Volunteering in Africa

Predator Sanctuary Project May 2010

Chester University’s Samantha Hollick talks about her time volunteering on the Predator Sanctuary Project , South Africa 

After a week volunteering at the Predator Sanctuary project I was offered the opportunity to go and volunteer at the local penguin rehabilitation centre as I had expressed an interest in the rehabilitation of wild animals which was quite a privilege. However this meant that twice a day, for an hour each time I would be away from The Predator Sanctuary project, when I had only really just started getting to know everyone and everything.  At first I didn’t want to miss out by doing other things. However when I looked back I saw it as an opportunity and another way to expand my knowledge and get the most from my time in South Africa. It has been great for me and really encouraged me to become involved in different things, driving me to work hard everywhere I am. From that experience I also made the commitment to volunteer at the penguins’ everyday and now volunteer once a week at the local vets and at all three placements I try to give 100%.  I’m no longer afraid to leave for few hours a day, and know I’m gaining valuable experience with big cats such as lions and tigers to baby penguins and sick seabirds to normal cats and dogs. I have been shown my efforts have been recognised as I have been asked to be UK ambassador for the penguin sanctuary in a thank you letter, and asked to come back and volunteer with them again. My effort at The Predator Sanctuary project was also recognised on several occasions, from one of the guides to Jurg and Karen’s overall comments about my stay with them. Part of the job at The Predator Sanctuary project for the guides is going to farms to collect meat for the animals at The Predator Sanctuary project, this means slaughtering calves and cows. At first I didn’t want anything to do with this and felt uncomfortable with the whole idea of being involved. I went with one of the guides, waiting in the truck while one of the farm workers slaughtered the calves and loaded them into the truck. While waiting for the car to be loaded I took the opportunity to be positive and try to learn from the situation and talked to the guide to get more information on what we were doing, how she coped, why we did in this way, how much we needed, etc. I had only looking at it from the animal’s point of view being slaughtered, when there was a positive side, without this meat all the animals at The Predator Sanctuary project would die and when bearing this in mind the task became doable. So I used the task as a learning opportunity and if I had refused to go I wouldn’t have developed this understanding that is necessary when working at The Predator Sanctuary project or any zoo. It may have also affected my feelings in the future during the feedings tours when the meat is given out and made that a negative experience. The situation made me more accepting and more aware of how to deal with new and sometimes difficult situations. Showing if I can keep the positive side of things in mind, hard tasks become possible. It has also been nice being surrounded by people who all look at the optimistic side of things and this has really influenced me too. In future I always want to be able to actively look for the positive side to tasks that at first seem difficult or challenging and I have been complimented for just that!As time went on I began to feel more comfortable and became more confident within the group, making more conversations, asking more questions and trying to get to know them more. I really made an effort to involve myself when the group went out for meals or had movie nights in the house we stayed in, not staying alone in my room unless I had work to do and explaining this to them so they could see I was trying with them . They now they call me family and treat me just like anyone of them; I’m one of family, loud and talkative!  I can now pick up the essence of conversations in Afrikaans if they forget which isn’t often anymore and have confidence to ask what the conservation meant in a polite and friendly way. The main thing now looking back was that although I was putting a lot of effort in trying to be nice I was always being myself and that is now one of the main reasons why I get on with everyone so well. This experience has also made me better generally in new social situations, where as I used to be very shy meeting new people now it’s nice to expand the group of people I know and can network with. At the penguins its normally a different worker every other day and at the veterinary surgery at first it was all new people for me but I now feel confident at socialising and fitting-in in a new group. At first I was homesick and missed my friends and family always being to help in any stressful situations.I now get given my own daily tasks to do and at first it was scary having this responsibility but I have been given a lot of responsibility while I have been here, for example the responsibility of walking a cheetah everyday to and from its night enclosure, ensuring the baby jaguar eats enough and gets enough exercise and attention when I am ‘baby sitting’.  I also work totally alone at the penguins every day without any of the The Predator Sanctuary project team.  With new people again it was at first daunting to again meet new people and try new tasks but I am now confident to get the job done and when the  penguins are about to be released I can help look for any signs of illness or positive signals. So my confidence in the animals I’m working with has really grown, I came in as a novice not really knowing a lot about the animals and now I am trusted to walk with the cheetah alone every day. I get given my own tasks with each animal that I am trusted to carry out alone and can now look after the baby jaguar by myself. I am confident enough to add to the frequent animal conversations and the meetings we have once a week at about animal management and any planned tasks.I have also become more confident in problem solving and challenges. At first when given tasks or challenges I felt under pressure and didn’t want to fail. But the example used as my impact statement was a stressful situation and I learnt a lot from that and from my time at The Predator Sanctuary project learning from the guides.  It has made me a lot more cool headed and enabled me to stay calm in stressful or tense situations. I now see tasks as a positive new exciting challenge and something to look forward to, not something daunting anymore. Everyday when asked to do a new task I now always try to be confident and accept it without worrying I won’t succeed, because even if I don’t it’s much more about the trying. Impact statement:Every night the guides and I walk with the two white Bengal tigers, moving them from their outdoor enclosure to their smaller indoor enclosure. I was then given the privilege to give out the treats through the fence to them while the harnesses were being put on. I was doing this for the second time and walking very close to Angelo, the male Bengal tiger when moving him across the predator park to his night enclosure. However on this particular evening, after 3 weeks of both tigers being well behaved and walking easily with the guides and me, Angelo started to become difficult to handle. The owner Jurg walked with us and was close by to give assistance, instead of taking over he calmed everybody and kept the situation under control.  Instead of panicking, running or even backing off I remained calm and gave Jurg the treat bucket and the lid when asked, immediately and smoothly. Staying calm and having an experienced animal handler with us (Jurg) helped in keeping everybody focussed on the task at hand. I kept up with group, giving treats when needed, and Angelo walked to his night shelter without further incident. Afterwards a huge sigh of relief and a quick discussion of the events, why and how did it happen to ensure it does not happen again?  This event will stay with me because firstly it shocked me into realising even after 3 weeks walking every morning and every night with this animals something could always go wrong and it is a very dangerous situation to be in. It will make me more cautious in future and stop me from ever thinking just because we do it every time twice a day it’s safe and normal.It will also stay with me because of my reaction, I thought I would have been petrified and crying as he was biting her but actually in the situation it felt natural to stay calm and my instincts took over. I followed orders calmly, tried to project calm emotions to the others and to Angelo and I actually felt no instinct to run and wanted to stay and help. This was surprising, before this experience if someone had said if I tiger was biting someone right next to me I would have said I would have removed me from the situation immediately. Jurg, the owner of The Predator Sanctuary project, immediately after the event  congratulated me and Bianca, telling us how well we handled the situation but also saying he was so impressed with me as a volunteer, he  couldn’t believe how calm and level headed I was. He thought it was one of his guides when he was asking for treats and the bucket, not me! And I think that’s one of the new skills I have learnt here, I’m much calmer and cool headed and able to deal with these kinds of situations. He said I had really proved myself that night and compared me to his top guide Darleen, the only guide he trusts 100%. This was a real compliment for me as I really look up to Darleen and admire how well she works with the animals and how calm she stays, so being told I was on the same level as her was the best compliment I could have received. 

