Volunteering in South Africa with Raleigh International

Anybody that knows me will know that I love two things - adventure and helping others. At the end of this year I will be travelling to South Africa and living on the outskirts of the Kruger National Park for 10 weeks while I volunteer with Raleigh International.

Raleigh International Expeditions are made up of three phases: community, environment, and adventure.

The community aspect aids with building sustainable food gardens, playgrounds, and essential infrastructure that the local people may need. This phase also includes action days where volunteers will engage with and support the local people and children in as many ways as they can, while trying to learn Xitsonga (one of the 12 official languages of South Africa)!

The environmental phase of the expedition is focused on the conservation of the Kruger National Park and all of the wildlife inhabited within it. The projects will seek to improve and benefit wildlife and ecosystems; Kruger is home to the ‘big five’ animals.

Finally, the adventure phase is all about pushing the individuals - alternating leaders to navigate and plan, the team will embark on a 200km trek through the Northern Mpumalanga Drakensburg of South Africa.

In between each phase I will return to a field base to wash my clothes and pack for the next rotation. The turnover days are also the only opportunities I will have to access my phone and check in with friends and family. The 10 week expedition is about testing myself, helping others, and being 100% present in the moment.

I am so grateful to be chosen to go on a Raleigh International expedition, and I am massively looking forward to doing something purposeful with my time between graduating and embarking on the next steps of my career. Funding the expedition, building materials, equipment, and getting myself there is no easy feat, and so any donations that you could make would be so greatly appreciated. Your donations will help to change and shape the lives of less privileged communities in Hoedspruit, South Africa. 

If you would like to know more about Raleigh International, their expeditions, and how to get involved you can visit their website: https://raleighinternational.org/expeditions/south-africa/

Thank you so much for helping me make a difference.

Erin :)