Jessica Houghton of Expert Language Solutions is currently taking part in a project that is quite different to the normal type of business translation projects that she works on! Project African Wilderness (PAW) is helping Malawi’s Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve to conserve the endangered Black Rhino as well as providing support for the local community through employment and training, through support for the area’s schools and orphans and through developing the local economy by placing as much business locally as possible. Jessica’s volunteering has been in the area of PR and Marketing for this vital project and by helping to raise awareness here in the UK. A long-term research partnership with a number of universities is also helping Masters students with their research in the areas of eco-tourism and conservation.
Project African Wilderness: preserving the wilderness, promoting a sustainable future
Here at PAW, our twin aims are conservation and community support. We think the two go hand-in-hand in assuring a bright future for one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in Malawi.
At our core are a dynamic set of people who have really thrown themselves into the preservation of Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve, one of Malawi’s nine National Parks and a vital piece of the natural wilderness in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mwabvi, the last natural home to the black rhino before it was poached out in the 1990s, is an amazing area with a wide range of habitat – but it’s tiny and it’s surrounded by more than 60,000 people living their daily lives. Much of the game has also been poached out, and farms are encroaching on what was once pristine wilderness.
Our programme here is the only significant long term socio-economic project for the entire Nsanje District. We provide employment and training for local people, support the area’s schools and orphans, and aim to expand Mwabvi’s economy by placing as much of our business locally as possible. Our conservation training programme for international paying visitors is now open, and through this and a programme of sustainable tourism, we’re helping Mwabvi to help itself.
Like any charity, we couldn’t survive without the hard work of our volunteers – especially now, as we prepare for the long-awaited reintroduction of black rhino to Mwabvi later this year.
PAW volunteers past and present have discovered such a range of activity that they’ve been able to tailor-make their own volunteering experiences. From outreach work with the local villages to mapping and constructing roads; clearing a path for Mwabvi’s vital perimeter fence to developing educational programmes; managing administration to getting creative with social media, our volunteers have each been able to develop their skills, close in on their career goals, and enjoy a fun and fulfilling working holiday.
Mvabvi is of growing interest to the research community, too. Masters students who have taken advantage of our volunteer accommodation, GPS equipment, transport and Wi-Fi connection have covered topics from a review of our work on eco-tourism to a study of the habitat and carrying capacity for giraffes on the reserve. Working in partnership with selected universities, we’re now developing a long term research programme.
Our ultimate goal is to secure a healthy long term future for Mwabvi: a future where conservation of the environment goes hand-in-hand with a vibrant local economy, a future where the reserve exists in harmony with strong, healthy, thriving communities. Success means being able to hand over our work to local people who have the skills and strength as well as the desire to protect this unique pristine wilderness.
Want to learn more? Please visit our website, take a look at our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.
To volunteer for PAW in the UK, visit the PAW Trust website or email pawadmin@projectafricanwilderness.org with details of your experience, interests, and availability.
To volunteer in Malawi, please visit the Mwabvi Wildlife and Community Trust website. You can spend between two weeks and twelve months enjoying a volunteer experience in conservation, outreach, teaching, or research.
