Today we interview a new organization offering conservation volunteer opportunities, The Conservation Co.
Could you tell us some background on your organization?
We developed the idea of The Conservation Co. in response to a noticeable need for the cooperation of the public in conservation issues. We (Dayne Davey and Mark Slatter) took our honours in African Vertebrate Biodiversity and have worked and lived in Southern Africa for most of our lives. Through our experience in this field and our overseas travels we realised that working with volunteers is the most effective way of establishing and funding conservation based projects, as well as an excellent way to apply skills not necessarily available in local areas.
Our mission: is to assist valid, scientifically based, conservation efforts and research. Through this, it is our aim to make known internationally the plight of the world’s diminishing natural diversity, to aid in the conservation of our global natural heritage and to develop local communities’ awareness of the inherent value of natural resources.
What are some volunteer opportunities you offer? Do you have any volunteer opportunities you are particularly proud of?
We are proud of all our volunteer opportunities! In particular, the Garden Route Project is very successful in the fact that it provides volunteers with an incredibly varied stay and their contribution is wide spread. Volunteers are involved in research and community-conservation projects. Unlike most volunteer projects, the Garden Route project gives volunteers experience in terrestrial & marine research with various species, habitat regeneration and conservation education. And it is situated along the coast in a stunning part of South Africa.
What kind of daily life should prospective volunteers expect? (Food, Lodging, Entertainment etc…)
Volunteers are placed in a comfy backpackers on the beach (literally!), bordering a marine reserve. They are provided with home cooked meals and we accommodate various dietary requirements. All project related accommodation, transport and food is catered for. Flights etc to and from the project site, extra activites and alcoholic drinks are not covered in the project fee however. We also provide a laundry service and all necessary field equipment. The projects will vary on a day to day basis for example: we work with a street kid program on Fridays where we take the kids into a nature reserve and explore a particular theme with them, or we travel to the Tsitsikama forest where we monitor the bush buck and blue duiker population as part of a long term study with the South Africa National Parks. Some evenings volunteers will be working in the field looking for grass owl nests and determining distribution and habitat preference- to name a few. A typical day will start at 7:30am and end at approximately 6pm. There is plenty of entertainment in the area- something for everyone. Knysna is full of fantastic restaurants, including renowned local cuisine. There are also lots of pubs and a few clubs and pool bars in the area. Volunteers have weekends off and this is a good time to explore the area, with various outdoor activities available, for example, surfing, abseiling, bungee jumping and scuba diving.
What is the most important piece of advice you can offer future volunteers?
Volunteers should always make sure they take out travel insurance and have a good medical cover- just from personal experience, this is the most important safety net you can have when travelling. Apart from that you should travel with an open mind, being willing and humble enough to learn will reward you with experiences to last a life-time.
What is the biggest challenge while volunteering abroad?
If you are a first time volunteer or traveller, adjusting to a different culture and way of life can be difficult. This is especially true if you are working with local traditions and customs. Life in Africa is very different to that in a first world country and many people may find it quite a shock at first. Although poverty is not rife in the Garden Route, the average income in the settlements is very low and compared to first world countries, so is the standard of living. Volunteers soon realise however that the locals and their customs are refreshing and very welcoming, and despite their apparent lack of wealth are just about the happiest people you’ll find anywhere.
On the flip side, what is the biggest reward?
Working with the people and wildlife in Africa is one of the most rewarding experiences any traveller can have. Volunteering is an excellent way to experience life in Africa the way the locals do. You will get to know the people, customs and conservation issues from an entirely hands on point of view- one that normal visitors would not experience. Many people leave with an entirely different view on life and as they say: “you can leave Africa but Africa will never leave you”.
Why should they pay to volunteer with your organization? How is the money used?
The Conservation Co. has set up various projects which rely in part, if not totally on the funding provided by volunteers. The money paid by the volunteers funds the running costs, the promotion of and the expansion of all of our projects. Furthermore, we hope to establish a scholarship fund where we offer local scholars the chance to study a conservation based subject through our organisation.
How does volunteering abroad fit into the bigger picture of aid and development?
Volunteering abroad has great scope for impact and can be a powerful tool in conservation and raising awareness. Most African countries have insufficient resources to allocate to meaningfuul research and do not have the manpower or skill levels necessary to undertake conservation based initiatives. These Governments are often caught up in the very real problems of humanitarian assistance of their populations. It then falls on Non-Governmental Organisations, interest groups, researchers, and independent companies with an interest in conservation to spearhead and maintain wildlife conservation intiatives and research. Volunteers can contribute to this dilema directly by helping to fund conservation in Africa through project fees and by providing manpower in order to get the work done. In addition by encouraging tourism there are always knock on effects where the local people and economy benefit, if you can then educate the local people about the value of their natural resources a volunteers contribution can be massive and far reaching.
Why should someone volunteer with your organization?
We feel The Conservation Co. is unique among many of the current volunteer organisations. To us there is a big difference between eco-tourism and making a meaningful contribution to conservation issues. Our projects have numerous aspects from wildlife conservation, promoting awareness as well as involving the local community all of which are essential and must be addressed if biodiversity decline is to be halted. We feel this approach to volunteering will make your stay with us a memorable one. In addition the founders of the company, Mark Slatter and Dayne Davey, have extensive experience in volunteer programmes based in southern Africa, so you will be in good hands during your stay.
Furthermore we are science based and experienced in research therefore all the data we collect is analysed and makes a meaningful contribution to the preservation of African wildlife. Volunteering with us provides our volunteers with a practical and diverse experience of the conservation issues in Africa. We provide full support and no experience is necessary. Our volunteers work with us as opposed to for us and we try to accommodate them and their suggestions to the best of our ability.
How can someone get in contact with your organization and learn more about your volunteer abroad opportunities?
To apply for one of our projects or volunteer expeditions please visit www.theconservationco.com and fill out an application form. Or you can e-mail us at info@theconservationco.com for more information.
