from 0€

Perfect 4.6rating (118)
  • Decent Work And Economic Growth
  • Quality Education
Available from Feb 2025

NGO Outreach Manager

location
39 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 21 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Get two weekly village visit that allows you to get closer to the South African community.
  • Work closely with our local schools and the children
  • Make a huge impact on the children's lives while learning about their culture too
  • Create good memories that you will never forget
  • During the weekend you will get to do excursions and see the beauty of our African landscapes

Especially good for

Age 21+
Singles

About the program

Manage the outreach projects including the twice-weekly Eco-Clubs, planning, teaching lessons and daily administration tasks, provide career guidance.

DAKTARI is a registered non-profit company located in South Africa close to the Kruger National Park. The program site is situated in a 600 hectares private game reserve. Our mission is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment and stimulate community ...

About the program

DAKTARI is a registered non-profit company located in South Africa close to the Kruger National Park. The program site is situated in a 600 hectares private game reserve. Our mission is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment and stimulate community development.

About the Program

The program is based in the middle of the bush. There is no electricity in the camp but we have solar power and Internet for computers. You will live in a family atmosphere and a beautiful area. You must be able to adapt to group life and to be away from the city. 

Every Monday DAKTARI welcomes a new group of 8 local under-privileged children for a week and gives them the opportunity to discover, learn and become passionate about wildlife, conservation and their environmental heritage. The organization also supplements their school curriculum in English, math’s, sciences, geography, life skills and social issues.

The goal is to enable today’s local underprivileged children to eventually be able to secure good employment in nature reserves, thereby improving their future and quality of life.

Some of the children who attended to DAKTARI have created Eco Clubs in the villages where they come from. This gave us the idea to start a new program called the Outreach Program.

These two clubs are run once a week at the local high school where environmental and life skill lessons are taught to the students. The students can join voluntary and are of all ages. The lessons are after school from 2.30 until 4.00. The main reason to have these clubs is to give the students who have been to DAKTARI a chance to continue learning about the environment and keep developing themselves as independent people.

We have two eco-clubs at the moment, Rakgolokwane on Monday afternoon and Maahlamele on Tuesday afternoon. The rest of the week is used for community development, business creation, administration, social media, fundraising and preparing the lesson for next week.

The outreach manager is also visiting two crèches in the village of the Oaks (near Maahlamele school) on Tuesday mornings. We alternate every second week with the two crèches.

The idea is to let the program grow, not by taking on more eco-clubs but to improve the lives of the students by finding opportunities for their future. For example by assisting with bursaries to study or get employed in the Eco-Tourism field and/or to help the community toward development in green environment and/or eco-tourism access.  This takes up a lot of time but the reward to guide students and/or the community is amazing. 

Volunteers will be interacting with: 

  • Directors
  • Long-term volunteers
  • Short-term volunteers
  • Children
  • Students
  • Community members

Purpose

Volunteers should manage the outreach programs including the twice-weekly Eco-Clubs, planning, teaching lessons and daily administration tasks, providing career guidance to students, organizing bookings for the home-stay families and supporting business creation in the local area.

Task 1: The Eco-Club

  • Plan, prepare and teach lessons to students at two local schools twice a week, educating them about environmental issues and nature conservation.
  • Preparing fresh activities to reinforce the lessons.
  • Administrative tasks including keeping attendance records and fundraising.
  • Budgeting tasks, recording all donations, in- and out-going costs including transport, printing and stationary supply costs.

Task 2: Outreach Campaining

  • Plan, prepare and teach the introductory lessons to primary school students to widen our impact.
  • Invite and organise presentation days with parents.
  • Administrative tasks including keeping attendance records and fundraising>

Task 3: Community Programs – Home-Stay Family

  • Continue to manage the Home-stay family program.
  • Organize and arrange bookings for volunteers to stay with the family (Maakosha Shai).
  • Maintain regular contact with the host families, to nurture the existing relationship we have with them.
  • Ensure all guests complete charter and feedback forms for future improvements. Offer guidance and inform the host families of any necessary improvements.
  • Search for and screen potential new families for the program. Conduct interviews with them and view their home to assess whether they are right for the program.
  • Stay one night with the family to experience a day in their life so that you are able to provide other potential guests with all the required information.

Task 4: Community Programs (waste management – Eco Business Creation)

  • Work with the community and local leaders to develop a sustainable waste management
  • Connect with the community to select people who have great ideas and help them to create their own business.
  • Create enthusiasm toward the development of our neighboring village into an Eco Friendly Touristic Village.
  • Meeting with the chief of the village to negotiate, present and inform him and the council about the progress and development plans

Task 5: PR

  • Write and submit press releases to local newspapers covering new programs, achievements and events. 

Task 6: Multimedia

  • Take photographs of new programs, the eco-club, and student achievements.
  • Collect photographs from volunteers who visit the eco-club with you or who experience the home-stay program, select the best ones to use for the Facebook page and newspaper articles.
  • Manage all photography with iPhoto and export the selected pictures into the PHOTOS folder.



