What inspired you to work for Volunteer International Adventures?
I started working as a volunteer coordinator back in 2008 when moving to the coast of South Africa. Deciding I needed a career change, I tried it, and it was the most rewarding thing ever, working with so many incredible people who came to South Africa to volunteer. I just love that it is really more a lifestyle than a job.
Describe a typical day at work.
Working with volunteers means there is no typical day. Sometimes you can be in weeks on end in the office doing pre-departure documentation, and the next you can be fetching volunteers from airports, sitting on a shark cage diving boat, helping at a soup kitchen, or having a baby rescued monkey sleeping in your arms. That is what makes it so interesting.
Volunteering on the monthly veterinary outreach clinic in a local township in South Africa.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favourite part of the job is definitely working with volunteers on the ground. I love the admin work too, but the positiveness of volunteers is so infectious that it rubs off on you, too, and just puts one in a much better state of mind.
I love seeing how they add so much meaning to their projects and how showing them the sights and sounds of the area exhilarates them more. A happy volunteer means a happy me.
What are some current projects you are working on?
We are currently working on a new project which is an exotic monkey sanctuary with 200 monkeys rescued from zoos, as pets, and laboratories.
I am so excited about it as I love primates and there is so much work to do building new enclosures and giving care, food, and enrichments to the number of primates and lemurs that keep growing as more are rescued.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
If I could go back to a younger self, my advice would be to travel more, and party less. Grab every opportunity to experience as many activities as possible and do not be scared to take the plunge. Life is about experiencing as much as possible and being open to new cultures as they only make your life even richer.
What makes Volunteer International Adventures special?
I think the reason why Volunteer International Adventures is special is, that for a start, I for one, have spent nearly 16 years working with volunteers since July 2008.
Every project we have visited in person—and we try and pop in for regular checkups on our volunteers throughout the year—to retain a very personal touch.
From the initial inquiry stage right through the time a volunteer finishes their chosen project, we are always available. We also believe in giving back and supporting numerous initiatives, too, however, we can.
Taking part in a tin collection for a local NPO with volunteer Anna.
Why should someone choose Volunteer International Adventures over competitors?
Our organisation is about getting as many motivated volunteers as possible to help so we can keep our prices low. The more volunteers we can source, the more we can drop our prices. Volunteers all have access to our WhatsApp while travelling to their destination and we are very quick in responding to any queries.
We also give back extra to communities or organisations that need extra help for a once-off situation—which we find many volunteer organisations do not do. We are definitely more for a personal touch and our aim is that every volunteer has the most incredible and safe time on their chosen project in their chosen destination.
We try and make sure our volunteers not only get satisfaction out of the project they helped on but that they are culturally immersed. Our administration thoroughly tries to take all the difficult parts out of the process so that the volunteers and projects can have a safe, smooth, and seamless experience from start to finish. I do feel we really go the extra mile and a half.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
We are definitely looking at working with more projects in our favourite continents of Africa and Asia. My colleagues and I were all born in South Africa, and proudly so, we would like to assist more communities on both continents. We aim to source any future endeavors ethically and put our resources into those who need and want help.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to provide ethical worthwhile volunteer adventure holidays with a focus on cultural sensitivity. We have a reputation to uphold and are very strict on animal welfare and children's rights.
We visit every project with animals in person for regular checks to make sure that the animals are being kept in the best circumstances. For projects with youth, criminal background screenings are essential for volunteers. We vet all our projects in person with risk assessments.
Soothing a rescued wild baby monkey that had lost its mother.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope all our volunteer participants take away a lot more wisdom and experience from their projects having made lots of friends both locally and internationally. Along with new relationships they act as ambassadors when going home from the project and country they assisted in with memories to last a lifetime. Often, we actually get volunteers coming back to visit or taking part in another—or the same—project, and that is just amazing!
If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
It is so hard to choose which one of our organisations programs I would choose. Our Marine Conservation project with whales, sharks, and penguins I just love, and it is such an incredible project. But then volunteering in the baby monkey season when so many are rescued is also something close to my heart.
I love wildlife and animals, so our Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation project is another one I hold near! And as a cat lover, our wild cat sanctuary projects, I am also passionate about. And then anything with wildlife on Big 5 reserves as working with wildlife is just addictive.
As I am based in South Africa, maybe though a project in my beloved Zanzibar or Zimbabwe would be great, as I cannot get enough of them either. So many projects and love them all for different reasons, so it is impossible to choose.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Travelling and experiencing new cultures is such an eye-opener and broadens one's way of thinking. It is such a learning experience, and if one is open to trying new foods, cultures, experiences, etc, it can only help towards making you a more well-rounded, informed, AND interesting person. Often you will learn new skills, too, which you can apply to other areas of your life including your career.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
When you learn a new language, and you use it with those who speak it as their mother tongue, it has more meaning. It is always highly appreciated. As Nelson Mandela said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” I am trying to learn my third language, Xhosa, which was the mother tongue of Nelson Mandela.
Exploring the Victoria Falls natural wonder of the world with my partner.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
The advice I would have for individuals thinking of going abroad is "Just do it”. Travel is something you cannot put a price on and one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself.
Make sure you do your homework and research the destination you are going to in-depth, and when there, learn from the locals as they will give you advice that the average tourist won't get. They could give you tips on where to eat, and what to do, and see that gives you more of a real experience of your destination. Immerse yourself in the local cultures as it will just be a far more rewarding experience.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is a lot more involved than the average holiday. It involves being culturally ethical, more sustainable, and financially viable to benefit locals, culturally immersive, fosters your personal growth, has a deeper social impact giving back and your travel choices must have no negative effects on local communities or ecosystems, and is respectful as a win-win situation for you and the country you visit.
