We are thrilled to share with you the Veterinary Assist and Animal Shelter Project, based in Cape Town, which we are opening for volunteers from 2012 onwards

A sister project to our existing Cape Town Community Projects (Teaching, Sports and Medical) this project is perfect for vet students and animal lovers alike and is a unique opportunity to experience the in’s and out’s of a shelter and clinic serving the surrounding impoverished communities and their animals.

Volunteers who join this project will be able to get involved in a large range of work at the shelter (which houses domestic animals only, usually dogs and cats) including work in the onsite clinic.  The shelter serves the surrounding communities in which our sister community projects work and provides animal care and veterinary assistance for those who can’t afford to get their animals the care they need. We have even had sick dogs arrive at the clinic having being pushed all the way there by their owners in a shopping trolley!

In addition to getting involved at the actual shelter, volunteers will also be able to go out with the mobile clinic into the surrounding areas on a rotational daily basis to seek out animals in need.  In this way, volunteers will gain an intimate and unique exposure to the people and animals of the communities in which we work, as they will actually be going  into people’s homes as part of the mobile clinic’s rounds to help needy animals.  Another very important and popular aspect of this project is the education talks the shelter undertakes within the community – educating them on how to care for their pets properly and why they should do so.

We have been working with the shelter for about a year now, ensuring a mutually suitable relationship for both us and them during this time, with remarkable feedback thus far from all volunteers and the shelter alike.

As a well established project we would now like to share this programme with you as we feel absolutely positive from the relationships we have built with the shelter that any volunteers who choose to take a  place on the project will have an absolutely amazing and unique experience!

On a personal note (and I shouldn’t be biased but just can’t help it!) this project really is one of my best – the shelter started with a dream in Cape Town 11 years ago. It has really grown from there, doing tremendously valuable work in the surrounding impoverished communities  helping the animals while simultaneously supporting the community in how to care for their animals.  They are pro-life and so only euthanise animals when they are beyond recovery and therefore are often overflowing but are so passionate about what they do, it just shines through in every way!

Our very loved family dog Cola came from the shelter as a rescued puppy who was very meek and timid when she came to us but really grew into an wonderful companion for the whole family and she was much loved (sadly, she had a heart attack earlier this year and she died peacefully at home).

Caryn.

Cape Town

Sitting here with the fog around and needing to light a fire, I am thinking of Zimbabwe and the warm sun and the friendly people there. I am remembering getting up early,………… yes very early, in the bright sunshine, to feed the lion cubs at Antelope Park. What a privilege that was. What a joy too. I have the photos here near my computer. I just loved the time there.

Walking with the adult lions was also just overwhelming. It was not just the amazing experience of being with these fully grown lions in the open, it was the absolute knowledge that this was the experience of a life time. The people there with me at the same time were very varied both by age and nationalities. One lady who was in her mid forties  had saved up and given up her job to be with the lions for a month. She was delighted by everything and felt that it had been well worth while.  I thought that I would be the oldest there but there was a man called Jim who was much older than me. He just loved sitting with the adolescent lions, just there, in their compound, very quietly.

Riding on horseback round the park was terrific. Getting up so close to a giraffe was not something I had thought of before. My horse was blind in one eye where a thorn had got in but she was really game and  easy to direct. Helping with them in the mornings was also something that gave me great satisfaction. Grooming them and making sure they were well and then watching them canter off in to the park, free and happy. A bit different to helping with the elephants which was quite a novel experience. Riding one of those, felt rather different than the last time I had done so as a very young child. It seemed a long way down this time but just as exciting.

Must save up and go back.

Jane Davies

We are very proud to let you know that our partner African Impact, has been announced as the WINNER of the South African Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards for the SECOND year running!

The award recognises tourism and hospitality businesses that make a real, measurable and sustained contribution to responsible tourism.

It is a huge  honour for them to have received this!

Frances

Since the launch of the Thanda Research Project we have had a phenomenal response and some fantastic volunteers, thank you for your hard work and efforts over the last year!

We are also very happy to let you know that the Thanda Research Project has grown substantially and in light of this and the increased volunteers numbers and interest in the project we have reviewed the project and are very excited to let you know that we shall be expanding it next year!

We have carefully considered the best way to do so and from the first start date in 2012, the 8^th of January 2012, the Thanda Research Project shall become three different projects, as follows:

1. 1.   African Wildlife Big 5 Conservation Project
2. 2.   Elephant and Rhino Research and Conservation Project
3. 3.   Large Predators Research and Conservation Project

The ‘Thanda research’ element of each of these projects will remain the same however volunteers now have an opportunity to focus their time on either the Big 5, Elephant and Rhino or Large Predators which we hope you will be as thrilled about as we are!