Typical day

Working Conditions

Many challenges will occur, as the days are never the same. On many occasions, you will be in contact with underprivileged children who have not the same culture as you have. You must be an understanding and adaptable person.

The outreach manager is usually accompanied by some of ...

Typical day

Working Conditions

Many challenges will occur, as the days are never the same. On many occasions, you will be in contact with underprivileged children who have not the same culture as you have. You must be an understanding and adaptable person.

The outreach manager is usually accompanied by some of our short-term volunteers so they can also get to see how is the community living and the impact we are making in it. It is very rewarding for the outreach manager to share his work and the relationship he/she has built with the local community. 

You will work from Monday until Friday, 8 hours a day, as the Outreach Manager; you should be able to organize your hours and be flexible.  Every Saturday, any volunteer can go to town to do shopping, enjoy a lunch in a restaurant or do an excursion. DAKTARI also proposes extra-mural trips as visiting the famous Kruger National Park, the Blyde River Canyon etc.

A typical work day in the office starts at 8 AM, with breakfast time at 8:30 until 9 AM and lunch time from 12:30 to 14:00. Your work day will end at 17 o'clock. This varies as a few days of the week you will head to the local communities for the outreach program. However, you will work mostly at the office.


Free-time activities

If you want to go out you, will have to rent a car. We also have a list of excursions that can be arranged. Please ask the volunteer coordinator, as the DAKTARI cars are not available for personal use.

Please remember when going out that you are an ambassador for DAKTARI.

Interesting things to do in ...

Free-time activities

If you want to go out you, will have to rent a car. We also have a list of excursions that can be arranged. Please ask the volunteer coordinator, as the DAKTARI cars are not available for personal use.

Please remember when going out that you are an ambassador for DAKTARI.

Interesting things to do in Limpopo Province:

  • Visit Kruger Park. DAKTARI is situated between two gates, Phalaborwa and Orpen. Time to Kruger is about 90 minutes. The entrance fee at the time of writing is ± R220 per day.

  • Moholoholo is a rehabilitation centre roughly an hour from DAKTARI. You can see raptors, honey badgers, cheetahs, lions, wild dogs, a hippo and other animals. The entrance fee is ± R 100 per person. Tours start at 9.30 am and 3 pm that last for 2 1/2 hours. Tours are the only way to visit this facility. It’s not necessary to book ahead.

  • Khamai Reptile Park has snakes, iguana, crocodiles and terrapins.

  • The Blyde River Canyon is also nearby, nestled in the Drakensberg Mountains. There is a panorama route, which takes in the Three Rondavels (mountains that look like huts), waterfalls, great viewpoints and some picturesque villages.

  • The air force base has a game reserve and it is free of charge.

  • White water rafting is available on the Blyde River or on the Olifants River.

  • Other more expensive activities include micro lighting; private game reserve walks/drives, hot air balloon trips and the elephant sanctuary in Hazyview, which is fantastic. 

  • Hoedspruit has shopping, an Internet café, and many bars and restaurants with pool tables.

  • Sundowners (drinks) at “The Leopard Rock” (an outcrop at DAKTARI with great views of the Lowveld and Drakensberg mountains) are another popular evening activity. If you want to go to the “rock”, discuss with Ian and/or Michèle. Obviously this activity takes place after the children have left!


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 21 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 21 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (fluently)

Education Requirements

Community at Ongoing undergraduate degree minimum requirement level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV, Passport and VISA

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

You must speak and write English fluently. Knowledge of inter-cultural relations. Knowledge of social media. To be confident with the use of Apple computers. You must have your driving license. Experience managing and developing new businesses a plus. Experience in business creation or career guidance a plus.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 17:00

What's Included

What's Included

Airport Pickup at Hoedspruit Airport

Once you have booked your flight to Johannesburg, you have two options to get to Hoedspruit where we will pick you up:

  • Book a flight to Hoedspruit Airport
    • It takes about an hour to get from JHB to Hoedspruit
    • From Hoedspruit Airport it will take about an hour and a half to get to camp
  • Book a shuttle with Safari Links if your international flight arrives early enough (before 6 am) in Johannesburg airport. We have negotiated a special rate for our volunteers per transfer between JHB airport and Hoedspruit Kamogelo Center
    • This trip takes about 5-6 hours from JHB to Hoedspruit

Accommodation

You will be accommodated in a chalet or in a private room. The accommodations are based at the project site, on a 600 hectares private game reserve. There is no electricity on the farm but we have solar power in the office and in the central camp for the need of the computers, refrigerators, lights, laundry etc. There is solar lighting in the rooms, if you leave it on too long, you will not have light for the whole evening.

The rooms/chalets are basic but very comfortable. We try to give as much privacy as possible to long-term volunteers but you might have to share a room with other volunteers. Your toilet, room and laundry is done daily and you will have Internet access. The rooms have toilets with either a gas geyser or a “donkey” for hot water. If you have a donkey, a fire will usually be lit for you by 5 pm.

There are animal camps around the camp and you must be prepared to be in contact with them. There are also wild animals in the private game reserve.

