Internship, Working Guest and Zookeeper Namibia Form

CCF Namibia Internship/Volunteer Application Form

Step 1 of 4 - Personal Info

Application Type*
Choose one of the application options below.
- Internship
- Working Guest
- Zookeeper/Animal Health/Veterinary
Name*
First Last
Current Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Phone*
Email*
Date of Birth*
Please list your country of citizenship*
If you have dual citizenship please list both countries
Gender*
T-shirt size*
This is the sizing info for your CCF uniform, if accepted as an intern.

Name of University
If you are not currently enrolled please list most recently attended school.
Degree Major/Focus Area
Degree Minor/Subsidiary
Degree Progress
Choose highest academic year achieved or in what year you are currently enrolled
Graduation date
If you are still in school, please give year you expect to graduate.
School Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Academic Reference or Academic Advisor
Prefix First Last
Academic Reference or Academic Advisor email
Please list relevant coursework/subjects you have completed.
Requirements of university for your internship*
Preferred start date of your CCF internship*
Date Format: YYYY slash MM slash DD
Second choice start date of your CCF internship*
Date Format: YYYY slash MM slash DD
Number of weeks that applicants want to intern at CCF*
Please attach any relevant information/forms/documents from your school pertaining to your internship*
doc, docx, or pdf files accepted. For Masters/PhD students, please attach your thesis requirements and an outline of proposed work at CCF.
Drop files here or

Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, .

Resume & Cover Letter*
doc, docx, or pdf files accepted
Drop files here or

Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, .
Please describe any special skills you have that you feel may help CCF's program*
What other environmental/conservation interests have you pursued in the past?*
What other internship/volunteer positions have you held? Please list the positions and when you were involved.*
What is your highest level of education completed?*
Are you used to working outdoors?*
Are you willing to working indoors?*
How would you rate your computer skills?*
What computer programs have you used in the past? If none please list N/A.*
Other than English, what language(s) do you speak/read/write? If none please list N/A.*
Professional Reference*
Prefix First Last
Professional Reference Email*
Preferred start date of your CCF Namibia volunteer experience*
Date Format: YYYY slash MM slash DD
Second choice start date of your CCF Namibia volunteer experience*
Date Format: YYYY slash MM slash DD

Have you lived with a roommate or a in shared housing arrangement?*
Have you lived on your own?*
Please list the types of animals you have worked/lived with in the past.*
Ex: Domestic only - dogs, cats, etc... Domestic exotics: snakes, lizards, birds, etc... Wildlife, Zoo animals, etc...
Do you have any known health concerns/restrictions?*
Please list known relevant health concerns/restrictions.
Do you have any dietary restrictions/requirements?*
Please list dietary restrictions/requirements.*
Why are you interested in coming to CCF?*
Why are your expectations of your time at CCF?*
What do you enjoy most in life, and why?
Please specify how you will finance your internship (self-funded, grant, or other kinds of funding).
Relevant to International Interns ONLY
Can you meet the required financial contributions for a working guest/volunteer experience?*
Required Reading

Fees for Volunteering in Namibia
We require an initial deposit upon your confirmation into the program (paid in one lump-sum) and then the final balance payment is due 2 months prior to your arrival (also paid in a lump-sum). Payments can be made by the volunteer or someone else. Please ensure that any payments are made using the appropriate payment form so that we have details on who is making the payment and for which volunteer. If you are collecting donations from friends, family or grants/funding YOU are responsible for ensuring that payment is made to CCF in ONE LUMP SUM. Please include a spreadsheet / database (in Microsoft Word / Excel) indicating the payment types, list of donors, etc. with your payment form to help us keep track of payments.
Working Guest Fees (include a 1% processing charge) US$3,030.00 for 2 weeks US$5,050.00 for 4 weeks
Deposit: US$1,140.00 due on approval of application (includes $130 visa fee). An additional room security deposit of US$75 is required for 4-week volunteers, reimbursable upon departure.
Student internships and Zookeepers US$2,020.00 per month
Deposit: US$710.00 due on approval of application (includes US$130 visa fee and $75 room security deposit refundable upon departure)
Namibian/South African citizens - Please email ccfinfo@iway.na
Working visa application fee An additional visa fee of US$130, due with the deposit, is required for all non-Namibian volunteers regardless of length of stay. Special paperwork and application forms need to be completed and submitted at least 6 weeks prior to your departure date.
PAYMENT: CCF prefers payment by bank transfer to our Namibian bank account. In order to cover the processing fee our bank charges us, we are building in a fee of 1%. Please be advised that your bank will also charge you a fee for a foreign bank transfer. Please enquire about these charges in advance and please note that CCF does not have any influence on these charges. We can also accept payments by credit card (VISA and Mastercard) but a processing fee of 5% applies and additional bank charges on which CCF has no influence could be drawn from your account. It might be worth comparing transfer and credit card payment charges.