Caryn

1.    A recent teaching volunteer, Amanda, assisted by some fellow volunteers took her entire class on an excursion to the Victoria Falls! Although the kids live literally only kilometres away from one of the world’s wonders,

many of them had never seen it, and it was a wonderful experience for all to be able to show them the magnificent “Mosi-O-Tunya” (Smoke that Thunders)

2. After 4 weeks of fantastic holiday clubs  it’s now back to school for the third and final term of the year – and the pressure is on! The kids will be sitting their big tests/exams at the end of this term and more than ever could use the extra help our volunteers provide in the classroom. With class sizes of around 40 children, teachers aren’t able to give all the individual attention the children require and many of them fall behind in their school work. Volunteers are able to spend one-on-one time coaching the kids through the curriculum and our weekly study group provides educational support and after school tutoring to Grade 9 pupils on our charity partner, The Happy Africa Foundation’s, Sponsor-a-Child programme.

3. A really LOOONG jump! Our sports volunteers have been training the kids in athletics, which is part of their CTS (Creative and Technology Studies) curriculum – and is tested in exams! – and last week long jump was the skill being taught for the day. A Grade 6 girl from Nakatindi school jumped a staggering 3.26 metres, proof yet again that raw talent is just waiting to be discovered! Join our sports volunteer programme here in Livingstone and help keep the momentum going as you work with these amazing kids…

4. Twice a week our volunteers visit the local Old People’s Home, one of only 3 old people’s facilities in the whole of Livingstone! Wednesday morning visits we conduct health check-ups with the residents and deliver health talks on topics such as hygiene, dehydration and the importance of drinking water, hypertension, etc. Encouraging personal hygiene amongst the old folks comes with its challenges, but our volunteers never give up and have managed to convince, persuade and even assist one resident in particular to have a shower after a whopping 11 months (according to him!) Join us and meet these absolute characters for yourself, we adore them! Just don’t forget the bingo!

5. If the autumn and winter chills are starting to get you into hibernation mode… African summer is in full swing, with beautiful hot, sunshine filled days. And if you decide to head to Livingstone to enjoy our heat you’ll also be rewarded with the chance to experience extreme adrenaline. The Zambezi river is world renowned for rafting and the full river, rapids 1 to 25, are now open! Or if you fancy getting as close to the Victoria Falls as possible, take a swim in Devil’s Pool, off Livingstone Island.

6. Calling all sports lovers… Well there might be a rugby world cup on the go, but football is still the sport of choice in Livingstone! Throughout this year our volunteers have been working closely, helping to coach a team of kids and youths and they absolutely love it. As an afterschool activity, it is aimed at keeping the kids off the street and out of trouble by giving them a constructive way to spend their afternoons. Their natural abilities are honed and they are taught football skills, all whilst having lots of fun. If you’re passionate about footie, this is the programme for you!

7. And whilst we’re talking about football –at our latest art club volunteers had the kids design and draw their very own football jersey! If you’re thinking of joining us in Livingstone, get your creative cap on and we’d love to hear your great ideas for some more fun art club projects!

8. Our medical volunteers have run 10 HIV education courses this year throughout Livingstone, educating around 215 people having 178 students (82%) successfully passing the course and receiving their certificates. With a staggeringly high rate of HIV amongst the population here, this programme is one of the most important that we conduct here and we look forward to further spreading this important education and helping to combat the spread of HIV. Join our medical programme in October and November as we present the course at Linda High School and to more of the inmates at Livingstone prison – a unique and fantastic audience!

9. Our medical volunteers have also been busy with conducting a home based care refresher training course with local carers in the Livingstone surrounds. This group of 30 local carers are being further trained and empowered to continue the great service they provide to their communities. Their final exam will be held on Friday 16^th September and those who pass will receive their certificates, endorsed by the District Ministry of Health. “I loved working with the Home Based Caregivers.  They are committed to making their home communities better and I admire their tenacity and there graciousness” – Laura Peoples, America, July 2011

10. We are absolutely thrilled to have completed building and painting the Nakatindi Health and Education Centre, which will soon officially be given over to Nakatindi community, and is the biggest building project to be undertaken by African Impact and The Happy Africa Foundation to date. But the building fun doesn’t stop there… Volunteers are now hard at work pouring concrete and laying bricks for a security wall fence at Dambwa Christian Community School. Join us and lend a hand in creating a safer school environment for work and play for these underprivileged kids.

Thanks all for your continued support and we look forward to an amazing few months coming up for Livingstone with so much going on and a special project available for the festive season!

