What inspired you to work for the Rainforest Awareness Rescue and Education Center?
I have always wanted to live and work abroad, especially in the rainforest, and it was the perfect time in my life to do it! I wanted to work for an organization dedicated to environmental change that matched my ethical views.
RAREC has a no animal contact policy and does not exist for tourists. Still in its infancy, RAREC is a great place to make your mark and feel like you're contributing to making the world a better place.
We took our amazing volunteers to the local tribe Maloca Kukama and had a great learning experience.
Describe a typical day at work.
There is no typical day here. Every day is different. I have a lot of office-based work, but when I'm not at my computer I am collecting and inducting volunteers, accompanying them on trips if they need a translator, organizing the river dolphin trip, and when the conservation interns can take part in the manatee tracking project.
What advice would you give your pre-travel self?
Bring more long-sleeved tops to protect from mosquitos! I was very prepared and read all the pre-arrival packs, which set me up well. So make sure you do that.
You can always email RAREC questions as well. And if you don't speak Spanish, try and learn some basics because the locals don't speak any English. You will need to know the numbers so you get a good price, especially on the infamous motorcars.
Trick or Treat! This is a group of us at a Halloween party at RAREC with the staff and volunteers.
Why should someone choose RAREC over competitors?
RAREC genuinely wants to work towards a better future for the Amazon. Volunteers and interns directly contribute to that by the donations they make for their stay. Every cent goes towards the animal's care, improving the center, and implementing plans.
RAREC has a no animal contact policy, there are no "sloth selfies” or hugging cute animals for photos and tourism purposes, if you want to do that, choose another organization. Those unethical facilities fuel the demand for the illegal pet trade, which is the reason the vast majority of animals are at RAREC in the first place.
What hopes do you have for the future of your organization?
RAREC has lots of plans for the future, fortunately, it is backed by some large international allies that sponsor the great work RAREC does. The biggest plan at the moment is to get the education center and school going, creating local employment opportunities as well as teaching future generations how to be sustainable in their agriculture and offer ethical career opportunities.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Rainforest Awareness Rescue and Education Centre's mission is to rescue and rehabilitate threatened species of Amazonian wildlife, as well as to provide community education, and further scientific knowledge that will help preserve the Amazon rainforest. RAREC works towards it by continuously trying to improve the rescue center and has plans in place to build a school to help the local community learn skills that would allow them to earn money through means other than poaching and deforestation. Additionally, the current 2-year manatee tracking project is going to uncover some useful scientific research about the little-known Amazonian manatee, so we know how to protect it better.
My favorite part of my job is translating the national reserve walk for participants!
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
It depends on the individual. If the participant is new to animal care roles I would hope they discover if an animal care career is for them. Some people don't realize looking after animals is hard work, but whether they realize it is or isn't for them, they have still gained from the experience.
If the participant already has caretaking/keeper/rescue experience then they are going to take away a lot of knowledge and practical experience of working with different Amazonian species that they can apply in their role/future job back home. More than anything, they are going to gain life experience. Living in the jungle is a learning opportunity and you will find that your outlook on life changes the longer you are here.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Traveling abroad you become more empathetic, you see the challenges that other people face and realize that your small problems are exactly that, small. You become a better, more well-rounded person. From immersing in a culture you expand your mind, knowledge, and horizons.
When hiring someone, I would look for signs of that person being adaptable, showing initiative, being self-motivated, and curious about those around them, you also have to be organized and confident - all of those traits you can learn from traveling. I think it makes you more easygoing too, or at least that's my experience.
Volunteers who stay longer than a week get a boat trip on the Amazon!
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
I was lucky enough to spend most of my childhood in Spain, so I learned Spanish in school. I am so grateful I had that opportunity because knowing a second language has opened so many doors for me. I wouldn't have this job without it.
It helps your confidence when traveling because you know you can talk to someone and understand the situation in an emergency. It also opens up other languages for you, because I know Spanish, and I can get by in Italy and Portugal too, it also helped during my zoology degree trying to learn all the Latin binomial names of the species!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaning travel is about getting the most out of the experience, personal growth, and cultural awareness. It's okay to do tourist things, you don't always have to go off the beaten track but be aware of how to be an eco-tourist, taking part in ethical experiences, so do your research, especially if animals are involved.
I'm not very good at relaxing on holidays, I always explore and try to learn about the local culture and history. I don't think sitting by the pool all day for a week is a meaningful travel experience but sometimes it is certainly needed, as traveling can be tiring!