FAQs
What are the criteria for acceptance into the programme? Typically, volunteers and interns are chosen based on three criteria. First is the space availability at the facility in Namibia. There are limited accommodations at CCF; therefore we have to manage the various volunteers/interns and living quarters at CCF. The time of year is also critical as many volunteers and interns are interested in the June-September and December-January timeframe (based on school/ work schedules). Beginning in October through May is typically less crowded, so there are more volunteering opportunities.
What type of experience do I need? Volunteers: We need people with business, administrative and education skills as much as we need people with ecology, zoology and vet/vet-tech skills. The skills need may vary somewhat during the year. For example, in January, we prepare our annual report. Around March/April, we conduct our annual work-ups on resident cheetahs. During July we need to produce a mid-year report and host a fundraising gala in Namibia. In July and August we host large scale 12-hour waterhole counts and conduct studies on female cheetahs. During September and October, we attend several farmer shows and may need assistance with educational presentations. Throughout the year we conduct farmer training sessions and ecology studies (game counts, spoor tracking, camera trapping), host day visitors, school/youth groups and VIP groups, visit schools, write grant applications and articles, place puppies (about eight weeks after litters are born), perform cheetah and other animal care and conduct work-ups on wild and captured cheetahs that pass through our centre.
Interns: Preferably students will be studying a conservation/biology-related subject but this is not essential. Like volunteers, interns need to be motivated and keen to learn and be dedicated to the tasks that are being assigned to them.
Why do I have to pay to volunteer? CCF is a non-profit organization that relies on donations. Volunteer/internship fees make up a substantial portion of our annual income. The Volunteer/Internship Program is a win-win opportunity for everyone involved – it allows volunteers and interns to see the workings of CCF at a very personal level, and it also allows CCF to implement on-going research programmes and maintain the facility with the help of volunteers and interns. In return, our volunteers and interns gain skills from working with our staff at CCF. Depending on the requirements of their universities, interns are given projects to work on while they are at CCF. Donations and volunteers/intern are the key to CCF’s success.
How much are the volunteer/internship fees and what do they cover? Fees for volunteering vary by type of volunteer and location (Namibia or CCF affiliate ACK Kenya). Please visit http://cheetah.org/you-can-help/internship/how-much-does-it-cost/ to view the fee structure.
Your fees cover your accommodation and all of your food while you are at CCF. We provide linens, bedding and towels. Fees do not cover any flights, transportation to/from the airport (but we can help arrange this) and any personal effects (e.g. alcohol, soft drinks, toiletries, etc). You will need to budget for these in addition to your volunteer/internship fee. Most volunteers and interns spend very little money while they are at CCF. There is also a Work Visa Application Fee that is required for all volunteers. (See # 6 below for details.)
What is the difference between the Action for Cheetahs Kenya programme and the CCF Namibia programme? The difference of our programme in Namibia and Action for Cheetahs in Kenya's (ACK) programme (ACK became an independent CCF affiliate in 2009) is based on the size of the facility and intensity of work at each location. Namibia is our headquarters. We have a fully operating, integrated, developed centre there. We have about 15-20 professional staff and run six or so farms, with workers. We also have 50+ orphaned, injured or elderly cheetahs on site that cannot be re-released into the wild. We take care of these cheetahs. We run a Livestock Guardian Dog programme, breeding puppies that can be placed out with farmers for non-lethal predator control. We also run many educational and outreach programmes. All of this is financed through donations. So, when volunteers and interns come to Namibia, not only are they helping us run these programmes, but they are also contributing financially to the maintenance of our facility. As you can imagine, it’s fairly costly to keep up and manage all of these programmes, and it also costs us money to house, train and transport volunteers and interns.
In contrast, ACK in Kenya is still very much a grass roots operation. Only recently did they come into a permanent establishment in Kenya. But much of the time is spent on the road, doing education and outreach work. There are no cheetahs on site, no permanent education centres and no dog breeding. Hence, the cost of operation is much lower in Kenya. ACK also need a different type of volunteer; typically people that can volunteer long term, and also have specific skills (whatever is needed most at that point in time). Thus, ACK charges a lower volunteer fee.
