Illegal trade leads to black markets, and as rhinos become more and more endangered, the black market prices get higher and higher. This decision not to propose lifting the ban puts the market for trade right back into the poachers hands.

This decision had been made purely out of greed. The black market prices have soared, benefitting poaching syndicates and charities that are getting rich off the rhino's plight. 

I have written on legalising the rhino horn trade before HERE, on Let Rhino's Roam Free's blog and have been wanting to write about it on A Voice for the Voiceless for a long time. If you've read THIS POST, you'll know I co-run a rhino charity. This charity, unlike some, sends 100% of its proceeds directly to South Africa's private reserve owners.

I believe the future of the species lies with the private owners. These people put their life on the line every single day to protect their animals. What's heartbreaking is that these people are not being heard. The majority of private owners in South Africa support the idea to lift the ban on the international trade in rhino horn. They are experts and they would not support it if they didn't truly believe it would help.

The people making the decisions don't see the value in these animals beyond the dollar signs. We live in an economic world, where money is the main driver in policy making.

The name for this blog was inspired by someone who I have volunteered for in the past. She is my inspiration to keep fighting to animal rights, and to work in conservation. She is a strong voice in leading the fight against rhino poaching. She is inspiring people all over the world everyday. But she is not being heard.

If something is to be done, we need to shout louder. Be the voice for the voiceless, and stand up for animal welfare.

Use the hashtag: #LiftTheBan to promote lifting the ban on the international trade of rhino horn. Post it everywhere: use social media to bring about a positive change.

Together we can make a difference. We just need to keep going and never give up hope.

The staff were all incredibly kind and helpful. I really enjoyed getting to know them, and learning some Swahili. The resort itself was beautiful. It was situated right on the beach, and had a large pool with a bar. 

While in Mombassa we also visited a monkey sanctuary, seeing the work they do to protect the monkeys from the deforestation and roads. 

We mostly did lots of relaxing, reading and eating. The weather was mixed.. Although this is British summertime, there was a lot of rain; proper, tropical rain. However we did have some days of blissful sunshine, and it was still very warm. 

I read One Day by David Nicholls, which I really enjoyed. If anyone hasn't read it (although most have by now) I really recommend it, and David Nicholls in general. 

There are so many pros of volunteering abroad, but here are the main ones for me:

You really can make friends for life. I'm very lucky to have always got on extremely well with people I have volunteered with, and I know this is not always the way but it is easy to make friends. The main thing I noticed about the people I met volunteering is that you meet people with common interests, which helps you get on and break the ice. You are all going through the same things at the same time; you're all away from home in a new place doing new things, but you share that. You can form incredible bonds very quickly and get very close. 

Secondly, you get meet local people. In my experience, these people have been extremely inspirational, and unlike people I know in the UK. Their lives are very different from ours and you can learn so much from them, which really adds to your experience.

What I mean by this is you get to see the place you are in, in a more intimate way. You get a unique experience of the country and place you are in. As you are working for, and with, local people, you get a glimpse of their day-to-day lives. You don't get this in the same way as a tourist as things are often glorified for tourists; volunteers get a more honest and real experience. 

I realise all 3 pros so far have had "new" in the title; new things are a huge part of volunteering abroad. Volunteering overseas allows you to learn about new cultures you may not have known anything about.

4. Makes you stand out 

Volunteering abroad will always look good on your CV and make you stand out to employers. It shows you are adventurous and comfortable in foreign environments. I'm not saying you should volunteer abroad just for something to put on your CV, but it does really add something to make you stand out, especially if your volunteer work relates to your chosen career path. 

I don't mean this in a cliché way. I know everyone knows the classic "I found myself" quote people apply to their gap years or travels, and it's just become a big joke. However, volunteering abroad does help you grow. You're far away from home, in a new place, with new people, having new experiences. If you volunteer doing something you love, it can help you realise what you want to do, and how you can go about doing it. 

There are some cons of volunteering abroad. In my experience, the pros have massively outweighed the cons; so much so that even coming up with some cons to write about proved difficult. The main ones I thought of are:

When you volunteer, you (I think always) have to pay. This is a main reason to research options as you can compare prices and find one that works for you. Research also is important for finding out about bursaries, subsidies, and ways to help you do what you want to do at a price you can afford. Equally, different countries cost different amounts. Flights also vary massively if you are travelling far away, or to remote places. 

If you are someone who struggles with home sickness, volunteering abroad could be difficult for you.  Depending on how badly this affects you, it does not have to be something that stops you, and I would always encourage people to do it, even if they do get homesick. Volunteering abroad can help you with your homesickness, and when you are busy it is easy to keep your mind of it. 

Leaving your comfort zone can be a great thing and help you grow, and be a valuable part of your experience. But if you are volunteering in a less developed country, the infrastructure and facilities may not be what you expect, and for some people this is a big hurdle to overcome. Equally, the climate may be very different to what you are used to; whether it's very hot or very cold, it can take some getting used to and could strongly impact your experience. Thirdly, wildlife is a big consideration. If you are coming from the UK especially, this can be an issue. In the UK we have virtually no dangerous animals; no venomous snakes, no lethal and horrible insects, no large predators. My advice would always be to listen to advice you are given, and be respectful of all living creatures. We also have high levels of healthcare here and so some exotic and tropical illnesses also need to be a big consideration when volunteering abroad. Be sure to vaccinate yourself fully, drink clean water and just be travel-smart!

Disclaimer: this post is written from my own point of view, and loosely based on my own experiences. There are SO many other pros of volunteering abroad, and other cons too, but these are definitely the main ones for me. I have also only ever volunteered in wildlife conservation, or related fields. This of course, is only one area you can volunteer in, so whatever you're interested in, you can find the perfect experience for you!