Description

Here at JTP we run open-ended year-round volunteer programs where we live and work together intertwined with a small Malay Kampung village, right on a beautiful beach on Tioman Island.

Volunteers' work will be varied. Our work area is determined by the turtles which is usually in the morning and evening. The foundations of what we do are "Turtles First" and "Minimal Interference". JTP's main focus is relocating green and hawks bill sea turtle eggs with the help of a experienced Juara resident and incubating them ex-situ within hatcheries. We take data on the nesting, and release the babies back to the beach they came from as soon as they hatch.

Volunteers are expected to help run the project, and are in effect the facility staff. Most Sea Turtle activity is during the morning and evening, afternoon are usually spent working in food gardens, doing projects or talking with visitors but volunteers are certainly free to explore the village, ocean, and jungle during their time here. We try to work with everyone's skills and interests to help develop the project, allowing volunteers to help steer its direction.

Volunteers will be invited to get involved in almost every aspect of the turtle project from relocating eggs, burying eggs, releasing, and taking care of any resident turtles (handicapped in some way). Volunteers can help maintain and expand the various gardens located around the project.

Volunteering with the Juara Turtle Project can really be whatever the applicant makes of it. We do of course provide full instruction for sensitive activities. There are daily tasks and resident turtles to take care of, night-time boat missions to deliver hatchlings to their native beaches, gardens to tend, creative facility projects, and any conservation or business networking aspects one may want to participate in while here.

We love self motivated people that see something they could do, or make better and do it, or come up with their own projects as well.

The Juara Turtle Project is as sustainably run as possible. At the current moment we grow some food, are looking into getting chickens, compost our waste, and are working to find better methods all the time.

Please understand we work and live on a small remote island, internet is slow (remember dial-up?) unless we go to the other side of the island. It might take us a couple days to return emails, please don't be alarmed.

Highlights

Volunteers so far have told us some of their highlights have been:
* Working and learning side by side with a traditional island egg collector.
* The morning boat rides to monitor beaches and look for new nests. Finding and relocating Sea Turtle nests to the hatchery.
* A lot of people have really liked explaining the project to visitors.
* Working with the local school kids on their conversational English.
* Just being in Kg Juara and living at the little community that is JTP.
* Working the gardens and living principles of sustainablity.

As a director, I find the highlights to be turning people on to understanding and appreciating nature, working the land, driving the boats and ultimately living here in Juara.

When not working around the project there are many different activities like biking into the village and sampling local cuisine, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, trekking, and rock climbing.

Juara is home to amazing bouldering, coasteering, and some 30+ granite sport routes.

JTP's facility is located directly on the trail to the local waterfall and tallest mountain on the island.

Local run trekking, climbing, and snorkeling trips can easily be arranged. Or do any of the above on your own as well.

Travel Types

• BackPacking Abroad
• Camping
• Canoeing
• Climbing
• Cooking
• Eco Tours
• Environmental Studies
• Hiking
• Homestay
• Kayaking (Sea)
• Native Culture Studies
• Photography
• RainForest Tours
• Snorkeling
• Student Tours
• Trekking
• Volunteering
• Yoga

Qualifications

Anybody can volunteer, (unless you are really unpleasant) however certain characteristics may limit your activity options.

* Be willing to work, get dirty or wet.
* Try and keep a positive attitude (even though the Sea Turtles are going extinct)
* Not necessary to be fit or able to swim but would be good. (a lot of people get fit here pretty fast anyway)
* Any age is ok, well maybe like 14 and above
* Be ready to make the most of your trip

Minimum Education

High School

Type of Programs

• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Cultural Exploration
• High School Study Abroad
• Student Tours

Languages

• English
• Malaysian

Cost in US$:

MYR 120 per night, which is about 40 USD per night. Volunteers are encouraged to fundraise before coming, we can supply materials upon request.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad

Program Fees Include:

Cost includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and full involvement with the project. Accommodations are clean rooms with western toilets and showers. Breakfast and lunch are either cooked on site or food is available for you to cook for yourself. Dinner are either eaten in town at a restaurant, or everybody joins to cook on site.

We show you the what and why's of the project here, and involve volunteers in everything we do. We also have other recreation or sporting equipment for use, free of charge, as long as it is looked after.

And the cost, plus the physical help, is what keeps the project going.

So in our opinion what do you get? Healthy baby Sea Turtles free to live in the ocean, and a good time doing it.

We are a non-profit effort, meaning at the end of the financial year, profit is not distributed among directors, but simply rolls over to the next year so we can hopefully expand our efforts; or just squeeze by, whatever the case may be.

100% of your financial contributions go directly into the project, there are no middle men. You can see your money go into work running the project.

Did you know that many of the volunteer projects are actually commercial run businesses, who are profit driven.. not turtle driven! and they are profiting off the misfortunes of others. They may even want the Sea Turtles to stay endangered so they don't go out of business! We however are proudly trying to put ourselves out of business, by bringing the turtles out of extinction, and eliminating the necessity of JTP.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

A typical volunteer is usually positive and doesn't mind doing work for a good cause. Usually the volunteers like instruction and then to try things their own way. Also typically volunteers seem to enjoy problem solving and living in a simple, connected manner with the environment around them.

Age Range

16-75 JTP is open to everyone of any age and ability

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Home-stays
• Dormitory
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of 1-10

Application Process Involves

• Other
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

5 days

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

Juara Turtle Project's Mission Statement

Working to rejuvenate the Sea Turtle populations of Tioman Island, Malaysia; through conservation, awareness, and sustainable living.

Year Founded

2006