There’s no Monkeying Around for Jen Davies, Exec. Assistant at Matrix as she Embarks on a 14 Day Volunteer Project in Namibia, Africa, Supported by Matrix

The Matrix UK team will be cheering on Jen Davies, Executive Assistant, as she swaps the management of the exec team for a different kind of wildlife, in the form of the cheetahs and baboons at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary for a 14-day volunteer project.

Luckily, in her role as Executive Assistant, Jen already has vast experience of what it takes to work with wild animals and we have no doubt she’ll be able to use her transferable skills to tame and care for the inhabitants at the sanctuary…

“I have always had a desire to volunteer. I’ve helped with small scale projects locally but never ventured abroad.” Jen explains. “I had thought of supporting a building project, yet when I did my research, I set my sights on contributing to a wildlife and also child-based volunteer project in Africa. Namibia looks like a beautiful place, it has already won my heart and I can’t wait to get out there.”

Jen will work at the wildlife sanctuary for the duration of the project, which will include food preparation, feeding the animals, environmental research, maintaining and building enclosures and helping with enrichment projects as well as spending quality time with animals onsite and attending night watches to support the sanctuary’s anti-poaching values.

“I think it’s so important to give something back to our World; be it a big or small act, at home or abroad.” Jen comments. “If volunteering is something that you can fit into your schedule, and thanks to the support from Matrix, this is the case for me, then why not?

It is incredibly humbling to be given the opportunity to help contribute towards a sanctuary of endangered wildlife and support a school that is engaging children with far less opportunities than we have, and take for granted, in the UK.”

No stranger to volunteering himself, Matt Pengelly, Managing Director, spent time in Pietermaritzburg – KwaZulu, South Africa 29 years ago (before Jen was born!), volunteering during his Gap Year.

He adds: “As a company, we are invested in taking an interest in wider social issues, and not just those that impact our business. We place the importance of corporate social responsibility very high in our own values, and are proud to have such a fantastic UK team who all share our company values, encouraging them in endeavours like this that give something back.”

“Having volunteered myself in the past, I was really pleased to hear that Jen was considering some time out to help the wildlife and education for children in Namibia. As a company, we wish her all the very best and can’t wait to welcome her back to hear all about what her work has achieved – and knowing how great she is at keeping a steady ship here at Matrix, I have no doubt the wildlife will be in safe hands.”

Interested to see what Jen will get up to? Take a look at the project video below…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHOrMXzyWFM

If you would like to donate to support the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary, Matrix have set up a donation page, of which all monies will go directly to the Sanctuary. Jen and all at Matrix thank you for anything you can give, just visit gf.me/u/t5hxbk