PROJECTS:

We don't just go rushing ahead and creating part-time volunteer opportunities to please our voluntary workers. We don't go around looking for kids with runny noses, creches in need of assistance, alien plants to be eradicated and HIV patients requiring a bit of sympathy just to act the part. We don't get our volunteers involved in services that offer them a sense of goodwill while they're over here, but then slowly dissolve as soon as they leave back home.

Our projects are all sustainable and continue long after volunteers' footsteps have been washed off our beaches. These valuable programmes are either self-initiated within existing organisations in response to a dire need for upliftment and empowerment, or they are independently established by the Edge of Africa team.

Our volunteer projects are categorised under Conservation, Community and Sport, with some outreach programmes offering a combination of various projects.

Conservation Edge assists valid, scientifically based, conservation efforts and research in Africa - involving communities and supporting local initiatives. These projects include wildlife research, elephant specific research, big five wildlife projects, game reserve volunteering placements, conservation projects in Africa, community conservation and conservation education in local schools.

Community Edge entails self sustaining projects, which move away from the hand-out culture that has been generated by travellers to Africa. Instead, we aim to empower locals to help themselves through self motivation and education. These projects include working in pre-schools, teaching English, building schools , empowering disadvantaged youth, women empowerment, business development and HIV/AIDS awareness.

Sports Edge strives to develop skills within local communities through the universal language of sport. With training we develop personal focus and the ability to work as a team. The result is moving the emphasis from what we dont have to what we can do. The dedication we witness from the children is exceptional.

FUNDING:

Edge of Africa is fully supported by past and present volunteers. We are not a government organisation, although we do align with numerous government institutions to develop our projects and assist where possible. We thus do not receive any funding from the government or any other organisation. We rely totally on the goodwill and hard work of our volunteers and team members, and the financial contributions from volunteers.

Paying to volunteer allows us to cover our basic costs, as well as develop projects that are sustainable even long after the volunteers have left. This results in making an honest, real difference in the various project fields. For the volunteers, paying for their volunteering also still costs considerably less than it would if they were to visit the country as mere tourists with the added benefit of leaving a very valuable footprint behind.