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Great 4.41rating (19)

Penguin Rescue and Rehabilitation Assistant

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Work hands-on with sick or injured endangered African Penguins protecting the biggest colony of these beautiful birds in the world!
  • Observe how they will re-learn how to catch fish independently after being made fit and fat by the loving hands of volunteers.
  • Be part of the conservation efforts to protect our endangered penguins and help us to preserve our natural treasure!

Highlights

  • Work hands-on with sick or injured endangered African Penguins protecting the biggest colony of these beautiful birds in the world!
  • Observe how they will re-learn how to catch fish independently after being made fit and fat by the loving hands of volunteers.
  • Be part of the conservation efforts to protect our endangered penguins and help us to preserve our natural treasure!
  • Explore local South African life and beautiful nature and wildlife in the area with fellow volunteers!
  • Emerge yourself in a truly worthy cause that protects vulnerable marine wildlife such as the Penguins as well as various marine birds.

  • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    The Penguin Rehab and Conservation center in Port Elizabeth serves as the rescue center for the endangered African Penguins.

    About the Program

    The South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SANCCOB), a non-profit organization in Port Elizabeth, South Africa; is focused on the care of sick or injured African Penguins (also known as Jackass Penguins) as well as other marine birds such as gannets, cormorants ...

    About the program

    About the Program

    The South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SANCCOB), a non-profit organization in Port Elizabeth, South Africa; is focused on the care of sick or injured African Penguins (also known as Jackass Penguins) as well as other marine birds such as gannets, cormorants and seagulls. The work of SANCCOB is vital for the safety of the largest breeding colony of African Penguins in the world which is situated on St Croix Island right off the shore of Port Elizabeth in the Indian Ocean.

    This is the only centre in Port Elizabeth that has the capacity to collect washed-up penguins who are sick, hurt or exhausted; and to treat any diseases they may have, give them a vitamin boost, fatten them up and release them into the bay again.

    They will re-learn how to catch fish independently with a definite advantage, being made fit and fat by volunteers.

    There are currently only 25 000 breeding pairs of African Penguins left in the world, and 21000 of those are mostly right here on our doorstep in Algoa Bay.

    The centre’s purpose isn´t just to rescue and rehabilitate, but also to inform and educate the general public through their different programs. The extensive displays at the centre give tourists, school groups and other visitors the opportunity to learn about these endangered birds but also a wider variety of marine life in the beautiful and incredibly diverse Algoa Bay.

    Volunteers are needed for the diversity of tasks that come with caring for the penguins and other rescued birds, as well as the educational purpose of the centre. Volunteers will feed and clean the penguins, maintain their enclosures, welcome visitors and guide them through the educational centre, go out on occasional rescues and assist with releases. 


    HOW CAN I HELP?

    Fundraising & Donations 

    Fundraising is an ongoing task when running non-profit programs. You will be charged for a compulsory donation, but if you feel motivated to do even more just let us know and we will provide any information you might need. Volunteer your time and energy! 

    Days: 

    The centre is open 365 days of the year and needs volunteers throughout the year. Volunteers work 5 days per week from Monday to Sunday from about 8h00-17h00 with a lunch break 13h00-14h00 and short tea breaks during the morning and afternoon. This means that you will be asked to work on weekends but then you will have two days off during the week. Some days might start earlier or later and in summertime, due to the heat, hours can change. 

    Supervision: 

    You will be supervised by our Volunteer Coordinators who will pick you up upon arrival, make sure you are settled in, show you around the city and prepare your work activities at SANCCOB. They will transfer you to and from the project, make sure the shopping is done and organize fun outings for the weekends. At SANCCOB your work will be supervised by one of the staff members who will allocate daily tasks and activities to you. They will also be the people to report to in the mornings and sign out before you leave again at the end of the day.


    BUT IS SOUTH AFRICA SAFE?

