Vuna Valley Ventures

1. CRAGS VIEW WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE

Crags View Wild CareCentre, a wild life rehabilitation sanctuary, is situated on a small farm, bordering the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, It is a registered  NPO affiliated with EKZN Wildlife and is under the dedicated watch of Graig Hosken who  established this centre and devotes his life to the rehabilitation and release of injured wildlife that have sustained their injuries and stress due to human influence. www.cragsview.co.za

Patients include antelope, from the protected blue duiker to bush buck, as well as a variety of birds and small mammals indigenous to the lower south coast.

Wildlife in the lower south coast region is under tremendous and constant pressure from burgeoning development, with resultant habitat loss and the complication of construction and farm workers setting snares to supplement the pot but unfortunately due to the number of snares laid a vast amount of animals caught in the snares are left to die a slow and painful death.

Another heavy threat is that posed by mass organized weekend hunting parties. These hunts are largely illegal, non-sustainable and take place across private and reserve land regardless, with many heads of antelope being shot at each hunt.

Once mended and again healthy, the animals are released into safe areas where they may be conserved for future generations. Keeping the Centre on track is an intensive, hands-on project that relies purely on donations and of many man hours and volunteer support.

YOUR PARTICIPATION/ASSIGNMENT

* General assistance in animal care e.g. feeding

* Building maintenance – general maintenance of buildings and animal enclosures plus assistance in erecting new structures for the animals and birds and general maintenance of grounds.

* Working and maintaining the vegetable garden in order to provide food for the animals plus this veggie garden is linked to a soup kitchen feeding local crèches and the H.E.L.P. foundation.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

A passion, love and belief in the conservancy of our wild life animals. Student vets are welcome. Support and education is given to volunteers but as there are so many different levels where your support and dedication will make a difference, no specific qualifications are required.

                              2. HELP FOUNDATION:                           

“MISSION STATEMENT – WE STRIVE TO CARE AND ASSIST THOSE IN OUR AREA WHO ARE HOMELESS. ORPHANED, NEGLECTED, HUNGRY, DISABLED, ADDICTED, ABUSED OR GENERALLY IN NEED OF HELP.

WE DEPLORE POVERTY THAT ATTACKS AND AFFECTS THE DESPERATELY VULNERABLE WHO LACK THE MEANS OR KNOWLEDGE TO PROTECT OR FEED THEMSELVES”

* Organic farming vegetable garden

* Supporting and assisting in the various feeding schemes

* Assisting with skills development and helping with creating sustainable work projects ,e.g. craft manufacturing, education with  rotational organic veggie gardens etc. All skills passed on will enrich and educate .

SKILLS REQUIRED:

* A large dose of passion to work, educate and support some of the most impoverished families.

* Student Social workers, nurses,

* Horticulture,

* There are so many different levels of support required that no real experience  is required other than your love, energy and time to make real everyday differences.

 3. THONGAZI PRIMARY SCHOOL & CRECHE

Thongazi Primary School  provides education for students ranging in age from six to eighteen and their needs are many and diverse.

* Assistance in the classrooms – student teachers but qualifications to assist is not a requirement.

* After school activities which include sports and cultural events.

* Office administration work

* Playground assistance and duties

THONGAZI Primary School has a Girl Guide and Boy Scout program which has been going for a number of years and they need assistance with the following:

* Monitoring activities, playing skills games and giving advice  on new projects

* Supervising outings

* Building self –confidence,  enabling the students to achieve in their daily lives.

GENERAL PROJECTS:

An important component is to teach people skills that allow them to provide for themselves with a key focus on sustainability, e.g. eco paper manufacturing made from available natural fibres, beading, metalwork, woodwork and any skill that may be taught and passed down e.g. shoe repairs, basic IT knowledge etc.

Please let us know what knowledge or qualifications you have when booking to volunteer so we may place you in the best possible self help project.

4. THE SOUTH COAST CONSERVANCY.

The South Coast Conservancy is responsible for many conservancy projects along the south coast with particular emphasis on the Red Desert Nature Reserve, which is part of the Maputoland Pondodiversity Hotspot, recently proclaimed by SANBI and Conservation International as a critical ecosystem with an area that extends from the beach and is rich in marine environment, grasslands, Umtamvuna River, Izolwane River with its cascades and waterfalls, fresh water swamps, river forests and a resident population of reedbuck, blue and grey duiker and numerous other wildlife.