Local Sports Clinics Take Shape in Knysna, South Africa!

Local Soccer Clinics Take Shape in Knysna, South Africa thanks to Nathalie Van Erkelens from 'The Netherlands'!

Local boys Rushaad and Cheslin are pursuing a life long ambition of running their own soccer clinics for people in the Knysna area.
Rushaad and Cheslin have always been soccer crazy and in 2009 had the privilege of taking part in the Homeless World Cup, an annual international soccer tournament which exposes underprivileged young people to experiences and places which they normally could only dream of. Taking part in the Homeless World Cup involved 2 months of intense training in Cape Town and took them on a journey to Italy - an extremely exciting adventure for them! Now thanks to a generous donation of soccer equipment from Nathalie Van Erkelens (an EDGE of AFRICA volunteer from the Netherlands) and with the backing of EDGE of AFRICA, Rushaad and Cheslin after years of dreaming are finally able to begin running their own soccer clinics. Like many young people in Rushaad and Cheslin haven’t always had easy lives and this opportunity has empowered them to take control of their own lives and do something that they are very passionate about. Over the last month they have been running daily soccer clinics for...well just about any one in the local community who wants to join in! In the future they would like to extend their clinics to involve local schools and perhaps in the long term these soccer clinics will expand into a successful business for them. Often in schools where funding is limited sports is the last priority; however sports can be an excellent tool for social and personal development, as well as being something very enjoyable for young people. It is this which inspires Rushaad and Cheslin to run their clinics – they want to give young people in the local community something that they can be passionate about; something that makes their lives more enjoyable; and ultimately something that will help them develop as a person. The strength and ambition of these two young men is an inspiration to all and we are confident that they will be a great success. For more details visit www.facebook.com/EDGEofAFRICA or www.EDGEofAFRICA.com

An Elephant Experience in Africa - Part 1

Winter. Freezing cold when the night arrives but a summers day to me when the sun has risen. I may have only been here for two days, but everyday keeps getting better, and honestly, I can’t imagine it can get much better than my first day volunteering at the elephant sanctuary. Having to be ready to be picked up at 6:30am was tough but very worthwhile. Only nearly a hour in the car and we have arrived at the sanctuary. As I get out of the car, the first object I notice is the sculpture of an elephant head, beautiful. We (me and Astrid), were then lead to the stables where we both got straight to work! We met some of the guides and elephant handlers too, some of which told us to rake out the faeces from the stables in order for the ele’s (elephants) to have clean bedding. After shovelling the faeces out of the sleeping den, we had a tour of the ele sanctuary; we walked with them, we saw some ‘skills’ they could do, we fed them some sweet treats, and lastly had a ride on them which was totally incredible!! However, it was time to get our heads down to ‘work’ again (even though to me, none of it seemed like work as I enjoyed it all soo much); we observed and recorded the data of the ele’s interactions and what the interaction was – whether it be pro-social or anti-social. Luckily though, the time we were observing there was no anti-social behaviour. It was amazing watching the ele’s, I honestly do not understand how people can not fall in love with them as they are such gentle giants. Even though I know I shouldn’t have a favourite elephant, my favourite is Marula out of the 6 ele’s at the sanctuary but I adore them all really. After finishing lunch, manual labour began where we started painting the stable in order for it to protect the wood but also for a fresher look for people walking through. With both the observation and painting the stable, I already felt I was helping the elephants out so much, as I was assisting the project to research about the behaviour of ele’s and also preserving their sleeping stable. I do realise that the painting would have been done even if we didn’t do it but it might not have been for a long time. So even though it may seem a small job, I know it really helped the project. With regards to the painting, it was loads of fun because we were all working as a team and half way through we realised we had dripped paint on the floor! Due to the protector substance for the wood, in the paint, we were unable to remove it despite our tries of rubbing it with newspaper, rubbing it in with our shoes and even washing the floor with soap! We don’t think Chris (the fabulous owner of the elephant sanctuary) minded, as we didn’t get sacked. Our day was now over and our last duty was to return to the volunteer house. WOW though! What an amazing first day and an experience of a lifetime it was. Tomorrow can’t come sooner!

Elephant Management: To Cull or Not to Cull?

