Description

Help care for underprivileged children by volunteering in Maun, Botswana. Facing high unemployment and one of the world's highest HIV infection rates, Botswana has its share of social needs. Nevertheless it is one of the more peaceful and stable countries in Africa with the prospects of a bright future if its children can be adequately cared for and educated. Maun is an isolated town servicing a large rural area and it contains a number of day care centers for children. Based at one of the child care centers you may help with hands-on teaching, organising activities, caring for the children, arranging food, assessing needs, developing the center and more. Whilst volunteering on your project you will have the opportunity to explore the surrounding area including the Okavango delta (one of Africa's natural wonders), Chobe National Park, the Kalahari desert and get to experience life as a local in this fascinating location.

As a volunteer, you would be working in an assistant day-care provider role teaching children life skills, arranging stimulating and developmental activities and providing adult supervision. At the care centers you will work with a local care giver or teacher assisting them and taking on responsibilities as your skills and experience allows. In general you may play three different roles:

1. Teaching  the children at the care centers are taught basic English and Maths;
2. Care giving  encouraging the children giving them attention and arranging fun activities for them, playing games with them, teaching them basic life skills and giving them the care and attention they need at that age; and
3. Centre development  volunteers are often involved with painting educational murals, organizing fundraising events, taking children to the play ground and working on income generating projects, or arranging small infrastructure projects like building swings.

There are many other activities that you as a volunteer might like to get involved in; sports (start a small sport program for the kids), art projects, music and singing songs (bring an instrument and teach some kids to play), and various other community initiatives (e.g. recycling, craft development). Wherever you feel your strengths lie is where you should get involved  use your own creativity and work together with your project leader and the caregivers at the care point.

Highlights

During weekends you will be free to travel and explore as you choose. Various activities are available including mokoro trips, Okavango scenic flights, crocodile farm visits, island bush walks, basket weaving, horse riding, visiting arts and crafts, bird watching or just relaxing in a sunny climate. Where possible long weekends may be arranged and you may be able to join one of the tours to Moremi Game Reserve or Chobe National Park. Tsodilo trips or panhandle village tours may also be arranged. These activities are optional and cost extra. Although as a volunteer we would assist you with arranging these where possible. Again please remember that on such weekends, should you decide to take accommodation other than that provided at the project site, you will be responsible for the costs thereby incurred.

Chobe National Park

Next to the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park is probably Botswana's next most well known conservation area. It is a diverse area, from the border at the Chobe River, to the now dry Savute Channel, and beyond to the borders of the Moremi Game Reserve / Okavango Delta. The Park is best known for its concentrations of elephant  some 120 000 individuals, along with good numbers of buffalo, antelope and predators. Birding is also excellent, with many migrants visiting from November to March.

Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is one of the world's largest inland water systems. It's headwaters start in Angola's western highlands, with numerous tributaries joining to form the Cubango river, which then flows through Namibia (called the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana, where it is then called the Okavango. The delta environment has large numbers of animal populations that are otherwise rare, such as crocodile, red lechwe, sitatunga, elephant, wild dogs, buffalo, wattled crane as well as the other more common mammals and bird life.

The best time for game viewing in the delta is during the May-October period, as the animal life is concentrated along the flooded areas and the vegetation has dried out.

The best time for birding and vegetation is during the rainy season (Nov.- April) as the migrant bird populations arereturning and the plants are flowering and green.

Mokolodi Game Reserve

Mokolodi is a private reserve managed by the Mokolodi Wildlife Foundation, which is dedicated to wildlife preservation and environmental education. Just 10km south west of Gaborone, the park was established in mid-1994 as a 3,000ha conservation area.

For the first few years an intensive re-stocking campaign brought many species of wildlife into the park including white rhino, cheetah, mountain reedbuck, giraffe, zebra, red hartebeest, sable, gemsbok and a team of hand reared elephants. This range of wildlife joined the indigenous game, such as kudu, impala, hyena, leopard and water buck, which were already living in the area, making the park a rich and varied ecosystem, literally just ten minutes drive from the city.

The elephant walk enables guests to spend a few hours walking through the park literally with the elephants. One of the added advantages of the elephant walk is that the other game is not threatened by a human presence, so with care you can walk remarkably close to the other game in the park.

For the more adventurous Mokolodi also offers the chance to track the endangered white rhino. With so few of these majestic creatures left, Mokolodi is one of the only places in the world where one has the chance to track these impressive animals in their own environment, and it is certainly an unforgettable experience.

Qualifications

Experience with children is preferred but is not necessary. Enthusiasm, initiative and a caring nature are the main attributes for this project.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Please contact for more details.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Pre-departure orientation/Training

Program Fees Include:

* Accommodation: Shared room in a volunteer house.
* Food: 3 meals per day - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
* Airport pick up and drop off
* Training: Pre-departure information pack, on-site Orientation and project induction provided
* Daily transfers to and from your project.
* Support: 24 hour support from on-site coordinator

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

Requirements: age 18+

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Kaya Responsible Travel's Mission Statement

Kaya's mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel.

Year Founded

2008