Panda Conservation Program |
Legitimacy of RCDP and Why should I join RCDP volunteer program RCDP Volunteer Program in Nepal, India & Tibet Volunteers' Testimonies |
Xi’an is located in the middle of China, which is about 2 hours away by air from Beijing and Shanghai. Although a modern and bustling city, Xi’an is perhaps best known for architectures and buildings that were built more than 1000 years old. From the center of the city, where drum and bell tower as well as the city wall that attract lots of visitors, to the Musuem of Terracotta Warriors in the outskirts of the city, to the Grand Mosque in the city’s Muslim quarter, there is much to do and see in Xi’an. It’s a place where people come to learn about ancient China and know how the influences from outside reached China and affected the culture. All this makes for Xi’an an ideal destination to volunteer in China.
For the project, volunteers will travel to the research center located in the pristine environment of Qingling Mountains, where giant pandas are being breed in captivity. The place is about an hour away from Xi’an. The area around the research center contains huge variety of plants and wildlife, some of which are found nowhere else on earth. The Qingling Mountains is also home to Pandas that survive in the wild as bamboos, which the pandas consume in great amount, is widely available in the area. But recently stocks of bamboo and the habitat area of pandas have dwindled at an alarming rate due to human encroachment. This has led to many pandas being breed in captivity to avoid extinction.
The research center is currently monitoring 15 giant pandas. About 1000 pandas survive in the world today, out of which 270 are in being breed in captivity. The center is also trying to save other endangered species like golden monkey, crested ibis, takin and sika deer. Volunteers can also work with these species besides the panda. You will be trained and briefed by the local staffs about your schedule and duties.
RCDP International will arrange for the accommodation and meal of the volunteers throughout the program. During the program, volunteers will stay in an hotel near to panda conservation program. In the hotel, you’ll share room with other volunteers and eat 3 local meals a day in a local restaurant. Chinese food mainly consists of rice or noodles accompanied by vegetable or meat fried or curry. These will be served to you for dinner and lunch. For breakfast you’ve bread that is steamed or fried, together with meat, vegetable and soy bean milk.
In you free time, you can travel back to visit the Xi’an and its beautiful attractions. You can spend the day at the Museum of Terracotta Warriors, which is on the outskirts of the city. In the heart of the city, you’ll find bell and drum towers, many pagodas, the famous city wall, and in the Muslim area, the Grand Mosque. Locally, in and around your project site, you can trek to the hills and see spectacular vista. The surrounding areas are lush and contain large swathes of forest. You can also visit the nearby hot springs and take a shower and there is also the option of exploring the region on a horseback.
The research center in Xi’an has done a wonderful job so far of preserving the giant pandas from extinction. The project also looks after many other indigenous animals that too are facing extinction. Among others, you’ll see and if you want, work with animals like the Crest Ibis, the Takin, Golden Monkeys and Sika. The center has been commended many times for their undertaking. The center is looking after 
more than 250 giant pandas and our volunteers will work with about 15 of them. Through your help, the giant pandas can be well looked after. In the process, volunteers will learn about the behaviors the animal and learn the value of saving such a wonderful creature. Fewer than 1000 pandas survive in the wild, so the work of the center is very important.
The responsibilities of volunteers’ have been developed with the help of previous volunteers and staffs of the center and aims to capitalize on available opportunities and maximize experience. Besides panda, volunteers can also specify which animal they want to work with. Volunteers will do lot of maintenance work, part of which includes checking fence and plant control, cleaning the enclosure and waterholes of pandas and other animals that live in the center. Volunteers will also have to prepare pandas’ meal and for that you’ll collect bamboos. You’ll also observe their behavior while eating. The work won’t be hectic and you’ll work at your own pace.
There is also an opportunity to teach English at local school and to the staff of the center so that they can attend international seminars and conferences in animal conservation. You’ll also have opportunity to learn Chinese as classes can be arranged. If there is a large number of foreign visitors, volunteers will lead the tour of the center. Volunteers will also, weather permitting, either on foot or horseback be involved in a trip to climb mountain top to witness glorious views.
No particular skills are required; however, applicants must forward a CV to confirm that you are above 21. Volunteers must be confident and have good communication skills. You shouldn’t mind getting your hands dirty as work involves lots of cleaning and maintenance. You should also be prepared to live in a semi remote region with limited facility. Volunteers must also be aware that working condition and the mentality of the local people will be very different from what you’re used to back home. Therefore, you should be open-minded and remain enthusiastic throughout the project. The project provides (but not always) gears to work in the center. These include boots, overcoats and gloves. Sometimes, you may not find a boot to fit your size and ideally you would want to bring your own wellington boots (gum goots). You can also bring old or dirty clothes to work in the project. You can discard these clothes after volunteering in the project.
RCDP Xi’an, China Program starts every 2nd and 
4th Mondays of each month, or any day of the month if it is difficult for you to arrange your travel plan
Every year hundreds of volunteers arrive in China to volunteer from UK and USA based organizations and end up paying up to $2500 to volunteer for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, only a small portion of that money actually goes to host projects and host families. The local host projects (orphanages and school) in China despite being well organized still need support from volunteers. In our program, you will pay your fee directly to host families and projects up on arrival in China.
Volunteer Abroad Fee's of major USA & UK Companies
When you join our China volunteer program, we will make sure that all of your money goes to the projects and host families. Part of your fees also helps us to cover our expenses. The program fee is divided in as registration fee ($219) and weekly fee for room, food, coordination, and project donation). Click to find the allocation of $219
In China, weekly fee is divided between room/3 local foods a day (50%) and project donation/support of local project staffs (50%). This allocation may be different depending up on locations, project types etc. However, our coordinator will explain these issues before you pay the fee. Please find below the break down of cost in a weekly basis.
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* Additional fee: $75 - airport receive, transfer to host family/ hostel and orientation.
The Fee Does Not Include: Airfare, daily transportation, Visa and Visa extension fee, Airport drop, airport taxes, any personal expenses on food and travel, mineral water and soft drinks, gifts to project staffs and host family, laundry, telephone, immunization.
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The mission of RCDP-Nepal is to encourage international volunteers to contribute in sustainable community development that benefits the underprivileged and extremely poor. By developing the places and the communities, the volunteers are also developing themselves and learning new perspectives and ideas that will ultimately change their lives.