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Program Dates 2009-2010
Program Fees 2009-2010
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Asked Questions
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Digging water supply trenches
Working the veggie garden
Feeding time
Helping teach
Having fun
Teaching hygiene
Swimming lessons
Preparing lunch
Midday siesta
Animal Farm
Healing the injured
Game viewing
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Policy
Economic
Responsibility:
1. All our staff are locals and we help create employment by
using employees from the area we happen to be in at any particular time.
In Durban we employ locals to drive our volunteers to their projects, and,
for example, if we are visiting, say, a Zulu Cultural Village, we use a
local Zulu speaking person as a tour guide or when we are in the Eastern
Cape on "safari", a local Xhosa speaking person would then be employed to
assist us in the forests or guide us to the various scenic spots we wish
to visit.
2. We use local unemployed youth for the cleaning of our
vehicles and as local guards to watch our vehicles while walking. Wherever
possible, our equipment, such as baskets, are purchased from local craft
shops. We make sure to stop at road-side markets to allow our volunteers a
chance to buy locally carved curios from sustainable raw materials and
avoid expensive tourist targeted curio shops.
3. We encourage our volunteers to be adventurous and dine in
local restaurants and café's. This helps to support the local economy.
4. Our vision as Focus-South Africa is to support community
development projects either directly, or indirectly. We are committed to
supporting local tourism initiatives where available, like cultural
tourism groups, cultural music and dance troupes etc.
Our volunteers are encouraged while on the trips to purchase
locally manufactured items and products and buy gifts and crafts from
local crafts shops and markets in areas where we operate. This way we will
make a contribution to positive and economically beneficial tourism in
South Africa.
5. All the projects run by Focus-South Africa will be using
local entrepreneurs for aspects such as transport facilities and shops.
6. The only way in which a volunteer project will run
smoothly is when the community sees and understands the benefits that they
are either directly or indirectly receiving. For example, not only will
our volunteers help with their labor at the projects but they will also be
assisting in educating the local community in life skills, wherever this
is called for. A good example is educating the community in establishing
sustainable gardens for cash crops instead of engaging in illegal poaching
as a source of income. A percentage of our volunteers fees are filtered
back into the projects that will enable them to carry on their valuable
work in the area.
7. We use only locally owned and operated suppliers such as
local fruit and vegetable markets and local supermarkets (who buy their
produce from local suppliers).
8. We purchase local goods rather than imported products.
Our supplies such as food, and equipment used on our projects and
expeditions are sourced from local markets and local business where
possible and we encourage our volunteers to purchase goods from local
business rather than the large chain stores. The volunteers are also
encouraged to purchase their supplies at the local market where local
communities sell their goods and produce.
9. Through sending volunteers to work in and with local
communities we directly and indirectly contribute to the local economies.
10. Volunteers are encouraged to spend their leisure time on local
facilities, resources and attractions such as the local craft markets,
through attending local entertainment or sporting events or local
community events – supporting the communities they live in.
11. Accommodation is either at the Project, thereby helping give
the Project a source of income or sourced within local communities.
12. Within Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape Provincial Nature
parks and Game reserves we aim to run walking trail maintenance (e.g.
removal of alien plant species) and infrastructure maintenance such as
improving the facilities for locals and tourists alike in conjunction with
the local people and employees of the parks.
13. We also aim to focus on visiting and working in natural
forests in the Eastern Cape where we hope not only to educate the local
community on creating a sustainable natural forest but also help the local
community develop river and forest trails that the locals can market to
tourists. In this regard locals are to be educated on local mammal, bird,
reptile and plant species so that they can act as tourist guides on these
trails. One of the initiatives is to train River Rangers in the Mbotyi
Forest. Within reserves that we carry out projects and expeditions we pay
the full access fees despite the fact that we are working in the reserve.
Our aim is to support the existing established reserves and new parks
through tourism and project work.
Environmental Responsibility:
1. For communication of tour information, pre and post
booking, we encourage the use of the internet, and e-mail distribution
where possible.
2. Our Project group size is a maximum of 8, thereby
minimizing the impact on sensitive ecosystems.
3. We make use of small-scale, locally run
accommodation, who supplement their power sources by use of alternate
power sources (wind, solar).
4. We endeavour to use natural resources, eg water,
sparingly, and encourage our volunteers to do the same. Local fuels (e.g.
wood and charcoal) will only be purchased if there is clearly an abundance
of this is the area. In areas where vegetation is sparse fuel wood will be
purchased prior to travel to this area, or we will go without.
