MADAGASCAR

The Pioneer Volunteer Program and Lemur Venture Program are initiatives of Azafady, a registered charity in the UK and a Malagasy NGO. Azafady has been working on environmental, humanitarian and sustainable development projects in southeast Madagascar since 1994. This year 2007, Conservation Volunteers has teamed up with Azafrady to extend the opportunity for Australians to volunteer in Madagascar.

The two programs on offer are the Pioneer Volunteer Program and Lemur Venture Program. Conservation Volunteers is the booking agency only, the program is the responsibility of Azafady and Conservation Volunteers strongly recommends you read their booking terms and conditions thoroughly, including program inclusions, payments and cancellation conditions. Program delivery is the sole responsibility of Azafady.

Pioneer Volunteer Program

Volunteers on the Pioneer programme work on our projects in the field, gaining understanding of the resource needs of impoverished village communities and how this impacts on conservation efforts. Pioneers work in three interrelated areas over the course of the programme: sustainable livelihoods development, health-based infrastructure and education, and habitat and species conservation. Typical projects include building wells and latrines; building and equipping schools; health and environmental education in rural areas; forest conservation; and sustainable income generating activities such as beekeeping and community vegetable gardens.

Read Program Notes

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Pioneer Madagascar Program - Application

Program Dates:

8th January – 17th March

3rd April – 11th June

30th June – 7th September

4th October – 12th December

Lemur Venture Program

Azafady has teamed up with Madagascar's Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza (PBZT) on Lemur Venture - a unique volunteer research programme designed to discover more about lemurs and their natural habitat. Our volunteers train initially alongside the PBZT team before heading out to the field to study wild lemurs. Lemur Venture's special focus is on gathering information on several lemur species in order to improve success rates of captive breeding programmes both in Madagascar and around the world.

Read Program Notes

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Lemur Venture Program - Application Form

Program Dates:

15th January – 10th March

10th April – 4th June

7th July – 31st August

11th October – 5th December

Program Price in GBP£:

Lemur Venture Price: £1400 for 4 weeks or £2200 for 8 weeks.

 

Pioneer Price: £2000 for 10 weeks. You can also go for shorter periods: it is £1500 for 5 weeks and £100 for every week thereafter.

 

Ideally, we cannot set prices in AUS$ due to fluctuations in exchange rates. A price would be calculated at the time an applicant applied (http://www.xe.com/).

 

Approximate price in AUS$: Lemur Venture would be approximately AUS$3200 for 4 weeks and AUS$5000 for 8 weeks. Pioneer would be approximately AUS$4500 for 10 weeks or AUS$3500 for 5 weeks and AUS$200 for every week thereafter.

 

*Please Note: Applicants must raise a donation equivalent to the UK Sterling amount based on current exchange rates. Australian Dollar prices for this project are for guidance only and are subject to change.

The program fee for both Pioneer and Lemur Venture includes:

• All in-country travel costs (not flights)
• All in-country project costs
• Full training in all aspects of project work
• All meals and plenty of safe drinking water
• Use of campsite facilities
• A full-time London-based dedicated staff member to answer all your pre-project questions, including fundraising advice
• A dedicated team to guide you in Madagascar
• Orientation and language classes upon arrival in Madagascar  

It does not cover: 

• Flights to Fort Dauphin (we recommend Air Mauritius who fly from Sydney or Perth – Mauritius – Antananarivo; an internal flight to Fort Dauphin must then be booked with Air Madagascar. Alternatively volunteers may wish to fly to Johannesburg where Air Madagascar now operate direct flights to Fort Dauphin)
• Entry visa and travel insurance
• Medical preparations and vaccinations
• Personal medicines and other medical costs during your stay
• Personal equipment
• Any private travel during your stay in Madagascar
• Additional personal refreshments and entertainment

Participants should allow about £1000 (AUS$2250) for these additional costs.

It’s easy to book - simply:

· Email info@conservationvolunteers.com.au or Freecall 1800 032 501, ask for a program specific booking form.