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Category: Blog

A Rare Experience: Father & Daughter Volunteers
BlogMarine ConservationReviews

A Rare Experience: Father & Daughter Volunteers

A Rare Experience: Father & Daughter VolunteersAlthough most of the volunteers who choose to join MRCI during their gap year are between the ages of 19 and 25, we usually have all ages on camp.  Rarely do we get to share the experience with father and daughter though, and what a pleasure it was to share it with Tom and Grace Anastasio during their marine conservation volunteer program.

Grace looked forward to diving with her dad:

“Before I even arrived at camp it was obvious to me that Madagascar and MRCI would offer me an incredible adventure. Before hitting the ground I was already enamored with the country in which I would be lucky enough to spend one whole month.

From our connecting flight in South Africa, we boarded the smallest plane I had ever seen and buckled in for a flight that would eventually take us over the pristine waters of Madagascar. Tropical islands ranging from tiny and uninhabited to big(ish) and bustling, peppered the waters. I was sure we had found heaven.

A Rare Experience: Father & Daughter VolunteersWe touched down in Nosy Be, a Madagascan island close to Nosy Komba: the home of MRCI. I was overwhelmed with excitement when we met two friendly members of the MRCI staff, and my excitement only grew as we piled into cars with some other volunteers and cruised through the jungle to get to the port

Finally, we boarded small, motorized boats to go from Nosy Be to Nosy Komba. Sitting practically on top of the other volunteers we had just met, we made way across the ocean to the nearby island. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The waters around Nosy Komba are a crystalline turquoise. On either side of you, islands jut up out of the water, their steep slopes reaching dramatically into the clear, blue sky. Locals peacefully floated by while fishing from their perogues – small, wooden dug-out canoes. They waved to us as we passed, greeting us with a friendly “m’bola tsara” – a greeting we would get used to saying tons of times every day. Realizing I got to spend an entire month in this paradise had me thrilled, but I was nervous about one thing.

I had decided to volunteer for MRCI on the marine project almost an entire year ago. Then my dad decided to join me. I was extremely excited that he was coming with me. I love my dad, and I hardly ever get to see him. I knew diving together and learning about the oceans – passions we both share – would be the best thing we had ever done together. Being in such a gorgeous part of the world would only add to the experience, but I was nervous about how the other volunteers, who were mostly close to my age (19-25) would react to my dad. I thought they might find it strange that we had come together. I was afraid he might not feel included or that the age gap would cause people to snub him.

A Rare Experience: Father & Daughter VolunteersI’ve hardly been more wrong about something in my entire life. From the second we stepped on camp I knew having my dad around was not going to be a problem – in fact it has greatly enhanced not only my experience, but also the experiences of everyone here. Of course this is largely due to the fact that my dad is an amazing person – smart, athletic, laid back, and personable – but I think it has even more to do with the kind of people that the volunteers are.

I’ve learned that you should never worry about the character of people who choose to spend their time and money in a remote location, with only the most basic comforts, working for a cause bigger than themselves. The other volunteers and staff members I have met at MRCI are open-minded, worldly, inclusive, and so curious and excited to learn. None of them saw the age of my dad as anything but just another number. In fact he quickly made a name for himself as one of the most pleasant and interesting people on camp. His years of experience only made his stories more enthralling. I always found him having the most intriguing discussions with people, which only allowed me to quickly make more friends. Now that we’ve all gotten to know each other better we tease one another about how my dad, who is close to 60 years old, is the most in shape and active volunteer. He puts us all to shame.

A Rare Experience: Father & Daughter VolunteersWhile I was completely wrong to worry about how people might judge our little family trip, I was right that our time on Nosy Komba would bring my dad and I even closer together. We go on dives to two of four reefs in the area every single day; we walk to the nearby village at least three times a week and eat street food while greeting all the smiling faces of locals we have come to recognize; we visit other islands on the weekends, swim in waterfalls with area kids, drill each other on the names of fish species on the reefs until our heads explode, go for daily swims for exercise, and so much more.

Marine volunteering is amazing. Madagascar is amazing. My dad is amazing. But these three factors coming together at once have allowed me to appreciate each of them more than I ever could otherwise. I can’t wait for my next opportunity to do marine volunteering; I’m pledging to return to Madagascar one day; and seeing how much people respect my dad has only made me respect him more. I would highly recommend this program to families and I can’t wait to travel more with my dad in the future”.

Tom had one of the most fulfilling experiences of his life:

A Rare Experience: Father & Daughter Volunteers“Old guys like me don’t usually get to do cool stuff like this, but when my daughter, Grace, planned a month research experience in marine biology on a remote island in Madagascar, I just had to ask if I could come. To my surprise, she said yes! The remote island is called Nosy Komba, and it is the home of MRCI, a marine research and conservation institute.