5. Any areas visited are to be left as we found them.
No litter is to be left behind, unless adequate waste disposal is
provided. Nothing is to be removed from remote areas by us or by our
volunteers. Vegetation and geology is to be left untouched.
6. We provide a platform for the financial support of
conservation projects through the donation of a budgeted percentage of
volunteers fees to the projects we work on.
7. We practice the ‘take nothing but photographs, leave
nothing but footprints’ policy. Group size is limited to a maximum of 8
when we are walking in sensitive areas such as where birds are nesting or
where trampling of marine life may occur.
8. We Support environmental organizations working in the
areas where we operate, encouraging local conservation efforts . In order
to help the local economies we insist on using local suppliers of products
and services needed for our trips.
9. All of our volunteers will be briefed about the projects.
Wise resource use will be included in their orientation. The joy about a
volunteer working program is that the volunteers will be working directly
with the environment and will notice the importance of natural resources.
10. Whilst the volunteers are working on their project they
will be taken on various environmental and community based awareness
trips. Trips to a local cultural village, including spending one night
with a rural Xhosa community, where they will eat, wash and sleep as the
Xhosa community do, are some of the things they will be doing. On the
environmental side of things they will be doing extensive work such as
removing invader and alien species of plants in natural forests and
reserves or clearing poachers snares.
11. Volunteers are encouraged to reuse supplies and
resources from previous volunteers.
Energy saving devices are used such as energy saving light globes. Staff
and volunteers are actively encouraged to be mindful of energy usage,
consumption and waste. South Africa is presently experiencing severe power
shortages that are expected to last for at least the next decade.
We use environmentally friendly cleaning products and all equipment and
lights are turned off at the end of the working day and when not needed
for longer than 1 hr to reduce energy consumption.
-Vehicles
We aim for limited usage and try to combine trips with other activities.
Fuel costs in South Africa are probably amongst the highest in the world.
The use of public transport where possible is encouraged.
We minimize usage wherever possible and encourage both staff and
volunteers to travel together to minimize fuel consumption.
Vehicles are maintained and serviced regularly to ensure fuel efficiency.
-Water
We ask volunteers and staff to ensure they always use water sparingly-
Have more showers than baths and restrict the amount of water used when
having a bath.
Always turn taps off when not in immediate use.
When washing dishes do not run the water, use a plug.
Encourage others to maintain healthy practices around the camps,
accommodation and work areas with regard to the cleanliness of stored and
running water.
Don’t leave taps running when brushing teeth.
-Plants and animals
-Fauna and Flora
We promote responsible practice when working with flora and fauna. We
carry out projects that conserve, protect and rehabilitate biodiversity,
especially threatened species and ecosystems. Our current projects
include:
• Removing alien and invader species of plants in natural forests and
reserves.
• Monitoring and expansion planning for natural forests in the Eastern
Cape.
• Monitoring and protection of the largest butterfly species in Africa.
• Monitoring and removal of poachers snares in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
-Lepidoptera
We assist in carrying out research to further knowledge about butterflies
in Southern Africa. Our assistance includes:
• Studies on the indigenous plant species that butterflies breed on.
• Studies to determine geographical and seasonal variations in different
species of butterflies.
We spread awareness of the need for conserving wildlife through
discussions, presentations, printed material and publications. We arrange
presentations for our schoolchildren and other interested parties
regarding our work and other relevant topics and areas of interest. Our
staff and volunteers participate in conferences and seminars regarding
specific research, biodiversity and conservation.
We give our volunteers guidelines on the
following:
• Never to feed wild animals unless as a specific part of project work.
• Not to approach animals in the field unless part of project work.
• Not to pursue or chase after animals in the field.
• Not to remove plant or animal specimens or material unless as part of
project work.
• Not to collect flowers, seeds or plant matter from the field unless as
part of project work.
• Not to buy endangered animal products from markets as this only
encourages further poaching and the illegal trade in endangered animal
products.
• All volunteers are given training before being allowed to handle or
interact with animals on projects to ensure the safety and well being of
the animals and volunteers.
-Waste and waste disposal
We aim to minimize our impact on the environment though the reduction and
sustainable disposal of waste through:
• Minimizing the use of plastic bags.
• Encouraging the volunteers to re-use their own water bottles rather than
continually purchasing more. Tap water is safe to drink in South Africa.
