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#Gained confidence in my personal abilities #A unique experience bonding with animals #Moved by people who genuinely care for animals
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It was moving to see people who care for and love animals come together to work for them. Working with good people, I realized that my abilities were greater than I thought, I gained the belief that I can do even better than I do now!
My own holiday enjoying wildlife in South Africa! Jang Se-young, gapper (23 / university student) / 1-week South Africa wildlife conservation volunteer gap year |
Hello! I''m a university student who went on an overseas volunteer trip to South Africa before returning to school!
Hello! I am a gap-year participant who joined a South Africa wildlife rescue overseas volunteer project before returning to university.
I originally wanted to travel somewhere a little different from the usual destinations my college friends visit. So I chose South Africa and, while searching for projects and activities that could only be done locally, I discovered Korea Gap Year.I participated in this project because it offered the opportunity to work directly with wildlife and volunteer in South Africa!
*For Jang Se-young, who wanted a special volunteering experience and time to reflect on her future and consider her direction,she was given daily customized one-on-one personal missions — activities for unique challenges, opportunities to ponder life''s direction and some relaxed time — and was also provided with a Gap Year Note to reflect and make plans.
With half of my university life gone and still unsure what I want to do, I wanted to try completely new things!
The reason I joined this South Africa volunteer project was that, halfway through university and still unsure what I wanted to do, I decided to try things I hadn''t done before! If I had to state a goal, it was to see whether I could carry out completely new tasks on my own, instead of the usual studying and work!
So before departing for South Africa I searched for all kinds of South Africa-related content. I watched many wildlife documentaries and prepared for departure by checking the websites and reviews of the local volunteer centers.
It was moving that people who care about animals gathered to work for wildlife!
During my wildlife rescue volunteering in South Africa, I appreciated that none of the people I worked with did things half-heartedly; they volunteered for tasks and didn''t pass them on to others.
Also, I think this was possible because volunteer projects among gap-year programs tend to attract many good people.Furthermore, it was moving that people who love and care for animals, regardless of job or race, came together to work for them.Since the volunteers weren''t professionals, there was more helping work than direct interaction with animals, but I was touched by the staff who praised and smiled, saying things like ''you did well'' and ''thank you'' even for small tasks! :)
What was life like in South Africa?
Volunteering started at 8 AM. We divided into teams to clean the stables, the elephant enclosure, and the rhino enclosure, then had breakfast at 9. After eating and until lunch, teams carried out activities like pulling weeds or cutting trees to tidy up habitats, or training that allowed direct interaction with animals. After lunch we worked similarly to the morning and fed the animals to end the day. It usually finished between 4 and 5 PM, after which we had dinner and free time!
Through this overseas volunteering, I gained confidence in myself!
Through this overseas volunteer program, I realized that an individual''s abilities are greater than I had imagined.Unlike before, when I thought, ''This is my limit,'' or ''I can''t do better than this,'' and didn''t try very hard,I now have the belief that I can do better than I do now.
And I found myself reflecting on whether I had been living without enough urgency until now.From now on, I want to be someone who doesn''t brush off opportunities that come my way but cherishes them and delivers the best possible results.
People I met during the South Africa wildlife rescue overseas volunteer program!
The volunteers who arrived on the same day as me were mostly around my age or people who joined while working; although our ages and nationalities were all different, we treated each other like friends.Among the many volunteers I met locally, there were some whose personalities were similar to mine and whom I became especially close with; I particularly remember the times at the accommodation after a day''s work when we slowly talked and came to understand one another.
My personal South Africa travel recommendations!
During the volunteer program there is a group visit to Montecasino (Excursion day), which is said to be a place where you can safely enjoy nightlife in Johannesburg, where walking around at night can be dangerous.If you can participate in the Excursion day, I recommend going to Montecasino with the other volunteers; if you can''t join, it''s also fine to visit on your own after the project ends. (I didn''t visit due to lack of time.)
*You can only pay for activities on Excursion day with cash. Some popular activities charge extra, so I recommend bringing at least 100 rand in cash!
When the overseas volunteer project ends you''ll depart from O.R. Tambo Airport; I also recommend visiting Cape Town via a domestic flight to do some traveling.If Johannesburg''s main points are museums related to South African history, then Cape Town''s main travel draw is natural scenery you can''t see in Korea.Opportunities to go to Africa are not common, so rather than just doing the gap year project and leaving, I recommend experiencing local culture and doing some traveling!! :)
My personal tips for preparing for a South Africa overseas volunteer program!
- Language
During the volunteer work, basic English skills were completely sufficient!
- Accommodation & Meals
You can have your personal clothes washed for free once a week; if you leave them in the morning they''ll be returned in the evening or the next morning. Breakfast was a basic American-style spread with cereal and toast. The menu changed a bit each day, but after working hard volunteering you''ll be hungry and anything tastes good. If you''re a vegetarian and tell them before the program, they provide a separate vegetarian menu. Also, the coffee that was always available was really delicious!
- What to bring
I brought a lot of shorts thinking it would be hot, but long leggings were actually more comfortable and safer! I also recommend bringing a personal water bottle — you can fill it with cold water from the accommodation and keep it in the fridge to take to volunteering. A handkerchief was useful, too. A small hip bag worn around the waist is convenient for carrying sunglasses and small personal items. Besides sturdy sneakers for volunteering, having lightweight slippers or sandals is nice to wear during downtime after volunteering.
My South Africa volunteer gap year was:
Experience★★★★★
: It was an experience that isn''t easy to have in everyday life! When I actually tried things I hadn''t done before in an unfamiliar environment, I realized they weren''t as difficult as I thought.
Learning★★★★
: While volunteering, I learned a lot of new things about the animals. It was also a time to be reminded of how important each person''s role is when living in a group!
Safety★★★★
: It''s really safe unless someone acts out and stands out on their own!
Leisure★★★★
: There''s plenty of downtime and it''s deep in nature, so it''s quiet. It was great for resting peacefully. For the Excuration day I mentioned above, I think it''s fine to sign up for at least one outdoor activity! haha
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
