volunteer on our Over 30’s Pre-School and Community Development Project at Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa and author of www.allmyeyeshaveseen.blogspot.com – gives us the lowdown on her time so far and how it all came about…
“Referencing my bucket list (also known in my family as the more morbidly titled “25 things I want to do before I die”), I scanned the list, settling on “volunteer in Africa.” Now I’m pretty sure that when I created this list what I meant was…
Cue movie scene: I go to Africa as a glamorous foreign aid worker who, though very poor, lives in cute apartment, wears gorgeous, if somewhat practical, clothing and despite the heat has perfect hair and makeup, has adventures I always survive, falls in love with the attractive photo-journalist who is there on special assignment, and saves lives along the way. Oh and all set to a fantastic soundtrack with a lot of 30’s and 40’s jazz invoking a Hemmingway/Out of Africa vibe. End scene.
You might want to sit down because I know this will be shocking…it isn’t like that at all: this has been one of the craziest, hardest, most amazing experiences of my life.
I am dirty and sweaty and ridiculous looking all day. My hut is full of dirt and bugs and some days we run out of water and I can’t shower. When I walk back to my hut after dark, I must watch out for lions, wild dogs, leopards, and 20 varieties of venomous snakes.
Since I arrived, the days have been sunny, hot, and dusty but Monday we awoke to our first rain. And it rained and rained… Cassandra, Sibu, and I loaded up in the Land Rover and headed up to Etshaneni Creche. Though we had been to the school before, this was our first visit with the kids, and we were excited to get started. The school sits on the top of the mountain, through rough terrain and dirt roads. With the fog rolling in it was a bit difficult to get there but the Land Rover did its job and we were so excited to start the day. Because of the rain, only six children made it to school. Those who did were quite wet from the rain and had to take off their clothes to dry out, so they were sitting huddled in blankets. The roof of the creche is tin with a seam running down the middle and the windows do not have glass so the wind and rain were whipping through the small room.
And in the evenings…I go on game drives and see gorgeous wildlife.
Wild, complex, stunning South Africa.”
This is a project set up specifically and exclusively for anyone over 30 years of age. The activities have been chosen to deliver sustainable change whilst providing you with the opportunity to share your knowledge, skills and experiences with young people in the Zulu heartland, all whilst living in the heart of a Big 5 Game Reserve!
For more information on the Over 30’s Pre-School and Community Development Project at Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa, click here.
Or if Sarah has already confirmed your decision to take the plunge and book yourself in for the experience of a lifetime, email info@africanimpact.com!
