My job is to create lessons for the Eco-Curriculum.

"South Africa's nature is breath-taking." - Wessel Nieuwenhuijse, Dutch Environmental Intern

Hi everyone,

My name is Wessel and I am a volunteer intern at Nourish. I am 21 years old and originally from The Netherlands. For the next four months I will assist in creating the eco curriculum. 

This curriculum is taught by our Environmental Monitors who visit schools in the area and teach children about conservation and the environment. We try to educate as many children as possible so they learn more about the environment and they become more aware of the importance of the different organisms in the ecosystem. 

My job is to create more lessons for this curriculum so that this great work can be continued!

I’ve been here for a month now so I have already experienced a lot! 

In my first weeks I had to read through the already existing eco curriculum and attend lessons from our EM’s, just to see if the existing system is still optimal. After that I could start making my own lessons.

It is really amazing to see how Nourish is putting so much effort in creating resilient communities. Meeting so many nice people and seeing how everyone is committed to make the best of their projects is a real privilege.

The location of Nourish is amazing as well. It is near the Orpen Gate of Kruger Park and at the other side of the road are many game reserves like Thornybush, Kapama and Timbavati. This means that if we drive on the road, we often see animals near the fence. This way, we saw buffalo, zebra, impala, wildebeest, elephants and lions! 

Also we have been into Kruger multiple times and experienced Hoedspruit's surrounding nature. 

It is absolutely breath-taking.

That’s it for now! In a couple of months there will be more. 

See yah!

Communications Intern - Alessia Garlisi

Nourish and a new way of living

Every young girl has dreams for her future, and mine was travelling. I dreamt of travelling and in that way, exploring many different cultures and gaining experience in life. I dreamt of living my life independently and doing it all by myself. As I got older this dream could become reality the moment I got the opportunity to do my internship at Nourish in South Africa.

Hi! I am Alessia Garlisi, a dreamer and communications student at PXL College in Hasselt, Belgium. As a young girl, I loved travelling. The further, the better. When I got my diploma from secondary school, I got the opportunity to volunteer in Ethiopia, but I didn’t do it. Everyone knows the story about a girl falling in love and wants to be with him no matter what. Well this is what happened to me. I fell madly in love with my best friend and don’t get me wrong I am still in love, but there was something missing.  I felt the need of more in life, like discovering the world and meeting new cultures.

In my second year of University there was a presentation about doing your internship abroad. I saw this as an opportunity and I immediately searched for an interesting country. I chose South Africa. Why? Well, that’s simple; South- Africa is such a beautiful country with beautiful cultures. I wanted to experience a new culture and this as far as possible from home. In that way I wanted to challenge myself in being independently and to open myself for a new way of living.

 

Now in my last year as a student, I have chosen to live in a rural area and to work in an organization that minds about the health of people, animals and the environment of Hoedspruit South-Africa. Nourish is the perfect organization, they work so hard to fight poverty and poaching. They inspire me in being a better person and to give more about the world or country I live in.

I believe that during my time at Nourish, I will grow to be a better person and be more helpful not only for people and animals, but also for the environment. I will learn more about the culture and how to live back-to-basics. However big the differences may be in South Africa, I am ready to take on the challenge!

Lore - Nourish Intern

Hello everyone,

My name is Lore and I am a 23 year old girl from Belgium.

I am volunteering for Nourish for the next couple of months, 5 months in total to be correct.

My South African adventure started last year in February, when I came here for the very first time. I was studying communications management at a Belgian college. During the last year of these studies, we were obliged to fulfil an internship and I chose to do this abroad, in South Africa, at Nourish. It has been my dream, ever since I was a child, to visit this beautiful country full of different cultures and the lovely wildlife.

My dream came true. I had a wonderful time at Nourish where I helped this non-profit organisation with communications, marketing and organising some cool events. The thing I will remember the most of my voluntary work at Nourish is the Kick It For Conservation Soccer Tournament. It is a two days soccer tournament where teams of the rural villages play against each other and learn more about conservation and the wildlife in their wonderful country.  This is one of Nourish’ projects; to educate local communities about their nature and culture. The prizes for the top three were: a daytrip to the Kruger National Park, a trip to a rehabilitation center and a demonstration by ProTrack, a well-known anti-poaching unit based in Hoedspruit. The things that made this event so special, and which has taught me a lot,  is having the opportunity to work together with different cultures.

Today, one year later, I am volunteering again with Nourish. After my internship of three months last year, I had to go home for graduation. I started to look for a job but I couldn’t stop thinking about South Africa or the lovely Nourish Family. I lost my heart and I couldn’t resist the pull to come back this side.

I will help Nourish again and pick up where I left off. The only thing that differs from last year is that I will be living in The Eco Village, the volunteer rondavels on the site of Nourish. It will be a real bush experience which I am very excited about. My friends living here say that elephants will greet you once in a while in the morning near the fence.

I am looking forward to all new adventures and to mean something again for Nourish; people here are so thankful and I love being involved in this amazing project.

If you are looking for a life changing experience, come and spend some time with the Nourish Family. But watch out, chance of losing your heart is as high as the sky ;)

Hope to see you soon this side!

Lore