    Despite general ideas of South Africa being very unsafe, it is important to know that South Africa is known to many as very friendly and welcoming. But please remember that you must realise that in big cities you must stick to a certain behaviour to avoid complicated situations. As 70% of people live in poverty and few are extremely rich, the differences in life and hope for a better future creates a situation that fuels crime, lack of education, substance abuse, domestic violence and many more problems. 

    Your safety is very important, and your host will look after you to the best of their ability. We do expect you to do your bit and keep to our safety guidelines. Common sense if you best friend when it comes to safety, but here are a few guidelines:

    • Do not walk alone or at night, use an Uber.
    • Walk in a group where possible and stay on roads where you are in sight of other people.
    • Do not walk around with visible valuables.
    • Do not carry a backpack on your stomach; it shows you have valuables and are a tourist.
    • Be confident and know where you are going without standing on corners looking at your phone.
    • Have a phone on you but do not walk around while calling.
    • The project manager at the project will give you additional guidelines that must be followed.

    WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED FROM ME?

    It is important that volunteers:
    • Are physically fit and able to stand for a full shift
    • Are comfortable with getting dirty
    • Are willing to work in all weather conditions, often outside
    • Can work in a team as well as independently
    • Can follow Standard Operating Procedures
    • Are reliable and accountable
    • Are of a compassionate and caring nature with a love for seabirds
    • Can work well under pressure
    • Are at least 18 years old
    • Are up to date with their tetanus vaccination
    • Have consulted with their doctor before volunteering if they are pregnant, on medication or allergic to animal dander or detergent.
    • Persons with chronic respiratory ailments or impaired kidneys or liver should avoid working around crude oil. This project is not for the faint-hearted. The birds are wild and will bite at any opportunity. Learning how to work with birds is a bit like riding a bike... the more you practice the better you become. Volunteers should know that commitment is the key to learning how to handle and feed birds.

    THINGS TO CONSIDER

    Visa 
    Most countries will get a free visa upon arrival in South Africa, please check if you are unsure and note that visas are the responsibility of the volunteer, and that Go with Khaya can not be held responsible for clients being denied entry, should they not be in the possession of the relevant visa. 
    In general, the rule applies that any stay of longer than 90 days in South Africa will require you to apply for a visa before departure. If you plan to stay shorter than 90 days most nationalities receive a free visa upon arrival in Johannesburg or Cape Town airport which can be extended for another 90 days (total of 180 days) in South Africa at VFS Services. All travellers must be in possession of a valid onward/return air ticket.

    Passport 
    South Africa insists on people having 2-free pages available when you enter. Keep this in mind if you are going to fly home from South Africa after completing a tour to multiple African countries. Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months after your date of departure from Africa. You are personally responsible for ensuring that passports, visas, vaccination certificates and other travel documents are in order and for all costs relating thereto.

    Vaccines 
    Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) is a malaria free area. We do have mosquitoes in summertime, but they are more of an annoyance. For other vaccines we recommend that you contact your local physician or travel clinic for information and advice.

    Weather 
    The weather in this part of Africa can be diverse and summers can get warm, while winters can get quite cold. Port Elizabeth has a very moderate climate though due to the ocean currents and winds, cooling things down on those hot summer days. Not what everybody expects of Africa but bring a jacket and warm sweater to be prepared for some of those colder days, if you come in our winter months (June, July, and August).

    Summer (Dec, Jan and Feb) 16 – 40 ̊ Celsius = Autumn (Mar, April and May) 10 - 32 ̊ Celsius 
    Winter (June, July and Aug) 8 - 25 ̊ Celsius = Spring (Sep, Oct and Nov) 10 - 32 ̊ Celsius

    Insurance 
    Accidents can happen to anyone. Make sure to get comprehensive travel and medical insurance.

    Alcohol 
    We allow alcohol to be enjoyed at the accommodation but only for those of 18 years and older. Volunteers under the age of 18 are not allowed to drink alcohol as per South African.

