Are you studying veterinary medicine, nursing, or technology? Our Veterinary Medicine project is a unique opportunity for qualified students and professionals. Enhance your practical experience while supporting animals from disadvantaged communities and collaborating with a busy veterinary doctor serving low-income pet owners and rescued animals at an animal welfare facility. Alternatively, you can work alongside a team of seasoned veterinary professionals gaining hands-on experience with diverse variety of animals. For a comprehensive learning experience, consider combining both areas.
| Starting days | Starting days are Monday to Friday all year around |
| Minimum Requirements | 2 weeks and longer subject to visa requirements. A minimum age of 20 years old and studying or qualified in a veterinary medicine field. |
| Cost | £1200 for 2 weeks and £350 for each additional week |
| What is included | Food allowance, accommodation, meeting you at the airport, airport collection and drop-off, welcome braai (BBQ), Saturday tour, a welfare animal sterilized on behalf of the volunteer, pre-departure support, t-shirt, in-country staff, 24- emergency help and more |
| What is not included | Flights, visas, travel insurance, spending money |
| Best for | Veterinary medicine students, veterinary nursing students, vet techs, qualified veterinary medicine doctors, qualified veterinary medicine nurse, those planning to study veterinary medicine |
Project Description
We have two different veterinary practices that we place our veterinary medicine students, interns, nurses, technicians and qualified veterinary participants in Knysna. Both have very dedicated qualified staff and both are very different in work routine, treatments and patients. Participants are placed according to availability and their personal needs and goals and the needs at the time.
Animal Welfare
This animal welfare project is a privately funded, non-profit association solely working for the benefit of animals found mostly in underprivileged areas. Acting and speaking for those who have no voice, the society engages in rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing where possible, education programs and daily clinics, as well as operating a sterilization program which operates on an often daily basis, servicing the greater Knysna area. Besides responding to distressed call-outs from the public, the animal welfare is often also driven to engage in the welfare of larger animals, that although not falling within their jurisdiction, cannot likewise be ignored. The emphasis is on sterilization to prevent unwanted litters of kittens and puppies
Education is power, and to the best of their abilities, the staff of the society distributes visual pamphlets on both the care of animals, feeding requirements, and disease protection and control. Many of the pet owners have wonderfully cared for and loved animals, but sadly these cases are in the minority, leaving the heavily financially burdened society and limited staff with an awesome, and for the most part, heartbreaking task. The welfare also treats those with lower incomes with low cost veterinary treatment which there is a huge need for.
The case load is very high with many cases too of mange, abuse, malnutrition, fighting, car accidents and injuries, Parvovirus, Distemper, Babesia and other parasites and infections both internally and externally
Private Veterinary Clinic
This private veterinary practice has been established for many decades and is the largest in the area and much loved by the residents and their furry family. They have numerous veterinary doctors, nurses and staff has an excellent reputation for their veterinary treatment with modern equipment. Aside from domestic animals in the greater Knysna area that they treat they also treat livestock and horses in the neighbouring farming areas and wildlife from rehabilitation centers in the area. They hold a mobile veterinary clinic in the poorer areas of the Knysna townships on the first Wednesday morning of the month for vaccinations, flea and mange treatment and to veterinary care. They also treat rescued injured and sick wildlife- both birds and animals- brought in by the local public, for free
There also have satellite veterinary clinics in the nearby towns of Sedgefield and Wilderness so you may join one of the veterinary doctors when they treat patients there.
Accommodation
The volunteer accommodation is shared and self-catering in the town of Knysna close to shopping malls, restaurants, take-aways, gyms, nightlife, entertainment areas and essential services. There is security and the area is safe to walk around. Bedrooms are either shared with another volunteer or single depending on volunteer numbers, a satellite TV, a shared bathroom with a shower, basin and toilet and a washing machine. There is a braai facility and kitchen for meals. There is also WIFI. Couples, friends, and families can be accommodated.
Food
You will also receive a food allowance for your basic food essentials for your breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will be taken for a grocery shop as part of your induction on your arrival. This means that you can choose the specific food if you have set dietary requirements. There is a kitchen for cooking
Location
You will need to fly into George Airport for your airport collection where you will be met by your Volunteer International Adventures representative and driven to your volunteer accommodation in Knysna.
Knysna is one of South Africa’s favourite towns based around the beautiful Knysna estuary with views of the iconic headlands. It is not known as the jewel of the Garden Route for nothing and is surrounded by magical forests, farmlands and a breath-taking coastline dotted with blue flag beaches which are great for swimming, barbequing or just simply watching dolphins surfing in the waves. It is also home to the famous elusive Knysna elephant which are the most southern free roaming elephants in the world and there are still hot debates about the numbers with some saying there is only one left and others a small herd of about four.
The area that Knysna is situated is the Garden Route of the province of the Western Cape and it is a dream for animal lovers and extreme sports enthusiasts as there are numerous private wildlife reserves, national parks, whale watching, predator sanctuaries, primate sanctuaries, elephant sanctuaries, wolf sanctuaries, skydiving, paragliding, sandboarding, numerous interesting markets and so much more so boredom is not an option.
Our projects take place mainly in the local townships in the poorer areas where we do our best to try and lighten the load for the teachers, schools and NPOs assisting in the area with hands on help and financial support
For more information or to book, either fill in the contact form or please email info@volunteerinternationaladventures.com
“I cannot begin to express how incredible this opportunity was from arrival to departure. Sharon answered any and all questions I had prior to pursuing this trip and was at the airport waiting for me on arrival with warm welcoming open arms and made me feel at home. The experience I gained from this trip was invaluable. Working with an animal welfare in this community introduced me to the cultural differences of animal care and veterinary medicine. It exposed me to the importance of proper client education and animal care in an underserved community. This experience allowed me to gain a perspective of the veterinary field I would not have had a chance to in the US and emphasized the importance of an open-minded, resilient, and flexible mind set within the veterinary profession. The staff at at the project were genuine and allowed me to have as much hands on experience as possible, from examinations to diagnostics to surgical procedures. During my stay, there was a major fire and Sharon provided me with a place to stay and made me as comfortable as I possibly could have been. I truly cannot recommend this experience enough! Everything about it was more than I expected it to be!”
-Alanna Wildman, USA
If you are studying veterinary medicine or qualified, you might be interested in this project too with veterinary medicine and animal care on the island of Zanzibar…. Animal Welfare and Veterinary Medicine Skills
