Team of Volunteers

Hi, my name is Vani! I am a Senior at the University of Memphis studying journalism. I have always had a passion for writing, and was excited to develop those skills into a life-long career. I enjoy writing about animals, the environment, social justice issues, animal rights, wildlife conservation, and more . I am interested in investigative reporting (print journalism) and photojournalism. In my free time I enjoy writing, watching TV, singing, photography, and spending time with my family and my dog Viper. I hope to create change in the world through my writing.

Hello! My name is Ricky Naude and I´m working with SAFE Worldwide on its grant writing and advocacy programs. Growing up in South Africa, I gratefully felt close to truly ¨wild¨ nature and I´ve always had great empathy for the dignity and sovereignty of nature. I´ve marveled with reverence at all the variety of animals and plants blessing out planet, and perhaps taken for granted that there would always be space and resources enough to accommodate them all. Sadly, around the world so many species are now critically endangered, competing with humans for habitat, while also facing the risks of being harvested for trophies, bushmeat or the illegal trafficking in wild animals or animal resources trade.

I have been truly impressed by the team of passionate, committed, and driven people Linda has harnessed as volunteers for SAFE Worldwide to fulfill its goals of endangered species protection and recovery. Many of the most critical challenges exist in developing countries, where humans living next door to endangered animals really struggle to make daily ends meet. SAFE Worldwide´s unique approach recognizes that these communities are an ineluctable part of conservation and species protection, by also providing community enrichment programs, including wildlife conservation education, small business assistance, and microloans.

I´m using my skills as a former attorney and university adjunct professor to strategize and advocate for the financial and other resources SAFE Worldwide needs to continue and expand its groundbreaking work. I truly enjoy and feel fulfilled knowing that what we are doing as a team is really making the difference on the ground, to the animals we seek to protect as well as the human communities next door.

My name is Ren, Ren Zheng, people also call me Ray.

I am a talented animator with a passion for bringing stories to life through captivating visuals and dynamic motion. With a keen eye for detail and a creative spirit, Ray has worked on various projects, showcasing a unique ability to blend art and technology seamlessly.

Beyond the world of animation,I am also a true hobby enthusiast. Whether it’s getting hands-on with ceramics, tinkering under the hood of a car, or diving into DIY projects, I am curious and love learning new skills know no bounds. These hobbies not only provide a creative outlet but also fuel Ray’s innovative approach to animation.

I am also passionate about contributing my skills and professions to help improve the world to be a better place, that’s why I enrolled with Safe World Wide organization as Senior Animator, in order to raise the awareness for people how consuming culture corrupted our mind and hurt our
relationship with nature

Combining professional expertise with diverse interests, I will continually seek new ways to inspire and be inspired, always ready to take on the next creative challenge.

Hi! I’m Keerthi!

I decided to join SAFE Worldwide because I care deeply for the animals that are suffering due to human activity. Around sixth grade was the first time I really understood how humans had such a big impact on the environment, and that was when I started researching more about the treatment of animals in places such as factory farms and puppy mills. Since then, I have gone vegan and worked in several school clubs in order to raise awareness about animal cruelty and endangerment. I’m so grateful to be a part of SAFE Worldwide because it allows me to combine the two things I care about the most: animals and children.

In my free time, I love to dance and read! I am always down for a hike or run, and I love spending time in nature. A little fun fact about me is that I watch the sunset every day and my absolute favorite place in the world is the beach!

I have always loved animals. My folks must have had an invisible neon sign screaming “All Dogs Welcome!” because we had a steady stream of them wandering onto our yard, and staying. One time, we had 2 dogs of our own plus 2 stray cats, an old stay dog, and a stray bloodhound that then had 8 puppies. My current 14.5 year old whisky (whippet-husky mix) is a rescue that still has PTSD issues.

My kids had dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, and a goldfish named Marie who rests in peace under our deck. That was some funeral! In addition, my husband took high school students to Andros Island, Bahamas for 25 years to expose them to marine life and Bahamian culture. Our girls and I went with him several times. I’ve experienced wildlife and cultures throughout the States, Africa, China, Mexico, Bahamas, Peru, and most of Europe. When we travel, we stay in local hotels, hostels, backpacker camps etc. meet the people, eat the food, etc.

I am a retired teacher, grades 3-college, mainly of social studies and science, and eventually, gifted kids. My whole career involved bringing to students an awareness and appreciation of cultural differences. I’ve done several service projects like selling Fair Trade chocolate, collecting books for schools in Africa, solar ovens for African cooks, and pen pals with kids around the world, all to try to connect my students to the bigger world. I truly believe that if we can get the youngest generations to see that we are all connected to each other and to the planet, we can achieve peace and environmental justice. Since being given opportunities to create curriculum, I enjoy creating material for others to use about social and environmental justice. You know…pay it forward.

I’m Jessica Lippert and I’m currently a student majoring in communications. I have always had a passion for writing and public speaking, bringing awareness to topics that I am very passionate about. I have always been an advocate for the protection of animals, and I can’t imagine life without having a pet in it! I have written and delivered many speeches on protecting wildlife, animals held in captivity and ocean conservation. I also have frequently volunteered at humane societies, helping animals to feel cared for and loved in any way.

I’m so happy to be a part of SAFE Worldwide to help educate others about conservation and wildlife. It’s a dream come true, as I have always loved traveling the world, crafting messages and telling stories about our planet, and the animals and people on it.

I also have passions in fashion, poetry, philosophy, movies and music (from any decade). I love learning new things and bringing people together in conversation and understanding for a more hopeful future!

Years ago in the 8th grade, everyone in my school took an aptitude test. Of the few things I remember from that part of my early education (besides my crush on lovely Marilyn), was the result of the test: Best choice of a career is Foreign Correspondent. At least I didn’t feel obligated to follow in my Dad’s footsteps. There’s nothing wrong with being a factory worker, but I didn’t imagine a life of doing the same thing every day.

Only years later did I realize that Foreign Correspondent was actually an accurate prediction, if only in the abstract. As I discovered the larger world outside my small hometown in the Pacific Northwest (USA), I was drawn to several forms of communication, most of which were foreign to me at the time. I learned something in each my jobs as newsletter editor, photojournalist, radar operator (near the Russian border), radio station program director, podcast producer, website developer, and information architect.

Perhaps I’ve now come full circle as a Foreign Correspondent in my new volunteer role as a member of the SAFE Worldwide website team. I’m so glad to join all of the gifted volunteers in the important work you are doing!

My name is Shubo Yu, a Chinese illustrator born in Hiroshima, Japan, and currently based in Baltimore.

As a child, I loved reading encyclopedias and fiction about wild animals. My favorite books included Wild Animals I Have Known and Seekers. I was captivated by the beautiful depictions of wildlife in these books and, at the same time, learned that these incredible creatures are gradually heading toward extinction due to human overexploitation.

Since then, I’ve dreamed of creating a book like the ones I cherished—one that portrays the wonder of wild animals and the challenges they face. Now, that dream has come true! I’m glad to have had the opportunity to work with the team at SAFE Worldwide to create Riley and Max Wildlife Adventures: In the Land of Java. I truly enjoyed illustrating this book and look forward to the next one!