Volunteer Positions at
the CRPL
The Centre
de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro (CRPL) is a primate sanctuary
located in the South Kivu Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Centre was established in 2002 by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation
de la Nature (ICCN) and the Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles (CRSN)
and is now managed by a consortium of local and international organisations
including the ICCN, CRSN, Coopera, Venner av Lwiro and Friends of Lwiro
Australia.
The CRPL
currently houses over fifty chimpanzees and seventy monkeys, representing more
than ten different species, all victims of the illegal wildlife trade in the
DRC. With established education and awareness programs, and as the only wildlife
sanctuary in the region, the CRPL acts as a crucial resource for all
conservation organisations working in the area.
The Centre
is situated just outside the boundary of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Parc
National de Kahuzi-Biega (PNKB), making it the ideal venue for great ape
health, law enforcement and conservation programs and is included in the PNKB’s
Operational Plan and also in the Conservation Action Plan (CAP) for the Kivu
Landscape, indicating the Centre’s imperative role in conservation in the
region. The CRPL is also a Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) member
sanctuary.
Over the
past few years the CRPL has been developing new facilities to remove the
animals from the cages in which they previously lived and to house them in open
plan enclosures, enhancing their quality of life and improving our rehabilitation
methods. The next 5 years will be a dynamic time for the CRPL and we are
seeking 2 persons to assist with this process of change.
These
positions are of a voluntary nature, however assistance will be provided with
basic costs. While the CRPL runs a volunteer program for paying volunteers,
these positions will hold more responsibility.
The primary
position we are searching for would be responsible for:
·
Grant
writing and fundraising (this is the most important aspect of the job)
·
Donor/Sponsor
relationships
·
Web
communications and administration
·
Overseeing
the volunteer program
·
Education
programs, in particular the Roots and Shoots program
·
Overseeing
the sanctuary
The second
position would be responsible for:
·
Overseeing
the new facilities in the sanctuary, animal integrations etc.
·
Overseeing
construction programs
·
Organising
basic maintenance
We are
ideally seeking a couple, or 2 friends, for these positions as Lwiro can be a
little isolated, however we will take applications from individuals for the
primary position only. The primary position is the priority for the CRPL as we
do not receive any government funding and rely on grants and donations for all
our costs. As these positions are voluntary, you will be responsible for your
own expenses – including but not limited to travel, visas, insurance etc.
Housing and food will be provided by the CRPL. These positions are for 12
months (with a 3 month probation period), with the option to extend further.
Assistance with visa costs can be negotiated after the 3 month probation period.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
·
Fluency in
written and spoken English – for the primary position.
·
Advanced
computer skills; the ability to navigate the internet, produce documents to a
high standard, maintain a
blog and
other social media, use Microsoft Office programs to a high standard – for the
primary position.
·
Exceptional
ability to communicate with donors, sponsors, partners and staff.
·
Some
knowledge of and an interest in conservation and animal welfare principles.
·
Good
organisational skills.
·
Captive
animal management background– Great Ape or primate management skills a further
advantage.
Desirable
·
Background
in fundraising and grant writing – for the primary position.
·
Spoken
French.
·
Experience
living and working in a developing nation (particularly Africa) for more than 6 months.
·
Staff
management skills.
We would
like these positions to commence in April 2013.
If you are
interested in these positions, please email your CV and a cover letter to:
Any
questions can also be directed to this email address.
For more
information about the CRPL, please visit:
For Your Information