selection & Interview process: Volunteers
should apply with a letter indicating
experience in relevant activities, reasons for
applying, future interests, preferred station
and preferred dates, a CV, a doctor’s note of
fitness, two passport-sized photos and the
application fee.
In-country support: all stations are in
permanent communication with the main
office in Quito. all station staff are first-aid
trained and have emergency plans.
golondrinas foundation – Ibarra
ecuador
parroquia la Carolina guallupe K m 48 VÃ ,
Ibarra san lorenzo, ecuador
%+593 6264 8679
[email protected]
http://www.fgolondrinas.org
working to conserve ecuador’s highland cloud
forest and regenerate deforested areas, this
organisation places volunteers within local
communities to implement organic farming
techniques and assist with environmental
education. Volunteers live in villages in the
ecuadorian andes.
status: not-for-profit organisation.
timing & length of projects: Year-round for
one to three months.
destinations: ecuador.
Costs: the fee is us$280 per month, including
meals and accommodation.
eligibility: Volunteers must have a basic level
of spanish. experience is preferred and
participants should be willing to work hard.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers are
accepted individually or in a group.
annual no. of Volunteers: 100
annual projects: 5
partner programmes: 5
selection & Interview process: application is
by email, followed by an interview.
In-country support: project staff have first-aid
equipment and a contact person is available
at all times in Quito.
millennium elephant foundation
randeniya hiriwadunna Kegalle, sri lanka
%+94 35 222 0005
fax +94 35 226 6527
[email protected]
http://www.eureka.lk/elefound
http://www.elephantfoundation.com
dedicated to the welfare of retired and
sick elephants, this foundation offers field
management, animal care, a mobile vet and
resolution for human-elephant conflict in a
remote village. they also provide english
lessons for locals and maintain an eco-farm
for herbal medicinal plants and quality food
for the elephants. Volunteers work on all
aspects of the project.
status: registered charity.
timing & length of projects: placements
are for one, two or three months and can
be ex tended to six months. start dates are
flexible.
destinations: sri lanka.
Costs: the fee is £585 for one month,
£995 for two months, and £1400 for three
months. this includes food, twin-share
accommodation, an administration fee,
excursion costs and transport to and from
the airport.
eligibility: Volunteers must be committed
to the cause and willing to work hard. It is
preferable for volunteers to have experience
or qualifications in an allied subject,
although anyone with a sincere affection for
elephants is welcome to apply. It may not be
possible for those with physical disabilities to
undertake the work; cases will be considered
on an individual basis.
groups or Individuals: the organisation can
take on up to 20 volunteers, however, tasks are
undertaken in groups of up to six. It is possible
to volunteer as a group, couple or family.
annual no. of Volunteers: 90
annual projects: 5
partner programmes: the organisation
works with around 15 local groups, including
the university of peradeniya, the national
Zoological gardens and the department of
wildlife Conservation.
selection & Interview process: the initial
application is by email, followed by a
telephone interview.
In-country support: staff live on-site and
are available at all times for support and in
case of emergency. local hospitals are well
equipped.sunseed trust
apdo 9, 04270 sorbas, almeria, spain
%+34 950 525 770
[email protected]
http://www.sunseed.org.ukestablished in a once-abandoned village
in the drylands of southern spain, this
community works to develop low-technology
methods of living sustainably in a semi-arid
environment. they also practise what they
preach, demonstrating a sustainable lifestyle
complete with solar electricity, solar cookers
and composting toilets. Volunteers help out
with organic growing, dryland regeneration
trials, appropriate technology development
and day-to-day work in the community. It is
also possible for students to undertake their
own projects as part of a long-term volunteer
placement.
status: registered charity.
timing & length of projects: sunseed offers
short- and long-term opportunities year-
round. short-term volunteers work four hours
per morning, monday to saturday; long-term
volunteers stay for a minimum of five weeks
and work seven hours per day, monday to
friday, with occasional weekend duties.
destinations: spain.
Costs: fees for short-term volunteers are
112 to 137 per week, depending on the time
of year. long-term placements cost
84 to 109 per week, but decrease the
longer you stay. all fees include food and
shared accommodation, but not travel.
students and unemployed people may receive
a discount.
eligibility: sunseed welcomes anyone
interested in learning about sustainable
living, and has had volunteers up to the
age of 82. applicants aged 16 to 18 require
parental consent. no specific skills are
required.
groups or Individuals: there is a maximum
of 35 people at the project at any one time,
including volunteers and staff. It is possible to
volunteer with a friend, partner or family.
annual no. of Volunteers: approximately
130.
annual projects: sunseed runs various
projects at its site in almeria year-round.
partner programmes: sunseed works with a
similar programme in tanzania.
selection & Interview process: You can apply
by email, however, the connection can be
poor in bad weather. If you don’t receive a
response, try calling.
In-country support: Volunteers and staff live
together in a community and so have 24-hour
support in emergencies.wild animal rescue foundation of
thailand
Phuket: 104/3 m3 paklock, talang, phuket
83110 thailand
%+66 76 260 4912
fax +66 76 260 4912
Bangkok: 65/1 3rd flr, sukhumvit 55,
Klongton, wattana, bangkok 10110 thailand
%+66 2 712 9515
fax +66 2 712 971
[email protected]
http://www.warthai.org
operating for over a decade, war is a
wildlife-conservation group with projects
established throughout thailand. Volunteers
help with the day-to-day running of
sanctuaries and can work with gibbons,
macaques, elephants and sea turtles.
placements are very hands-on and volunteers
prepare food, clean, and construct or repair
buildings and enclosures. war does not offer
opportunities for scientific experimentation or
research.
status: not-for-profit ngo.
timing & length of projects: placements
are for a minimum of three months and
commence year-round.
destinations: thailand.
Costs: for volunteers staying less than eight
weeks, the fees are us$970 for the first three
weeks; for those staying eight weeks or
longer, the fee is us$900 for the first eight
weeks. for all participants, subsequent weeks
are us$105. this includes orientation and
accommodation. In-country transport is not
included, but pick-up from the local airport
and a weekly trip into town is.
eligibility: the minimum age is 18 and fluent
english is essential. no other experience
is required, although participants need
to have a genuine interest in the care of
animals, good teamwork skills and must be
physically fit. a number of vaccinations are
required.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers work in a
group of up to 10. It is possible to apply with a
friend or partner.
annual no. of Volunteers: approximately 50.
annual projects: war works within four
different wildlife sanctuaries and places
volunteers on three projects.
partner programmes: war works with a
number of local ngos and governmental
organisations like the royal forestry06: Structured & Self-Funding Volunteer Programmes:Conservation & Wildlife Placements