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City/State: Comoros Islands off coast of Africa |
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Country: MADAGASCAR
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| WorkingAbroad Projects |
PO Box 454, Flat 1
East Sussex
UNITED KINGDOM
BN1 3ZS
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Program description: |
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Ecovolunteers are needed to work on sea turtle conservation in the stunning Comoros Islands, as well development programmes within the community where they are living. A "roots" experience for well travelled volunteers, wanting to experience local living with traditional communities in the Comoros Islands, whilst surveying sea turtles and carrying out important environmental work.
Comoros Islands
The Union of the Comoros (Comores in French) is situated at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, equidistant (approximately 300km) from continental Africa and Madagascar. It comprises three volcanic islands: Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli. The Comoros gained independence from France in 1975. The Comoros have been identified as one of the ‘hottest hotspots’ in terms of global conservation priorities - thus, this small island developing state is one of the world’s critical sites for natural resource-based development and has tremendous potential, not only for ecotourism, but for conservation investment and action. Mohéli, where this programme is based, is known as "l'Ile Nature des Comores" - the Nature Island of the Comoros, where time seems to have stopped and where nature is well preserved and in abundance - mostly untouched by tourism.
Working with HUPPE and C3
Volunteers are needed to work on the island of Moheli, in the region of Hoani with the environmental association, HUPPE. This programme will be overseen by C3, (Community Centred Conservation), which is an international non-profit company established in 2002 with the following mission: To develop conservation efforts worldwide by building the capacity of local individuals and institutions through grassroots research and training initiatives. Operating from an administrative headquarters in the UK, the C3 team has over 30 years of experience in environmental research, education and management in Australasia, Oceania, Asia, Africa and the Americas with specialized expertise in the management of conservation programmes in small islands.
Programme details
Volunteers will be working mainly on sea turtle conservation during the main nesting season. Green turtles are seen nesting all year round so there will be survey activities taking place all year round - track surveys during low season and full monitoring during high nesting season.
Besides sea turtle conservation, volunteers will be required to help create sensibilisation events in the villages and any development work needed for the community, where the plan is to begin an ecotourism programme in the region of Hoani called Moimbasa. Volunteers will be based in Hoani, but will assist Hoani and two other nearby small villages in the creation of hiking trails, construction of camping sites and other activities that C3 is currently putting in place with the community.
Volunteers need to be able to speak relatively good French, as Hoanians speak French, not English. Those who speak English can also help to teach English to the local Moheliens, as the education level is low and there are little resources for teachers to teach properly in the classes.
Volunteers will be working nights for turtle nest monitoring and mornings from 7 to noon during the day when doing community development outdoor work (ie trail building) with afternoons off. When on turtle patrol at night, volunteers will get the following day off to sleep etc. Most of the sensibilisation or school related work will be done in the morning as Comorians work from 8 to 2 pm Monday to Thursday. 8 to 11 on Friday and 8 or 9 to 12 on Saturday.
Food & lodging
Volunteers will be living in a remote area on the island of Moheli, where there is no electricity. You will live in bungalows - total of 2 persons per bungalow. The place is really nice and clean, there is a proper shower and a toilet with running water, the lack of electricity is really not much of a problem. The local women will cook for volunteers - the food in Moheli is excellent and they are really good cooks. All the food is prepared traditionally around the fire.
Type of volunteers needed
Volunteers should be aged over 21 years or more, and should be well travelled and experienced living and travelling in remote places with very few facilities. They should be self motivated and also self-reliant, in order to adapt to difficult circumstances and culturally very different environments. They need to be open minded, as Moheliens follow a very traditional Comorian culture. In addition, volunteers needed to be either Francophone, or to speak a reasonable to good level of French (at least GCSE standard), as that is the language in which most communication is done on Moheli, and Mohelians speak French with a strong accent too, which makes it harder to understand (they also speak Comorian on Moheli, and in some remote areas, they don't even speak French). Volunteers need also to be aware of the remoteness of the project and be comfortable not having immediate access to electricity, internet, mobile phone, hospitals, shops, bars etc.
Programme cost
The cost for ecovolunteers for 3 weeks is 581 pounds, which covers all programme costs, including lodging in a shared bungalow (with another volunteer), all food (cooked by local women), airport transfer, project materials, project t-shirts, documentation, telecommunications between project managers on the island, local transportation between villages, all training and supervision by C3 and Huppe project manager, WorkingAbroad Projects backup and placement support, and so on. (Click here for more on costs breakdown).
The airfare to Moheli, travel/medical insurance and personal expenses are not included within this price. It is mandatory for you to take out travel and medical insurance for the duration of the project. For more details on travelling to Moheli, please follow the link below to the next page.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Age range: 21 yrs upwards
Travel to site: Independent Travel
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Varies
No. in group: 4
Living arrangements on the program: Tents/Rustic Accommodation, Independent Living
How long does the program last?: 2-4 weeks
What are the dates of this program: 2008 Dates
1st February - 22nd February 2008 - 4 places available
1st March - 22nd March 2008 - 4 places available
1st April - 22nd April 2008 - 4 places available
1st May - 22nd May 2008 - 2 places available
1st June - 22nd June 2008 - 4 places available
1st July - 22nd July 2008 - 4 places available
1st August - 22nd August 2008 - 4 places available
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Benefits and advantages of the program: |
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Mohéli, where this programme is based, is known as "l'Ile Nature des Comores" - the Nature Island of the Comoros, where time seems to have stopped and where nature is well preserved and in abundance - mostly untouched by tourism. Its an amazing opportunity to be involved in a sea turtle volunteer programme in an untouched part of the world.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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581 GB pounds
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Typical person for this program: |
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Volunteers should be aged over 21 years or more, and should be well travelled and experienced living and travelling in remote places with very few facilities. They should be self motivated and also self-reliant, in order to adapt to difficult circumstances and culturally very different environments. They need to be open minded, as Moheliens follow a very traditional Comorian culture. In addition, volunteers needed to be either Francophone, or to speak a reasonable to good level of French (at least GCSE standard), as that is the language in which most communication is done on Moheli, and Mohelians speak French with a strong accent too, which makes it harder to understand (they also speak Comorian on Moheli, and in some remote areas, they don't even speak French). Volunteers need also to be aware of the remoteness of the project and be comfortable not having immediate access to electricity, internet, mobile phone, hospitals, shops, bars etc.
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Languages required besides English: |
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French
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