• Cigarette butts should always be placed in receptacles and not dropped
on the ground.
-General
Volunteers are taken to areas of natural and cultural significance in our
operational areas. The volunteers are also given the opportunity to
experience the natural areas with guidance from Project managers and
locals.
We practice minimal disturbance on our camping and expeditions and all
tour leaders, guides and field staff adhere to best practice when dealing
with the environment, flora and fauna.
Best Practice and Minimal Disturbance includes:
• Not disturbing animals when in the field, particularly those with young.
• Maintain a respectable and safe distance from the animal to minimize
stress.
• Never chase animals for a better view or to make them move or “perform”.
• Do not disturb the animals any more than absolutely necessary.
• No plant or animal products shall be removed from the natural forests
and reserves.
• When involved in project work, volunteers should only approach and
handle animals under supervision.
• Ensure that waste disposal has minimal environmental and aesthetic
impact.
• Keep vehicles to designated tracks and roads.
• All waste is either disposed of correctly on site ( if facilities exist)
or taken with the expedition.
• Camping is in designated areas only and volunteers are strongly
encouraged not to wander off existing paths for their own safety and to
protect fragile environments.
Social
responsibility and behaviour:
• We advise our volunteers that it is important to be aware of the local
community's culture and traditions and to respect local etiquette. We give
volunteers guidance in this regard and volunteers are supplied with
information regarding appropriate behaviour and local customs. We also
encourage them to enjoy and participate in a cultural exchange during
their visit to learn more about the host community.
• We try to be as inoffensive as possible by taking into consideration
dress codes.
• We advise volunteers to ask before they take photographs of local people
and to please respect their privacy.
• We educate our volunteers on simple words or phrases from the local
language to reflect their interest - greetings are very important.
• We maintain a level of respect for all local people and tell our
volunteers to avoid high-handed foreigner attitudes.
• We only take our volunteers to areas where the local communities feel
comfortable with their presence.
• We ask all our volunteers to treat the local people with respect,
observing their cultures and traditions and avoiding patronising
mentalities.
• We encourage our volunteers to contribute to community development or
economic projects which we recommend, rather than distributing items
randomly.
Our Mission:
“To contribute to engaging people and resources from around the
world in the research and action necessary for a sustainable Southern
Africa”.
We believe that sustainable, sensitive and voluntary assistance
tourism is an invaluable help in developing the communities, preserving
the natural environments and biodiversity of South Africa. We aim to
encourage more people to visit South Africa by promoting exciting,
educational, extremely enjoyable and informative volunteer trips – whilst
maximising the benefits these generate for the local communities and
environments.
As a business venture, we have a firm belief that local communities must
see a tangible benefit to preserving their natural resources.
We work on and help develop projects that uphold our mission.
We offer the experience of joining these projects to people from around
the world (gap-year students, career break volunteers, working holiday
travellers and researchers) as an important means of supporting the
projects.
We have a vision of a better Africa through working together for
wildlife and people.
We believe we can and do play a key role in contributing to South
Africa’s future through responsible volunteer supported tourism.
We believe in conserving South Africa’s natural and cultural
heritage as a resource for its future.
We believe in partnerships and working together and we believe in
the value of Africa’s wildlife and people.
Targets:
• We will promote the positives of Southern Africa, and encourage more
volunteers to assist a subcontinent that we love passionately.
• We will try to minimise our programme's negative impact on local
environments, whilst maximising its benefits.
• We will support and encourage environmentally sound management of
accommodation and sensitive, sustainable activities.
• We will encourage local community participation in volunteer projects.
• We will continue to encourage and promote conservation projects that
have a compatible volunteer tourism dimension.
• We will encourage and help our volunteers to improve their knowledge of
the project destination prior to departure – to enable them to be
culturally/environmentally informed of any issues arising in their project
area.
• We will assist in conducting research which furthers knowledge of
southern Africa’s biota
• We will develop and implement conservation action plans for threatened
species and ecosystems in South Africa.
• We will educate children in South Africa to improve their knowledge of
biodiversity and the interdependence of species on earth.
• We will provide valuable life experiences for volunteers which inter-alia
will be to take individual responsibility, be accountable, efficient and
effective.
• We will strive for a better future, foster growth and opportunity,
nurture leadership and reward innovation.
Enquiries
Should you have any queries regarding the program, projects, excursions or
activities please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy
answer them. administration@focus-southafrica.co.za
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