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Volunteer with friends - Zoé and Aurea, June 2018

"Hello everyone, we are Zoe and Aurea, two 19-year-old french girls who decided to come to South Africa to live the DAKTARI adventure.

"Hello everyone, we are Zoe and Aurea, two 19-year-old french girls who decided to come to South Africa to live the DAKTARI adventure. This place was advised to us by a friend of ours who enjoyed it a lot. We both wanted to volunteer to help people and hearing about this project convinced us. Indeed, having the possibility to teach young students while taking care of animals sounded like an amazing opportunity for us. We both stayed here a month and had the occasion to experiment the two different programs lead by DAKTARI: the Job Hunting Program and the Environmental Education Program. The first one targeted students from 18 to 25 years old and was supposed to help them get ready to enter the job market. During the two fist weeks, we taught them how to make CVs, cover letters and how to behave in job interviews. It was really rewarding for us because we met great students who improved a lot during their stay. Moreover, we really had the feeling to play a part in their life and that the knowledge we brought them could really make a difference in their future. The second program was focused on younger children (grade 8) and their relationship with their environment. During the last two weeks, we taught them how to protect their world and the animals that surround them. The role we played was more one of a counselor than a teacher but it was a great experience as well, given that the children were very curious and enthusiastic about their stay at DAKTARI Bush School. During our volunteer experience, we had the occasion to discover the surroundings thanks to the excursions proposed by DAKTARI. We went to the Blyde River Canyon, on of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. We also did a safari in the Kruger National Park on our own, with two other volunteers we met here and who became our friends. It was unforgettable! We made a lot of great memories here, thanks to the children and volunteers we met and who all brought something different and personal to our life. Furthermore, being in contact with all these animals (especially the babies antelopes, who were the cutest) was very cool! The best memories we made were at the bonfires when volunteers and children gathered to dance and sing in the bush: the atmosphere was so joyful! Our stay in DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage was a rewarding and unique experience during which we met extraordinary people. It was an occasion to discover South Africa: a beautiful country which is, unfortunately, still facing some issues that need to be solved. We were gd to contribute, in our scale, to try to solve them."

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