Making a Difference – My Volunteer Trip

Hi there! My name is Imogen (or Immy), I'm 29 and I'm currently studying an Environmental Science degree, and I'm planning (and hoping!) to spend two months at Victoria Falls next year volunteering at a wildlife conservation centre. I know there are lots and lots of fundraisers for volunteering out there so why should mine stand out? Well, maybe it doesn't but it is an incredible 'once in a lifetime' opportunity that, above all, is part of a worthwhile and necessary cause and to go I definitely need your help.

For as long as I can remember I have been passionate about animals and conservation and after a lot of wrong turns throughout my 20s I have managed to get to a point where I am studying something that I am so so passionate about, and what better way to learn and contribute to conservation efforts than to actually venture out of my comfort zone and go somewhere where I can learn, help and hopefully make a small difference to long term efforts. I've travelled before but never like this so it will be quite a scary, but certainly rewarding, experience and I'd love to take you along with me if you can help support me, whether this be via pictures or updates, I will try my best to bring you along (hypothetically of course :)).

One of the reasons I have chosen this particular programme is because this specific game reserve serves as a protection zone to the critically endangered Black Rhino among many other wonderful animals! Physically it will be hard work, some of the types of activities I will be able to participate in will be along the lines of...

■Alien vegetation removal
■Soil erosion control methods
■Waterhole creation, maintenance and monitoring
■Freshwater eco-system analyses
■Game, predator and bird monitoring, tracking and counting, as part of regular game drives
■Road maintenance
■Upkeep of river crossings
■Reserve clean-up operations
■General clean-up of reserve and surrounding areas

...but it will be invaluable learning and maybe it might inspire you to find your very own adventure and if you do find yours, let me know and I will too support you!

Please send me a message if you'd like to know anymore but thank you truly from the bottom of my heart if you do decide to support me in this. I look forward to sharing this journey with you :)