Galapagos Community & Conservation Volunteers

Program Description

Volunteers are needed on Isabela Island to assist with a range of environmental and community development projects. Projects include:

Galapagos Giant Tortoise Conservation Volunteer project - Volunteers joining this project will be located at the Tortoise Breeding Centre. Duties will include educating tourists, caring for and feeding the tortoises, maintaining enclosures and collecting data for growth charts.

Galapagos Conservation & Reforestation Volunteer Project - Volunteers will work at the endemic plant nursery helping to grow and maintain endemic species. Duties will also include planting them once they are big enough as part of a sustainable gardening or reforestation project.

Medical Internships - Galapagos Public Health Volunteer Project - This opportunity is open to pre medical/medical students. Interns will work in the local hospital, assisting local doctors.

Biodiversity Protection - Galapagos Conservation Volunteer Project - Volunteers joining this project will work alongside the Biodiversity Protection Agency of Galapagos. Work will include helping to prevent the trafficking of endemic species and introduction of invasive species. Volunteers will also have the option of spending some time in the domestic animal shelter, caring for free-roaming domestic animals.

English Teacher – Galapagos Education Volunteer Project - Volunteers will assist teachers in the local preschool, helping to incorporate English lessons and assist in supervision of the children.

Highlights

Accommodation:
Volunteers will live with a host family during their time on the island. This allows volunteers to become truly immersed in the culture and will help improve Spanish language skills.

Free Time:
During their free time volunteers can explore the town, getting to know the friendly locals, snorkel with penguins and sea lions and explore the natural beauty of the island.

Qualifications

Requirements vary slightly between projects. Volunteers joining the Giant Tortoise Conservation Project require a basic to intermediate level of Spanish, the physical ability to work outdoors in the heat, good communication skills and an interest in animal conservation. Those joining the Reforestation Project also require basic to intermediate Spanish, a good level of fitness, a basic knowledge of tools and their usage and a genuine interest in the outdoors. For the Biodiversity Protection Project an intermediate level of Spanish is required, along with a passion for conservation, good communication skills and good physical fitness.

Volunteer joining the Medical Internship require an intermediate to advanced level of Spanish, a medical background and the ability to make recommendations based on experience and knowledge.

Those joining the Teaching Project must have an intermediate level of Spanish, an interest in working with children and must be energetic, creative and enthusiastic.

Volunteer Types

What`s Included

Included in the cost is accommodation and three meals a day, permits and visas, training, project related transport, national park certificates and all WorkingAbroad backup and support. Airfare, personal expenses and travel insurance are not included.