Periodically we spotlight a wonderful volunteer making a difference by sharing time and expertise with us.
“I’ve got some time. Do you have another writing assignment for me?”
These are words we love to hear.
You know… It is one thing to have a wonderful volunteer like Cassie contribute as a blog writer, it is another to learn that her work on the Nikela team has changed her life focus!
Let me introduce you to Cassie …
Q: Where do you live?
A: California, United States
Q: How did you come to love Africa’s wildlife?
A: I grew up next to a nature preserve and have long had a passion for animals and wildlife. I always loved seeing the many African animals at the San Diego Zoo, but wished I could witness them in their natural environment.
Q: How did you find out about Nikela?
A: We were paired on VolunteerMatch!
Q: What inspired you to volunteer?
A: I realized that Africa has many unique species. If they are not preserved, they will be lost to the world forever. I’m a college student on a budget, so I can’t donate much money. Instead, I wanted to find another way to help preserve African wildlife. That is how I ended up volunteering with Nikela!
Q: What is your Nikela Volunteer assignment?
A: I write articles for the blog.
Q: Why is saving and protecting our planet’s wildlife and their habitat important to you?
A: When I was younger, I loved getting lost in animal encyclopedias. The thought of my children doing the same thing but reading that many of the species went extinct (or are facing extinction) saddens me. Further, many species are important to maintaining their natural ecosystem. If they go extinct, or only exist in captivity, it may have many unforeseen consequences harmful to both humans and animals alike for their ecosystems.
Q: Why do you think it should be important to others?
A: Depending on your location, Africa, and the animals living there, may feel very far away and “other.” However, a loss of biodiversity there affects everyone. We live in a globally connected world, and our problems will be fixed faster if we all contribute to the solution.
Q: Has your volunteer opportunity benefited you in other ways besides feeling good about doing good?
A: It has allowed me to become more knowledgeable about African wildlife through my research.
Q: Is there anything else about you that you think our readers would find interesting to learn about you or your experience while volunteering for Nikela?
A: Volunteering with Nikela was one of the key decisions that prompted me to change my minor at UC Berkeley to Conservation and Resource Studies.
Thanks so much Cassie for being a Nikela Volunteer and contributing so that others too may become part of the solution to saving Africa’s wildlife.
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