Which Way Should I Go?

• 08/19/10
• Erin

"I love animals and I love your website! It's very informative and great to look at. I want to learn all I can about AWF. Is there any other information you can send me about your organization? Also, I really want to work with animals- but I'm not sure how. Is there any information you can send as to which type of path I should take in working with animals?"

-Aimee, via email

Thank you so very much for your compliments on our website, Aimee!

While we at AWF are so very glad that you found our website so informative, there really isn't too much more about 'what AWF does' that we could send you that isn't on our website.  I recommend checking out the range of links or using the search field on our site to discover as much information as you can. In particular, the section called About AWF has a sub-category called Resources and Documents with a wide variety of print materials available in easily downloadable formats.  Our newest Annual Report and current and past issues of our quarterly newsletter, African Wildlife News, are among additional materials that can be viewed and downloaded.

If you study primates, you can 'work' with species like the endangered bonobo:  Primatologist and AWF Congo Heartland Director, Jef Dupain, with a baby bonobo  (Photo Credit: African Wildlife Foundation ©)

Finally, I encourage you to sign up for AWF’s monthly e-newsletter - which you can do at www.awf.org - so you can stay on top of the latest news and information on AWF and African wildlife.

I hope this information will provide you additional insight into AWF’s work. As for what kind of career you might seek, well, there are a lot of possibilities out there and it all depends on what it is you would like to do. Do you like science? If so, maybe think about being a scientist or researcher.  If you really like meeting people, maybe think about fundraising.  Do you like making plans? Maybe think about going into the program side of conservation. Do you enjoy law? Perhaps think about fighting for wildlife in a different way by going into environmental law.

A great way to help guide you towards your dream job/career is to always stayed tuned to the Jobs section of our website. Here,  you can read about the requirements of different positions within AWF that may strike your interest, or scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link for ‘A Career Guide For Conservation Biology In Africa.’

Good luck!

Did You Know…?

• Founded as the African Wildlife Leadership Foundation, Inc. (AWLF) in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) did not become 'AWF' until 1983.
• In 1978, the AWLF established the Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda. In 1991, this program became the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), a partnership between AWF, Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).
• In 1989, AWF staff acted as consultants for the Academy Award © nominated film, Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey
• In 1996, the Charlotte Conservation Fellowship Program was created. Named after conservationist (and long-time AWF supporter) Charlotte Kidder Ramsay, the fellowship has helped more than 50 African Nationals obtain their full MSc or partial Ph.D. degrees.
• In the 2000's, AWF: established  five new Heartlands (Four Corners [now Kazungula], Zambezi, Limpopo, Congo and Regional Parc W), created the Leopard Conservation Science Project and the Large Carnivore Research Project, helped to form both the Kenya and Tanzania Land Conservation Trusts, aided in establishing the Faunal Reserve of Lomako-Yokokala  in the Democratic Republic of Congo, launched the Easements for Education and Leasing Land for Conservation programs in Samburu and Kilimanjaro Heartlands, respectively, and much, much more!
• To learn more about AWF's 50 years of conservation efforts, visit us on on our website here.

---