Elephant Management: To Cull or not to Cull?

 

 

During the 20th Century the number of elephants declined dramatically, due to threats such as poaching for ivory and loss of habitat due to human encroachment. In some areas however the trend to declining was reversed after elephants were placed on Appendix I of CITES and a world wide ban imposed on ivory sales. Unfortunately the resulting recovery of elephant numbers within both national and privately owned game parks potentially poses a threat to the survival of many other species. 

 

 

Almost 70% of Africa’s elephants occur in Southern Africa and most large populations occur within protected areas – the issue with this is that when a species is confined, dispersal is inhibited so you end up with a large numbers of elephants in a relatively small space. Also by protecting elephants it generally means that their resources are not so limited which allows their numbers to get much higher than they would in a natural system. 

In a natural system elephants have to travel long distances to find the resources that they need and not all of them survive these harsh conditions - this is what controls their numbers. In a reserve, fencing means that this migration can’t happen and resources must be provided for the elephants therefore allowing numbers to reach levels that have the potential to negatively affect the rest of the ecosystem. 
When elephant numbers exceed the carrying capacity of a park or reserve, destruction of vegetation and habitat can be catastrophic. Obviously an elephant is a big animal which requires a lot of food – the average elephant requires around 660 pounds (300kg) of food per day. Observation has shown that large populations of elephants are capable of turning woodland into grassland – clearly this is going to have a devastating effect on any woodland species. 

So, as stated above most large populations of elephants in southern Africa occur within protected areas; and the bottom line is once we start putting fences around animals it becomes our responsibility to manage those animals. One strategy for managing elephant populations – and probably the most debated strategy – is culling. 

The practice of culling was first adopted in the 1960s but was later banned in Zimbabwe in 1988 and in South Africa in 1995 mostly due to public outcry. However it was reinstated in South Africa in 2009 under strict regulations. 

 

 

Many people consider the practice of culling to be a morally grey area. Elephants are a charismatic, beautiful animal and people generally feel uncomfortable with the idea of killing them. However, any conservationist will argue that decisions about managing animal populations must be based on science, not human emotion; having said that, there are also many conservationists who oppose culling on a scientific basis.
One argument against culling is that elephants have a highly complex social structure and are considered to be very intelligent animals. Culling in the past is thought to have led to abnormal behaviours such as depression, unpredictable asocial behaviour and higher aggression. There are now strict regulations on the way in which culls are carried out – whole families are culled in order to avoid selective culling of animals in certain age classes which could disrupt population structure and enhance rather than suppress growth, as well as having a negative effect on the emotional well being and behaviour of the remaining family members. However some argue that our understanding of elephant social structure is still too limited and we know little about the relationships between neighbouring elephant families, therefore even if whole families are culled this could still have a detrimental effect on social structure. 

Another argument against culling is that culling may give rise to immigration, which is what has been found in Kruger NP in the past, where movement into culled areas increased the number of elephants in that area which was thought to have intensified the local impact of elephants. 
Many who oppose culling argue that there are other options for managing elephant populations and therefore we need not resort to culling. However this is not to say that culling should definitely not be considered a viable option as other management strategies also come with problems, as I will discuss below. 

A method that has traditionally been used is translocation – the movement of animals from one area to another. There are benefits to this method, for example movement of elephants to a new Reserve increases the genetic diversity at that reserve. However, there are also drawbacks to this method. One of the problems with translocation is that many Reserves and National Parks are in the same boat – they all have too many elephants. Also there have been some behavioural problems with translocated elephants in the past – on several reserves introduced elephants have exhibited behavioural abnormalities mainly due to disrupted social structure. 

Translocation is very time consuming and can be highly expensive depending on the equipment needed and the number of elephants to be translocated. As there are several factors affecting the cost of translocation it is difficult to put an exact figure on it, but it can cost anywhere from R6000 to R60, 000 per elephant. 

 

 

One recent development in the management of elephant populations is the use of immunocontraception. In case you are wondering what on earth immunocontraception is – it is a non-hormonal, non-steroid method of a contraception based on the use of porcine zona pellucida (pZP) proteins. There is a membrane known as Zona Pellucida which surrounds all mammalian eggs. This membrane contains several glycoproteins, one of which is thought to be the sperm receptor. The pZP vaccine is derived from pig eggs and once injected the vaccine stimulates an immunological response to produce antibodies that attach to the ZP of the target animal, thereby preventing fertilisation as the sperm cannot attach to and penetrate the egg. 
Immunocontraception has proven to be effective and has been successfully implemented at some Game Reserves as a management strategy for elephant populations. One of the major benefits of this method is that the vaccine is reversible which allows for adaptive management – you have control over how many and which elephants are treated. It is also a fairly cost effective method; it costs around R1000 per elephant. 

However the down side is that you have to be able to identify individual elephants in order to administer initial vaccinations and booster vaccinations. At Kruger NP (an area where culling is currently being seriously considered as an option) there are around 12,500 elephants and some argue that with such a large population it would be impractical to have to identify individual females on a regular basis (with the current vaccine the elephant must receive in initial vaccine, 2 boosters 2-3 weeks apart and then 2 annual boosters). 

Another issue is that this vaccine serves to stabilise populations and to limit population growth, it cannot however decrease the number of elephants that are currently in the population. So in areas such as Kruger where elephants are already seriously exceeding the carrying capacity of the park (the carrying capacity of Kruger is thought to be 7,500 and the population currently stands at around 12,500) many people feel that action needs to be taken now to prevent the elephants from having a detrimental effect on the rest of the ecosystem. 

In conclusion, there will be no conclusion to this article as my intention was merely to give a (fairly) brief account of some of the issues and opinions surrounding culling and elephant management in general. I will it leave open to you as readers to form your own opinions on the topic. However I ask that you bare in mind that I have only touched on the subject and there are many many factors that need to be considered when making decisions on managing elephant populations.

