The Born Free Foundation regularly receives requests from the general public for information on volunteering opportunities overseas. Wherever possible, we encourage the employment of people native to the region in which we are working, as conservation stands a far better chance of becoming fully supported by communities if local people are direct ‘stakeholders’.
At the same time, international volunteers are an invaluable asset to wildlife conservation and we want to encourage people with the desire and motivation to make a difference. Listed below are volunteer schemes offered by Born Free sponsored projects:
Three-week to three-month opportunities are available for enthusiastic individuals who would like to help a new, exciting project in the heart of Malawi. The new facility is being developed to care for the country's orphaned and injured animals; the mission being to return them to the wild wherever possible. The facility offers a unique opportunity for Malawians to better understand and appreciate wildlife conservation and animal rehabilitation work. See the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre page for more details about the work being done by this project.
Volunteers can chose from a variety of jobs working alongside their Malawian counterparts, including feeding, cleaning, enrichment, hand rearing, veterinary care, research, fundraising, and education. A recently developed programme also offers opportunities for volunteers to join a community outreach team that will be taking environmental, health and conservation education into rural schools and communities. The programme shall also provide veterinary care for rural community domestic animals and animal welfare education. All volunteer contributions go directly to feeding and caring for the animals.
In partnership with Land and Lake Safaris (www.landlake.net), the Wildlife Centre is able to offer its volunteers very special rates to one of Africa's finest National Parks, South Luangwa National Park (Zambia) and opportunities to dive on Lake Malawi; prices that will make your financial contribution to the project even more worthwhile. For more information visit the Volunteer Support Info page, or to apply please contact the project directly at Contact Us.
Supported by Born Free, this rescue and rehabilitation project North of Kafue National Park works towards the release of vervet monkeys and yellow baboons back into the wild and offers volunteer opportunities of varying lengths of stay. Please contact Cheryl Mvula (cdmvula@aol.com) for more details. To read more about the work being done by this project, please visit the Lunga Luswishi Wildlife Project page.
Another primate rescue and rehabilitation project with which Born Free works, the Limbe Wildlife Centre provides sanctuary to chimpanzees and gorillas. It runs its own volunteer programme, candidates for which should contact the project directly via info@limbewildlife.org. See the Limbe Wildlife Centre page for more details about the work being done there.
Anyone interested in working at either the Colobus Trust protecting rare monkeys in Kenya, or Shamwari Wildlife Reserve, South Africa (home to Born Free’s Big Cat Rescue Centres) should contact Worldwide Experience (www.worldwideexperience.com), an independent travel operator, for more details.
Disclaimer: Born Free takes all reasonable measures to ensure the well being of participating volunteers and draws attention to the advice and notices given in advance. Born Free promotes only those project volunteer schemes that have adequate health and safety protocols in place to accept, and take responsibility for volunteers. Born Free accepts no liability for any loss, harm or injury of any sort arising from, or in connection with, participation in the volunteer activity.
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