In sintesi
- Protect endangered sea turtles by monitoring nests, collecting eggs, and releasing hatchings into the sea.
- Gain practical conservation experience by caring for the centre's turtles.
- Explore the historic Galle Fort and Hindu temples, embark on a thrilling wildlife safari, and join traditional cooking and dance workshops.
- Educate local school children about sea turtle conservation and participate in beach clean-ups, inspiring the continued protection of turtles.
- Make friends with your fellow volunteers from around the world and share an unforgettable experience in the sun, creating positive change.
- Volunteer Service Hours: 40
- Download a sample itinerary for this project.
Date di Inizio:
Durante le vacanze scolastiche
Controlla le dateDurata Minima:
Due settimane
Età:
14-18
Is Turtle Conservation in Sri Lanka for teenagers right for me?
- Are you an ambitious high school student with a passion for animals?
- Would you like to spend your summer gaining practical experience that will give an edge to your CV?
- Do you dream of travelling and making new friends from all over the globe?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, this project is definitely for you! You’ll join a team of passionate conservation experts who actively protect and help the local environment through different initiatives.
This conservation project in Sri Lanka is designed by our staff exclusively for teenagers. All activities will take place in groups, follow a set itinerary, and you will be fully supervised throughout. This means you can focus on what matters most: relax, learn, and have fun throughout your trip without worrying about logistics, meals, and other details.
The best part? You don’t need experience for this project. All we ask of you is a willingness to help, an eagerness to learn, and a sense of curiosity!
What kind of work will I do in Sri Lanka?
As a conservation volunteer, you’ll work with local experts to protect the local biodiversity, with a focus on sea turtles.
The tasks you will take part in will depend on the season and needs of the centre and community at the time of your travel, but here is an example of what you can expect:
Here is a breakdown of the work you will do:
Search for and move turtle nests to a protected area
Your main role will be to work at the turtle conservation centre to take care of its residents, as well as locate and move turtle nests to a protected area. You will work with different species, including Green, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead, and Hawksbill Turtles.
You will:
- Bury the sea turtle eggs in a safe, dedicated area to protect them from poachers
- Conduct daily checks on the eggs to monitor their hatching time and help the emerging baby turtles
- Wash the sea turtle tanks and refill them with seawater
- Prepare food to feed the turtles
- Take care of cleaning, feeding and helping turtle hatchlings.
- Hand-feed any injured turtles
Habitat preservation
A key part of protecting sea turtles consists of protecting their habitat. To do this, you’ll conduct daily beach patrols, looking for pieces of fishing nets, a major cause of turtle mortality.
You’ll also embark on a boat safari along the Madu River. As you float peacefully, you’ll enjoy Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and notice the wildlife that surrounds you, from water monitor lizards to monkeys and a variety of bird and aquatic life. After witnessing the ecosystem firsthand, you’ll contribute to its preservation by planting mangroves.
Community awareness and education
To ensure that your conservation efforts will carry on long after you leave Sri Lanka, you’ll engage in educational work within the local community. Working alongside conservationists and turtle caretakers, you’ll work on an educational mural and make creative presentations for community members of all ages, explaining why coastal conservation is so important and why we need to secure turtle eggs from poachers.
Explore the surrounding region on a weekend trip
Finally, as you live and work in Sri Lanka with other teenagers, you will enjoy a range of new experiences.
Over one weekend, you will visit the Udawalawe National Park, where you can observe elephants and other species in their natural habitat during a safari, followed by a hike to Little Adam's Peak, where you'll enjoy panoramic views.
Sri Lanka is the third largest tea exporter, so the following day, you'll get the chance to tour a tea plantation and factory before visiting Nine Arch Bridge, a popular photo spot.
Where in Sri Lanka will I be based?
Balapitiya
You’ll be based in Ahungalla – Balapitiya, in the southern province of Sri Lanka. You’ll work at a conservation centre in Galbokka bay which is 10 minutes away from your host family by car.
Balapitiya is known for its beautiful calm beaches and artistic style. There are plenty of outdoor activities and stunning beaches to discover.
What is the goal of Marine Conservation work in Sri Lanka?
The aim of this programme is to ensure the protection and survival of endangered sea turtles and preserve the local ecosystem.
All species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered in Sri Lanka, and our work helps provide data and insights that assist with the protection of these incredible creatures.
Here’s just one example of why this work is crucial:
Different populations of Green turtles around the world are likely to have different migration paths. If Green turtles in one geographic area become extinct, it may be impossible to replace them with turtles from another area. This is because the new arrivals will lack the inherited instructions needed to navigate within and from their new homes.
The work you will accomplish during your stay, such as protecting the sea turtle eggs and helping the emerging baby turtles, directly prevents these problems.
Piani di gestione
Nei Management Plans definiamo gli obiettivi dei nostri progetti. Questo è uno strumento importante per pianificare correttamente il lavoro dei nostri volontari. Inoltre, ci aiutano a misurare e valutare l'impatto e i risultati raggiunti ogni anno.
Grazie ai Management Plans possiamo migliorare i nostri progetti ogni giorno. Questo significa che, come volontario, entrerai a far parte di un programma che ha un un impatto reale dove è più necessario. Scopri di più sui nostri Management Plan.
Misurare il nostro impatto
Ogni anno, migliaia di giovani volontari che partecipano ai nostri Campi di Volontariato per Studenti delle Scuole Superiori fanno la differenza in tutto il mondo. Durante il loro periodo all’estero, contribuiscono al raggiungimento di obiettivi a lungo termine e ad avere un impatto positivo nelle comunità locali.
Per documentare i risultati raggiunti grazie al loro aiuto, elaboriamo un rapporto annuale chiamato High School Specials Impact Report. Scopri di più sull'impatto dei nostri progetti e leggi l'ultimo report.
Vitto e alloggio
In Sri Lanka alloggerai in una pensione insieme ad altri volontari adolescenti: un'ottima occasione per conoscere coetanei che condividono le tue stesse passioni e ambizioni.
Nei nostri programmi “High School Specials”, cercheremo sempre di farti condividere la stanza con almeno un volontario o stagista dello stesso sesso e di età simile alla tua. La tua camera sarà semplice ma confortevole, pulita e sicura.
La quota di partecipazione al programma include tre pasti al giorno.
Sicurezza e supporto del nostro staff
La tua sicurezza è la nostra priorità assoluta. Abbiamo messo in atto numerose procedure e sistemi per assicurarti tutto il supporto necessario affinché tu possa goderti il tuo viaggio in tutta tranquillità. Il nostro staff di Projects Abroad è disponibile 24 ore su 24 per aiutarti e sarà a tua disposizione per assicurarsi che tu ti ambienti bene nel tuo alloggio e nel tuo posto di lavoro. Se dovessi incontrare qualsiasi problema, sarà disponibile ad aiutarti in qualsiasi momento.
Scopri di più sul Supporto e Sicurezza.
Questo tirocinio è stato accuratamente studiato, sottoposto a controlli di sicurezza e valutato in base ai rischi in conformità con lo standard britannico BS8848 per il settore dei viaggi avventura.
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