Food & Beverages

We have employed enough staff to make your stay comfortable so you can focus on your work, however, you are more than welcome to help. On weekends there is usually only one lady working in the kitchen and you will be asked by the volunteer coordinator to help out.

If you have any special requirements, e.g. vegetarian, vegan, kosher, halal or intolerance to certain foods, please speak to your volunteer coordinator or office manager.

Food, tea, coffee and orange juice are included.

DAKTARI’s local staff eat in a separate area. Please note that we have tried to include them with us during meal times but it hasn’t been successful. It is important for them to be able to communicate in their own language during meals and teatime, and they prefer to eat separately for this reason.


Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) in Hoedspruit. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

This position is open for applicants. Apply for details on the available starting dates. 

This is a long-term volunteer position for a minimum 9-month stay. As a volunteer, you will be provided accommodation, all meals + all living costs inside our camp included in exchange of your work with us. 

The project is located 60km outside of Hoedspruit near Kruger National Park.

You would need to either travel via plane or shuttle from Johannesburg to get to Hoedspruit.

A member of the team will be there to meet you on arrival and bring you to camp. Note that arrivals are only possible on Saturdays. 

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

39 weeks (min. stay) 0€
50 weeks (max. stay) 0€
Average fees 0€/week

Program fees

0€ per week 39 - 50 weeks Age 21 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

39 - 50 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with DAKTARI Bush School during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

DAKTARI Bush School

Perfect 4.6 rating (118 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2002

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Pretty

Spoken languages: English

About the project

The mission of DAKTARI is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment and stimulate community development.

Meet your organization

OUR STORY: A LOVE STORY THAT BECAME DAKTARI

Ian and Michele Merrifield officially opened DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage in 2006 but it was a long road to make it happen. Ian and Michele met while Ian was working as a game ranger at Tshukudu Game Lodge and Michele was volunteering there as well. While hand-raising injured zebras, wildebeest, and warthogs, Ian and Michele fell in love.

Michele had long dreamed about living in Africa and taking care of the wildlife. When she met Ian, she was able to realise that dream. They left Tshukudu after getting married and opened a restaurant in Hoedspruit to start raising capital for their own wildlife orphanage. While there, Ian and Michele helped raise a local boy from the village named Thabo. He had almost no knowledge or understanding of his native wildlife and environment, so Ian and Michele began using the animals in their care to teach him. Thabo's understanding of conservation was typical of children in Limpopo and the idea of adding a bush school was born.

So where did the name DAKTARI come from? Michele says, "When we were younger, there was a TV program called Daktari. It was about a family in Africa, who looked after and raised many different types of orphaned wild animals. As kids we loved it and we remember getting deeply emotionally attached to the different animals." Sounds familiar right? Michele and Ian adopted the name and so DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage was born.

OUR MISSION

The Mission of DAKTARI is to educate and inspire local children to value their environment and stimulate community development.

Through the combination of the bush school and the wildlife orphanage, DAKTARI has developed an immersive educational experience for local children to learn about the wildlife around them, the environment, anti-poaching, and a wide variety of other issues, right in the middle of the bush. Our work extends into their communities through Eco Clubs at the secondary schools, career guidance for the youth, and community development projects.

118 reviews · rating4.6

Keren Livneh rating4.8

2022 at NGO Outreach Manager

Volunteering at DAKTARI is the best thing I could do for myself and my daughter. The staff is professional and from the first moment they have given me the feeling we are one and that we all work for the same goal. It's a Bushlife experience that you will not find in any other place. ..
Pénélope & Claude rating4.6

2015 at NGO Outreach Manager

We spent two weeks at DAKTARI to realise our childhood dream. What a great moment to be immersed in the bush and share the daily life with children and animals!! There is a great ambience like in a 'big family'!! We really loved our stay, and we recommend it to everybody... The "French ...
Katrien rating4.6

2013 at NGO Outreach Manager

What can I say about Daktari? It will be very difficult to keep it short for me, but will start to say that it was absolutely amazing!! My name is Katrien Vermeulen from Belgium and I stayed at Daktari for exactly 1 year. I fell in love with so many animals, met beautiful people and saw a positive ...
Phil rating4.8

2010 at NGO Outreach Manager

I consider myself to be a pretty well-traveled man and I have had all kinds of adventures around the world and I can honestly say that my time at Daktari was among the best times of my life. I stayed at Daktari for a couple of months in 2010 and visited again for a shorter time last year and the ...
Ditte rating4.6

2007 at NGO Outreach Manager

Hi all :o) If you're looking for a volunteer experience, where you can combine working with children with the african bush and animals, this is the place. As part of my study, I did an internship a 6 months internship at Daktari in 2006/2007, and I have been coming back every year since. ..
Luke Llabres rating5

2024 at Environment and Wildlife Education

I wanted to come to Daktari to spend my summer giving back to the world in a good way while learning about myself and progressing as an individual. I was able to accomplish both while here! It's super rewarding to get to teach kids about the world around them and how they can make it a better place. ..

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