Description

A country to explore, Namibia offers a unique travel experience and hosts some of nature's greatest creations, such as the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei. Visit Namibia for an adventure into some of Africa's most dramatic terrains and enjoy an unforgettable project experience that will stay with you forever!

This unique programme combines teaching some of Namibia's children most in need of education as well as working hands on at a spectacular animal sanctuary, in the heart of Africa.

* What Will I Be Doing?

This project provides you with a rare and exciting opportunity to help make a difference to both children and African wildlife. You will spend up to four days a week assisting the teacher in the Bushman school on the farm, started to provide education to the children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school. Subjects taught may include English, numeracy, conservation, arts and crafts, circle games and physical activities. The number of children changes frequently with around 20, aged between two and 15 currently attending. Afrikaans is spoken by some of the children, but the main language is Bushman. Gaining the trust and friendship of the children is the key to this role. Planning, initiative and creativity are vital skills and you will have the opportunity to improve the school facilities and inject your own ideas and experience to develop the school and improve the children's education.

When not teaching you will care for and feed the injured or orphaned animals in the sanctuary as well as cleaning enclosures and helping to develop and maintain the sanctuary. The animals that make their home here include mammals as diverse and exciting as lions, cheetahs, baboons, meerkats, jackals and much more. Our baboons form a large part of the project; volunteers become surrogate mums for the little ones, bottle feeding and sleeping overnight with them. They also go for walks with any babies currently at the sanctuary and our tame bigger baboons. We cannot predict when young baboons will arrive at the sanctuary so the numbers and ages may vary but there are currently over 20 ranging from around six months to two years old. Afternoon activities may include feeding and caring for the animals including cutting and throwing raw meat to our large carnivores (not for the squeamish!) as well as hand feeding the meerkats. You will prepare and feed the baboons and farm animals. You will also help to maintain the animal enclosures on the farm, clearing out old food and mess, cleaning waterholes and removing old bones from feeding.

You will get to spend part of each week playing with and looking after some of animals on the farm including caracals, cheetahs and meerkats. You will also take the baby baboons out for walks in the African sun, bottle feed them throughout the day and even have the little babies to sleep in your room at night! Part of your work will include building and maintenance on the farm; previous projects volunteers have helped with include building fencing and trenches for our new vegetable patch and building a new baboon camp enclosure. You need to be prepared for hard work but it's very rewarding to see the results of your efforts. You will take part in border fence patrol on the golf carts and carnivore enclosure patrol on foot with a trained farm worker.

Highlights

* Visit unique & beautiful Namibia.
* Teach some of Namibia's children most in need of education.
* Work hands-on at a spectacular animal sanctuary.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

3,400

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Before you go:
* Pre-departure support
* Travel & medical advice & documentation
* Equipment advice
* Discounted medical kit
* Free Frontier t-shirt

In-country:
* Food
* Accommodation
* Airport pick-up & drop-off
* Ground transfers
* Local orientation
* Project training
* In-country emergency support
* 24-hour international HQ back-up

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

Minimum age of 18 years

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview

Frontier's Mission Statement

To conserve the world's most endangered wildlife and threatened habitats and to build sustainable livelihoods for marginalized and under resourced communities in the world's poorest countries. To create solutions that are apolitical, forward-thinking, community-driven, and innovative and which take into consideration the long-term needs of low income communities.

Year Founded

1989