Volunteering and Internship
TIC volunteers and interns play an essential role to the continued sustainability of our conservation and research project

TIC volunteers and interns play an essential role to the continued sustainability of our conservation and research project
We work with different partners to raise awareness, run joint projects and drive changes in the community
Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) is a science-based, community-driven conservation initiative based in Mersing Johor, Malaysia.
As a non-profit organization, TIC is dedicated to preserving and restoring the environment and the islandβs rich biodiversity through a holistic approach that integrates environmental protection, sustainable practices, and community engagement.
TIC work is structured around four key conservation pillars:
TIC operates in collaboration with local communities, government agencies, researchers, and international partners. Our mission is to foster a resilient island ecosystem and environment as a whole to protect where nature and people thrive in harmony.
Our progress and what we have achieved over the years from the founding of Turtle Watch Camp until today with Tengah Island Conservation.
No one will tell youβ¦
That life is a journey full of unexpected twists and turns when you begin your internship at Tengah Island Conservation!
Where should I begin?
Letβs say that we were among the luckiest interns, involved in many activities and programs during these four months as islanders.
The fresh air, the beautiful sound of waves, and the peaceful environment away from city life. You also get to see beautiful marine life, and yes, guys, just want to flex that I saw sea turtle and blacktip shark during my diving survey.
Greetings! My name is Rahman Syahputra, and I'd like to share my journey as a conservation intern at Tengah Island Conservation over the past few weeks. It all began on August 6th, when my fellow interns and I set foot on Tengah Island with a sense of excitement and purpose. Our arrival was greeted by the mesmerizing sight of juvenile blacktip reef sharks gracefully gliding near the jetty.
Who would've thought luck would lead me to the extraordinary journey of Nature's Nouveau at Tengah Island Conservation? As my feet landed on Tengah Island, everything unfolded like a vibrant tapestry of new experiencesβscenery, people, food, and facilities surpassed my wildest expectations. Gratitude filled me as part of this incredible team, in a place beyond perfection. To seize every moment, I pledged to contribute fervently to our environment, particularly our oceans and planet. Thus, my spirited adventure commenced in the heart of Johor Marine Park!
Just 20 minutes off Mersing and civilization seems a world awayβ¦ (fear not! There was still access to the internet and local phone networks β though intermittent at times) What can we do on an island that is just 3 km in circumference? The answer is a lot! Situated within the Johor Marine Park, Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) focuses mostly on conservation of sea turtles and coral reefs across 7 islands. It was a world of unknown for me as I had no prior knowledge on marine science and was purely interested in understanding what is happening in the conservation world β thank you to TIC for creating this platform for people from various backgrounds!
A whirlwind of emotions and memories engulfs me as I reminisce about my 3 months here at Tengah Island Conservation. It has been a time filled with captivating landscapes, warm-hearted people, new experiences, and personal growth. In my blog, I aim to capture the essence of this remarkable place and invaluable knowledge Iβve learned along the way. So, join me on this virtual voyage as I share the moments that defined my time as an intern here!
Everyday I woke up to the calming sound of waves and refreshing morning breeze with the cheerful chirping of birds around welcoming the sun. Starting the day with the brightest smile and meaningful βgood morningβ ready for the morning patrols around the island.
How time flies~
Some chapters are gloomy, some joyful and some very exciting. But if you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapter holds. βSun, Sea, Saltβ¦ Life on an island is toughβ thatβs what I thought in the first place. However, it turns out wrong. It has been the greatest chapter that I have ever created in my Book of Life.
When I got off the boat, I felt both excited and unsure about my decision. The plants and animals on this island seemed to have secrets waiting to be discovered. Then, I realized that living on the island was a different world. As a city dweller, I had to adapt to the limited resources and the absence of modern conveniences. On my first few days, I found myself feeling out of place. But soon, I discovered the warmth and hospitality of my teammates that knew no bounds.
Sad, frustrated, and almost got my heart broken in my final days with Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) in Pulau Tengah, Mersing. I will always remember everything I have done, learned and memories that were created together on this beautiful island. Having a refreshing sunrise every morning, fantastic scenery every dawn, and the beautiful clear blue water every day made me realize that three months of staying here was not enough.
A quote from Mark Carwardine below summarises our inspiration to do what we are doing at TIC.
β...while nature has considerable resilience, there is a limit to how far that resilience can be stretched. No one knows how close to the limit we are getting. The darker it gets, the faster weβre driving.
There is one last reason for caring, and I believe that no other is necessary. It is certainly the reason why so many people have devoted their lives to protecting the likes of rhinos, parakeets, kakapos, and dolphins. And it is simple this: the world would be a poorer, darker, lonelier place without them.β
β MARK CARWARDINE, LAST CHANCE TO SEE
We believe that we are stronger working together and are infinitely thankful to our friends and partners for their support.
It was the last few weeks of my final semester when my supervisor gathered the class for our internship briefing. As a Marine Biology student, the first thing that came to everyoneβs mind was to do their internship on an island and I, too, was planning to do the same. After some reading and discussion with my supervisor, I decided to apply for an internship at TIC. Their wide coverage of conservation work ranging from terrestrial mangrove restoration to underwater coral rehabilitation seemed like a great opportunity for me to begin my journey as a marine biologist.