For more info visit Everything Elephant

 

'Living on the EDGE' by Terri Dekker

Living on the Edge, Lessons of Life, “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world, remains” Miracles are waiting everywhere…. Don’t Audit life…just show up and make the most of it. Life in Africa, by Terri Dekker

 

South Africa, 2010 It began as a dream, years beyond my memory. It’s now my reality, a destiny of a life time. It seems so ambitious, somewhat selfish and crazy to some…to leave my family, and those I love, to travel across the world on my own, to a faraway place of risk and uncertainties. It’s temporary, yet so exciting. Go ahead redirect your responsibility, for two weeks, for four weeks, step up allow yourself a once in a life time experience. Humbly give your time and energy to another world, to another life, to make a difference. It may be a small part of an ambitious goal, but it’s yours to give.

 

Life isn’t Fair, but it is still Good Life isn’t Tied with a Bow, but it is a Gift. To give the Gift of your Life, to Make Good for Another is my depiction of The Circle of Life.

 

I have never considered myself a scholar or a literary writer in the least. It’s just a temporary passion, a method to find meaning among the reams of notes that I have taken over the days and how they will shape or reflect my life going forward. They are the voice that I cannot speak.

 

This, my journal is my illustration of my life’s journey to South Africa. I don’t often share the pages of my journal, until now, just this time. I offer my journey to you, All My Friends, My Family, My Children And those considering an incredible journey with Edge of Africa

 

Every vision I share, be it through the words you read or the photos you see, every word and picture is real.

 

I arrived in George South Africa on Saturday July 17th, it was 20 degrees C. Yes very cold!!! The security customs at the small airport was so brief, such that I thought I had not passed through them. I was welcomed with a sign displaying my name held by Josh.

 

I’m safe was my first thought, my next was “now take me to the animals”.

 

I met the other volunteers, who have traveled from various places around the world to give a piece of them-selves. More about my new friends later, once we master the hurdle of our different languages and accents.

 

The Volunteer house, much nicer than I expected, of course despite the common perception, there is running water and a toilet, while it was bitter cold (winter in Africa can be) we were welcomed with our own hot water bottle. First I thought it strange, soon to realize how valuable a warm bottle could be. I slept with it between my feet, and plunked it on various spots of my body throughout the first cold night. We all adjusted, quickly and it became no big deal.

 

We were all hungry, as we chatted and egged one another’s excitement of the days to follow. A hot meal arrived to the house. It was traditional, plentiful, it complimented our new environment.

 

~ Although not every day’s journal leaf is offered, today’s entry goes…

 

My Aspiration;

A Safari

Save the children who are lost,

Save the creatures that are living but not human;

My safari or journey this time is different,

It is an excavation of My Spirit, My Soul, My Being.

 

It is 7am and slowly I make it to the common area of the volunteer house. Soon discover that “initiative” will be the key to survival. The coordinators are wonderfully kind, but emphasize it’s up to you…each of us, what we take out of the project, what we give to the project. “It’s not boot camp, but we will gladly accept your opinions, your energy, your hard work won’t be rejected”

 

Beyond the description and direction within our elected programs and the concern for our safe well being You must step up to make a difference. Food is provided while basic it will address our needs. We made our way and unconsciously developed as a united group, a team approach to all the tasks at hand. A group of individuals, new to each other, who quickly became united for a cause, we quickly became a family.

 

Project Two: August 2010 Albertinia, South Africa, The Garden Route Game Lodge

African Big 5 Wildlife& Conservation Project

 

The first week was off to an exciting start. The Big 5...Incredible, beauty at its best! Sleeping in a tent isn't so bad after all.

 

 

Day 1

Off to feed the elephants!! What magnificent creatures, huge would understate their body mass. They are beautiful, simply roaming in search of today’s winnings from the Bakkie (pick up/safari jeep) wagon. Buckets on fresh offerings fruits, oranges, pineapple apples and lettuce leaves left over trimmings from the lodge restaurant. That’s still not enough so in their Bomas, waits whole trees and leafy branches. About the size of four Christmas trees! As we approached, fear set it for some but I could barely wait to touch, to befriend them, to understand them By God they are big brilliant animals. They quickly and independently find their space within their Bomas. They immediately flipped their trucks expecting the droppings of sweet fruit. Impatience set in and they began the dominant tangle. Who would get more and who would get the remaining pieces from the buckets? They used their large weight and trumpeting voices which escalated with demands. It was truly amazing to be a part of their lives for that moment. Expecting free roaming, soon you learn the sadden lives of capture and circus behaviour…it’s what they know. It’s what we are about…putting the wild back into their lives that was taken away by human. Our goal – Rehabilitation to the Wild, Protect and Reproduce

The day was lovely.

 

Day 2

Mholo, Unjani (hello, how are you) if u could hear as I type u would hear roaring lions. I'm in my tent...they feel just a little close! Today is Bitter - Sweet an e.g. of the “Circle of Life”. I began as routine feed of elephants and clean their bomas – a very physical task but not difficult. Feed the giraffes, a clear site of beauty. A mother and her newborn café, we must stop and observe, photo after photo. They are incredibly elegant and swiftly move to the Aloes that we have topped with flakes of lush green hay. While they roam freely, she needs a supplement and extra nourishment for her off spring. The dominating buffalos also are feed due to the lack of greenery caused by the months of drought. The game count begins, the reserve has recently increased the game, but missing are 4 zebra and 4 Kudu. We found most, but sadly ta baby zebra didn’t make it. We were able to locate her, she was young and beautiful her life cut off short. As devastating as it is, she becomes the saviour to the lion. The lion that due to human intrusion did not learn when they were young to independently hunt and fend to their needs. While they have their natural instinctive behaviours to chase and hunt they quickly give up and sadly are dependent. The young Zebra is its saviour.

