Become a CCF Volunteer

Judith Walls, Volunteer Co-ordinator - and volunteer!

For information on volunteering at CCF, please email CCF's Volunteer Coordinator at ccfinfo@iway.na

It is no small wonder that CCF's volunteer programme attracts such a large interest. The appeal of Africa, conservation and cheetahs combined is an attractive one. And who wouldn't want to spend a day outdoors in the sunshine, working in fresh air, surrounded by nature and wilderness undisturbed by artificial lights, pollution and sounds of modern living?

None of CCF's impressive accomplishments would have been possible without volunteers. Volunteers form the backbone of CCF and they bring energy and dedication to the conservation of the cheetah. But most important of all, volunteers provide funding. Funding is a crucial part of CCF's success - without it, CCF would not be able to carry out its programmes to save the wild cheetah.

Volunteers are what makes CCF so special, and they bring with them a host of skills. Obvious applicants are animal carers and keepers: CCF attracts veterinarians, vet technicians as well as students from both fields. But CCF also needs candidates from other more elusive backgrounds such as educators and business professionals, to carry out vital "behind-the-scenes" functions. The educators and teachers ensure the durability of CCF's long-term goals: to change attitudes of Namibia's youth about conserving the cheetah. The business professionals keep CCF running day-to-day and provide important support such as administration; PR and marketing; event organisation; writing of articles, annual reports and business proposals; putting together funding proposals, etc.

Experience is not the most important qualification a volunteer can bring. Those who come to CCF need to be hard-working and flexible, with strong interpersonal and intercultural skills. In the end, our work is a group effort and being able to work successfully within an international team of ever-changing volunteers and a small core staff is crucial. You also need to be able to meet the required volunteer fee, either through personal means or via a fund-raising effort.

In return, you will gain an experience of a lifetime. You will meet cheetahs, livestock guarding dogs and wildlife; and quite likely Chewbaaka! You will see the elegant cheetah run faster than you can imagine. You will feed them, and set wild cheetahs free. You will meet people from all over the world, all dedicated to the same cause, working and living in a friendly environment. You will be able to see an uninterrupted skyline, with stunning sunrises and sunsets on the horizon and an amazing blanket of stars at night. You will never forget your time at CCF.

The Volunteer Programme is managed direct from Namibia. For more information, please contact CCF's Volunteer Coordinator at ccfinfo@iway.na