How do I pay? And when? Your initial deposit payment will be due immediately upon your approval and confirmation. This is to hold your space at our facility. The final payment is due 2 months prior to your arrival in Namibia. CCF prefers payments by bank transfer but can also accept MasterCard and Visa payments if necessary. We also require that you pay for your Work Visa up front as well. (See below for more information). There is a 1% processing fee included in all bank transfer payments (and a 5% processing fee in all credit card payments) - we thank you in advance for helping us defray these costs. CCF prefers to process payments by direct bank transfer into our Namibian account as this is more cost effective for us as a non-profit organization and should also reduce the cost for volunteers as credit card payments have in the past incurred extra charges for the volunteer which were not covered by the 5% processing fee but were beyond CCF’s and CCF’s bank’s control.
Do I need a Work Visa and how do I get one? All our non-Namibian volunteers, interns and zookeepers need to apply for a work visa which entitles them to volunteering at CCF only. The visa application takes about 5-6 weeks to process. You will pay approximately US$130 with your initial deposit payment to cover the processing costs associated with the Work Visa application. Upon your approval and confirmation, you will receive a visa application form from us and instructions on how to fill it in. Please print the document, complete the application form and scan it. Then, email it to ccfinfo@iway.na . You will also need to scan and e-mail a certified copy of your passport (personal detail and passport number) and a certified copy or your highest qualification / training certificate.
Visa applications will be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs by CCF’s visa agent 5-6 weeks prior to the volunteers’ arrival. The application takes 5-6 weeks to process and when CCF receives the visa, it will be emailed to the volunteer/intern who will present the work visa and their passport to immigration when they arrive at Windhoek airport or at one of the border posts.
NOTE: Volunteers only need to contact CCF about their Work Visa if they still haven't received it one week prior to their departure.
This approved work visa document must be shown upon entry into Namibia, so make sure you bring it with you. Should you lose or forget it, you might be refused entry into the country and put on the next plane out (at your own expense).
Do I make my own travel arrangements? Yes, you are responsible for making and paying for your own flight arrangements into and out of Windhoek International Airport. Please e-mail the volunteer coordinator at ccfinfo@iway.na with the dates you have in mind. Please note that you are responsible for your own transport from Windhoek airport to CCF. The volunteer coordinator can also help you book a transfer from Windhoek airport to CCF with a reliable taxi driver who drives many of CCF’s volunteers/interns. On the rare occasion that CCF might have a car in Windhoek on the day of a volunteer’s or intern’s arrival, they can get a lift to CCF but please note that these trips (usually for meetings in Windhoek) only come up at a few days’ notice so it’s necessary that volunteers and interns book their flights first and arrange transport to CCF a little closer to their arrival date.
Please note that you are financially responsible for all of your flights into and out of Namibia, any necessary accommodations in Windhoek as well as the transport from Windhoek Airport to CCF / Otjiwarongo (in case there is no lift with a CCF car).
Volunteers/interns are asked to arrive on Sundays, if possible but if they can only find flights arriving on a weekday, that it also fine. Please be aware that the drive from Windhoek airport to CCF takes 4 hours. Volunteers and interns who would like to travel to CCF on the same day as their flight arrives in Windhoek, should make sure that the arrival time is no later than 1pm. Alternatively, volunteers and interns whose flights arrive later in the day, can stay overnight in Windhoek and travel to CCF the next day.
Where do I stay in Windhoek? Please refer to the Volunteer Handbook in the Volunteer section of our website www.cheetah.org for a list of Windhoek hotels and hostels. You will need to let us know where you will be staying so that we can help with any transportation issues if needed. Send your details to ccfinfo@iway.na. Also, you will need to arrange transport from the airport to your Windhoek accommodations, which is approximately N$240 (=US$15), per person via minibus (we can recommend a shuttle company called Townhoppers. They need to be pre-booked and pre-paid. You can contact them by e-mailing Townhoppers@iway.na . Alternatively, there are taxis at the airport which will take passengers into the city. Some hotels/guesthouses will also be able to help you arrange transport from the airport to their facility.
How do I get to CCF from Windhoek? If CCF happens to have a car in Windhoek on the day of your arrival, you can get a lift.
