Gap Year Expeditions, Global Volunteering & Conservation Projects – Greenforce

Highlights

Staring with an Introduction week, you will have the opportunity to acclimatise to the climate, culture, language and settle in to your new home for the next 4 weeks. The Panda project is based near Chengdu, in the east of Mt. Qionglai, and just a 3-hour drive away from the city. Situated in 200,000 hectares (i.e. 494,200 acres), the reserve is an excellent place to look after these endangered animals.

The park was created in 1963. This Panda Reserve is the earliest, largest and best-known panda reserve in China. It was placed on UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve Network in 1980.

Sixty-seven captive pandas are among 150 pandas in the Giant Panda Reserve managed by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. The Center was founded in 1980 with assistance from World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Following training you will work with the Panda Keepers. This will involve the day to day running of the sanctuary.

Authorised certification is provided on completion of your placement at the Panda Reserve.

Essentials

What will I achieve?

A typical week at the Panda reserve may include the following :

• Clean the bedroom and the garden for the giant pandas.

• Prepare food, such as: carrot, apples, panda bread and biscuit. Plus of course bamboo.
• Help the scientists to collect the behavior data. Also assisting the veterinary, providing medicinal care for the panda.
• There are also special projects you may work on subject to your technical or language ability such as helping marketing and management of the sanctuary.

Where will I live?

In all project areas, volunteers are accommodated in comfortable, safe and supported facilities. Accommodations are structured around one central camp location, where volunteers meet to hold meetings, socialize, dine, and prepare resources and activities for project work. This setting allows participants to freely interact with other like-minded international people and to secure privacy and comfort. Volunteers are encouraged to be model citizens outside the camp, sensitive to cultural differences, but then to return inside and enjoy their freedom and personal space.

Money

• The currency is Yuan. The best way to carry your money is to split it between separate payment methods, e.g. cash, card and traveller’s cheques. Never carry a lot of cash as you can always get more out at a cash point or exchange money in all the major banks and hotels and large towns.
• Most credit cards are accepted in China.
• Your money will be spent covering your ground costs e.g. food and accommodation. Any money left over will be put back into Greenforce Projects.
Country facts
• China is the world fourth largest country in terms of land mass, but has the world’s largest population with 1.6 billion people.
• The Chinese language does not have an alphabet, but over 40,000 characters each of which would need to be memorised.

Eligibility

• The trip is open to all nationalities.
• The minimum age for this trip is 17; there is no maximum. China programmes consist of individuals from a diverse range of ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Everyone is welcome!

What's included?

• A Meet Your Team briefing day and BBQ in central London.

• Authorised Certification
• Being met at the airport by a Greenforce staff member then dropped off to your hotel.
• Comprehensive orientation period, including guest speakers and presentations by trained professionals, covering China’s culture, history, and language.
• All transfers/ transport to project locations and overnight journeys.
• All accommodation and meals.
• Assistance in setting up local support for the volunteers’ activities in coordination with the local NGOs.
• On site assistance and all materials for the activities.

Points to note:
• On receipt of deposit, you’ll receive a Welcome e-mail with access to your personal page.
• We provide helpful advice on flights, insurance and more.
• A staff member is in China all year round.

Country Information

• China is the world fourth largest country in terms of land mass, but has the world’s largest population with 1.6 billion people.
• The Chinese language does not have an alphabet, but over 40,000 characters each of which would need to be memorised.

Maps

Itinerary

You will arrive at Chengdu Airport and your Introduction week will begin. On week 2 you will be transported to the Panda sanctuary. During your first week at the sanctuary you will be trained and immerse yourself in knowledge about the region, the sanctuary and the fascinating Chinese culture.

Soon, you will be working with the panda keepers and watching how they operate. They will give you rewarding tasks and let you get a hands-on feel to panda conservation and animal welfare.

During the course of the 4 weeks, you will also have the opportunity to explore the region and the large, 200,000 hectare reserve.

Return home and boast to your friends that you took part in one of the most worthwhile and unique projects, one that allowed you daily contact with the giant panda!

Be sure to check out the feedback from our volunteers.

Feedback

"Hello, I would just like to let you know, I had an amazing time in China, definitely the best experience of my life, I am gutted it's ended, the time went by really quickly, I made some good friends over there and all the keepers were really friendly. The best part for me was getting to have a picture with a panda and also my last week, I got to look after a panda and feed it little bits of food, amazing to be so close. It was a great feeling to know I finally got to go on the other side of the door while the tourists watched.

It was a bit weird when everyone looked at me because I was a foreigner but I soon got used to it. I liked my room, sometimes I went for a walk around the place and found it really beautiful. I ended up having only one meal a day there as I couldn't face rice 3 times a day and i ended up feeling not that hungry anyway. It was a little bit hard with the chopsticks!

I had a wicked time though and I miss it a lot. I made a great mate with one of the keepers. And on my last day there it was his birthday so I went with him to Ya'an City and sang karaoke and drank beer and danced, it was so much fun. Beijing was a little scary and big but I managed to visit the Great Wall, although it rained! Anyway I really enjoyed the experience, I cannot wait to go back again.

Sarah - GF Volunteer