Further Information
Volunteer with Turtles and Community Development in Vanuatu

Training

All volunteers will accompany the staff on the first night and will learn how the community turtle monitors tag and measure a turtle. Volunteers will always be accompanied by a staff member and at a minimum will work in pairs. In Vanuatu turtle tagging is only done by people who have undergone training with Wan Smolbag staff. As a volunteer you will not be tagging turtles but you will be helping with the process (e.g. holding the turtles, recording data, etc.)

Other studies in which you might participate include:

• Reef surveys

Volunteers are integral to the success of this project and will be involved in all aspects of the project. Volunteers should note that most of our work will take place after dark. Although several activities are undertaken during the day, the daylight hours are essentially ”free-time”. This time can be used to catch up on sleep, relax, or take part in other activities in the community. Therefore volunteers are advised to bring reading material, board games, cards, etc., to occupy themselves. A hammock is useful for finding a shady tree where there is a breeze.

Daily Schedule and Tasks

• 0700-0900: Volunteers usually wake-up at this time and have breakfast
• 1000–1230: Assist with other activities in the village (free time)
• 1230-1330: Lunch
• 1330–1630: Assist with other activities in the village (free time)
• 1630-1730: Dinner
• 1730-1830: Hike to the nesting beach
• 1830-1900: Rest
• 1900-2400-: Turtle data collection commences with beach surveys, tagging, measurements, etc.
• 2400-0100-: Hike back to the village
• 0100: Clean up and crawl into bed

Volunteers should be aware that schedules can and do fluctuate. Weather and work conditions can affect the daily schedule. Should this situation arise, your cooperation and understanding are appreciated.
In addition to assisting with turtle surveys the community are excited to have volunteers take part in other activities within the community. A partial list of some of these activities is as follows.

Other Activities Taking Place In The Village

*activities that the community might like assistance with

• Marking out and mapping any tabu areas (e.g. marine or terrestrial conservation areas).
• Surveying tabu areas to monitor the natural resources within them.
• Beach, reef, village, etc. clean-ups.
• Help out at the kindergarten or primary school (e.g. help supervise or just talk to the children about the country you come from and any other topics that might be of interest).
• Training community members in first aid.
• Collect washed up coral for use in the community.
• Collect firewood.
• Help in the community gardens.

*day-to-day activities in the community that the volunteers might like to learn about

• Using local materials to weave mats, bags, etc.
• Cooking local meals.
• Sewing local island dresses.
• Attending choir practice.
• Hearing the local string band play and learning how to play their instruments.
• Going to the market to sell fruit and vegetables from the gardens.
• Attending church services.
• See custom dancing.
• Listen to custom stories.
• Attend village fundraising events.
• Carving local outrigger canoes, and traveling in them.
• Learn the local language (Bislama)