Life changing experience
Zannah Ingraham
- April 2008.
Taking part in a conservation project overseas allows you to give something back and add value to your CV. It could also be the experience of a lifetime. Two volunteers, who took part in projects arranged through Ecoteer, explain how the experience has opened their eyes to a world beyond study. Henry Everett‘I went to the La Tortuga Program, a turtle conservation project in Costa Rica. It is based on the Caribbean side of the country on an island surrounded by a lagoon. I spent three weeks there doing things such as night patrols to find eggs, building new hatcheries and watching over the hatchery to make sure hunters don’t steal the eggs. ‘I have always loved turtles, and a conservation project was a way which I could actively help the species. I wanted to spend part of my time travelling in a base where I would have a role in a community, learn about the country, meet people and help the turtles. ‘The best part of the experience was when turtles hatched. Usually they hatched each night. It was amazing seeing them after their long climb out of the sand, still with enough strength to resist our measuring them! ‘It was an amazing experience. Meeting new people, being in such a remote place for three weeks in a totally foreign country opened my eyes greatly. It has taught me that the environment really needs help. As a student the experience has given me confidence with new people. I also started to learn Spanish which I am now continuing. ‘I’m a lot more positive about the human race, and a lot more aware that we have a great role to help species and ecosystems that we are destroying. I would encourage other students to take part in a project merely for the experience for yourself, let alone the help you are contributing which makes conservation projects worth it.’ Catherine Haynes‘After graduating from university I decided to do some travelling with a friend. As we are both interested in the environment from our degrees in Biology and Geography and are both British Trust Conservation Volunteers we thought it would be a good opportunity to do some conservation work abroad. We were also aware that for an application to a conservation Masters course you need to have experience doing similar work in another country. ‘The project we took part in was based at Yacutinga Lodge, North Argentina, on the border with Brazil. We helped set up a project looking at stingless bees, their nest sites, their diet and how much garbage pellets they produce which is related to the amount of honey the colony is making. This was of importance because the honey has medicinal purposes and will hopefully be used to treat eye cataracts in the future. ‘A local tribe that used the honey had destroyed the nests when they retrieved the honey. One aim of the project was to work alongside these people and find conserving methods to use the honey. ‘The best part of the month was meeting new people and being able to contribute to the research. After three years of studying similar projects it was amazing to be able to actually take part in one. The most challenging part was working in the heat of the rainforest and being aware of the dangerous and poisonous animals there. ‘The project has contributed to my CV and future job prospects once I get back to England. I also learnt bit of Spanish and experienced a different culture, which are both positive attributes for when I get home and face interviews for similar work. I would definitely encourage other students to take part in a project. You can’t learn everything from a book and experience is everything.’ Further information:
Suggestions to editorial@prospects.ac.uk
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