Reach Out Volunteers: South Africa

This winter I will be joining a group of 20 university students from around the world on a trip to South Africa to build school houses in poor villages, and to help preserve endangered wildlife in a game park.This website was designed to help raise money to fund my trip. The expenses go toward buying supplies for the building projects, buying school supplies for the children, food to feed orphaned children, saving endangered animals such as rhinos and cheetahs, and so much more. You will be funding me to give African children a chance to receive an education, give the families a place to live, and to work directly with endangered animals. I could really use your help; anything is greatly appreciated!

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Volunteer Overview
Volunteer on our South Africa: Dukuduku Crèche and Wildlife program and you will spend one week working at a crèche for local children and one week practicing active wildlife conservation and helping to protect and preserve endangered animals on a game reserve.
At the crèche, you will work to improve facilities and resources for the children and their carers as well as teaching English and, when you need to take a break, playing games and helping with the children's daily lessons. Previous RO volunteers have built jungle gyms, clean water facilities, play areas and classrooms for over 180 children. We've supplied new tables and chairs, blackboards, learn-to-read books, much-needed medicine and helped out at the local medical clinic. You will a part of the on-going quest to build and provide safe and secure learning environments for the children of rural South Africa.

During your second week in South Africa, you will be living in the heart of a Zululand Game Reserve. Here you will be tracking and monitoring amazing wild animals such as cheetahs, leopards and white rhinos and have a day dedicated to the search of the "Big 5" in the oldest game reserve in South Africa. Not only will you be able to see animals from your cabin window, but will also observe them up-close on walks and drives in the reserve as you carry out your conservation and monitoring duties.

We work with a conservation trust and there is so much to do. Rising affluence in Asia has increased the demand for Rhino horn and the loss of this species has accelerated dramatically. The World Rhino population has dropped more than 90 percent over the last 30 years, with over 600 Rhino poached in the year 2012. We need your help to stop the almost imminent threat of the extinction of Rhino.
You will be assisting us;
To prioritise the conservation and protection of the rhino on the reserve to better understand the movements of the priority species on the reserve, specifically the rhino, buffalo, cheetah and leopard.
To involve rural communities in conservation and preservation efforts and assist with community conservation education.
To further improve communication with neighboring communities to enhance a mutual understanding of conservation and natural resource utilization in the region.
You will work with professionals and be taught the basics of telemetry tracking of endangered animals. You will learn about South African wildlife by assisting experienced game staff to locate and remove poacher snares.
You will undertake day walks in the game park with qualified guides to research, track and monitor rhinos as well as cheetahs and leopards, which are also at risk. The leopard is a reclusive and nocturnal animal and you'll be participating in night monitoring of this species and checking motion-censored camera traps which are an important tool in conservation efforts.
This is not a standard look out the bus widow safari; it's a hands-on behind the scenes experience on the front line of conservation in South Africa. One you will never forget!