SCHOLARSHIPS

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Scholarships for the Wildlife Protection (AP) Ranger and Wilderness Guide training courses at our AP4D Project are only available to carefully selected Namibians to gain a qualification to find a suitable job in a nature conservation orientated professions.

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Facilitator

All AP4D courses are facilitated by our supporter, Security experts cc with its expertise and The Ranger's Lodge as the host of the courses.

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Requirements

1. Preference is given to young and unemployed Namibians. We give preference to younfg people who come from rural areas with serious human-wildlife conflicts and who are seriously interested to protect Namibia's natural heritage. In this way, the AP4D Project can create employment opportunities and rural economic development for Namibians, with no or low income, who come from communities which suffer from human-wildlife conflicts and who are seriously interested to become a ranger.

 

2. Furthermore, we give preference to unemployed, or not fully employed applicants to give those a chance to improve their lifes, who did no yet get the opportunity to do so.

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3.  Age: 20 to 35 years

4.  Good health and physical fitness. A physical fitness has to be passed during the     recruitment process.

 

5.  Good team spirit and social competence

6.  Keen interest in nature and wildlife

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7.  Keen interest in nature conservation, especially in the conservation of the rhino, the African elephant and other "conflict animal species" like lions and other big predators

 
8.  A good basic knowledge of nature, wildlife, birds, plants etc

9.  Motivated and capable to work hard, also under simple outer conditions and to "live and survive in the bush"

10.  English, in writing, reading and speaking

11.  No criminal record

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12.  Respected, law-abiding citizen

 

13.  For Wildlife Protection Ranger applicants: Motivated to defend the Namibian law against crime and offenders, and in order to achieve this, is also willing to take on personal risks.

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Scholarships for Nampol / NDF / MET members / Conservancy rangers

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We reserve most of the scholarships for our Anti-poaching law enforcement officer courses for members of the Minstry of Environment and Tourism (MET), the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) and the Namibian Defense Force (NDF).

This training should support the efforts of the NAMPOL, NDF and MET as well as the conservancies to protect Namibia's wildlife, especially rhino and elephant, against poaching. Further details are directly discussed with the headquarters of NAMPOL, NDF and MET.

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Workflow overview

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1.  The candidate has to submit a complete CV and motivation letter, in which the candidate explains why he/she considers him/herself eligible to receive this scholarship and to work in field guiding and/or anti-poaching / law enforcement

Documents needed:

- CV

- Motivation letter

- Recent passport photo

- Certified photo copy of: Namibian ID; last school certificate; work   

  certificates (if any);

- A statement which proofs that the applicant lives, or was born and

  raised, in an area,  where serious human-wildlife conflicts occur and

  that he/she or the closest family still resides there.

- CV and motivation letter must be send by whatsapp to the R4D management

- All other documents must be handed in during the entrance test.

2. Invitation of the so far successful candidate for an entrance test which lasts 1 full day.. This entrance test will be ususally hold in Kamanjab / Kunene Region, if no other arrangements have been made. - The entrance test consists of:

2.1. Personal interview and / or written entrance test

2.2. Fitness test

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2.3. Final evaluation of the applicants

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2.4. Final briefing of all successful applicants; informing the applicants on the course dates and the necessary personal equipment to bring along

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2.5. Every successful applicant must sign a warranty before starting the course.

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3. The candidate him/herself has to ensure that he/she arrives punctually on the day before the beginning of the course at the venue (at his/her own costs).

Venue is the Ondjou Wilderness Reserve, 50km southwest of Kamanjab in the Kunene Region. Meeting point on the day before the course starts is in Kamanjab in front of the Oase supermarket, at the designated time, from where the students are picked up and transferred to the academy.

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4. The courses usually go over 7 to 14 days and are a hard mental and physical challenge. By arrangement, courses can also be splitted up in several 2 to 4 days training sessions.

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5. The training is organized in a "military style" to ensure best possible discipline and efficiency. The instructor acts as a military superior. The participant must always obey his authority and instructions. The ability to accept such discipline is part of the training, and is evaluated accordingly.

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Anyone who does not provide the required performance standards or shows lack of respect and undisciplined behavior can be excluded at any time.

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There is a clear timetable, and clear getting up and sleeping times, which the student has to strictly comply with. A training day lasts between 6 and 8 hours. Enough resting time to ensure that no exhaustion occurs. Self-study sessions are also part of the training to develop this important general ability.

Written and practical tests take place on a daily basis.

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5. After the completion of the course, the student is obliged to do all in his/her powers to seek employment in the tourism or wildlife sector. The AP4D will assist and support as far as possible.