The circle of life!

 

 

Day 3

Whew…I made it, the day started off great. We began our routine fed Ellies, Giraffe & Buffalo. We were able to track the 3 zebra and drive them to the main zebra herd. The radio blares …Yikes a cheetah roaming freely at the Game Lodge...where guest reside while on their vacations. The day’s routine is quickly ended and our tasks are re-prioritized. This could be dangerous. We located the young cub who clearly was able to manipulate the fence structure. We used chucks of dripping meat to lure him back the breading area. Three rangers and myself who is still very new and green in knowledge, worked together to get him back to the enclosure. The meat worked. I quickly discovered a match to my fear. Time to fix the fences...Umm you want me to what…in the enclosed cheetah domain - tools & 3 hungry cheetahs…8 feet away.

Breathe...

 

Day 4

Today’s entry goes...Start off on routine…feed the ellies, the radio blares…all else has to wait…again! Another cheetah that is still not ready for the wild is out. And so the search begins...feels a bit like “the hunter becomes the hunted“ you know how the story goes…encourage him to follow with chunks of dripping meat...my heart is beating fast – I realise I have beads of sweat a long my forehead…thank goodness, he’s in , success! Fences need repair again, something a little more meaningful. The guys and I are up for the task. Struggling with wire, cutters and a skill I’ve yet to master, I continue to fumble yet my eyes don’t leave the cheetahs…well for just a second! I drop my .work gloves 5' from me and a cheetah sneaks up and takes one...check out the remains in the photos!

 

 

Day 5

So the coolest thing happened tonight...I went to feed the elephants "ellies", and they still have not decided if they trust me or not, so usually every night Kidbone draws in a bunch of dirt and sprays it at me EVERY NIGHT...finally tonight I said NO, it's not nice. She literally laid down, on all fours, turned her trunk so I could hand feed her...OMG- beautiful!!! It's 2:30 am it’s time to get up, an unexpected off-load of 7 wildebeest and 2 kudu, off the Bunkie (truck). It’s pitch dark outside and somewhere in the middle of the reserve we meet the truck and trailer. We manipulate the latches, as our adrenaline runs high. The gates are open, some quickly and boldly unload and hit the ground running, while others drift slowly off the trailer. Sadly one wildebeest gave way to the struggle and stress of the translocation. She didn't make it...circle of life once again.

 

What a week!

South Africa - So What's All The Fuss About?

South Africa - So what’s all the fuss about?

Why should anyone consider going to South Africa?

1.       Affordable

2.       Natural Beauty

3.       Adventure

4.       Good Weather

5.       Rainbow Nation

6.       Diversity

7.       Wildlife

8.       Responsible Tourism

Tips for adjusting to life and culture shock in South Africa!

Like any new culture the key is understanding, acceptance and respect. Always remember that every country has a different history and different perception to certain things. Even things that may seem the norm in the west may not be the case in east or south or north. South Africa like any other country wants to be accepted and respected by the world. Our hearts are warm, our smiles broad and country diverse. There is most definitely something for everyone!

Places to see & Things to do!

After (what is for most people) a very long flight, you’ll are met by stunning views, impressive mountain passes, lush green forests and white sandy beaches, desert, infrastructure, pretty much everything you probably weren’t expecting from an African country, South Africa has the ability to put you at ease in a number of ways.

The Garden Route area offers a variety of leisure, sport and adrenaline filled activities. Take a stroll down to the waterfront and enjoy the all year round holiday vibe. Or take a ferry across the lagoon to Featherbed Nature Reserve for a guided eco-experience and breathtaking views of the lagoon, the mountains and Knysna town.

The area is also rich in wildlife. Just 40 minutes drive towards Plettenberg Bay lies The Crags, and the many fantastic attractions in Animal Alley include Monkeyland (the worlds first free-roaming, multi-species primate sanctuary, home to around 400 apes, monkeys and lemurs), Birds of Eden (the largest free-flight aviary in the world, home to over 3 000 birds of around 200 species) and Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre (where you will be offered a truly unique wildcat experience, as well as helping to fund Tenikwa’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre).

A boat trip around Plettenberg Bay offers a closer view to the areas marine life. After an exciting beach launch you will have the chance to see Bottlenose dolphins, Common dolphins, some shark species, Byrd’s whales, Southern Right whales, Humpback whales (during season) and Cape Fur seals.

The famous BIG 5 is just 1.5 hours drive away, where a 2-hour guided game drive at the Garden Route Game Lodge will treat you to the sights of South Africa’s majestic animals, as well as some smaller game species. Addo Elephant National Park offers a truly wild feel - just four hours from Knysna. It’s home to the highest concentration of African elephants in the world (over 400), as well as the other Big 5 species and many, many more.

For the adrenaline junkies, the Eastern Cape offers the worlds highest bungee jump (216 metres!) at Bloukrans Bridge, conveniently just 45 minutes drive from Knysna. Whether its hiking, mountain biking, beach strolls, horse riding or shopping, sightseeing and strolling through the arts and crafts stalls, the Garden Route area will definitely entertain all tastes and preferences!

 

www.EDGEofAFRICA.com

EDGE of AFRICA Newsletter - August 2010

Recycling Swop shop

In association with the Biomimicry campaign being run by Sue Swain on behalf of Knysna and Eden Distict Municipalities.

 

One of EDGE of AFRICA’s latest ventures is initiating Knysna’s first ever ‘Recycling Swop Shop’.  This exciting project serves two purposes – to clean up Knysna and to provide for the basic needs of local children.

