Primate-Jobs
Positions Available

APES/Umpalazi Project: Volunteer in South Africa

Hiring Organization:
APES/Umpalazi: Combined Community & Wildlife Project

Date Posted:
2009-04-22

Position Description:
The APES /Umpalazi: Community and Wildlife Project is set on a breathtaking 18,000 acres, in the South African bush, Umpalazi is bursting with potential; both as a home and as a future refuge for wildlife.

Both projects border a future Big 5 Game Reserve that will one day compare with Kruger National Park, without being over-commercialized. It is situated approximately 17 kms from an old established town, called Greytown in the midlands of Kwazulu/Natal, yet is secluded amongst the magic of nature.

The APES/Umpalazi: Community & Wildlife Project endeavours to provide skills training for local rural Zulu community members. This is carried out with the help of volunteers who help train the selected local community members, whilst transforming Umpalazi's facilities as a wildlife sanctuary. (The number of local Zulu people hired depends on the number of international volunteers due to our limited funds).

This is a joint project with the Animal Protection and Environmental Sanctuary (A.P.E.S.) as co-founders, Dawn Magowan and Rodney Pendleton, will be releasing certain wildlife at Umpalazi when possible; and to get volunteers involved with wildlife conservation. APES focuses on the rehabilitation of primates (primarily the South African Vervet Monkey - Cercopithecus aethiops) and other wildlife, and are committed to community upliftment and environmental education.

The APES/Umpalazi: Community & Wildlife Project also carries out snare/trap clearing (in nearby forest and bush areas); game counts; bird watching and maintenance of the non- releasable vervet monkeys and others by creating 'feeding stations' when necessary (to supplement the diet of the nearby wild vervet monkeys due to their continued loss of habitat; this eliminates the need for the primates to steal food, an act which could result in their death at human hands).

There are also opportunities for volunteers to assist at nearby rural Zulu schools (environmental education etc.), to help local AIDS workers, and to participate in an up-coming project involving more intensive snare/trap clearing in forest plantations, invasive weed removal and other environmental management activities.

Sanctuary Duties:
- General animal care
- Monkey food preparation & enclosure cleaning
- Rescue and rehabilitation of monkeys and other animals, both domestic and wildlife.
- Closer observation/contact with the monkeys that cannot be released due to injury.
- Livestock food preparation & feeding (including domestic pets- dogs, cats, cows, donkeys, ducks, geese, chickens, etc..)
- Fixing/constructing animal enclosures
- Maintenance of feeding station in order to supplement the diet of the nearby wild vervet monkeys (necessary due to their continued loss of habitat). This eliminates the need for the monkeys to steal food, an act which could result in their death at human hands
- Snare/Trap clearing (in nearby forest/bush areas)
- Walk & Game counting ( there is a wide variety of game in the area)
- Bird watching


Renovation Duties:

Umpalazi is in disrepair as it has been unoccupied for a year so there is much to work on, volunteers can choose to be involved in renovation and skills training, including:

- Painting
- Small-scale building
- General repairs, fencing etc.
- Interior decorating
- Dam-wall reconstruction


Other (optional) Duties:

- Participation in an up-coming project involving more intensive snare/trap clearing in forest plantations, invasive weed removal and other environmental management activities.
- Assistance at local rural Zulu school- environmental education (i.e. recycling ), maintenance work etc.
- Skills training when possible:

-- The aim is not only to create jobs to help improve the standard of living and the lives of local rural people, but also to provide long-term community upliftment.

-- The local rural Zulu community members will join this initiative to learn various skills from the volunteers. This is an excellent upliftment project that will create a positive ripple effect throughout the whole community.

-- The individuals involved thus have the opportunity to build on their skills, providing an income and/or the ability to teach others.

-- Any help would be welcome and appreciated.

Please Note: since the project was formed Umpalazi has been badly vandalised and will be a very long term project, funds permitting we hope to restore it as it never had access to electricity. We hope to install solar and or gas facilities enabling people to stay here and will provide for a more environmentally friendly facility.


For information regarding volunteering or donating please contact Dawn direct on apes1@gom.co.za or visit the website www.apes.org.za

Qualifications/Experience:
* A love of animals and the environment.
* A willingness to learn and be a part of a communal environment.
* Previous experience is appreciated but not necessary.

Salary/funding:
Cost (GBP): £610 per month
* 50% deposit is required upon acceptance to the Umpalazi Project.
* The remaining 50% is required at least 2 weeks before intended arrival date.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
* All meals are provided (excluding snacks, sweets etc.)
* Basic but comfortable accommodation is provided.
* Male/female accommodation is separate unless in a couple.
* Laundry will be done once weekly.
* In-country orientation/Training
* In-country staff support

Term of Appointment:
Minimum 4 weeks

Application Deadline:
none

Comments:
Postal Address:
Post Office Box 443 Greytown 3250, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Contact Information:
Dawn Magowan
Greytown (Umvoti), KwaZulu-Natal 3250
South Africa

Telephone Number:
(+27) 033 413 2219 / (+27) 072 306 5664

Website:
http://www.apes.org.za

E-mail Address:
apes1@gom.co.za