Volunteer Megan Hume finds Zen in Helping Chimps

May 14, 2019/Project Chimps

Volunteers Sylvia and Megan dressed in costumes preparing to give tours for Chimp or Treat. — Megan Hume (right) with fellow volunteer Sylvia dressed up for guiding tours during Project Chimps’ “Chimp or Treat” 2018.

Project Chimps volunteer Megan Hume has been an animal rights activist since she was a young child. She has spent countless hours advocating for the proper treatment of animals and “causing a ruckus” to bring attention to their plight. When a friend at her yoga studio suggested they raise money for a nearby sanctuary that housed chimpanzees retired from scientific testing, Megan was intrigued and excited.

Megan and friend Suzanne standing in front of the Project Chimps banner. — Megan (left) with the friend who first introduced her to Project Chimps, Suzanne Paul Carter.

“A sanctuary has always been something that I’ve ultimately known I wanted to be part of and is something I felt like I was lacking in this community, so its definitely pretty amazing to have the sanctuary here in the North Georgia mountains,” said Megan.

Megan starts in the kitchen

In October 2017, Megan began volunteering in the Project Chimps kitchen. Here, volunteers assist with the preparation of chimpanzee meals and enrichment for the following day. The caregiver team relies on volunteers like Megan to prepare these items so they can focus on other critical care for the chimps. Since that first day, she has dedicated an astounding 215+ hours to volunteer service.

Megan’s passion for the Project Chimps mission soon led her to discover other ways she could help out around the sanctuary. As a professional yoga teacher, she started to lead a yoga class to keep the staff and caregiver’s moral high. She’s evening hosting yoga classes at local resorts like Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa to benefit the chimps.

Megan is also skilled in writing curriculum, so she began doing just that for the student groups of varying grade levels that visit the sanctuary for field trips and tours.

Additionally, her professional background in event planning led her to join the Events Committee. Most recently, Megan helped to plan the Chimps Rock! event, where she assisted with everything from logistics to collecting rocks for the craft project.

A child visits with Oscar chimp at a viewing window during a tour. — A child visits with Oscar during one of our family-friendly open house events.

Megan is particularly proud of how volunteers from all backgrounds and walks of life come together and share their talents for the betterment of the sanctuary and the chimps.

Committee service brings out hidden skills

“There are volunteers not only doing a lot of the day-to-day things, but also helping plan where the septic tanks go and helping plan and do large things and making huge contributions. To me, it’s just very impressive to be a part of a team where so many people come together and work so well together and have an opportunity to share their talents and to share whatever their background is,” said Megan.

With the addition of new initiatives like Project Harvest, Megan is branching out and trying new things at the sanctuary, like working in the garden and with the new beehives.

Outside of volunteering, Megan enjoys yoga, gardening and being outside amongst nature. She currently resides in Young Harris, Georgia, where she plans large-scale events for work.

Project Chimps is always seeking new volunteers and interns and, occasionally, a staff position opens up for a chimpanzee caregiver or caregiver aide. You can also sponsor a chimp like two of Megan’s favorites, Kivuli and Hercules. A chimpanzee sponsorship makes a meaningful and memorable gift for a friend, loved one or for you!