tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post1164323234322069214..comments2024-01-29T00:20:13.608-08:00Comments on Holes in My Soles: So You've Thought About Volunteering Overseas?Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-82047678319106915222010-08-01T13:47:00.883-07:002010-08-01T13:47:00.883-07:00The above comment has been copied from another for...The above comment has been copied from another forum.Poppy has allowed me to post this as I thought her comments are invaluable advice for intending volunteers<br />Thanks Poppy!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-29355620673196522892010-08-01T13:44:57.375-07:002010-08-01T13:44:57.375-07:00Hi Jimshu
Thanks for your reply I just wanted to ...Hi Jimshu<br /><br />Thanks for your reply I just wanted to get your opinion knowing that you had been there. I still don't think it would be the place for us as we're not comfortable with lots of human/wildife contact but that is just our opinion. I'm sure they do a lot of good work.<br />PAWS was our first venture into volunteering and it was the best experience of our lives but we were very shocked at some of the things we have discovered about voluntary work especially concerning the canned hunting industry. The volunteer on our group who had just been at Antelope Park in Zimbabwe I'm sure had no idea that this practice is going on. We have emailed another volunteer who was planning to go next year to let her know about it. We found an article from the Sunday Times in 2008 highlighting these dangers about several places in Africa and they contacted the travel companies who were sending clients to such places. Obviously Real Gap are still sending people, as thats who the volunteer in our group travelled with, and I will be emaling them regarding this. We looked in to this park on our return and the fact that they have orphaned elephants and you are allowed to "ride" them was more than enough to put us off. We watched a programme about Antelope Park a few months ago and it came across that they were doing such good work trying to release lions back to the wild, which they probably do, but there is obviously a more sinister side to this place. <br />PAWS is linked to the Africat Foundation and based at Okonjima. Africat's main aim is to release as many animals back in to the wild as possible, mainly cheetahs, and try to stop farmers shooting big cats on their land instead encouraging them to trap them. Africat will then collect them and release them as soon as possible. In the last 13 years they have released 86% of the big cats back to the wild. They also have big cats which can never be released but there is very little human contact with them. We are very wary of anywhere which allows a lot of human contact as we feel this should not happen. The animals should be used to try and educate the tourists, locals and especially the next generation so that hopefully things can change. Africat is funded partly by the tourist lodges on Okonjima and partly by donations. Okonjima is owned by the Hanssen family who in the past were cattle farmers but the new generation are completely comitted to conservation, education, resolving human and predator conflict, monitoring large carnivores, and welfare and rehabilitation.<br />While we there we saw the release of 5 cheetahs back to the wild which was an extremely emotional experience. There is a British film crew there for four months making a programme which will be show in September so we can't wait to see it. Since we came back they have released another 7 cheetahs, but unfortunately we got the sad news a couple of days ago that one of the cheetahs released when we were there in May had been killed by a territorial leopard. <br />PAWS and the Africat Foundation are completely in tune with our beliefs and principles. We shudder to think that we could have ended up at somewhere like Antelope Park it doesn't bear thinking about.<br />I know you have been on an elephant project in the past was that in Namibia? The English couple who run PAWS met on an elephant project in Damaraland. Clive was Project Leader for a couple of years and his wife Roma went out for three months as a volunteer. That would be a few years ago now as they started PAWS in 2008 and they worked at Okonjima for a few years before that.<br />I would highly recommend PAWS to anyone<br />who wants to do voluntary work. We are planning to go back next year as I doubt we would find anywhere which is so in tune with our principles, and we love all animals but cheetahs are our favourite so we thought we'd died and gone to heaven!<br />If you would like any more info please don't hesitate to get in touch.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-83160869322051007292010-08-01T13:41:41.263-07:002010-08-01T13:41:41.263-07:00Hi Lydia,
