What inspired you to work for your organization?
I moved back to the UK and stopped working in international travel for a brief period. An opportunity came up to work part-time with Volunteer Encounter which keeps me connected to the continent of Africa, my biggest passion.
I love working with the team, coming up with new ideas/strategies, and ultimately helping others realize their dream.
Noordhoek beach, Cape Town
Why do you do what you do? What is your favorite part of your job?
To encourage people to explore the world, broaden their horizons, immerse themselves in a new culture, learn new skills, give back, and grow personally and professionally.
My favorite part of the job is helping those that are particularly nervous or have a lot of concerns, feel secure about booking with us and then seeing the incredible journey they have on the ground—they leave a new person.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
To trust my instincts, ask questions, don’t judge, respect the culture, and go out of my comfort zone. I would also tell myself not to be nervous and to embrace every moment.
Make friendships with people from all over the world. Also don't overpack as that backpack gets very heavy! Walk barefoot in the sand, climb a mountain!
Mountains in Ecuador
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
We run our own projects in Zimbabwe which are award-winning and have also developed ethically over the years—e.g. no more lion walks. Our volunteer reviews are fantastic and we often have people return to our projects.
We are flexible and you can combine projects—for example horse management and community teaching. Our teams are based on-site so there really is 24/7 support.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Volunteer Encounter is dedicated to wildlife and environmental conservation as well as community development. We are committed to making a difference in the world, leaving our mark one volunteer project at a time.
For us, true conservation and community empowerment go hand in hand and we believe they can only be achieved from a holistic approach, tackling both at the same time.
That is why we strive to benefit the community through wildlife and environmental education, not only to make a difference to their lives, but to also ensure our conservation efforts will be successful with the surrounding communities onboard.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
The most common challenges are around the cost involved to participate and also the safety in Africa. I try to relate to these concerns rather than brushing them off and often say I thought the same before I took my first trip in international education.
I often break down the price per day and empathize with all that it includes, plus the hidden costs which make us an ethical organization such as child protection policy, monitoring, and evaluation.
For safety, I acknowledge this is a legitimate concern just like anywhere in the world, but the media disproportionately portrays the whole continent of Africa as dangerous. I mention that normal precautions need to be taken, like you would in a new place in your home country, but you are more than likely to be greeted by the warmest of smiles and the biggest sense of community.
I also emphasize that we really do offer 24/7 support from the moment participants arrive—we will meet them in the arrivals hall at the airport and transport them back to our volunteer base where we have a thorough induction and orientation. Participants are always supported while on project and several members of our staff even live on site.
Historical Centre, Ecuador
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
To fall in love with Africa and understand the saying 'Africa gets under your skin'. To have grown personally and professionally with a new outlook on life. To have given back but also come away with new skills. To continue to want to make an impact throughout their life with and to promote our organization and programs to others.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
To gain perspective and go outside of their comfort zone. To learn and give back whilst making a positive social and ethical impact. To broaden horizons and to challenge themselves. To realize countries do things differently to their own and that this isn't necessarily a bad thing. To realize the challenges others face and what we take for granted.
View of Lion's Head during a run in Sea Point, Cape Town
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
For someone like myself who struggles with languages, I am so envious of those that can pick up a second (or third) language much easier.
Seeing the way they can immerse themselves in the local culture through language inspires me and I always encourage participants to learn (or improve on) a new language before or during international travel.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To travel ethically, responsibly, and meaningfully. To give a hand-up rather than a hand-out. To leave nothing but footprints. To follow local customs and respect the culture. To listen to guides/managers and follow their rules. To respect the child protection policy. To dress appropriately. To continue the journey once home.