Except that she gives me way too much credit, I concur with Grace’s description of Nosy Komba and the excellent program here at MRCI. In addition to marine biology, they offer volunteer experiences in forest conservation, teaching, and construction – and the professional staff members take their missions seriously – they spend a lot of time training volunteers to ensure that make a valuable volunteer contribution. But it’s not all work and no play – there is plenty of time for fun, and volunteers go off on weekends to enjoy this naturally beautiful and culturally intriguing part of the world. We only spent one month. We could have spent a year and continued to grow personally the whole time.

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely, MadagascarMy reasons for coming were to have fun while giving back, but mainly to support Grace in her adventure. Due to the kindness of the staff and other volunteers in including me, it has been a wonderful adventure for me as well. It has been a time when my daughter and I could face new challenges together and strengthen our bond as we came to understand and appreciate each other better. It has been truly awesome for me to watch Grace improve as a SCUBA diver and develop her skills as a marine biologist – the staff well appreciates that she learned to identify fish a lot faster and more effectively than I did!

This experience has been among the most fulfilling experiences of my life, mostly because it has brought me so much closer to my daughter. Are you an old-ish guy (or gal) who dreams of doing some really cool stuff with your young-adult child (or children)? If so, then I cannot recommend this program more highly”.

If you wish to join one of our volunteer programs, fill out our online application form today.

Madagascar Volunteers: Environmental Day
BlogTeaching

Madagascar Volunteers Saving the Environment, One Battery at a Time

Madagascar Volunteers: Environmental DayEvery couple of months we hold an Environmental Day in the classes our volunteers teach. We always pick an appropriate topic and this time around we decided to talk about flat batteries and how they can negatively influence the ocean and forest.

Madagascar Volunteers: Environmental DayDuring the first part of class, we explained the impact of the dead batteries on the environment, drew some pictures, taught new words and practiced grammar with sentences like: “I don’t like dead batteries, we don’t like dead batteries”, and so on.

Madagascar Volunteers: Environmental DayDuring the second part of the class, we asked learners to join us in collecting dead batteries from the area surrounding the school and the beach. The kids loved it, and so did we.

We collected roughly 10 kilograms of batteries (5 full bags) from all the schools we teach at on Nosy Komba. Madagascar does not have the appropriate facilities to deal with the disposal of batteries, so you might ask: “What happens next?”

Madagascar Volunteers: Environmental DayWe brought all the bags of batteries back to our camp and made little paper envelopes to put a few batteries in. Whenever a volunteer leaves the camp, we ask them to take a bag or two with them, to dispose of it properly once at home.

Did you know?

Batteries are recognized as being a problem material in the waste stream. They are made from a variety of chemicals to power their reactions. Some of these chemicals, such as nickel and cadmium, are extremely toxic and can cause harm to Madagascar Volunteers: Environmental Dayhumans and the environment. In particular, they can cause soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife. For example, cadmium causes damage to soil micro-organisms which affects the breakdown of organic matter. It can also bio-accumulate in fish, not only making them unfit for human consumption but also reducing their numbers.

Madagascar Volunteers: Environmental DayWe know that nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something and by helping in this small way, we believe we can improve the environment that we are a part of, as well improving the lives of the next generation.

If you would like to be one of our volunteers, teaching English or participating in our forest or marine conservation projects, complete our online application form today.

BlogMarine Conservation

Volunteers Spend a Day in Paradise

Volunteers Spend a Day in ParadiseVolunteers at MRCI recently took the “Turtle Express” out on a day trip to Nosy Tanikely to check out the seabed and landscape of this beautiful, uninhabited island.

Volunteers Spend a Day in ParadiseNosy Tanikely is situated about 10 kilometres west of Nosy Komba. With its great biodiversity of submarine life, Tanikely officially became a national park in 2010. A radius of 700 metres around the lighthouse marks the natural reserve area.

One of coral reefs has earned the title of the “natural aquarium” because of its abundant seabed and exceptional biodiversity.  It provides a habitat for numerous marine species. The recreational swimming area is situated on the east of the island but diving is allowed all around the island.

Volunteers Spend a Day in Paradise - Hermit CrabTanikely itself is uninhabited and visitors are only allowed for day trips with no opportunities to stay overnight. The landscape of the island is full of life and it is home to many endemic species that cannot be found anywhere else in Volunteers view from the lighthouse on Tanikelythe world. As these species have no natural predators, they can grow to a larger size than normal (such as this hermit crab).

Walking all the way up to the lighthouse, volunteers have 360 degree view of the island. Another highlight of any visit to this island is the ability to get very close to Lemurs when walking through the forest.

Volunteers and staff at MRCI get to know all the species that live under and above the ocean surface, so if you’d love the opportunity to explore Madagascar and its surroundings islands, sign up for one of our volunteer programs today!

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely, Madagascar

Tanikely dive_12

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely, Madagascar

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely

Tanikely dive_09

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely

Tanikely dive_24

Tanikely dive_21

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely, Madagascar

Tanikely dive_10

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely, Madagascar

Tanikely dive_26

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely, Madagascar

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely, Madagascar

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely, Madagascar

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely

Volunteers Spend a Day on Nosy Tanikely

Forest Conservation Volunteer Programs: Mantella Ebenaui
BlogForest Conservation

Volunteer Programs: Forest Walk

Our Forest Conservation Volunteer Programs involve constant data collection and monitoring of the wildlife in the forest surrounding us.  From lemurs, birds and, of course, reptiles as we have species living on the island that occur nowhere else in the world.

