Madagascar is an exotic country with a high concentration of endemic species, making it a jewel in terms of biodiversity. It is the world’s fourth largest island and its cultural richness differs from one ethnic group to another, with 18 ethnic groups forming the Malagasy population. Malagasy society remains open-hearted to everyone who takes time to discover and enjoy its natural and cultural heritage. This land of smiles and contrasts is ready to take you on your next adventure whether helping out in local communities or just exploring. This island located at the crossroads of the African and Asian worlds will surely amaze your senses. Madagascar will certainly shift the way you see the world.
ABOUT NOSY BE
Nosy is an island off the northwest coast of Madagascar. Nosy Be means “big island” in the Malagasy language and is Madagascar’s largest and busiest tourist destination. Here you’ll find volcanic lakes, lemurs, rum distilleries, Ylang Ylang plantations and breathtaking coral reefs that are practically begging to be explored. Perfectly located on the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia, Nosy-Be evokes feelings of discovery and adventure, the rich and endemic biodiversity will have you begging for more.
Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, though exceptions to this age requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. Successful volunteers are hardworking, flexible, and open to truly immersing themselves in the culture. Keep in mind that all countries have different visa restrictions for varying types of passports.
World Endeavors volunteers in Madagascar can contribute to the following projects:
Volunteers interested in Childcare Assistance can participate in the following project:
Kindergarten Teaching
The kids at the kindergarten are right at the start of their school careers and the chance to start learning English at such an early age will prove invaluable for them further on. Like in kindergartens throughout the world, the teaching is informal as the children will want to play with you more than be ‘taught’. However, just by getting them enthused about coming to school, giving them some very basic English phrases such as simple greetings, you may as well have sown the seeds of a lifelong learning habit. The children will all be excited to see you and welcome you exceptionally, partly due to the natural and genuine friendliness of the people of these villages but also due to the fact that you will be one of the few foreigners they have ever met, up close!
Volunteers interested in Community Development can participate in the following project:
Construction and Renovation
The Construction and Renovation project at Nosy Be supports small communities in and around the island. It aims to build and renovate school buildings that are essential for the growth and development of the children along with the local community. You will work under a local coordinator who will provide you guidance and training to work alongside the local families and other participants. The project involves hard physical and manual labor since you will be laying bricks, doing carpentry, painting, waterproofing, laying tiles, landscaping/gardening, as well as, improving the community’s hygiene and sanitation facilities.
There is an additional fee of $40 per week for this project.
Volunteers interested in Environmental Conservation can participate in the following project:
Mangrove Forest Conservation
In this exciting program participants will be involved in important work to maintain and preserve Madagascar’s wildlife heritage through mangrove conservation. Espace Zeny is a cultural and ecotourism site just a 10 minutes drive from Hell-Ville and 20 minute walk thereafter. This site is bordered by a mangrove forest and consists of a center dedicated to train youth - from rural communities in Nosy Be and from the mainland – about professional organic farming. As a conservation participant, you will first learn about the mangrove forest in Nosy Be, its richness, uses and threats. You will first work on designing an environmental teaching manual for children. After this you can begin our community environmental education outreach program, helping to highlight the importance of mangroves and their sustainability to the local communities and schools.
You will work on mangrove forest seedbeds. Young plants will firstly be used to reforest a showcase site and living classroom for local children.
There is an additional fee of $40 per week for this project.
Volunteers interested in Teaching can participate in the following project:
Teaching Project
Most people in Madagascar can’t afford to travel, and in villages like Tsararano Ambony there is little chance of contact with the outside world. You, as a foreign teacher, enable the students to form a relationship with someone from a different background and culture. On the other hand, the local teachers can also learn new and up to date teaching methods and techniques from you. You will mainly assist the regular school teachers in the school and therefore even without a formal teaching background you can participate in this project.
