Clouddog is a committed twelve month programme of activities

Each selected student is assigned a mentor for a minimum period of twelve months from leading city institutions. (UK mentors are currently provided by the JPMorgan Mentoring Programme). Whilst assisting you in your University and work experience choices, mentors will also provide support through your local community projects. We hope to incorporate mentors for SA participants from JPMorgan Johannesburg in the coming year.

Both students from the UK and southern Africa must propose and complete an environmental project in the community where you live or study.  You will have around six months to implement your project that will make a difference, raising awareness within your family and friends, colleagues and peers, as well as the broader local community. This project gives you the opportunity to shine in your ‘own backyard’ and show us how you want to make a difference in the world.  You will have the support of your mentor and your school to complete the project proposed.

Preparation for a three week trip in southern Africa.  Each group will be comprised of fifty percent UK and fifty percent southern African students. 

Whilst in southern Africa your activities will include; One week in a Game Reserve working behind the scenes with vets, ecologists and accredited guides, completing hands on conservation work, tracking and identifying animals, game counts, botany & vegetation impacts, field guiding and conservation ethics.

One week in an authentic Zulu rural village where your  main focus will be to complete a series of local community projects at Mklatuhluzana School.  We are currently working on the building of classrooms and sanitary. Students will be exposed to daily Zulu life in a genuine village, partaking in educational forest walks with a medicine Doctor and a visit to a Sangoma as well as the opportunity to attend cultural events such as a Zulu wedding or coming of age ceremony.

One week spent on a Wilderness Trail. Based on total simplicity and carrying all life’s necessities on your back you will sleep under the stars, escorted by skilled and qualified trail guides experienced in working with young people.  You will use your time on the trail for self reflection and personal growth. The solitude provides the opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and connection with the earth. The trail is eligible for Duke of Edinburgh Award Gold Accreditation.

Wrap camp.  Students are brought together to assimilate, evaluate and digest the experience in order to prepare for your return home and next steps in life.

Post-trip support and mentoring continues for the remainder of your twelve month experience.

Alumni activities upon your return to the UK and southern Africa.  You will be involved in comments and feedback sessions specifically aimed to assist in the development of future programmes.

Students may remain involved to assist in the selection of future outgoing students on the clouddog programme.

Students can be considered for leader positions on future experiences.

Click this link to download a  Sample Itinerary

You can read more about our past and present students experiences with clouddog via our media menu.