Mangrove Research & Community Development Volunteer Openings! *in Ambondrolava, SW Madagascar*
(See PDF announcement with photos here <http://honko.org/HONKO_MangroveRes%26CommDev2014.pdf>) Life at the edge of the mangroves is a lifestyle few get to experience and enjoy; volunteering at Honko will give you this unique opportunity, and a chance to make a real difference in this fragile ecosystem which many overlook. *Honko Mangrove Conservation & Education* is a Belgian registered non-profit that works in SW Madagascar to promote community-based mangrove management and alternative livelihood, such as ecotourism and artisanal handicrafts. Honko's Volunteer Program based in rural Ambondrolava, SW Madagascar, has *immediate openings *for volunteers to stay for up to 3 months working on a project of their choice (see "Volunteer Projects" below). Whether you are interested in conducting research or assisting with community projects, contact us and we can find a project that is a great fit for you! This is a great opportunity for anyone looking for field experience, an adventure, or looking to enter the field of conservation and/or sustainable development. Living at Honko, you will not only have the opportunity to explore the mangroves, but also to interact and learn from the local communities - many of our volunteers say that is their favorite part of their Honko experience! This is a great chance to see a part of the world that not many have the opportunity to explore and a good way to make a positive change in people's lives. *Volunteer projects:*We have multiple ongoing projects that volunteers can work on to focus their time here at Honko: - *Mangrove monitoring* - assist with long-term mangrove monitoring program, collecting field data on forest structure and abiotic factors across permanent plots in healthy, degraded, deforested, and replanted forest types - *Fisheries monitoring* - assist with new mangrove fisheries monitoring project, collecting data from local fish catches and household surveys - *Independent research* - design your own project for general research experience or your academic thesis (see project ideas here <http://honko.org/get-involved/research-student.html>) - *Art* - help incorporate art into Honko's conservation and educational activities - *Nutrition & Community* - assist with nutritional awareness activities about *Moringa* *oleifera*, the "miracle tree" or other community projects In addition to your primary project, there will also be many opportunities to help with our other community and conservation projects! Opportunities might include mangrove planting, giving English/French lessons to the local community, taking on your own research project, creating new designs for our women's association hand-woven products, and more. *A day in the life:*Wonder what a day in the life of a Honko volunteer is like? Liz, a volunteer with the mangrove monitoring project, gives you a detailed look inside a 'typical' day in this blog post <http://honkomangrove.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-mangrove-volunteer-by-liz/>. Also see more photos of volunteer life on our volunteer page <http://honko.org/get-involved/volunteer.html>! *Qualifications:*Whether you are in school, a recent graduate looking to enter the field of conservation, or travelling, contact us to see if there is a project that matches your interests. Our main requirements are that you are open-minded and adaptable, and have a strong interest in the project of your choice! Basic French is helpful but not required, and for mangrove fieldwork you must have good physical fitness and perseverance and willingness to spend hours in the field walking through channels and sediment. *Time and duration:*We accept volunteers year-round on a rolling basis. However, because we have limited space we recommend that you apply well in advance for your preferred time period if possible. Volunteers can stay up to 3 months; we accept volunteers for a minimum of 1 month. *Cost:*The monthly cost for the volunteer program is EURO 300/month ($400), which covers all food and accommodations at the site and a small contribution to help cover the costs of running Honko's site in Ambondrolava. The volunteer fee covers: - Airport pick-up and drop-off - All meals on-site - Basic accommodations in our volunteer house (mosquito net and bedding provided) - Filtered water - Limited solar power - Honko t-shirt - Opportunities to meet with Honko's partner NGOs in this region - An enriching experience in a fascinating environment Please note that the fee does not include flights, visas, or insurance (we ask that all volunteers be covered by extensive medical and travel ensure during their stay). Feel free to contact us if you would like more information about how your contribution will be used. *Apply:*To apply, please email *volunt...@honko.org <volunt...@honko.org>* with your CV and a letter of interest. Please include your project of interest (*Mangrove, Fisheries, Nutrition/Community, Art, Independent,* or *Student*) in the subject heading. Be sure to mention where you found our announcement. *Please check flight prices to Tulear, Madagascar (TLE) before applying to ensure you are able to participate if selected.* *More information:*You can learn more about us through our website www.honko.org, our Facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/honkomangrove>, and our blog <http://honkomangrove.wordpress.com/> where our volunteers post regularly about life, work, and travel at Honko and in Madagascar. You can also contact us with any questions at *volunt...@honko.org <volunt...@honko.org>*.
