Marine Nature Reserve
Placement number: 0087
Location: Tanzania
Preferred Languages: English
Date: All Year
Minimum Period: 1 month
Welcome to our multi-award winning lodge. We are located in the middle of a
Marine Protected Area off the island of Zanzibar. Some say the coral reef here
is the best in the world.
We have been running our community focused
lodge for over 10 years. Tourists come here to snorkel our shallow reefs.
Besides the sea our island is 90% covered by virgin coral rag forest where
tourists can have guided walks and search for Hermit and Coconut crabs and the
elusive Ader's Duikers (the rarest antelope in the world).
Zanzibari or Tanzanian citizens are given preference for employment
opportunities and for all aspects of the work, including the marine park
rangers, maintenance staff, cooks, cleaners, waiters and administrators. As many
of our employees come from the rural fishing communities along the coast of
Zanzibar island, most have little formal education, so training in all these
positions has been provided by the management and numerous volunteers to the
project over the years. A team that began with very few words of English and low
levels of literacy has become a team of able English speakers, recognized
throughout the region as being exceptional in their work and in their provision
of service with the welcoming, family atmosphere you will find on the island.
The project has actively encouraged the employment of women. In the
local Islamic culture, under-educated women from rural communities often find it
difficult to find employment, and where employment is found, opportunities for
female advancement in the workplace are limited. Equal opportunities are
provided to all staff and all staff, be they cooks, waiters, or maintenance
staff, are taught about the ecology of the island and its relation to natural
resource utilisation. This is another route through which to disseminate
information to the wider coastal communities. Environmental education such as
this encourages feelings of ownership and responsibility towards a natural
resource.
In summary, the management style on the island is very different from a regular hotelier operation. All project decisions are made through weekly discussion sessions with opportunity for all concerned to express their opinions and wishes. It has been important, from the beginning, to ensure that decisions made and systems established are accepted by all, are culturally suitable, and ideas from the team be given a chance to be tried and developed.
The core of our Project lies with the educational programme and the team that runs it. They are extremely proud of the Marine Park and the ecotourism operating within this protected area. The team has been empowered by the project as awareness has been raised that the Marine Protected Area is being protected on behalf of the local population. This is a unique approach to protected area management in this developing region of the world, and this sense of ownership and responsibility for the environment is of great importance in the long-term security of wilderness preservation in East Africa.
Role of Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers who have experience/degree of teaching English, marine biology, cooking, graphic design and general administration.
Cost
Complimentary accommodation with lunch when in the head office and 3 meals per day when at the ecolodge. The volunteers must pre arranged there own travel, Visa's, medical insurance and spending money.
Voluteer Story
Hi Daniel,
I was volunteering at Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar in
July 2007. The experience as a whole was very positive. Thanks also to Ecoteer
for helping me to find the placement. I'm sure I will volunteer through Ecoteer
also in the future.
Our trip to Zanzibar, and being involved with the
conservation work at Chumbe Island, was one of the most rewarding experiences of
our lives. It was amazing to see ecotourism at its best and such a positive and
well run conservation initiative. The information and hands on experience we
gained from our volunteering was priceless and the natural beauty of the island
and friendly people who made our experience so special will be in our hearts
forever. We cannot wait to return to Chumbe, thanks to all the staff in the
office and on the island for making us so welcome and our experience so
enjoyable. Jenni
Travel
Volunteers will expected to arrange there own travel to the main office in Zanzibar. You can travel to Zanzibar by either air or boat.
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