South Africa - Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage

The bush school provides a valuable opportunity for local children to discover and learn about wildlife, the environment, conservation and their heritage. The main emphasis of this project is on the educating the children through a medium of a wildlife orphanage.

As a volunteer you will be assisting with this education, through group teaching sessions, one to ones, games, camp maintenance and practical sessions. The bush school has a profound impact of the children who visit, many of which want to return. This is a fantastic project for those who want to make a difference both to children and to orphaned animals.

There is not the Big Five on the reserve, however leopard and hyena do roam around next to the general plains game such as impala, kudu, wildebeest, zebra and giraffe.

Your Role

As a volunteer you will give the children the opportunity to discover, learn and become passionate about wildlife and conservation, their heritage. You will also help supplement their school curriculum in very basic English, maths, sciences, geography, life skills, educational games and social issues. This attention is what changes their lives.

Every Monday the project welcomes a new group of 8 local under-privileged children for a week. On arrival the children are split into two groups, and the chores are then divided between them and rotated throughout the week. The two groups will also play competitive games against one another in during the week. As a volunteer your main tasks will be teaching the children and working with the animals. The children vary in age from 13 to 16 years old. Their English is poor and need a lot of support with maths. Personal attention is something that they are not used to. The projects allows them to blossom and go home as different children.

The orphaned wild animals provide the basis for inspiring care and compassion for the environment. As a volunteer you will be expected to accompany the children on stabling duties which include:

• Cleaning and disinfecting animal camps and cages
• Providing fresh food and water for the animals
• Checking the health and condition of the animals
• Compiling newsletter articles for individual animal sponsors
• Research and record keeping of the animals
• Basic first aid for animals

Many animals require extra care and sometimes this may involve working during the night.

Typical Day

Meet at 7am for coffee. Around 7.30am volunteers complete a bush walk with the children and the dogs. Following this feeding the animals and clean their camps before breakfast at 9.00am. Lessons start from 9.30am till 12.00pm.
Lunch sees 2 hours off then lesson commence again at 2pm till 4.30pm. The animals will then need to be fed and cared for before dinner at 7pm and relax/play time.

The volunteer working week 5 days from 7am in the morning until dinnertime.

In your spare time there are a number of activities such as the swimming pool, walks, games, reading or just relaxing within the stunning surroundings. You will have time off on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday and will be able to take this opportunity to visit the surroundings. A trip to town is organised every Saturday and you will enjoy meeting up with the local community.

Accommodation

Volunteers share a rondavel (round chalet with thatch roof or have a room in the main house. The chalets are rustic but comfortable with toilets and shower (hot and cold water).

There is no electricity on the farm but light is provided with solar lamps and power with a generator to charge batteries, cameras and computers. There is access to internet at a minimal fee.

Requirements

No specific skills are required. We need your enthusiasm and dynamism.

A minimum of 18 years old

• Having a passion and love for animals;
• Be able to communicate in English.
• Bring your sense of humour!!!
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• If hiring a car in South Africa you must be 21 or over, have a full driver’s license and credit card with you.
• Have compassion, understanding and patience
  
  

Additional Information

Volunteers must fly to Hoedspruit airport in South Africa, where they will be met by on the team. At the end of the stay, volunteers will be dropped off at the same airport. Arrivals and departures are on Saturdays only.

What’s Included

• Transfer return from the Hoedspruit Airport to the project site
  Volunteer arrivals and departures are on Saturdays only.
• Accommodation
• 3 meals per day, tea, coffee, juice
• Laundry
• A trip to town each week
• Training and supervision

What’s not include:

• International flights and travel to and from Hoedspruit, South Africa
• Passport / visa
• Travel insurance, which is compulsory for all participants and a cancellation insurance
• Personal expenses such as telephone bills, Internet, souvenirs, etc.
• Any excursions undertaken by the volunteer