Gap Year Expeditions, Global Volunteering & Conservation Projects – Greenforce

Highlights

• Live in one of India's most tropical and tranquil settings
• Help conserve one of the world's most endangered species - the Olive Ridley marine turtle
• Make new friends, both fellow volunteers and local participants
• Work with local government agencies and small NGO's in India - great for the CV
• Explore Southern India in your spare time
• Learn Yoga & meditation and live in an Ashram
• Go trekking and visit rural Indian villages
  

What I’ll be doing?

Turtles are among the most threatened animals in the World. These turtles are innately a fragile species and face many natural risks – only around 1 in 1,000 turtles born, grow to adulthood. After tourism and commercial development has penetrated these sensitive turtle nesting grounds , additional man-made obstacles are placed in the way of the species survival. It is well reported that marine turtles are declining everywhere in Asia; but in Goa, especially, this decline is rapid. One nesting site has reduced from 35 annual turtle nests to only 7, in just the past decade.

There are numerous reasons already identified that contribute towards the declining numbers of Sea Turtles in Goa; They include:

Tourism:

The expansion of foreign and domestic tourism in Goa has meant moreactivity and development on the once untouched beaches used by turtles to lay their eggs. Noisy and crowded areas will cause the turtles to retreat back in the ocean and not reproduce.

Artificial Light:

As development expands, so does artificial light. When baby turtles are born they follow the light into the ocean. But the artificial light of houses and street lights causes the turtles to crawl in the wrong direction, never making it to the sea.

Locals Who Collect Eggs: 

Some local community members collect the turtle eggs and then sell them illegally in the market.

Dangerous Plastic Material:  

Plastic material reminds turtles of their favorite food – Jellyfish. When trying to eat the plastic they often choke or become sick.

Your role as a Volunteer:

The program will include promoting necessary awareness campaigns throughinteraction with both foreign tourists and local community members. Additionally, participants on the program will assist local authorities guard over and protect particular beach areas that have been identified as turtle nesting grounds.

From September to March (the turtles’ nesting season) you will work with Local Government Agenicies and small NGO's to guard three beaches in the Goa vicinity that have been identified as primary nesting beaches for the Olive Ridley marine turtles. Your tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Working in shifts to guard the beaches - Beach protection will occur in 6 hour shifts – all beaches must be protected, 24 hours a day.
• Identifying and protecting the areas where turtles have laid their eggs.
• Removing plastic or other hazardous material.
• Blocking off artificial sunlight, and even shielding the new born baby turtles from predators as they march back into the sea.

The local authorities also work closely with the surrounding community to promote awareness about the turtles’ struggle and inform the public on ways they can help improve the situation. The organisations attempting to run a well organized and effective campaign are in great need of additional help , so a willingness and enthusiasm to work both on the beach and in the community is desirable.

Community work may include:

Campaign planning

• Awareness campaigns and planning for “Turtle Fair” and other events
• Suggesting and planning events
• Promoting local students to make campaigns and spread awarenes

Awareness on artificial lights

• Working on the beach with the tourist. Talk to the tourists staying on the beach and make them aware of the damage light can be to the turtles
• Through the tourist volunteers can make the shack owners put of barriers so the light does not shine directly on the beach.
• Posters and sign boards against artificial lights.

 Garbage/Plastic awareness:

• Make the protected beaches a “Plastic Free Zone”
• Awareness with the tourists
• Handing out refill bottles
• Promote the use of filters
• Promote awareness regarding the damage plastic bags do to turtles
• Put up garbage bins on the beaches

What's included?

• A Meet Your Team briefing day and BBQ in central London.
• Full safety briefing
• Pre-departure advice and support
• Fundraising advice
• 24/7 support and emergency back-up
• Pickup at the Goa airport at the beginning of the program.
• All transfers by dedicated or public transport required by the program.
• Orientation at the Goa camp for 2 days including talks on various subjects of relevance to volunteers.
• Accommodation at the Greenforce accommodation facility in Goa with a max of 4 participants per room.
• Transport during the working days for local use throughout the program.
• All meals during the working days, orientation days.
• Dedicated on-site assistance of an English speaking translator
• All material required for various activities during the volunteer work like color pens, paper, sports equipment etc.
• Assistance in setting up local support for the volunteers’ activities in coordination with the local NGOs
• Extensive pre-departure information, port-arrival printed material, regular training and support for preparing the volunteers for their experience

Please note if you would prefer to opt for our comprehensive Goa Turtle experience then following activities will also be included during your first week in India:

• Pickup at the Bombay airport and one night in hotel on arrival and before departure.
• All transfers by dedicated or public transport required by the program.             
• Overnight train journeys at the start and the end of the program.
• Orientation and special lectures at the Idex Goa camp for 2 days including a “Bollywood” film show and talks on various subjects of relevance to volunteers.
• A 2 day course at an “Ashram” for learning yoga and meditation.

Note 1: It is also possible for participants to enroll in spiritual lectures and natural relaxation practices from the ancient Indian culture, if they so choose. This is subject to availability and is optional on the program.

Note 2: For these 2 days accommodation may be offered at an ashram, where participants will not have the possibility to smoke, consume alcohol or have access to non-vegetarian food. 

•  A two day adventure program including trekking through an unexplored area, climbing hills and rocks. This adventure program would also include one or more night’s stay in an Indian village.

Note : The adventure program will not be a continuous trek but would include a mix of hiking, visiting villages en route and practicing of adventure techniques like rappelling, valley crossing etc.

Note: It is advisable for participants to bring their own sleeping bags for the Goa program, as has been expressed as a necessity by some of our volunteers, expressing their suspicion about hygiene. Idex would however, provide clean sleeping bags to participants as a part of the adventure trek.

Accommodation:

Participants will live in the Greenforce Goa camp in Majorda Goa, at a distance of approximately 50 km from the protected beaches. Volunteers will be transported everyday from the accommodation to the project and will be brought back at the end of the day. This transfer is expected to take approximately one hour each way. Rooms are dorm style with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 participants per room.

Itinerary

This program is being offered in 2 different options. The first option (named as “Full” option) will start in Mumbai, with one week spent in Mumbai and Lonavla, and includes adventure/trekking and yoga/meditation in the beginning of the program. This option will also end in Mumbai. The 2nd option (named as “Basic” option) will start with arrival in Goa and will require participants to arrive at the Goa international airport (airport code: GOI) and depart from there at the end of the program.

Itinerary for Goa Turtle program - for 4 weeks on “Full program”

Itinerary for Goa Turtle program - for 4 weeks on “Basic program”

Maps

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