The idea of the Swop Shop is that children collect plastic bottles, tins, and other recyclable materials and bring them to the Swop Shop. The items are then weighed and the children earn a certain amount of ‘EDGE Bucks’ (tokens) depending on how much they bring. These EDGE Bucks can then be exchanged for items in the shop (all of which have been donated). The more valuable items will require more EDGE Bucks, so the children have the option to save up their EDGE Bucks to buy the more expensive treats!

Similar Swop Shops are already running in Hermanus where the concept has proved very successful and we have every confidence that Knysna’s Swop Shop will also be a big success!!

There will also be another element to our Swop Shop whereby children can chose to complete a variety of learning modules, such as literacy, numeracy and conservation. They will then earn EDGE Bucks based on the complexity of the module.

Finally, as a reward for the children who collect the most recyclables monthly, we are looking at conducting outings and excursions into various natural areas along the Garden Route. 

 

 

Siyafunda Re-build 

As part of EDGE of AFRICA’s ‘build our schools’ project, EOA volunteers (and project coordinators!) have been assisting with the re-build of Siyafunda pre-school.

The previous building was in bad shape with leaking ceilings and damp carpeted floors, and was far too small to accommodate the 80 children that attend the school. Now through the Knysna Education Trust Siyafunda has secured the funding needed in order to build a brand new building in its place! The new building will be large enough to incorporate multiple classrooms and will be a safe and pleasant learning environment for children and teachers alike.

Each week the EDGE of AFRICA team has been helping with the build in anyway they can, from picking up litter from the site to building fencing; and everyone’s hard work is paying off, as the building is progressing quickly and is looking fantastic!

We are honored to be involved in this extremely worthwhile project and once the new and improved Siyafunda pre-school is complete we look forward to helping the next school in need!!

 

 

SOUNS Literacy Program 

EDGE of AFRICA is working in conjuction with the Knysna Education Trust to implement the SOUNS Literacy Program in pre-schools in the Knynsa area.

This program which has already been successful in the U.S.A. involves using non-toxic, shatter proof plastic letters as a learning tool to teach children to sound out letters. Children are known to absorb more information when their senses are involved, and SOUNS provides the opportunity for better articulation and pronunciation of words as the children become aware of all the sounds and letters in words.

This project is already proving to be successful as children are discovering the sounds of letters and are able to write their names and other words using the SOUNS letters.

Currently EDGE of AFRICA is responsible for helping to implement the program at Judah Edu-Centre and so far this is going extremely well.  

 

HAART Vegetable Garden

Recently EDGE of AFRICA volunteers initiated a vegetable garden at the HAART (Highly Active Anti – Retroviral Treatment) Clinic at Knysna Provincial Hospital.

At present the garden is small but it is growing beautifully! It comprises of cabbage , spinach beetroot and spring onions .

The idea for this vegetable garden came from Dr. Laurel Giddy; she would as we would eventually like to see all the grass area surrounding the HARRT Clinic covered in veggies.

The purpose of this garden is that people attending the HAART Clinic will eventually be able to take a selection of veggies home with them as they leave the clinic. All the veggies that will be grown and are currently growing are of high nutritional value.

With any chronic illness and when taking regular medications a good, balanced diet is imperative. We hope that by establishing this vegetable garden we can assist people who may not have the financial means to buy fresh vegetables in having a balanced diet.

The next phase of the garden is going to be a mealie garden (as in Corn on the cob!)

We have had a lot of support from the people of Knysna and we would like to take this opportunity to thank these people. Thank you to Beth Wilkinson from That’s it and also to Margaret and Bronwyn at Hedges Garden Centre.

 

For more information on volunteering with EDGE of AFRICA, please visit http://www.EDGEofAFRICA.com/  

 

Written by Jo Lancaster 

EDGE of AFRICA Recycling Swop Shop is Launched!

Recycling Swop shop

In association with the Biomimicry campaign being run by Sue Swain and with KEDA on behalf of Knysna and Eden District Municipalities .

One of EDGE of AFRICA’s latest ventures is initiating Knysna’s first ever ‘Recycling Swop Shop’. This exciting project serves two purposes – to clean up Knysna and to provide for the basic needs of local children.

The idea of the Swop Shop is that children collect plastic bottles, tins, and other recyclable materials and bring them to the Swop Shop. The items are then weighed and the children earn a certain amount of ‘EDGE Tokens’ depending on how much they bring. These EDGE Tokens can then be exchanged for items in the shop (all of which have been donated). The more valuable items will require more EDGE Tokens, so the children have the option to save up their EDGE Tokens to buy the more expensive treats!

Similar Swop Shops are already running in Hermanus where the concept has proved very successful and we have every confidence that Knysna’s Swop Shop will also be a big success!!

There will also be another element to our Swop Shop whereby children can chose to complete a variety of learning modules, such as literacy, numeracy and conservation. They will then earn EDGE Tokens based on the complexity of the module.

Finally, as a reward for the children who collect the most recyclables monthly, we are looking at conducting outings and excursions into various natural areas along the Garden Route.

If anyone is interested in donating any items for the Swop Shop please contact: dayne@edgeofafrica.com

Medical & Community Project Knysna, South Africa - August 2010

Medical & Community Project Knysna, South Africa August 2010

 

“I have been doing the Medical and Community project with EDGE of AFRICA & Medforce. My project lasted for four weeks. Before I arrived here I did not know what to expect. I was a bit nervous and a bit excited. However, my time in Knysna has been an amazing experience. Everyone, whether the staff of EDGE of AFRICA, the doctors at the Provincial hospital, or the home based carers, all have been very friendly and welcoming. I volunteered at the Knysna Provincial Hospital, the pre-schools, Sinethemba Youth Centre, hospice and also the THAT’S IT clinic. I have gained both medical experience and have also had the chance to contribute to the community. Through my work at the medical projects I got to examine patients with different illnesses and also learned about how the healthcare service works in South Africa. The highlights have definitely been watching the caesarean section and natural delivery! Working at the community projects gave me an insight into the social, financial and cultural backgrounds of the people living in Knysna. Overall, it has been an interesting experience, one which will definitely help me in my university application as well as my later life!”