If you arrive on a day we don’t have a car in Windhoek, you will be responsible for the cost of that transport which is approximately N$1,500 (US$90). CCF will be able to arrange this transport which is with a dedicated taxi service we frequently book for volunteers and interns. You would have to pay the driver in cash on arrival at CCF in South African Rand or Namibian Dollars (which have the same value and are both legal tender in Namibia), so make sure you withdraw some cash at an ATM in Johannesburg airport (if you are flying that route) or Windhoek airport. The taxi can pick you up from the airport, or from a location in Windhoek.
Alternatively, you can catch a shared taxi from Windhoek airport to the point in Windhoek’s Katutura area where the taxis to Otjiwarongo leave. This first taxi will cost approximately N$250. You would then have to take a second taxi to Otjiwarongo which will also cost around N$250. Shared taxis don’t operate according to a schedule but leave when they have filled with enough passengers to make the trip worthwhile. Please note that you might have to overnight in Otjiwarongo in order to catch a lift with a CCF car early the next morning. There are usually no CCF cars driving from Otjiwarongo town to CCF in the afternoons. Please give advance notice if you are going to take a shared taxi from Windhoek to Otjiwarongo.
Please contact the volunteer coordinator regarding dates before you book your flights.
What should I expect to do as a volunteer? As a volunteer you will be required to help with the day-to-day activities at the facility. Much of your time may be spent in the office, working on ongoing projects. Your work will be varied. This may mean cleaning the goat pens one day, doing data entry another day and occasionally helping feed the 50 plus habituated cheetahs that live on the property. Each evening, a schedule is posted for the following day, outlining your tasks for that day and who the task leader is.
There will be office and computer work. There will be physical labour. There will be handling of raw meat and organs and there will be visits to the dump. There are also special ongoing research projects that need to be monitored, such as faecal specimen analysis, game counts and ecosystem evaluation studies. When you arrive at CCF, you will participate in an orientation meeting where you will learn more about the ongoing projects and tasks and determine which projects best fit your skill set. Please be honest when communicating what you are comfortable doing, so that everyone gets the most out of your volunteer experience.
What do interns do at CCF? Interns are usually full-time students (undergraduates or graduate students) at a university or other third-level institution and are mostly studying a subject in a conservation-related field, however, students in other fields are also welcome to apply. If their university course requires them to complete a special project during their internship, a project will be discussed with the student and their advisor. If there are no special requirements from the student’s university, he or she will be assigned smaller projects that are part of CCF’s ongoing research. Interns usually stay longer than volunteers and are therefore given the opportunity to take on more responsibility than short-term volunteers when it comes to work tasks but they will also get involved in the tasks that are mentioned under point 10.
What are the arrangements for meals at CCF? Lunch and dinner is cooked for staff, volunteers and interns Monday through Saturday, and dinner on Sunday. Everyone is responsible for their own breakfast every day (food is provided in a group kitchen) and lunch on Sunday. Each evening, one volunteer/intern is allocated to help with the cooking and cleaning in the kitchen.
The Volunteer Handbook has more details on the type of tasks volunteers and interns work on, and what to expect during their stay. Please download the handbook, it is an important document for you to read.
What else can I do at CCF while I am volunteering/interning? CCF operates on a 45-hour working week, but as our organization is open to the public, volunteers and interns may be required to work beyond those hours and over the weekend.
In their spare time, volunteers and interns can hike, run or cycle around the farm (making sure they let someone know where they’re going – it’s still wild there!). In the summer, some people like to play badminton or basketball. The common room has a TV, movies and books that you can borrow and there is also Wi-Fi coverage. The library at the main building has a lot of reference material (which needs to stay in the library).
If volunteers/interns would like to visit Otjiwarongo, they may request this from the Operations Manager, to reserve space in a vehicle that is headed for town. Some people like to visit the national parks and other parts of Namibia – this may also be possible, but is not guaranteed and will depend on the workload and projects going on at CCF. It is preferable that interns and volunteers arrange to travel through Namibia either before or after their stay at CCF.

