JOIN us aS A volunteer
Our volunteers play an essential role to the continued success of our conservation/research projects! Do you want to get involved in and contribute to conservation projects? Work with sea turtles and coral reefs? Learn and share your knowledge with visitors on conservation? If this sounds like you and you are keen for an adventure - get in touch!
get practical hands-on experience & make a difference
WHAT projects will you be helping with?
As a volunteer you may expect to participate on the following projects:
Nesting surveys for conservation of the endangered green turtle and critically endangered hawksbill turtle
Hatchery maintenance and nest hatching checks
Hatchling releases and nest excavations
Reef monitoring: underwater surveys on coral reefs; substrate surveys, invertebrate surveys, and fish surveys
Beach and underwater clean-ups
Micro-plastic surveys
Coral nursery & replanting
Educational activities and talks with tourists and resort staff
What to expect?
Volunteers follow a weekly schedule, which covers varying different projects, activities, and downtime. The day might start early before breakfast with patrolling the island on foot, or surrounding islands by boat, to look for turtle tracks and nests! The rest of the morning will then be divided up into general tasks or projects such as beach cleanups, dive surveys, or educational talks. Lunch is followed by some free time to enjoy the island or rest, and then activities start again in the afternoon. Evenings after dinner will involve checking the hatchery for any hatchlings on a rotating schedule to make sure that everyone gets some sleep. We never know when they’ll hatch so late night checks and hatchling releases are a big aspect of the volunteer’s responsibility! In addition, you may get to join in with one of our off-site projects such as our schools programme or island waste management programme!
Free time can be spent chilling out in the hammocks, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, jungle trekking, and sometimes diving (always with a buddy!)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
age requirements - 18+
We are only able to offer positions to people who are 18 years of age or above. The project involves remote and physically demanding work, as well as solo and night working, with the team living in a shared house.
Where will I be Living?
You’ll be staying at our project site on Pulau Tengah, Johor, Malaysia which operates in collaboration with Batu Batu Resort. We also have projects based in Mersing and on Pulau Besar which you may get to visit but you will primarily be living on Pulau Tengah.
how do i apply?
To apply you can send over your CV a complete application form to tell us a little bit about yourself. Download the form at the bottom of this page and email it to izzat@tengahislandconservation.org & aiman@tengahislandconservation.org and cc-ed to workwithus@tengahislandconservation.org with the subject heading Volunteer2024.
PROGRAMME DURATION - 9 weeks
The programme lasts for 9 weeks and there are four timeslots available. You’ll be living and working with our team and receiving training on various conservation skills from sea turtle monitoring, hatchery management, and reef surveys to giving presentations and raising awareness of conservation issues.
Malaysian volunteers may be able to stay for shorter periods of time, so please contact our team if you are interested. For local students - please check out our Internship page for more details!
Will I get to see turtles?
This depends on which timeslot you choose to volunteer with us, as Phase 2 & 3 are more likely to have turtle nests hatching. It is rare to encounter nesting females, or turtles in the water at our site, so if this is what you are looking for then we might not be the right project for you.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Food (3 meals a day and drinking water)
Shared accommodation
Transfers between Mersing and Pulau Tengah on our scheduled passenger boat
Uniform T-shirts x 4
Eco-Diver Training & Certification
Accommodation on the mainland for one night before your arrival and during any supply trips during your stay
All project-related costs and equipment
What’s not included:
Travel to and from Malaysia/Mersing
Snacks and personal items
Travel/diving insurance
Do you accept shorter term volunteers?
Due to the nature of our projects and the training we provide, usually not. But if you are a local or can offer some special skills like videography or construction, please get in touch with us!
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
Open-minded, outgoing, friendly, and a team player
Passionate about nature and conservation
Ideally an Open Water Diver with minimum of 20 logged dives - but we are open to hear from volunteers with other skills to offer!
Background in conservation, biology, environment or a related field - or looking to pursue a career in this field
Very comfortable and confident swimmer
Physically fit and able to walk long distances on sand and in the jungle
Comfortable working at night and alone
Willing to get your hands dirty with fieldwork, beach cleanups, trash sorting, and general chores
Able to communicate in English
Willing to obtain travel medical insurance which covers diving
Comfortable to live in a shared accommodation which is very close to nature
RATES & TIMESLOTS 2024
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS - RM7000 (9 weeks), RM6500 (8 weeks)**
LOCAL VOLUNTEERS* - RM3000 (9 weeks), RM2700 (8 weeks)**
*Local volunteers includes Malaysians and expats residing in Malaysia
**All prices are subject to 8% SST
PHASE 1 - 18th March to 12th May 2024 (8 weeks)
PHASE 2 - 29th April to 28th June 2024 (9 weeks)
PHASE 3 - 1st of July to 30th August 2024 (9 weeks)
PHASE 4 - 2nd September to 1st November 2024 (9 weeks)