Toozy Nanda, UK

 

"Volunteering with EDGE of AFRICA & Medforce has been the best experience of my life, at times it has been challenging but the challenges have definitely helped me grow as a person. I had never travelled to South Africa before or travelled anywhere by myself, in addition I have never had the opportunity to live in a house with 8 other people that I had never met before. I was encountering new situations that were already widening my life experience before I had even begun the project. I find it quite difficult to summarise everything I have done in Knysna over the past four weeks, however, the most prominent memory I have is from the Knysna Provincial Hospital. I was volunteering on the maternity ward and while in the labour room I met a patient, she was having contractions every few minutes that appeared to be extremely painful, therefore, I decided to talk to her so as to become a distraction.

 

The fact that I was able to just go up to this patient and start talking is an achievement in itself, this is because I was an extremely shy person before I came to South Africa which limited my experience as a volunteer in England. Since being in South Africa, I had become accustomed to the friendly nature of all the locals and this made me feel so comfortable in this new situation. Moreover, when I started to talk to the patient I only had to ask a few questions and from that she was so open with me that I learned about her whole life up until I had met her. The most inspiring aspect of this patient is that fact that she was a single mother who was also HIV positive. She told me that she had found out her status and that she was pregnant within a week of each other. Knowing all this, I was stunned by her evident mental strength; she did not exude any hostility or negativity towards her situation. In addition, she was very educated about the HIV virus and that was very refreshing and made me optimistic about HIV education for all South Africans. I became quite attached to this patient within a matter of minutes and spent the whole day with her, talking about her life, she was also curious about my life in England which seemed so simple and easy when I was telling her about it.

 

When I returned to the volunteer house that afternoon, I was in a very pensive mood. I was thinking about my life and any "struggles" I thought I had encountered and it all seemed so trivial. I though about that patient and how she was facing so many challenges in her life all at once, her positively was so inspiring to me. I have definitely matured as a result of volunteering in Knysna, before this experience I feel as though I lived in a bubble and was completely unaware of the struggling some people face in their lives on a daily basis. All the people I met in Knysna have positively altered my perception of life; they have shown me that no matter what adversities one faces, one will always prevail when you remain optimistic. I will never forget the time I spent in Knysna and am forever thankful to all those who made the experience so amazing for me."  

Zahrah Dad, UK

Chester University’s ‘Jamie-Lee Hassett’ talks about her time with EDGE of AFRICA

Introduction and Background:

My name is Jamie-Lee Hassett and I am student going into my 3rd year at the University of Chester, studying Drama and Theatre. As part of my degree last year, I experienced 6 weeks of voluntary Work Based Learning during April, May and June 2010 in Knysna, South Africa. I volunteered for an organisation called EDGE of AFRICA.

EDGE of AFRICA is committed to ethical volunteering and responsible travelling - providing volunteer and internship placements in South Africa for gap years, career breaks, university internships, school groups and corporate team building projects. The organization comfortably accommodates to all ages, genders, races and religions.

The organisation’s aim is to make a direct positive impact on the local community and environment, while enjoying first hand exposure to the colourful heritage, cultures and traditions, plus all the sights and activities this beautiful country has to offer. EDGE of AFRICA guarantees a life changing experience - in a safe, malaria-free, African environment.

The organisation approaches their projects with a mission: to create sustainable solutions through team work and with integrity.

 

Sinethemba Street Kids Project:

Whilst volunteering for EDGE of AFRICA I was working locally at two community centres: MAD about ART and Sinethemba.

 

Sinethemba is a community centre for homeless and disadvantaged kids and youth between the ages of 4 and 25. In the safe and picturesque township of Kayalethu in South Africa, this project aims to give these kids another chance in life!

 

Two volunteers from Canada, Sioban Goodyear and Melissa Jackson, travelled to Knysna last year with the EDGE of AFRICA. This year they returned again. On both trips they had the immense pleasure of also volunteering with the Sinethemba Youth Development Centre with me (Sinethemba, being just one of the many EDGE of AFRICA initiated programs).

Sinethemba is an outreach program for children of all ages; each one coming throughSinethemba's doors with a unique personality and a different story. However, with that said, most of Sinethemba’s children come from the streets, broken homes, and many other harsh and painful circumstances.

 

Sinethemba, as a word translates as "We have Hope", and Hope is something that you undoubtedly see in the face of every one of its children. When seeing the circumstances and situations that most of these children come from, and then witnessing how full of life and strong they are, you can do nothing but watch in complete awe of these truly amazing young people. The children and staff of Sinethemba welcomed us, outsiders into their hearts and family with open arms. They taught us, among many things, that unconditional love comes in all shapes and sizes and that "hope" is one thing that none of us, young or old can live without. Knysna, the beautiful little town and its precious people will always be home to me and the other volunteers.

 

MAD About Art (part of the Inspiring EDGE Community Combination Project): 

MAD about ART is a charity that exists in the township of ‘Nekkies’ to unite children around the world in understanding and fighting HIV & AIDS through art and education. They provide a unique mix of innovative arts-based education and narrative therapy, designed to increase children's knowledge of HIV & AIDS and create more open communication as well as reduce risk-taking behaviour by increasing self-esteem and self-advocacy. Ultimately the aim is to reduce new HIV infections in children and young people.