Caryn

We are very pleased to let you know that we shall be relaunching and reigniting the Cape Town Medical Project next year!

Due to changed legislation we are unfortunately prohibited from working in the clinics however volunteers can now get involved in a hands-on Home Based Care capacity which we are very excited about as we are sure this is going to be a great opportunity for all volunteers with fantastic exposure and interaction with the locals at the same time!

Caryn

There has been a change to when the optional trip from Antelope Park to Victoria Falls runs each month though and in order to try and accommodate all volunteers who would like to participate in the excursion, the Park will now be offering as many trips as possible within a month, to enable everyone to have the chance to join in on this fun adventure, instead of offering the trip once a month, on about the 19^th of each month.

As a result, there is no longer the set departure date of the 19th of every month for the trip running from Antelope Park to Victoria Falls but rather the trip will take place to accommodate as many volunteers as possible and this may be either once or twice a month, depending on numbers.

The trip will still only be available to volunteers joining the Antelope Park Projects for a minimum of 3 weeks though and only volunteers who are the project for 3 weeks placements or longer will have the opportunity to join the trip.

Please also note that this change is only to the trip running from Antelope Park, the depature date of around 19^th of each month remains the same for the Victoria Falls Lion Project, with no change there.

Caryn

With our Livingstone Community Projects being the only Community Projects open through the festive season we have decided to do something a little different this year and make the experience as exciting as possible for those who join us!

Christmas Volunteering in Livingstone will be a time for all of our volunteers to bring some festive fun to some of the neglected and vulnerable members of the community by working with the local children and in the Old People’s Home and although the local schools will be closed there will still be plenty to do, although perhaps in a little less formal way and we have also arranged a variety of Holiday Clubs and Community Projects!

In addition our Livingstone Team will provide a special Christmas meal and games to make an African Christmas one that volunteers will never forget and for those spending New Years with us there will be massive celebrations in Livingstone town hot spots to see in the 2012!

Caryn

Hi all,

I hope you are well and your week is off to a great start, I just wanted to give you a fresh availability update, as follows:

Victoria Falls Lions

This project is currently fully booked until 23 August 2011 but some places have opened up and we have space available from 23 August onwards!

Victoria Falls Teaching and Orphan Care Project

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Antelope Park Lions

We have one or two last places left between now and 5 September 2011 and a few places available from 24 October – 7 November.

Thereafter, we have place available from 5 December onwards.  

Livingstone Lions

We have one last place available for a male volunteer from29 August – 13 September and 19 September – 3 October 2011.

Thereafter, we have availability from 25 November onwards.

Kenya Medical

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Kenya Teaching

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Mozambique Teaching and Community Project

This project is fully booked until 22 August 2011 but we have availability from 22 August – 30 November 2011. (The project re-opens on 1 March 2012)

Zanzibar Teaching and Community Project

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Cape Town Teaching Project

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Cape Town Sports Project

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Livingstone Teaching

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Livingstone Medical

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Livingstone Sports

We still have place available on this project throughout the rest of the year.

Masaai Mara Project

This project is fully booked from 5 – 19 September, but aside from this period we have availability throughout the rest of this year.

St Lucia Medical Project

This project is not fully booked at any stage for the time being and we have availability throughout the rest of this year.

St Lucia Orphan Care Project

This project is not fully booked at any stage for the time being and we have availability throughout the rest of this year.

Thanda Photography Project

This project is not fully booked at any stage for the time being and we have availability throughout the rest of this year.

Thanda Research Project

This project is fully booked from 18 September – 2 October, but aside from this period we have availability throughout the rest of this year.

Caryn

I am very pleased to let you know that we have decided to offer some amazing discounts for volunteers joining us from September through to December on a wide variety of our projects!

Volunteers who book to join an applicable project can save between 5% and 15% on their chosen project

The offers will be available and applicable as follows:

Discount rates applicable for volunteers booking now to join us during the months of September, October, November, December

Cape Town Teaching Project

Cape Town Sports Project

* Please note this Cape Town discounted rate excludes the additional trips (Table Mountain, Boulder’s Beach and Cape Point) but volunteers can still do these trips for a nominal additional fee if they wish.

St Lucia Medical Project

Discount rates applicable for volunteers booking now to join us during the months of October, November, December

Thanda Research Project (from 2 October start date)

St Lucia Education Project

Kenya Medical Project

Kenya Teaching Project

Livingstone Teaching Project

Livingstone Sports Project

Livingstone Medical Project

Victoria Falls Community Project

Mozambique Teaching Projec

Discount rates applicable for volunteers booking now to join us during the months of November and December

Zanzibar Teaching and Community Project

Thanda Photography Project (from 16 October start date)

Caryn