You will teach children from different age groups with different learning capacities. You are free to use your own teaching materials and methods in teaching. You can use the course book as reference or educate children through conversation with spoken English. During your time here you can teach them different subjects such as mathematics, history, science, geography, computer, technologies, music, arts and crafts, different educational games, personal development, environment awareness, general health and safety and so on. Higher education in Madagascar is given in French and Malagasy. It’s also vitally important that children learn English as well because Nosy Be is also one of the most famous tourist destinations in Madagascar.
Volunteers interested in Wildlife Conservation can participate in the following project:
Lemurs Project
In this exciting program, participants will be involved in important work to maintain and preserve Madagascar’s wildlife heritage, by working with a lemur experience program. As a conservation participant, you will first learn about Madagascar’s flagship species especially the ones which are endemic to this part of Madagascar, with other representatives of unique fauna like the Madagascar fish-eagle and Ploughshare tortoise. Preparing the lemurs’ morning and afternoon feed along with cleaning their cages comprise daily project activities.
This project is an additional $110 per week.
Start your program in Madagascar with a week full of adventures - sightseeing, classes to learn more about the culture and local traditions, and meeting new friends from all over the world!
CULTURE WEEK SCHEDULE
- Monday: Orientation, meet the team and get to know your fellow volunteers, then hike to the summit of Nosy Be's highest point, Mont Passot, for stunning sunset views
- Tuesday: Walking tour of Nosy Be's lovely rural landscapes from Ambatozavary to the old village of Marodoka for a picnic, local dance class and pastry class, and Malagasy language lessons
- Wednesday: Visit the sacred banyan tree where locals and mainlanders make offerings and ask for blessings, walk through Hell-Ville - the largest city on Nosy Be - to visit the marketplace, discover the old town where the King lives, and view the colonial architecture
- Thursday: Traditional painting class with local artist instructor and additional Malagasy language lessons
- Friday: Visit to Lokobe Nature Special Reserve to spot lemurs, birds and reptiles in the lowland rainforest, take a ride in a pirogue - the traditional Aboriginal Malagasy wooden outrigger canoe carved from tree trunks - then either go fishing with local fishermen to learn about traditional methods or visit vanilla, pepper or pineapple fields to help with the harvest
Volunteers stay in a shared volunteer house and stay in shared rooms by gender. The meals are a mix of Western and Malagasy food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about twice a week. You can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself or eat out at any of the local restaurants at your own expense.
The World Endeavors Volunteer in Madagascar program is flexible in duration and can be tailored to last between 1 to 12 weeks. If you have the time, we recommend a stay of at least 4 weeks. Admissions are rolling, and World Endeavors volunteers can choose when they would like to start their program. Due to holidays, traditional vacation schedules, and seasonal work availability, there might be better times than others to volunteer at a specific location or in a specific project.
When you are ready to start planning your volunteer trip to Madagascar contact us. Our experienced advisors will help you sort through any timing considerations unique to your destination or your volunteer project.
Please wait until after you are accepted into the program and you have received the confirmed arrival and departure dates before you book your flight.
Our programs in Madagascar are scheduled to reopen on October 1st, 2022. Please contact World Endeavors if you have any questions.
| Program Name | First Week | Each Additional Week |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer In Madagascar | $2,085 | $300 |
INCLUDED FEATURES
- Program Advisor: dedicated, experienced, and accessible for one-on-one guidance
- Local Onsite Coordinator with 24/7 availability; pre and post arrival orientation
- Visa guidance and support
- Comprehensive travel medical insurance
- Travel Protection with 24/7 Emergency Travel Assistance
- Re-entry Support
- Airport reception
- Shared, single gender dorm style rooms
- 3 meals per weekday and 2 meals per weekend provided
OTHER BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS
- Round-trip transportation to Madagascar
- Visa expenses
- Optional trips and excursions
- Personal expenses
Congratulations on your decision to embark on a life-changing experience abroad! We look forward to working with you to make your trip a memorable, meaningful one. We can accommodate applications received 4 weeks prior to the intended start date up to a year in advance. If your intended start date is less than 4 weeks away, contact World Endeavors for more information.
