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Location
Multiple Locations +4
  • South Africa
    • Knysna
  • Uganda
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
Length
2 to 12 weeks
Project Types
Community Development Sports Youth Conservation Marine Conservation Environmental Conservation Wildlife Conservation Education Teaching Health Education Health Medical HIV Elderly Care +4

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
17
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)

Pricing

Starting Price
695
Price Details
Program costs start from 695 USD for a 2 week program
What's Included
Accommodation Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Oct 03, 2018
Jun 07, 2018
Wish List
7 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Community, Medical & Teaching: In South Africa you can assist with meaningful projects that empower people in disadvantaged communities; help Pre-school children learn important skills, giving them the best start in life; or encourage local kids to keep active and healthy by running sports workshops in the local community. If you are studying or working in the field of medicine, nursing or health sciences, then join us in Uganda and assist at local hospitals and clinics; making a real difference in the lives of the local people.

Conservation & Wildlife: Join us in South Africa, Namibia or Mozambique - giving you the chance to experience some of the most beautiful habitats in Africa! From coastal and forest monitoring, to diving on coral reefs, to studying Africa's majestic mammals; whether you are simply hoping to gain hands on experience, or looking to collect data for a dissertation project, our conservation & wildlife research programs have something for everyone!

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Video and Photos

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Local children playing in South Africa

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Program Reviews

4.85 Rating
based on 13 reviews
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  • 5 rating 84.62%
  • 4 rating 15.38%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.95
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.7
  • Value 4.85
  • Safety 5
Showing 9 - 13 of 13 reviews
Default avatar
Melissa
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

amazing! you'll never find a better program!

Jan 24, 2012

Edge of africa is simply amazing! I've volunteered with them 3 times now and I'm currently still here as i decided to stay for a year this time as they are just that great! The work they do here for the community and environment makes such a big impact with everyone involved! they have such a wide variety of programs to choose from, and also plan weekly excursions and nights out so you get to spend time in town and in the surrounding areas. The same is great, you get so much support from then before and during your stay, they are there for you all the time and make you feel right at home. Would definitely recommend this program to anyone it will change your life in the most positive and best way! :)

51 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Heidi
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing

Jan 23, 2012

I cannot express enough how amazing my time was volunteering with Edge of Africa. I spent 6 weeks with the organisation on an events and community placement. On my first day In Knysna we were taken on a projects tour where you could see exactly what Edge has done for the local community particularly with the work they do with the pre-schools and youth centers. Each and every single member of staff working at Edge were amazing! From the minute we arrived everyone was so welcoming, it took no time at all to fit in, they were always there to help you and listen, never did I feel like I couldn't go and speak to one of them. As well as doing so much for us, including running us around whether that be down into the town or on excursions at the weekend. As for the food we were provided I cannot fault it at all, something different everyday and all stuff I had never had before, it was amazing. The social life was also great, I only knew a couple of people when I came out to South Africa but met so many people all who I am still in touch with. Although the night life in town was limited we still had the best time with the group of people we were with and not one point did I feel unsafe. Edge made sure we were fully looked after at all times 24 hours a day 7 days a week, a member of staff was always on hand should we need to contact someone. As for the projects they were all amazing, I spent most my time at the Sinethemba youth center when not working on my events placement. The kids absolutely love you from the minute you walk in, it was really sad to leave at the end of my time. Edge of Africa have made a difference to so many lives in the local community, they have everyone's best interests at heart and do everything they can do better the lives of people who are less fortunate than ourselves. Each and every project they run has made a difference and whether it is kids, animals or medicine you are interested in there is something for everyone. I cannot recommend Edge enough as an organisation to volunteer for and I would go back in a heart beat I had the best time ever!

51 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
CaraD1990
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

4 weeks I will never forget!

Jan 23, 2012

I spent 4 weeks with Edge of Africa and every single day was different from the next. I volunteered on the Elephant Conservation programme and had the time of my life. We spent about 3-4 days a week at the elephant sanctuary doing daily tasks from jobs such as mucking out the stables, to painting, observing the ellies and on a few special occasions getting to know the elephants alot better (trunk in hand walks :)). I felt that we really helped to make a difference and the passion and motivation of the Edge of Africa staff really inspires you. Although my main project was the Elephants, we also got to work with the local community which I really enjoyed and this has definatley stuck with me since I left. South Africa was my first stop on a 6 month trip and even though I experienced some amazing things and saw some beautiful places, Edge of Africa was always in the back of my mind and will always have a very special place in my heart! made some awesome friends and opened my eyes up to what I really have a passon for. reccomended to anyone who wants to have fun, work hard and to experience beautiful South Africa first hand :) cant wait to go back!

51 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Sioban
39
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I have volunteered 3 times with Edge of Africa since 2009, and every single time has been simply amazing!! Nothing will ever compare to the overall exsperience!

Jan 19, 2012

My time with Edge of Africa was spent at an outreach program for children called Sinethemba, meaning "we have hope". The highlight of everyday for me was my time spent with the children!! The Edge of Africa staff are also of course, amazing! As is Knysna itself, along with the people in the surrounding communities! At anytime, I would have nothing but great words to say about EOA and the work that the organization does!! Simply spectacular!!

52 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
idube
39
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Loved It!

Nov 1, 2011

I loved my time with EDGE it was very homely and a very fulfilling experience! I will be back some day! the area I volunteered in in South Africa is also beautiful and has something for everyone! I recommend it to anyone!