Important Contact Information
Please copy and paste this info into your address book.
Namibian Volunteer Programme Coordinator Heike Stackmann based in Namibia - ccfinfo@iway.na Manages the daily correspondence with Namibia volunteers.
ACK Kenya Volunteer Coordinator, U.S. Erica Hermsen – erica.hermsen@actionforcheetahs.org Manages the daily correspondence with ACK Kenya Volunteers.

More Info
Internships
Interns who are accepted into the program are required to be tremendously flexible, adaptable and patient. We expect student interns to be mature and culturally sensitive. As with all volunteers, students are required to adhere to CCF protocol. If you are accepted to the internship program:
- You will live in a communal setting, sharing with other international and Namibian students. This allows for integration of cultures and building of relationships between students for a truly international experience.
- You may work long hours, seven days a week.
- You may work much of the day indoors or outdoors. Working conditions can be extremely hot or extremely cold.
- You will work with many people from different cultures and of different age groups.
- You will need to be able to work on your own and expect to multi-task.
- You will be asked to do administrative work such as filing, database entry, photocopying, organizing events, writing articles, running errands, doing the weekly food shopping, cook dinner, etc.
- You will get the chance to help with cheetah feeding, raise puppies, assist in clinical workups, collect and dissect cheetah feces, observe cheetah behavior, conduct field work and be involved in outreach and education programs.
- You will be responsible for your own transportation to and from CCF, and for securing all the necessary visas or other paperwork necessary to be at CCF.
- You must pay for their room and board and sign liability and other waivers.
Long-term volunteers may be assigned a specific project to complete during their stay. We welcome students with all kinds of backgrounds/courses of study: biology, animal science, conservation biology, ecology, veterinary studies but also more areas such as business studies, computing, education, graphic design, comparative history studies, sociology, psychology and other areas.
Volunteers/Working Guests
Volunteering at CCF in Namibia is a rewarding experience, and most of the people who participate in our volunteer program will tell you that it is among the best experiences they have ever had. They’ll also tell you it’s not for the faint of heart. If you are accepted to be a working guest at CCF:
- You will do everything from data entry to chopping up meat to collecting and cataloging scat samples. CCF is a research station in a rural area of one of Africa’s least densely populated countries, and while conditions are not inhospitable, they are not terribly luxurious, either.
- You will can work with a wide variety of people on a wide variety of tasks, and will be relied upon to complete a great many tasks that involve nearly every aspect of our operations.
- You are responsible for your own transportation to and from CCF, and for securing all the necessary visas or other paperwork necessary to be at CCF.
- You must pay for their room and board and sign liability and other waivers.
Volunteers and Interns are selected via an application process and must fill out all the appropriate application forms. Because of the nature of the site and limited accommodation, not all applications are accepted.
Required Reading Acknowledgement*
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Internship, Working Guest and Zookeeper Namibia Form

CCF Namibia Internship/Volunteer Application Form

Step 1 of 4 - Personal Info

Required Reading

Fees for Volunteering in Namibia

FAQs

Important Contact Information

More Info