On our last walk through the forest we were very lucky to spot a few of the smaller reptiles and amphibians living on Nosy Komba.  To locate these species, one needs to find a very select spot of ground that’s not on a hill, not part of a path, nor too close to a river.

Some of the tiny species we came across recently:

Forest Conservation Volunteer Programs: Mantella EbenauiMantella Ebenaui

This species of frog is a member of the Mantellidea family. It is endemic to Madagascar and its natural habitats are lowlands of rainforest and dry forest.

Stumpffi Pygmaea

Forest Conservation Volunteer Programs: Stumpffi PygmaeaStumpffi pygmaea is a species of frog in the Microhylidea family.  As the family name suggests, these frogs are very tiny.  Stumpfii pygmea is 5th smallest frog in the world, making them incredibly difficult to spot.  Like Mantella ebanaui, Stumpffi is endemic to Madagascar and is only found on the islands of Nosy Be and Nosy Komba.

Brookesia Minima

Forest Conservation Volunteer Programs: Brookesia MinimaThe biggest achievement of the day was spotting Brookesia minima.  Also called called dwarf chameleons, these are the second smallest chameleons in the world.

This tiny chameleon is usually found foraging deep in leaf litter but climbs up a branch to sleep. Being so small, the dwarf chameleon is prey to many predators in forest.  Luckily, Mother Nature has equipped this little chameleon with a number of cunning ways to avoid being eaten. If it is touched or the branch on which it is perched is disturbed, the miniscule leaf chameleon will drop to the ground like a piece of dead wood until the danger has passed.

Being able to see all these creatures (big and small) right on your doorstep is a dream come true.  Be sure to check in again to read about our next forest adventure.

For more information on our Forest Conservation Volunteer Programs, contact us today or apply online.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely
AchievementsBlogCommunity Development

Volunteers Build Toilets in Andrekareka Hely

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely

Volunteers participating in the Teaching & Community program are regularly involved
with construction projects to improve the lives of the people living on the island.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely
Despite the incredibly rich plant and animal life, Madagascar is among the 10 poorest countries in the world, leaving its people with precious little to invest into the infrastructure of their villages.

To address some of these problems, MRCI has recently begun a construction partnership with a nearby village, Andrekareka Hely. The village is very isolated, only accessible by boat or by rough forest paths. There is an estimated population of 300 people, with another 200 living in the surrounding area. The primary means of employment are fishing, subsistence agriculture, and hammering granite by hand to sell as gravel.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka HelySeveral initial meetings between ourselves and the President and Vice President of Andrekareka Hely took place in April 2016 to discuss community needs for construction projects.  Earlier this month, a joint community meeting was held involving the residents of Andrekareka Hely and volunteers from MRCI, with the goal of establishing a list of community needs for construction projects. That list is as follows:

  1. Public Toilet Block- there are currently no toilets in Hely. Villagers use the surrounding area, contaminating the drinking water. A public toilet block would eliminate this problem and decrease incidences of diseases such as Typhoid Fever.
  2. Water Cistern- the current water situation in Hely is grim. During the rainy season, water is supplied through a simple system of pipes from a nearby waterfall. Unfortunately, this is insufficient to meet the needs of the village during the dry season. Consequently, for 6 months of the year, residents need to carry buckets of water from small streams or fill buckets in other villages several kilometres away.
  3. Trash Burning Pit/Dump Site- there is no infrastructure in place for proper trash disposal. Much of the trash currently ends up in the ocean, wreaking havoc on the local coral reef. Burning trash is not an ideal solution, but is still better than the existing options.
  4. Pharmacy Building- the nearest pharmacy is 5km away, via a rough hiking trail. The closest hospital is on an adjacent island. If residents of Hely are able to provide a pharmacy building, the government is obligated to supply medicine and a trained worker.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely

Volunteers have begun work on a public toilet block, the community’s first priority.  A plan for the first toilet block and purchasing of the first round of materials began at the end of April.  Residents of Hely have provided a construction plan and a foreman and are taking it in shifts to work with our team to provide the necessary labour.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely

With great support from our volunteers and all people back home, we have started fundraising for this project.  To date, there have been 65 online donations totalling almost $4,000, with several donations from current and previous volunteers as well.  Visit our GoFundMe page to donate. Two blocks of toilets are being built in Hely.  They will each have two toilets with one washroom in between them.

https://www.gofundme.com/nosykomba

There is still much work to be done but with a positive attitude and the hard working team of volunteers and members of the community, we believe to finish these blocks in a few weeks. We hope to continue the partnership that we have started with Andrekareka Hely and for our volunteers to participate in several community construction projects down the road.

If you would like to make a difference during your gap year and be a part of community projects like these,

contact us today or apply online.