46 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Jenny Ferris

Program
Community & Conservation Projects in Africa
Jenny Ferris is a teacher on Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada. She took a group of ten youth to volunteer in August 2011. Jenny grew up in South Africa, and lived in England and New Zealand. When she is not teaching in the classroom, she is guiding groups from a kayak in the wilderness or sailing. Her teaching career has been eclectic and spans from the visual and performing arts to the humanities and environmental sciences.

Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with Edge of Africa in South Africa?

Jenny: Our school promotes global service initiatives. I decided to take a group of youth to South Africa and I went online to see if there was a non-profit organization we could help. I found the Edge of Africa website. I proceeded to investigate the possibilities of us connecting with the company.

Describe your day-to-day activities as a volunteer.

Measuring mosquito fish

Jenny: Our group of 10 volunteers and two adults were engaged in conservation initiatives every day. Our students were guided in the preparation of lessons to present to children in schools in the Knysna area, which was followed by them interacting with the local children in hands-on experiences and teaching about the need for conservation and environmental awareness.

What made this volunteer abroad experience unique and special?

Jenny: The experience changed the attitude of all our youth towards the discrepancy between the abundance they live in and the reality of poverty. It also highlighted the wealth of joy present for some who lack the wealth of material assets. I suggest that all volunteers should be open to new perspectives of life, and appreciate that we do not all have the same values or beliefs, but this diversity makes our experiences richer.

How has this experience impacted your future?

Jenny: Two of our youth are from South Africa, and I know that their lives will be altered forever as a result of their experience with the projects. I hope that they will engage in future similar projects. I would welcome continued opportunities to take groups to Knysna and have them engage in the rich experiences that Edge of Africa has to offer. Unfortunately, we live on the other side of the planet, and the cost of travel is very high, so I cannot promise how often we could return. If I had my druthers, I would take groups every year.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Jo Kotze

Program
Community & Conservation Projects in Africa

Tell us a little about Edge of Africa and your role at the company.

Edge of Africa was founded in South Africa in 2007 by Dayne Davey. Dayne was born in Zimbabwe and has always been passionate about Africa’s people and environment. Through her own personal experiences Dayne was motivated to initiate a volunteer organisation that truly benefits local communities and the environment.

Edge of Africa branches have now also been opened in Madagascar and Zimbabwe and our organisation boasts the involvement of volunteers from over 20 different nations globally.

We are a non-government organisation offering volunteers the opportunity to contribute to Africa’s communities and environment. We provide ethical volunteer and internship placements in Africa for those taking gap years or career breaks, university students looking for internship opportunities, and school groups. We don't receive any funding from the government or any other organisations and rely solely on the goodwill and hard work of our team members.

We believe our organisation not only helps satisfy some dire needs in our communities and environment, but also provides exposure to the colourful heritage, cultures and traditions Africa has to offer, with the valuable benefit of making an actual, tangible difference in the lives we touch.

My role includes assisting with the general management of our Knysna (South Africa) Branch and its team members; however my main role in Edge of Africa is Project Development. My responsibilities include identifying projects that align with the ethos of Edge of Africa and outlining clear aims and objectives for those projects; monitoring and evaluating the progress of our projects to ensure that we are in line with our objectives; ensuring that our volunteers have a clear understanding of the objectives of our projects and their role within our projects; and communicating with and maintaining good relationships with community members and any other stakeholders.

How did you get involved in the volunteer industry?

I initially became involved with the volunteer industry through my passion for conservation. I have a degree in Animal Conservation Science and during my free time whilst at university I chose to volunteer on various conservation projects. Through one of these volunteer opportunities I discovered Edge of Africa and I never looked back! Within days of volunteering with this organisation I knew this was my calling and I couldn’t imagine ever not being a part of Edge of Africa and so I went from being a short term volunteer, to a long term volunteer, and eventually became a permanent team member!

In your experience, what characteristics make a good international volunteer?

To me the number one most important requirement of a volunteer is that they share the vision of the organisation and the projects that they plan to be involved in. For example many people who consider volunteering (often with good intentions) hold a belief that they are going to come in and “save Africa” – the problem with this is that the very suggestion that Africa needs “saving” instils a sense of self-worthlessness in the community and does not align with the vision of Edge of Africa which is to empower local communities.

I think that other characteristics that make a good volunteer are willingness to get stuck in with all aspects of a project; the ability to take initiative and go the extra mile in order to benefit the project they are involved in; an understanding that they are often contributing to a bigger picture (“Rome wasn’t built in a day!”); and the ability to show sensitivity and open-mindedness towards all cultures and traditions.

I think that a good volunteer puts the needs of the project first – choosing to volunteer is rarely an entirely selfless act, for most people part of their motivation to volunteer is because they want to experience new things and meet new people and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this at all, gaining something for yourself is part of the experience but I believe that the number one priority of a volunteer should be to benefit the projects they are involved with.

What does the future hold for Edge of Africa?

We are currently working towards the establishment of the Edge of Africa Academy. To have a local academy has always been a dream of the Edge of Africa Team - the key aims of this Academy are to provide a safe and inspiring space where children can learn, develop and have the freedom to excel; to provide a channel for business empowerment opportunities for adults; and to form a trust which will enable Academy members to apply for bursaries for tertiary education or to further their career path.

Although we do not yet have the Academy building (this is something we hope the near future will hold!) we are putting the model for the Academy into practice. For example we have developed business models for small businesses that will employ local community

About Edge of Africa

EDGE of AFRICA is committed to ethical volunteering and responsible traveling, providing volunteer and internship placements in Africa for gap years, career breaks, university internships, school groups and corporate team building projects. EDGE of AFRICA is all about EMPOWERING communities; INSPIRING conservation; and RESTORING biodiversity.

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