    Law 
    We do not allow any parties or gatherings at the house where alcohol is consumed and advise you to go out to enjoy yourself and to drink responsibly.
    At this project volunteers work with children who are exposed to alcoholism and all the negative results of it. For this reason, volunteers will not be allowed to participate if they smell like alcohol in any way.

    Drugs 
    Using or possessing drugs is illegal in South Africa and we have a zero-tolerance policy so if we become aware of this, you will unfortunately no longer be welcome at our accommodation or program.

    Disclaimer 
    Go with Khaya commits itself to always offer accurate and correct information, but please keep in mind that information can change, and all projects can be subject to change regarding their programs and/or accommodation arrangements.



    Typical day

    As a volunteer you will generally work closely with the people who work at the rehabilitation centre from 8.30AM until 5PM including the following tasks.

    • Hands-on work with penguins and other marine birds
    • Assistance on educational visitor tours
    • Cleaning and feeding of the penguins
    • Helping to release ...

    Typical day

    As a volunteer you will generally work closely with the people who work at the rehabilitation centre from 8.30AM until 5PM including the following tasks.

    • Hands-on work with penguins and other marine birds
    • Assistance on educational visitor tours
    • Cleaning and feeding of the penguins
    • Helping to release rehabilitated birds
    • General, centre-related tasks
    General 
    • Welcoming visitors 
    • Answering the phone and office duties (filing, taking, and delivering phone messages, printing, copy work, receiving deliveries, data capturing, stocktake, postage, communication with suppliers etc.)
    • Attending to “Bird Calls” (phone calls relating to birds in need of rescue) 
    • Assisting with emails  Guiding visitors and school groups through the center 
    • Helping at the coffee shop when needed 
    • Centre maintenance duties 
    Fundraising 
    • Capture visitor’s data into database 
    • Filing 
    • Thank you letters to donors 
    • Tracking donations from donors 
    • Assisting in creating Penguin adoption packs 
    • Assist with tin collection program
    Sea school 
    • Teaching the visiting children about the center 
    • Helping with rock pool and shipwreck lessons 
    • Looking after displays and educational material 
    Bird hospital 
    • Maintaining a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness in the rehabilitation centre. 
    • Scrubbing and cleaning the bird hospital facilities 
    • Washing and drying of laundry 
    • Cleaning equipment used in food preparation and feeding 
    • Defrosting and preparing fish for a variety of seabird species. 
    • Preparing and administering medication to different bird species.
    • Feeding the penguins and other birds (force feeding and free feeding) 
    • Hydrating (tubing) different bird species. 
    • Assisting in maintaining the permanent bird exhibit (scrubbing rocks, raking sand and food preparation) 
    • Cleaning and caring for the birds that are brought in 
    • Catching and handling of different bird species. 
    • Assisting with bird release preparation 
    • Joining the staff (when possible) at rescues in the Port Elizabeth area

    Volunteers work 5 days per week from Monday to Sunday from about 8h00-17h00 with a lunch break 13h00-14h00 and short tea breaks during the morning and afternoon. This means that you will be asked to work on weekends but then you will have two days off during the week. Some days might start earlier or later and in summertime, due to the heat, hours can change.


    Free-time activities

    The Eastern Cape and the Port Elizabeth area are like a treasure trove of natural wonders, making PE the ultimate pit stop for exploring South Africa's diverse landscapes. As the location of PE is well situated for seeing a wide variety of sights, it is much more favorable to see the diversity of ...

    Free-time activities

    The Eastern Cape and the Port Elizabeth area are like a treasure trove of natural wonders, making PE the ultimate pit stop for exploring South Africa's diverse landscapes. As the location of PE is well situated for seeing a wide variety of sights, it is much more favorable to see the diversity of South Africa than Cape Town.

    You can venture East to the untamed Wild Coast or discover the famous Addo Elephant Park within only an hours drive. Or you can head North to the vast Karoo, a desert oasis boasting historical gems like Graaff Reinet and the enchanting Baviaanskloof Wilderness. Travel West to the Garden Route towards Cape Town and be enchanted by the Tsitsikamma National Park, charming holiday spots like Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, or catch some waves in the legendary Jeffrey’s Bay. With so much beauty to uncover, your itinerary will never be dull!

