| It's common for a teen volunteer in Africa to be | | | | I'm not being flippant, but the point is important. |
| helped with funding for their trip by a parent or | | | | Volunteering with lions might get you scratched, |
| other family member. Understandably, despite | | | | although even that is unlikely because you (or |
| being keen to help broaden a young person's | | | | your teen relative) will be with highly trained |
| experience and outlook, relatives can be | | | | professionals. If you want to know about |
| concerned about safety aspects - especially given | | | | volunteer teaching or medical assistance in the |
| some of the news footage of Africa seen on TV. | | | | slums of Nairobi or Cape Town then yes, like any |
| So is volunteering in Africa safe? | | | | other big city there are places you shouldn't go, |
| It depends to some extent on the volunteer | | | | but no respectable volunteer organization is going |
| organization. There is story of a teen volunteer in | | | | to take people into those areas. They are not |
| Africa flying into Vilanculos Airport, Mozambique, | | | | only concerned about your safety but they also |
| to find they were expected to travel to their | | | | have their own reputation to protect. How quickly |
| volunteer placement by themselves - having | | | | would a negative news story go around the globe |
| never traveled to Africa before. A nightmare | | | | and ruin their work? |
| scenario. | | | | So although Zimbabwe has had bad press in |
| Fortunately such situations are rare and a | | | | recent times it is not only much better of late but |
| reputable African volunteer organization would | | | | a teen volunteer just isn't going to get taken into |
| never let that happen. Properly run groups always, | | | | areas where there might still be difficulties. |
| but always, collect people from the airport and | | | | Likewise Cape Town is a big city and they all |
| would never leave a teen volunteer to find their | | | | have their problems, but organizers will tell |
| own way. If you are at all concerned, get in touch | | | | volunteers where is safe and where it isn't and will |
| with the people arranging the volunteer project. | | | | always accompany people on work placements |
| Any good company will be more than happy to | | | | anyway. |
| telephone you and give you all the details you | | | | Teen volunteering in Africa usually has certain |
| need. If they aren't... well you can make up your | | | | restrictions - precisely for the safety of the |
| own mind. There are other African volunteer | | | | volunteer. Apart from organized school |
| teams who will treat you much better. | | | | expeditions we don't know of a reputable |
| If you choose to work with lions in Antelope Park, | | | | company that takes teens under 17 and for |
| Zimbabwe, for example, it would be foolish to say | | | | many projects 18 is the minimum. They will |
| there's absolutely no risk. However, it won't be | | | | always be accompanied by at least one staff |
| because Zimbabwe isn't safe, it will be because a | | | | member while at work and evening |
| lion can give you a nasty scratch - even a | | | | accommodation is always in secure areas. |
| household cat can do that! | | | | |