EDGE of AFRICA started making a direct positive impact on the lives of underprivileged South Africans and the country's environment in 2007. This private organisation has been growing from strength to strength since then and currently boasts the involvement of volunteers from over 20 different nations globally.
Our Ethos is to encourage ethical business by promoting sustainable development through responsible eco-tourism.
PROJECTS:
Our South African volunteer projects are either self-initiated within existing organisations in response to a need for upliftment and empowerment, or they are independently established by the EDGE of AFRICA team.
We have three categories of volunteer projects and most projects are easily accessible from our base in Knysna. Projects can also be combined to ensure a widely spread positive impact.
Conservation EDGE aims to assist valid, scientifically based, conservation efforts and research in Africa involving communities and supporting local initiatives. These projects include wildlife research, elephant specific research, big five wildlife projects, game reserve volunteering placements, conservation projects in Africa, community conservation and conservation education in local schools.
Community EDGE entails self sustaining projects, which move away from the 'hand-out' culture that has been generated by travellers to Africa. Instead, we aim to empower locals to help themselves through self motivation and education. These projects include working in pre-schools, teaching English, building schools, empowering disadvantaged youth, women empowerment, business development and HIV/AIDS awareness.
Sports EDGE strives to develop skills within local communities through the universal language of sport. With training we develop personal focus and the ability to work as a team. The result is moving the emphasis from 'what we dont have' to 'what we can do'. The dedication we witness from the children is exceptional.
FUNDING:
EDGE of AFRICA is fully supported by past and present volunteers. We are not a government organisation, although we do align with numerous government institutions to develop our projects and assist where possible. We thus do not receive any funding from the government or any other organisation. We rely totally on the goodwill and hard work of our volunteers and team members, and the financial contributions from volunteers.
Paying to volunteer allows us to cover our basic costs, as well as develop projects that are sustainable even long after the volunteers have left. This results in making an honest, real difference in the various project fields. For the volunteers, paying for their volunteering also still costs considerably less than it would if they were to visit the country as mere tourists with the added benefit of leaving a very valuable footprint behind.
Email: info@EDGEofAFRICA.com for more details
Email: info@EDGEofAFRICA.com for more details