Whilst I was out there volunteering I worked with 2 other volunteers putting together a short drama, music and dance performance for an event.

There were 3 of us volunteered at this centre including myself, Chelsea Shorrock and Emma Russell, and our job was to teach drama, music and dance to children aged 10-14 who attend the centre, which is dedicated to HIV awareness and therapy. The moment I stepped in the building I knew I was somewhere special. The children had an overwhelming enthusiasm and incredible kindness. I had 3 weeks to create a performance with the children which they would perform at an event at the end of my trip. Each child came from a really challenging background, experiencing things on a day to day basis that I’ve never even come close to back home. Despite this, they gave the performance everything they had. At the event, watching them perform their piece, named “When I grow up I want to be...” was a moment I will never forget.

In that moment the children showed that their dreams should never be forgotten. I came home with an inevitable need to go back, and I am already planning my return in June 2011.

 

EDGE in Talent 2010:

The talent competition "EDGE on Talent" was an event which took place in Knysna as a result of two other volunteers, Ennis McAvera and Sarah Desjardins (Events Management students at the University of Chester). The only proposal they were given for organising an event was the urge to bring together the townships with the local people of the town and to encourage unity between the two. They had only 2 weeks to organise an event, in an estranged town to them, with no contacts, and no budget whatsoever.

What seemed near impossible to them, became the most memorable day of all of our lives. Thanks to the extremely kind donations and support from the local businesses and all the volunteers, their hard work paid off. The volunteers took advantage of the many talents they came across at the different township schools and youth centres, and showcased singers, dancers, drama acts and poets in the centre of town by putting on the "EDGE on Talent" event. The town was brought to life that day by the miraculous kids, releasing every type of emotion in the audience and even the passers by... as well as giving the kids a fun day out, with many prizes, give always and activities for them to do.

Knowing that they were the organisers of this amazing day, gave them an indescribable feeling of pride for the kids and knowing that they had left a lasting mark in Knysna - in particular with talk of it becoming an annual event. The volunteer experience has been invaluable, with not only life experience, but invaluable memories and unforgettable precious relationships.

 

Kadiki Kids Project:

  Louise Charmley and Laura Holden, two other volunteers from Chester University were working on a project called Kadiki Kids, volunteering within pre-schools. They worked within two separate pre-schools, which were both amazing and such a unique experience. The children were 0 – 7 years of age and were such a true inspiration.

Over the period of 4 weeks, they planned various literacy and numeracy activities for the older children. The children thrived from this experience and developed rapidly, which was amazing to witness. Educational resources were bought with fund raising money that the girls had been so lucky enough to bring over to South Africa. As you can imagine, when the children were given the opportunity to play with new toys such as, skipping ropes, balls, cars, paints, jigsaws etc, they were extremely grateful. The whole project was a life changing experience for every volunteer involved, bringing home wonderful memories from such a beautiful place.

 

Tourism Internship (Work Experience South Africa - WESA Program):

Other projects included volunteers spending 2 days a week working at Knysna Tourism, and the remainder of the week split between spending time on the Khayalethu Eco-Trail project in the Rastafarian community of Judah Square, and the Judah Square edu-centre working with children aged 7 months to 7 years.

 

This experience was invaluable to the volunteers for their future, as they got to experience both what it was like to work in the tourism industry, and what it was like to work in the field of international aid and development. As a result of this one volunteer has now decided that her future career path will be as an international aid/development worker, which will entail working with similar communities to the one in Judah Square to help them achieve a better way of life. The volunteers on this project also felt that as though they had returned home with a completely changed outlook on life, and a greater sense of gratitude for what they have.

 

The people the volunteers were working with in Judah Square gained a substantial amount from their time there. Along with one of the other volunteers, Emma Hitchen putting together a tourism development plan, which will help them to transform their current eco-trail project into a tourist destination, thus, helping them to create a sustainable income for themselves. The children of the Judah Square edu-centre benefited from the students’ visit, as they also intend to keep a close connection to them, sending money over to help them in whichever way they can, and keeping up to date with any projects that are going on there helping the causes from home.

 

Hospitality & Tourism Internship (Work Experience South Africa - WESA Program):

Another student, Abi Lewis, who also volunteered for EDGE of AFRICA completed a 4 week tourism placement in Knysna, aspects included working in a 4* star hotel, creating an eco trail development plan for a Rastafarian community, to a preschool in the township. On starting the placements she was very apprehensive of what to expect, only knowing she wanted to help and learn in whatever way possible, without actually being aware of what this entailed.

On deciding to volunteer in South Africa Abi just hoped she could make a difference in any way possible.

 

During the time here the volunteer met so many people in situations which she could only imagine to have gone through - was at sometimes difficult, however they showed to her the real meaning of happiness in people, and what is actually important in life. What shocked the volunteer the most was their willingness to learn and how enthusiastic the people were. Abi realised that EDGE of AFRICA’S volunteer projects were truly inspirational and helped the communities in Knysna in a great way.

 

Summary:

Since being away and having this experience the volunteers have learnt a lot about themselves; I feel this is to do with the amazing people we all met whilst there, from those in placements, volunteers we met and the EDGE of AFRICA staff. They all inspired me in many ways, and allowed me to have an invaluable and unforgettable experience which I can never thank them enough for.

 

Volunteering for EDGE of AFRICA gave me, and the other volunteers, the opportunity to learn more about the extraordinary work that takes place within the town and townships, allowing me the chance to be involved with and support this inspirational cause.

 

I enjoyed every single minute I had over in Knysna and decided that 6 weeks was not long enough for me, so have decided to go back in June 2011 for a year, volunteering again!

Thank you to everyone that joined me and helped me with this experience!

 

Jamie-Lee Hassett

April/May 2010

Chester University, England