Watamu Sea Turtle Volunteer Project, Kenya

Program Description

As a sea turtle conservation volunteer, you will be involved in researching and keeping an eye out for nesting turtles, while performing educational outreaches into the local community. You will also work with turtle rehabilitation in Watamu, Kenya and experience an amazing new culture.

You will be a sea turtle volunteer in Kenya while assisting researching in a wide range of conservation related programs.

Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Responsibilities:

- Patrolling the beach
- Excavating nests
- Helping to release sea turtles caught in nets and conducting research
- Rehabilitating sea turtles
- Surveying poaching activities
- Plant and manage mangrove seedlings
- Map using GPS
- Monitor beaches
- Clean up beaches
- Track turtle movement pattern in Mida Creek
- Survey Mida Creek conditions
- Catch crabs

Education Initiatives:

- Creating signs
- Help to develop and run the local Ocean Marine Centre
- Be artistic, engaging, and innovative in helping up come up with new exciting displays in our marine centre
- Launch Awareness Days
- Develop and implement interesting and enlightening LOT field education initiatives in local schools and around fish landing sites

Community Engagement

- Develop and encourage additional methods for generating income
- Further techniques for the fishing community to earn other incomes rather than unsustainable marine exploitation
- Work with the community for development and creating crafts
- Raise awareness and actual practice of recycling and composting

Our Watamu Sea Turtle Watch Programme is available all-year for volunteers since the By-Catch Release Programme releases around 10 to 90 turtles a week from fishing nets. Our Rehabilitation Centre is open throughout the year with peak times of August and November/December. While we have turtles nesting during all periods, the high nesting season is May to August.

Highlights

This is a diverse opportunity for volunteers to work with marine conservation and turtle life. You will be able to participate in education initiatives, developing the local community, and engaging in field world. This is a great choice for people interested in marine biology.

Qualifications

You should be 18 years old and over, fit, healthy and capable of carrying out manual work in all conditions in a hot climate. No specific skills are needed, but those with previous experience with sea turtle monitoring, conservation work, community development projects etc. would be particularly useful. We are looking for self-motivated individuals since you will get more out of the project. We are also looking for volunteers who can use their own initiative, and who don't always need to be told what to do, and who work well in a team. Anyone with additional skills, such as arts and creativity, languages and education are especially welcome.

Volunteer Types

What`s Included

The cost covers all project costs, including one daytime meal at lunchtime on weekdays (the rest is self catered), quality accommodation in the Lallies House, airport transfers from Malindi, all training and supervision by Project Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, WorkingAbroad Projects backup and placement support. Cleaning is also included in the price and laundry can be done at minimal extra cost paid in local currency.