    We will offer various weekend outings and day trips during your stay and its up to you to decide to join us. Just remember, your weekend adventures aren't part of our package, and you can choose to join in (or not)!


    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (basic level)

    Required Documents

    Short resume

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    It is important that volunteers: -Are physically fit and able to stand for a full shift, comfortable with getting dirty, willing to work in all weather conditions, often outside, reliable and accountable, compassionate and caring nature with a love for seabirds and up to date with their tetanus vaccination. -Can work in a team as well as independently, follow Standard Operating Procedures, and work well under pressure.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 08:30 - 17:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    Included in your fees:

    • Information and assistance before departure
    • Airport pick up upon arrival and drop off at the end of your stay
    • City Tour and Introduction Program
    • Shared accommodation in our beautiful volunteer house
    • 3 basic meals a day (family style)
    • Daily transport to-and-from the project
    • Volunteer T-Shirt from SANCOBB with a name badge

    Excluded from your fees: 

    • Private Luxuries (snacks, cool drinks, etc.) 
    • Costs for weekend outings to safari parks etc. 
    • Air tickets 
    • Insurance 
    • Laundry service
    • Donation to the project (this will be added to your final invoice) First 4 weeks at 180USD and 35 USD for each additional week.

    Airport Pickup at Port Elizabeth International Airport

    Airport arrivals and departures are included in the fees and we will personally meet you with a sign with your name on it so you can't miss us!


    Accommodation

    The volunteer house in Port Elizabeth is a gorgeous home with loads of space.  Whether you prefer to unwind in the garden, at the pool or in the lounge; this home has a special place for everyone. 

    The home was built in grand old architectural style and is decorated with modern touches. There are 5 large bedrooms with male and females having their own rooms and bathrooms. A sparkling pool for summer and a fireplace for winter, what more do you need?

    The property is well secured (electric fencing and security company) and superbly located within walking distance of the beach, various restaurants, laundry & shops, it has fast wifi and plenty of spaces to unwind and relax.

    If you would like a private room as a single traveller or as a couple, please let us know and we will advise you on availability and potential surcharges.

    Food & Beverages

    Our cook will provide all meals at the volunteer house on a daily basis. This means you will be able to enjoy great South African home cooked meal & learn how to cook some of these specialties if you are keen to jump in.

    Our cook will create weekly menus with evening meals like stews, curries, stir-fry, soups, pastas and other wholesome options. Meals will be prepared and cooked from Monday to Friday, where on weekends volunteers will only have to heat up a meal or make their own similar meals with all ingredients provided. For breakfast you can have toast, fruit, yogurt, cereal and/or eggs while for your packed lunch to take to the project you can have sandwiches with cheese, marmalade, cold meats or other spreads. There is free instant coffee, tea and water available at any time. 

    Please tell our coordinators about any wishes, vegetarian wishes and allergies concerning food.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) in Port Elizabeth. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Our awesome volunteers arrive on Mondays where we will welcome you and take you to our super comfy volunteer home. After some rest and settling in for the first day we dive headfirst into action on Tuesdays. 

    Arrivals and departure transfers to and from the airpoirt are included in the fees, so join us throughout the year, but just keep in mind that we take a break for 2-3 weeks in late December/early January.

    This project has a minimum duration of 6 weeks.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program fees

    4 weeks (min. stay) 1,142€
    8 weeks 2,088€
    12 weeks (max. stay) 3,035€
    Average fees 269€/week

    Program fees

    269€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    4 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


    Final Payment

    Your final payment will be agreed with Go With Khaya during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
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    Location

    Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa > Port Elizabeth

    Meet your project coordinator

    Igna
    19
    reviews
    4.41
    Great
    2005
    Founded

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Very high response rate
    Spoken languages: English
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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