I have no experience of Harnas,which use...Hi Lydia,<br />I have no experience of Harnas,which used to be Noah's Ark.It is operated by the mother of the owner of Naankuse but they are now completely separate.<br />At Naankuse ,as a volunteer there you will be able to spread your time between working in the Clever Cubs school for the San children, and working with the sanctuary animals.So it's a good choice.<br />As to one's satisfaction,you have the right attitude.Your own individual effort may not make a measurable difference, but it is the cumulative ongoing effort of all those volunteers that makes a big difference.<br />I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did.And you are going to have to come back and let us all know about it!Please!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-35316386889186520052010-07-30T01:42:42.454-07:002010-07-30T01:42:42.454-07:00Thank you for this post really clear and complete....Thank you for this post really clear and complete. <br />So I'd like to go in Namibia next year, in July and August. I want to go volunteering in Naankuse, specially to help in the school for San children and also to get involved with the animals. And what about Harnas ? <br />It's very interesting what you wrote about being disappointed or satisfied by this experience. I think volunteering is just giving and sharing, no matter if we can't see immediate results.Lilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076748696552311441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-3808168906417639322010-07-29T15:02:42.237-07:002010-07-29T15:02:42.237-07:00Maybe one of the reasons people are "disappoi...Maybe one of the reasons people are "disappointed" is because they don't see immediate results on their work and effort. It is understandable that someone will want to see the benefits generated by their efforts, and feel good about it, but most programs are on a long term basis. Maybe a great push can be presenting many "small" immediate result programs that can leave the volunteer satisfied with their efforts.Norberthttp://www.globotreks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-55859940101418698652010-07-28T22:49:23.107-07:002010-07-28T22:49:23.107-07:00Gee, too many mistakes...
Here it is again.
I thin...Gee, too many mistakes...<br />Here it is again.<br />I think you have really helped focus all those questions an intending first time volunteer has.<br />It's interesting that voluntourism was a big thing for a lot of travel companies to get into a couple of years ago, but some have dropped promoting voluntourism, having found that perhaps they just weren't good at it.Or that the public didn't perceive them to be where they go to 'buy' that voluntour experience.So I think that Gap Adventures,who are still in the voluntour market, are probably reasonably succesful because they set up Planeterra Foundation to concentrate on providing a value for money approach to voluntourism, and at the same time as a vehicle for making real changes at grassroots community level in many countries.<br />Seperating out their brands may have paid off in that respect.<br />It is after all about credibility.Intending voluntourists want certainty that where they pay their money, and put their time into, is a bona fide project of real value at a grassroots community level.There are many tales around of people being bitterly disapointed with some purported projects.<br />Between you and I and anyone else who wants to lend comment here, we can lay down a trail of info that can help a lot of people avoid the pitfalls.<br />I've been on 2 different projects.I've done a lot of research.I can advise people from my experience.<br />More importantly,I'd like to hear from others.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-36114962092451086062010-07-28T22:45:58.862-07:002010-07-28T22:45:58.862-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-71714468078349443142010-07-28T21:15:59.740-07:002010-07-28T21:15:59.740-07:00Thanks Jim.
I hope this helps at least to narro...Thanks Jim. <br /><br />I hope this helps at least to narrow down the scope of what anyone is interested in doing and where. How to go and the pitfalls I think can vary drastically between programs. <br /> <br />It is necessary that people get a good grasp of what is volunteering and what they should expect from that experience. If people have a clear understanding and know what they are going to be faced with when volunteering, I think that will reduce the pitt falls in a great way. <br />What you think?Norberthttp://www.globotreks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839632013669425872.post-10739340684703341502010-07-28T14:37:10.053-07:002010-07-28T14:37:10.053-07:00You raise a lot of good questions here Norbert.And...You raise a lot of good questions here Norbert.And I have a few observations from personal experience that I'll add.And it's very important as a lot of people reading the above may be intending to volunteer but just don't know where to start, how to go about it, or what pitfalls there are.Your post is really valuable from that perspective and thanks for choosing this subject as your first guest blog on here.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07618511960243841803noreply@blogger.com