Alumni Interview with Anja Renberg

What inspired you to go abroad?

I’m an older volunteer and I’ve always loved traveling. To be able to combine exploring the world with helping animals and people is amazing, and I tend to volunteer on all my main holidays now.

Why did you choose Khaya Volunteer Projects?

I started volunteering through Khaya Volunteer Projects in 2012. I was met with such great service from day one, so whenever I go to an area where they have a project I book through them. I chose the Penguin Rehabilitation Project as one of my 2017 projects because I’ve always loved penguins.

When I worked there for two weeks, the love became an incredible passion and I knew I needed to go back. So, back I went for four weeks in February 2018. My passion did not decrease after the four weeks were over, more the opposite, so I’m now planning to go back for a three month internship in December (2018). I want to learn it all!

What was your favorite part about South Africa?

I fell in love with South Africa when I first visited in 2011. I decided to go back the year after, and that’s when I found out about the volunteer opportunities with Khaya. My first two projects were at a cheetah conservation centre and a Transkei village.

I love South Africa because of its diversity, friendly people, amazing cultures, nature, and animals! Oh, and of course the weather since I am a European traveling during our winter and their summer. 

What made your experience abroad unique?

Penguins and people!! To be able to work hands on with the endangered African penguins was very special. I learned so much in the six total week that I’ve volunteered at the penguin rehabilitation project.

I also visit another one of the Khaya projects whenever I’m in Port Elizabeth- the Door of Hope Orphanage. I try to find a couple of activities to take the kids on so they get a day or two out, I try to make them a bit educational, as well as fun. They have, of course, visited the penguins, have been on a little bay cruise, and joined a beach clean up. Now I have to think of a couple more outings for next time!

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The staff at Khaya Volunteer Projects are the best! They have been supportive from the first request by mail through the day I left. Being at the volunteer house in Port Elizabeth and close to the local coordinator and the office staff is amazing, you really get to know the Khaya family! 

The volunteer coordinator is available just about 24/7, even though she doesn’t have to be. She will help with anything. And she always has a smile on her face! Oh, and having also volunteered in Zanzibar, I have a Zanzibar family as well.

Khaya Volunteer Projects are very careful about which projects they include in their program and they make sure that their volunteers and interns are doing well no matter which country or city they’re in.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I could have asked my boss for longer holiday and to stay longer! Oh, wait- that’s going to happen in December!

Describe a typical day in the life as a penguin volunteer.

I would arrive at the penguin centre after being taken there by the lovely Volunteer Coordinator. Daily tasks as a penguin volunteer include a lot of washing, hanging, and folding of towels as the penguins do poop a lot. The towels are of course for the ones kept inside.

We make fish smoothies for the chicks and the penguins in the ICU. The smoothies are then used to feed to the penguins through tubes. It’s scary to try the first few times, but it’s all about getting the confidence that you’re doing it right. We would then thaw fish for feeding time, clean the floors, and feed the penguins outside in their pen—  these penguins are permanent residents that can’t be released.

It’s basically washing, cleaning, food preparing, and cleaning again. But what fun! African penguins are not the cuddly kind of penguins. They can be very aggressive, so there’s a few challenges. Besides, even though they look cuddly, they’re still wild animals and should be treated as such. I have to admit it’s difficult at times. 

The typical day ends smelling like fish and penguin poop, a smell you grow to love, but you will still jump straight in the shower when you get back to the house because the other volunteers are not as fond of that smell.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

Sand, sea, sun, shop, sleep. Basically a mixture of relaxing and exploring. Khaya always has a Friday outing for the volunteers and interns in Port Elizabeth, which sometimes turns in to a weekend outing, such as visiting other interesting cities and towns not too far away. I enjoy visiting other projects when it’s convenient and I always make time for Door of Hope. I also try to get my yearly braids on one of my spare days.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

Being an older volunteer I prefer a single room, so I’ve been lucky to have a single room with my own bathroom the last couple of times that I was volunteering. The Port Elizabeth volunteer house can accommodate a lot of people so there’s always someone to talk to. All of the volunteers are different nationalities so you meet a lot of new and exciting people who have some of the same interests as you.

The house is amazing and has a pool and braai area. The room that I stayed in had direct access to the garden. The house is located only a few minutes from one of the main beaches in Port Elizabeth, plus, it’s not far by Uber, taxi, or minibus to anything you’ll want to visit. Perfect location.

What is one thing every participant should know about working with African penguins?

It’s important for volunteers to remember that African penguins are not cuddly and can be quite aggressive. It’s hard but very rewarding work. If you’re there at the right time, or for a longer period, you get to follow a penguin from admittance, through the whole rehabilitation, to the release, which is the main aim of the project.

Now that you're home, how do you hope to integrate your experience and passions into your life?

I want to save the African penguins from extinction. I would love to work as a penguin keeper and hope that after the three month internship I will find out if it is for me or not. If it is, I hope to get more experience and knowledge, and apply for the few jobs there are as keepers, and hope my age won’t be an obstacle.

I also want to help Door of Hope Orphanage more and also other projects. My workplace is supporting SOS-Children’s Village, and I’ve been lucky enough to have been chosen to be the contact person between them and us. It just goes to show that if you’re passionate about something people notice.

So my perfect life is to mix my passion for penguins and animals, with my passion to help people.

Would you recommend Khaya to others? Why?

Yes!!! I have not tried any other provider, but I wouldn’t want to either. Khaya carefully chooses its projects— it’s a serious provider and makes sure that their animal projects are not just exploitation of animals. Their community projects are also carefully chosen. 

As for the penguin project- who doesn’t want to work hands on with penguins and smell of fish and penguin poop???!!! It’s worth it. You learn so much about this species, as well as about other marine birds such as gannets, gulls, cormorants, and more.

Still on the fence? Just jump in and fly like a penguin underwater! I don’t think you’ll regret it!