{"id":1170,"date":"2010-03-01T17:16:06","date_gmt":"2010-03-01T17:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yeboyes.org\/?p=1170"},"modified":"2010-08-25T20:54:03","modified_gmt":"2010-08-25T20:54:03","slug":"volunteer-in-south-africa-with-children-with-disabilities-and-animals-and-chimpanzees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.yeboyes.org\/?p=1170","title":{"rendered":"Support children with disabilities in South Africa. Work with wildlife and chimpanzees"},"content":{"rendered":"

Work with children and animals, South Africa 2011<\/h2>\n

South Africa 2011<\/h1>\n

Applications now open<\/span><\/p>\n

\"South
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Use YOUR skills to support children from a special needs school in a small town in South Africa.\u00a0 This is a boarding school for children who have physical and\/or behavioural difficulties.\u00a0 Many of these children have unfortunately suffered severe traumas in their lives such as abuse and witnessing the murders of family members. You will supporting and working with children with high emotional needs, who are dealing with common family issues such as death, illness,abuse and bereavement on a regular basis.\u00a0 Using primates and wildlife conservation as a therapeutic aid this project is aiming to help many children explore feelings, communication, family situations and traumatic experiences in their lives. For many, this gives them a chance to express themselves in a differnet and individual way.\u00a0 Due to coping with their different disabilities, this programe is working towards giving these children some positivity in their lives, as well as building their confidence, self esteem and an ability to understand different emotions<\/p>\n

This project is a big challenge.\u00a0 If you are ready for it, then join our team in 2011,<\/p>\n

Disabilities and their challenges\"A<\/h2>\n

These children have a wide spectrum of disabilities, many undiagnosed, many struggling physically, and others have severe behaviour and learning difficulties.\u00a0 These children can be very challenging to work with, we need your skills, and your dedication to learn new skills, by working with us.\u00a0 This project is so important to these children and the people who\u00a0 work and care for them everyday.\u00a0 YOU are needed. Join us, make a difference, leave your skills there when you leave and discover a whole new world of working with children with disabilities.<\/p>\n

Applying these aims to these children is also a massive challenge in itself, working with them to understand the concept, depending on their individual needs and disability.<\/p>\n

Experiences with wildlife<\/h2>\n

\"ExperiencingAll of our projects are aimed at giving the children a therapeutic and supportive experience, along with an educational one, learning about wildlife and primates in Africa.<\/p>\n

Volunteers will be able to take the children to a local wildlife sanctuary called Daktari animal orphanage, based near a town called Gravelotte.\u00a0 Daktari offer sanctuary to unwanted or injured wildlife.\u00a0 Some animals also have disabilities, and others are able to allow the children to have hands on contact with them.\u00a0 This is a great experience for the children, many of them having never seen wildlife like his before. Daktari animal orphanage are very supportive of the project and the children we bring to the sanctuary.<\/p>\n

We also have the opportunity to use the swimming pool at Daktari, which is a great experience for the children and the volunteers.<\/p>\n

Volunteers will be able to visit a chimpanzee sanctuary, where they will be able to learn from the keepers about the behaviour, feelings and life traumas of the chimpanzees.\u00a0 You will be able to take part in the observation and support at the sanctuary, meeting the staff and the chimpanzees that they care for.<\/p>\n

Due to conservation issues and health and safety, volunteers and children are unable to have hands on contact with primates.\u00a0 This is also to make sure the chimpanzees are safe.\u00a0 It is very easy for them to catch a cold, a cough and many other illnesses such as flu, which for them can be life threatening. However ,observing chimpanzees and working with their keepers, is a personally rewarding experience for anyone.<\/p>\n

\"Making<\/h2>\n

Another of our main aims is to support primate conservation, by running educational activities, but in this therapeutic way. By learning and observing chimpanzees, this will be an amazing and rewarding experience to then transfer this knowledge into the activities you will be running with the children.<\/p>\n

Activities<\/h2>\n

Creative Activities are brought together by the volunteers, working as a team to compliment each individual they are working with at the special needs school.\u00a0 Activities are used such as art, drama and music, and other creative moments, inspired by both volunteers and children.\u00a0 Volunteers will be developing new and existing activities as the project goes along, continually evaluating and observing the impact they are having in the work they are doing.\u00a0 The volunteers are an intrinsic part of the project development of the activities, and the observations that go with them.<\/p>\n

Culture and safari<\/h2>\n

\"CultureDuring the trip you will have a chance to be part of the local culture by getting involved with the magic of African dancing and cultural evenings dancing around the camp fire.\u00a0 You will also get time to visit national safari parks and the beautiful scenery near by such as the many waterfalls surrounding the area.<\/p>\n

Your skills and interests will always be matched to what you enjoy or are interested in so we are able to help and support the children and organisations as best we can.<\/p>\n

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Training days<\/h2>\n

The training that we provide volunteers beforehand;<\/p>\n