Rescue Mission South Africa

Hi!  Our names are Kristy & Robert Loewen and we have planned a volunteer mission to South Africa to lend our help at the Riverside Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.  

Rescued primates that may have been orphaned, raised as household pets, previously confined to captivity, abused, injured, or recovered from the illegal pet trade need rehabilitation and medical care to survive.  Some of animals that are rescued are so malnourished that their heads are disproportionally large for their bodies and their bones are protruding from their fur.  Many of the primates being cared for at Riverside are a result of irresponsible hunting/culling or locals shooting invaders. They shoot the mothers and lack the nerve to destroy the infants, often opting to keep them as a pet.  It is common practice within a few South African cultures to use animals for traditional medicine or witchcraft.  All types of South African wildlife, including primates, are kept in inhumane conditions to eventually be killed and mutilated (not necessarily in that order) and used for "Muti".


Both of us have volunteered our time locally for many charities over the years.  Together we have raised thousands for Easter Seals through it's Drop Zone fundraiser.  We have also organized 3 fundraisers ourselves for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Windsor Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as well as for a young Windsor boy fighting Leukemia.  In addition we have volunteered & fundraised for many other charities including the Goodlife Kids Foundation, Sunshine Kids Foundation, Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation, and the International Dragon Boats Race for a Cure.  Our next venture is to travel to South Africa in the spring of 2017 to volunteer for 2 weeks at the Riverside Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.  The main role of RWRC volunteers is to look after the orphaned and injured primates and various other animals who need constant care.  We will be involved in many aspects of rehabilitation, from daily cleaning and preparing food, to looking after the babies,  and assisting in the clinic .

The cost of this volunteer mission is substantial though.  We both work 2 jobs but this is not something we can budget.  All monies raised would go directly toward funding this trip including flights from Toronto, transfers to and from the Limpopo Province in South Africa, our volunteer fee paid to RWRC as well as all necessary supplies for the Centre.
We have spent a great deal of time volunteering locally and are truly grateful to have been in positions where we can help so many.