Madagascar volunteer travel
| country: | Madagascar |
| departures: | 2009: 8 Jan, 1 Apr, 1 Jul, 5 Oct |
| price: | From £2000 fundraised (10 weeks) excluding flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Do you want to help a forgotten people and protect one of the most delicate ecosystems on the planet? Have you ever wanted to travel to a far off island paradise?
Then step of the beaten track and join us on the island of Madagascar for a life changing experience. Situated off the east coast of Africa, Madagascar is one of the world’s most biologically rich, yet economically poor countries. By joining the Pioneer Madagascar Programme, you can make a difference to the development and conservation of this unique and exotic country.
Joining this programme means that you will be living, working and travelling amongst some of the most beautiful and remote parts of Madagascar. The town of Fort Dauphin, where you will be based, is set in a stunning location in the southeast of the country, with beautiful beaches and close proximity to some of Madagascar's famous nature reserves. Projects take place both within the town and in the surrounding rural villages.
Projects are led by some of the most competent conservation and development workers on the island and are entirely based on communities' expressed needs. You will be an integral part of the team and gain an insight into real grassroots conservation and development. Any active person over the age of 18 may become a volunteer as all required skills are taught. However, while practical and research experience is welcome, enthusiasm and sensitivity are a must.
Arrival and Orientation: Volunteers start getting to know Fort Dauphin (and each other and our staff). Coordinators from the projects give a basic introduction to the work they do and the projects that you will be working on. Advice is given on the needs for cultural sensitivity when working in village communities and volunteers start lessons in Malagasy. There is a visit to Nahampoana Reserve where volunteers will be able to have close encounters with several species of lemur.
Lanirano: This is home for the volunteers whilst in the Fort Dauphin area, as well as a demonstration and training site for many of the projects going on in the villages. During this time Pioneers work on various expanding projects e.g. beehive construction, work in the fields and the preparation of songs/posters for the health and environmental education lessons that will be undertaken in the villages.
Village 1 - Ebakika: Pioneers to conduct health education and environmental education lessons as well as continuing the English teaching started by past Pioneer groups; construct latrines for the two village schools and build a tree nursery and fuel efficient stove in a nearby hamlet.
Village 2 - Sainte Luce: Volunteers will be helping in a wide range of activities including endangered plant seed collection and improving and expanding existing tree nurseries. Health education, environmental education and English teaching also conducted.
Break: Return to Fort Dauphin to collect supplies etc. Write ups of projects undertaken. Work at Lanirano.
Village 3 - Belavenoka:Initiating English teaching; health education, environmental education; construction of latrines for the village school; cleaning and repairing the village's existing wells; creation of a vegetable garden for the school so that children's school meals of rice and beans can be supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables; construction of benches/desks for the school.
At the end of the programme there is the chance for optional independent travel as roughly three weeks remain on the Malagasy visa.
Then step of the beaten track and join us on the island of Madagascar for a life changing experience. Situated off the east coast of Africa, Madagascar is one of the world’s most biologically rich, yet economically poor countries. By joining the Pioneer Madagascar Programme, you can make a difference to the development and conservation of this unique and exotic country.
Joining this programme means that you will be living, working and travelling amongst some of the most beautiful and remote parts of Madagascar. The town of Fort Dauphin, where you will be based, is set in a stunning location in the southeast of the country, with beautiful beaches and close proximity to some of Madagascar's famous nature reserves. Projects take place both within the town and in the surrounding rural villages.
the project
Living with a team of like-minded individuals, you will have the opportunity to contribute to vital front-line work with local communities by taking part in a range of practical construction work, conservation research and educational activities, which focus on health and sanitation, sustainable livelihoods and conservation. Projects are led by some of the most competent conservation and development workers on the island and are entirely based on communities' expressed needs. You will be an integral part of the team and gain an insight into real grassroots conservation and development. Any active person over the age of 18 may become a volunteer as all required skills are taught. However, while practical and research experience is welcome, enthusiasm and sensitivity are a must.
a day in a life of a volunteer
Please note that this itinerary is an example only. The programme is designed as a 10 week scheme although shorter periods (from 5 weeks) may be available by prior arrangement.:Arrival and Orientation: Volunteers start getting to know Fort Dauphin (and each other and our staff). Coordinators from the projects give a basic introduction to the work they do and the projects that you will be working on. Advice is given on the needs for cultural sensitivity when working in village communities and volunteers start lessons in Malagasy. There is a visit to Nahampoana Reserve where volunteers will be able to have close encounters with several species of lemur.
Lanirano: This is home for the volunteers whilst in the Fort Dauphin area, as well as a demonstration and training site for many of the projects going on in the villages. During this time Pioneers work on various expanding projects e.g. beehive construction, work in the fields and the preparation of songs/posters for the health and environmental education lessons that will be undertaken in the villages.
Village 1 - Ebakika: Pioneers to conduct health education and environmental education lessons as well as continuing the English teaching started by past Pioneer groups; construct latrines for the two village schools and build a tree nursery and fuel efficient stove in a nearby hamlet.
Village 2 - Sainte Luce: Volunteers will be helping in a wide range of activities including endangered plant seed collection and improving and expanding existing tree nurseries. Health education, environmental education and English teaching also conducted.
Break: Return to Fort Dauphin to collect supplies etc. Write ups of projects undertaken. Work at Lanirano.
Village 3 - Belavenoka:Initiating English teaching; health education, environmental education; construction of latrines for the village school; cleaning and repairing the village's existing wells; creation of a vegetable garden for the school so that children's school meals of rice and beans can be supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables; construction of benches/desks for the school.
At the end of the programme there is the chance for optional independent travel as roughly three weeks remain on the Malagasy visa.
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you are looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
award winner how this holiday makes a difference
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This project is run by a registered charity that has been working on environmental, humanitarian and sustainable development projects in southeast Madagascar since 1995. Where possible and practical, we use only locally owned and operated suppliers and employs local people as guides to lead our groups of volunteers. We ensure that our suppliers are supplying us with quality goods that have been sourced / grown locally wherever possible (with regard to food products). Our local guides and staff are in full time employment with contracts, are treated as equals, paid a fair wage and not given an unreasonable workload.
We are aware that wherever we go we are having an impact on the environment. We endeavour to minimize this impact and engage in projects that not only make the environment sustainable but contribute to improving it. When visiting villages, group sizes are determined by what is appropriate to the area we are visiting and the job that we are doing. Use of motorised transport is kept to the minimum and we use public transport where possible. We ask volunteers to use water sparingly and respect the needs of local people at water collection points. We ensure animals are never fed or touched unless to do so is part of an organised visit to a park or other managed environment. We suggest volunteers avoid accepting plastic bags for everything in shops and we provide water to refill plastic bottles. We separate our waste for re-use or composting.  In the forest we use trails where they exist and disperse to prevent the creation of new trails when entering pristine areas. We use only farmed wood and we educate local people on the reasons for this. Camp-fires for 'ambience' are not allowed. Camping areas are selected in consultation with local people and in most cases are 'gifts' from the community; they rested for at least 6 weeks between visits. We plan volunteer programs in a way which maximizes the opportunity to meet and work alongside local people, learn about the local culture and experience the local way of life. We teach our volunteers to speak the local dialect of the Malagasy language and provide orientation to present a balanced view of the country, the people, our work and local culture and traditions, religion, body language and eating habits before any volunteer visits the field. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |