Sea Turtle and Sustainable Living Year-Round Volunteer Programs on Tioman Island

  Malaysia

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Year Round

Description: Here at JTP we run open-ended year-round volunteer programs where we exist as a community working and living intertwined in a small Malay fishing village. Volunteers' work will be varied. Our work area is determined by the turtles which is usually in the morning and evening. JTP's main focus is relocating green and hawks bill sea turtle eggs with the help of a local egg collector and hatching them from within hatcheries. Volunteers are expected to help run the project during the morning and evening but are free to explore the village, ocean, and jungle during their down time. We try to work with everyone's skills and interests to help develop the project, allowing volunteers to help steer its direction.

Volunteers will be invited to get involved in almost every aspect of the turtle project from relocating eggs, burying eggs, releasing, and taking care of resident turtles. Volunteers can help maintain and expand the various gardens located around the project. Volunteering with the Juara Turtle Project can be whatever the applicant makes of it. There are daily tasks and resident turtles to take care of, night-time boat missions to deliver hatchlings to their native beaches, gardens to tend, creative facility projects, and any conservation or business networking aspects one may want to participate in while living on a beautiful tropical island, in a clean and friendly environment.

The Juara Turtle Project would like to become as sustainably run as possible. At the current moment we grow some food, are looking into getting chickens, compost our waste, and are working to reduce our waste.

Please understand we work and live on a small remote island, internet and cell phones are slow and often unreliable. It might take us a while to return emails, please don't be alarmed.

Highlights: Working side by side with a local egg collector next to the beautiful South China Sea on the Remote East coast of Tioman Island. Helping relocate sea turtle eggs in the morning and collecting new born hatchlings at night. Giving tours and talks to both locals and tourists alike. Learning to live sustainably with a diverse group of people from all over the world, in a new and unique ecosystem. Waking up every day to the South China Sea while living in a new jungle themed facility helping cultivate tomatoes, papayas, and a variety of greens.

When not working around the project there are many different activities like biking into the village and sampling local cuisine, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, trekking, and rock climbing.

Juara is home to amazing bouldering, coasteering, and some 30+ granite sport routes.

JTP's headquarters are located directly on the trail to the local waterfall and tallest mountain on the island.

Local run trekking, climbing, and snorkeling trips can be arranged through the project!

Qualifications:
* Volunteers should have a positive attitude, be able to work well in groups or alone.
* Volunteers should be fit and able to swim.
* We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds that want to be a positive contribution to our program.
* Applicants should be flexible and ready to have a real life experience.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: 50 USD Per Day. Volunteers are suggested to fundraise for their stay, to lessen their financial burden!

Please understand no one working at the project gets paid, your fee goes directly into the project to help cover our numerous bills and overhead. Volunteers are relied upon both for their physical and financial contribution to positively continue the project.

100% of your financial contributions go directly into the project, there are no middle men.

Did you know that many of the volunteer projects are actually commercial run buisneses, who profit off the misfortunes of others.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: A typical volunteer is optimistic with a good work effort, and enjoys problems solving and group living while having fun. Typical volunteers hopefully enjoy living a physical lifestyle free of many modern day luxuries.

Age Range: 16-75 JTP is open to everyone of any age and ability

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Malaysia Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 1-10

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Other
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

Juara Turtle Project's Mission Statement: JTP aims to rejuvenate the Sea Turtle population of Tioman Island in the most safest and peaceful way.

Year Founded: 2006