2013 Wildlife Project in Botswana

Hello Friends!
Thank you for your time and support to my cause! My name is Ashley Ann Valentin, an undergraduate at the State College of Florida and volunteer at the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. and Mote Marine Laboratory Dolphin and Whale Hospital. My goal is to bring myself closer to wildlife in their natural environment and learn what it takes to be a wildlife ambassador and conservator.
This will be my first experience conducting volunteer work abroad, and it is very important to me because it symbolizes a change in my perspective, and will forever change my way of thinking about the way of the wild and the way of the world, and how we coexist on a planet that is constantly changing.
My work at Wildlife, Inc. has shifted my understanding in nature and how we contribute to their illnesses and injuries. Through treating and rehabilitating Florida's wildlife, I gained hands-on experience with undomesticated animals, such as white-tailed deer, coyotes, foxes, barn owls, pelicans, red-shouldered hawks, racoons, opossums, squirrels and much more.
To prepare myself for my work, I educated myself on Wildlife Rehabilitation and Rescue via online classes like UniversalClass.
Although the Animal Handler classes and experiences allowed me to help wildlife where I live in Florida, my goal to travel to Botswana will take me to the wildlife issues I feel challenged to face.
The prospective location is Maun, Botswana on a 23,000 acre grassland reserve called the Kalahari Game Reserve or Modisa Wildlife Project. The reserve conducts educational and awareness campaigns to create sustainable changes in an area where wildlife is targeted by poachers and human encroachment. Volunteers participate in three weeks of broad daily lectures on the ecosystem, animal feeding (lion, leopard, wild dog, etc.), basic tracking and fence patrol, game counts and grass surveys, vegetation identification, insight into the Bushman culture, outdoors experience and sleep outs, and afternoons with a Botswana Researcher.
I hope to gain a much more broad perspective about wildlife and the struggle against a diminishing habitat. I also hope to gain some respect for the animals that cohabit them.
This is a unforgettable lifetime experience.The money donated will go towards a three week program contribution which includes accomodations, meals, and activities. The remaining will go towards plane tickets, shuttle rides, and lodging before and after the trip is concluded. I intend to pay for personal items and souvenirs. I intend to blog about my experiences (link below) to keep you up-to-date on my encounters and experiences. There is no donation too large or too small! Thank you for your time and any donation you make!

For more information on the Modisa Wildlife Project, visit the following links provided:
http://www.enkosini.org/ModisaWildlifeProject.htm
http://modisa.org/
I also encourage you to visit my blog/e-portfolio:
www.lovefolio.wordpress.com
Flyer Handout:
https://www.smore.com/ggbe-modisa-wildlife-project