Take part in this internship offer and immerse yourself in Greek culture. This project aims to train you, and to contribute to the conservation of the turtles in the region. This is international work experience, where you will be supervised by specialists and work in a multicultural team. You will monitor, observe and analyse the behaviour of marine turtles, and help raise community awareness of sustainable development.
In the beautiful bay of Kyparissia in the south of the Greek Peloponnese, the animal care internship offers the opportunity to acquire knowledge, among other things, on the conservation and protection of turtles in the Mediterranean. Our interns are based in Giannitsochori, one of the most important loggerhead turtle nesting areas in all of Greece. Here they will have a unique opportunity to truly immerse themselves in environmental protection and develop their own skills. The project is intended to provide long-term benefits to the environment and the local community. Like all of our animal internship programs abroad, this project in Greece allows you to gain university credits while contributing to the protection of animals in the region.
Our project is done in collaboration with a Greek organisation that has been heavily involved in research in this area since 1983. It is one of the oldest projects of nature conservation in the Mediterranean.
Protecting turtle nests from predators and flooding allows the eggs to hatch, and increases turtle populations over time.
It also positively affects locals' and tourists' attitudes towards the fragile natural environment, reducing our environmental footprint in the region.
- Work with one of the most endangered species in the Mediterranean.
- Observe the laying of turtle eggs until they hatch.
- Discover Greek culture in a beautiful area that you can explore in your free time.
- Make a unique and lasting contribution to the conservation of endangered turtles.
- Get exclusive team management training approved by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) with this turtle animal caretaker internship.
It works closely with local organisations on long-term projects. They work only under the supervision of the community leaders and at their request.
- Creating sustainable solutions to support self-sustaining communities.
- Ensuring access to clean water sources.
- Developing micro-enterprises around food, with a particular focus on education and agriculture.
- Supporting local schools with school supplies.
- Providing expertise and ideas on energy and electricity issues.
- Implementation of studies and educational programs on the marine environment.
Our partner organisation sits on the United Nations International Commission on Sustainable Tourism. All their initiatives and volunteer projects are led by experts in collaboration with the local population and national governments.
As a non-profit organisation, our conservation project is completely transparent. Volunteer contributions are used to cover on-reserve project planning (reconnaissance, team recruitment and logistical support), direct field costs (transportation, lodging, staff meals) and finally to support the project itself. Without the physical and financial help of volunteers, this project would not have been possible.
Duration | Fees to be paid upon registration |
---|---|
4 Weeks | 3545€ |
8 Weeks | 5395€ |
12 Weeks | 7347€ |
Volunteers are housed in shared tents at the campsite, which allows you to be in the middle of the action and meet new and interesting people who also enjoy the beauty of the Greek coastline.
The base has common areas such as billiards, ping-pong and table football, as well as a small mini-market, a self-service restaurant and a small store for drinks.
All participants share the tasks in the camp (cooking, cleaning...), which is located 15 minutes walk from the town of Giannitsochori.
From Monday to Thursday, volunteers take turns preparing meals for the group. It's a great opportunity to brush up on your culinary skills! Due to the different schedules, each participant usually prepares his or her own breakfast, and for lunch it is common to prepare sandwiches with salad and fruit salad. Dinner is usually a combination of healthy and varied local Mediterranean products, but on Friday nights we usually enjoy traditional Greek dishes at the campsite tavern, which gives us the opportunity to try some of Greece's most famous dishes, and mezze. On weekends, there are many cafes and restaurants in the area where you are free to go out for extra meals at your own expense.
Communication
You will have limited access to long-distance communications during the program, so make sure your friends and family know how often they can expect to hear from you. Participants usually use WiFi in the camp, to stay in touch, but be aware that wifi on the campsite can be very slow, as it is shared between everyone. Mobile phone reception is quite good, so you can buy a Greek SIM card in Kyparissia to use with your unlocked mobile phone.
No visa is required for UK nationals for stays of up to 90 days.
You can subscribe your travel insurance online with our partner Chapka, with whom you get a 5% discount with this link. Non-EU interns can compare insureance options by
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