Meet IVHQ’s Local Teams On The Ground

Edward & the Ghana team

When we caught up with Edward who runs the local organization and team in Ghana, he highlighted the importance of Medical and Healthcare Outreach volunteers and the critical role they’ve been playing in keeping local communities healthy.

Hear from Edward and his team on the impact IVHQers have had in Ghana over the last year:

IVHQ: How do you feel about the impact volunteers have in your local community?

Edward: Things have been very difficult in Ghana over the past year due to Covid. We didn’t see any volunteers for 9 months in 2020, and we’re very grateful to have volunteers starting to come back this year as they add a lot of value to the volunteers we work with.

There is a great need for volunteers in Ghana right now especially, as our programs are so vital to the communities that we work with. In particular, our Medical and Healthcare Outreach programs are critical to providing medical care and health education to communities that otherwise would not have access to these services. When we have a lack of volunteers, it means members of the community lack access to basic medical attention, such as malaria testing/treatment and wound care.

On a recent malaria testing day, volunteers gave 182 malaria tests with 76 of those returning a positive result. Malaria remains one of Ghana’s biggest health threats, so without these volunteers, local communities would be at risk.

Volunteers also provide wound treatment to vulnerable communities. Many of these people have lived with open wounds for months or years, and with the help of volunteers, these individuals are treated and educated on wound dressing and care.

We encourage volunteers to come to Ghana now to see the beautiful sights with less crowds, but also to see what an impact they can have on our local communities. Since we have less volunteers at the moment, you will always have something to do and will be able to form great friendships within the local communities.

Johan & the South Africa team

Based in South Africa’s stunning Kruger National Park, IVHQ’s Wildlife Conservation program is led by a team of experts who are dedicated to protecting Africa’s ‘Big 5’ and their natural habitats. The organization is run by Johan - he grew up in Pretoria, South Africa and founded the organization based on his passion for nature, wilderness and open spaces.

Find out how IVHQers are helping preserve Kruger’s wildlife while supporting the local economy:

IVHQ: How do volunteers support your wildlife initiatives in Kruger National Park?

Johan: We are immensely grateful for the IVHQ volunteers that have joined us in 2023. Without them, our organization would not have reopened yet. South Africa has suffered dramatically due to the pandemic, as tourism has literally stopped around the country. Tourism is a very large source of income for many people in South Africa, and the effects of Covid-19 have been very damaging.

With the help of volunteers who have joined our program over the last year, we have been able to start the process of recovering the industry. We have been able to put our staff who have been laid off back in the field doing their jobs and once again earning an income. In Kruger and Sodwana, we’ve resumed work with our local suppliers in the community, helping them recover their businesses.

Now is the best time to volunteer abroad on our Kruger project! We’ve spent the last year refining our system for delivery of an awesome outdoor learning experience for volunteers and have created amazing conservation training content which we can’t wait to share with you!

Alan & the Victoria Falls team

Based on a private game reserve in Zimbabwe, IVHQ’s Wildlife Conservation Program in Victoria Falls is run by a passionate group of conservationists who want to share Africa’s natural beauty with the world. The organization is run by Alan and his team who give volunteers the chance to encounter Africa’s iconic wildlife while actively participating in its conservation through education and hands-on preservation.

We checked in with the team on the ground to see how IVHQ volunteers have been supporting their local conservation initiatives:

IVHQ: How have volunteers helped with preservation on the game reserve over the last year?

Alan: The global pandemic has weighed heavily on our conservation program, and the decline of tourism has hugely impacted the local economy and our conservation efforts. Unfortunately, tourism and conservation work hand-in-hand, so we’ve had to rely on donor funding which does not cover all costs.

It is for this reason that there is a greater need than ever for volunteers, not only for program fees that are used to fund our reserve and black rhino conservation program, but also to assist in the daily operations and protection of our IPZ (Intensive Protection Zone).

With the help of IVHQ’s volunteers over the last year, we have:

• Raised enough money to build new teacher accommodation for our community primary school
• Upgraded our perimeter fence which is vital in the protection of the black rhino and other species
• Collected DNA samples from rhino dung that is being used in a new research program to identify these animals to be transferred to larger reserves
• Improved our road network within the reserve along and implemented a anti-soil erosion method

Mohammed & the Zanzibar team

In Zanzibar, IVHQ’s volunteer programs center around wildlife preservation, including Rainforest and Coastal Conservation in Jozani and Turtle Conservation in Nungwi. The local organizations behind these programs not only protect wildlife, but also focus on Zanzibar’s impoverished farming population and the relationship between the two.

Hear from the team on the ground about how volunteers are supporting the local community and economy through wildlife conservation:

IVHQ: Why are volunteers needed in Zanzibar at the moment and how are they making a difference?

Local team: Due to lower tourism income over the last year, the government’s anti-poaching programs have been temporarily stopped, meaning a lot of Zanzibar’s unique wildlife is endangered and at risk.

Volunteers on our Rainforest Conservation program program have been instrumental in protecting our land tortoises - particularly the Aldabra giant tortoise species.

In the early 1900’s, four of these tortoises were sent from the Seychelles, so all of the existing Aldabra are descendants of those original four. Very few remain, and the species is considered vulnerable and on the IUCN Red List. Volunteers help preserve the remaining tortoises and their environment, specifically caring for recent offspring which are 3 and 7 months old.

Another benefit of having volunteers is to generate income for impoverished farmers in southern Zanzibar. In this area, there are no tourist accommodations, so they rely on tourists coming in to observe the giant tortoises. Volunteers help upkeep the area so that tourism can continue.