At a glance
- Spend your summer living and working in a village surrounded by the jungle.
- As you watch lemurs scamper by, you’ll focus on helping the local community become more environmentally-friendly.
- You’ll learn directly from conservationists, working to protect rainforest habitats and animal and plant species.
Start Dates:
Fixed dates during school holidays
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Two Weeks
Requirements:
This project is only for 15-18 year olds
Is volunteer Conservation work in Madagascar for teenagers right for me?
If you’re adventurous, love spending time outdoors, and are curious about other cultures, you’ll enjoy doing rainforest conservation work in Madagascar for teenagers.
You don’t need any experience to join. All you need is loads of energy and a willingness to get your hands dirty!
You should be prepared to experience things you never have before. You’ll wake up to the sounds of the rainforest, and watch lemurs scamper past as you plant seedlings in the park nursery. Our staff will be there to help guide you through the programme at all times.
This is a High School Special, which means you’ll live and work with teenagers your own age. Each trip takes place over fixed dates, so pick the ones that best fit your schedule.
What Rainforest Conservation work will I do in Madagascar as a teenager?
Volunteer conservation work in Madagascar for teenagers focuses on helping to protect the rainforests around Andasibe, and doing community work in the village. Your days are split between these activities:
- Support the work of local national parks
- Protect rainforest habitats and animal and plant species
- Help the village of Andasibe become more environmentally friendly
- Explore Madagascar and learn about the culture
Your work will focus on the following areas:
Support the work of local national parks
You will work in several national parks. All of these national parks protect rainforest environments. Many of the animals and plants found here can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
Your tasks here will include bird, amphibian, reptile, and lemur censuses. These censuses are important as they help conservationists keep track of the number of species found in each of the parks.
You will work closely with environmental experts, and you’ll also take part in a conservation workshop given by a local guide.
Protect rainforest habitats and animal and plant species
Alien plant species are a big problem in Madagascar. They destroy endemic plants that provide a habitat for local wildlife. You’ll help remove these plants, and work in our nursery to plant and care for the seedlings of local plants.
You’ll also help us clear and maintain park trails to make sure visitors don’t wander off the dedicated paths. This helps protect indigenous plants.
Help the village of Andasibe become more environmentally-friendly
The community work you’ll do in the village is closely related to your conservation work. You’ll help raise awareness of the importance of protecting the rainforest by creating posters and leaflets. We’ll use these in workshops to share knowledge about conservation.
Your group will also take local students on supervised walks through the national parks. Our volunteers love doing this with the kids, and it’s fun to show them different animals and plants. We also encourage you to share your passion for protecting the rainforest with them!
In addition to this work, you’ll also get involved in more physical activities. These include getting your hands dirty planting a vegetable garden or doing a cleanup.
Explore Madagascar and learn about the culture
Madagascar is like nowhere else on earth. So we can say with complete confidence that this is an incredibly unique opportunity!
You’ll live and work with other teenagers, our staff, and the local people. You’ll learn about different cultures, and share stories about your own.
When you’re not working, our staff have plenty planned for you, from arts and crafts, to traditional storytelling sessions. We’ll also take you on a trip over the weekend, where you can have fun in the sun at the beach, and explore bustlings markets.
Where will I be working?
Andasibe
There is only one dirt road going through Andasibe. It gets quite muddy at times! You can expect rain all year round. Bring warm clothes for in the evenings and good sturdy shoes you don't mind getting dirty.
Madagascar is home to a huge array of wildlife that can be found nowhere else in the world. In fact, 80% of Madagascar’s species are endemic to the area. This means that Madagascar is the only place you’ll ever get to see them in the wild!
What are the aims and impacts of this project?
The main aim of this project is to help preserve and protect the rainforests of Madagascar. We also work to help villages become more aware and environmentally friendly.
Nearly 80% of the animal species that live in Madagascar are found nowhere else in the world. There are nearly 100 species of lemurs alone! Unfortunately, as the human population grows, more and more of the rainforest is eaten up by houses, livestock, and farms. Between 70 and 80% of the rainforest has already been destroyed.
As a teenage volunteer, you can become part of our long-term efforts to protect rainforests in Madagascar. Previous volunteers on High School Specials have been able to do a lot. In 2017, teenage volunteers helped us plant 3,000 trees in our endangered tree nursery. This had a significant impact on our work.
Join us today to protect rainforests in Madagascar and stop them from disappearing forever.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Every year, thousands of High School Special volunteers and interns actively make a difference around the world. During their time abroad, they contribute towards achieving long-term goals and make a long-lasting positive impact on the communities where they work.
We produce an annual High School Specials Impact Report, which documents some of these achievements. Find out more about the impact of these projects, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll share accommodation with other Projects Abroad volunteers during your stay in Andasibe. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers, share experiences, and explore your surroundings in your time together.
On our High School Specials, we will always try to have you share a room with at least one volunteer or intern of the same sex and approximate age. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fees include three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have all the extra support you need as a young person travelling abroad. Our Projects Abroad staff are there for you 24 hours a day during the week and over weekends to provide constant support and guidance. Our staff also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in Madagascar
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