Join a team in the Philippines and work alongside the community of Malapascua Island to protect biodiversity and marine resources. Eco-participatory trips in Southeast Asia
Meeting the needs of local populations and protecting marine life
How can we reconcile the need to protect marine life with the needs of the people who depend on it?
The partner association was born of the obvious idea that coastal communities should have a place at the heart of the management and protection of marine environments. They are the ones who have the most to lose from the decline of these resources, they are the ones who have the most to gain from effective and sustainable marine protection. The partner association has been working with communities on the island of Malapascua since 2015 to develop local management of marine resources, for the mutual benefit of the population and the environment. Listening to the needs of the community, it has tested and identified a successful and replicable model, based on the communities' potential to defend their rights and the sea.
Auto-eco-entrepreneurship, zero waste...
Its strategy is based on the development, expansion and adoption of positive-impact models. After identifying the success of an action, it helps communities to share their experience in order to encourage its wider adoption. It also promotes experience sharing, and shares results, methods and tools across its network. It works on 5 main axes, with a large number of transversal actions carried out on an ongoing basis. You will find below a description of the 5 programs, an explanation of the impact of the covid crisis on activities, and the 2022-2023 objectives of the association.
- Education and the environment
- Auto-eco-entrepreneurship
- Zero waste communities
- Participatory and collective management of marine resources
- Sustainable fishing
Thanks to a team of committed employees, volunteers and locals, many projects have come to fruition! The creation of a marine protected area, educational programs for young people, a system of savings clubs, etc.
At the heart of the partner association's mission is the conviction that these local communities must be at the center of the drive to protect and preserve the oceans. With the right support, its team is convinced that they can lead profound transformations towards healthy seas and resilient livelihoods.
The ecovolunteer action
Joining our partner association in the Philipinnes means supporting the Malapascua community on a long-term basis and contributing to exciting projects:
- Promoting cloth diapers to the community and the municipality
- Study of Acanthaster Planci, a predatory starfish currently overpopulating corals
- Analysis of the seagrass ecosystem in Malapascua
- Mapping marine habitats around Malapascua Island
- Production of videos illustrating the various missions
- And much more...
There's no such thing as a typical mission, because each mission and each project is designed by and for the ecovolunteer. The projects listed above are only examples to guide you in developing your own project! Contact the partner association by clicking on "Contact the association" and filling in the form for further information.
TIMETABLE :
We work Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 5pm, with a good 1.5-hour lunch break. We don't work on Sundays or public holidays (there are 21 a year in the Philippines!). Every month, you have the possibility of taking an extra flexible day off.
DATES :
- Minimum 4 weeks, departures all year round (no departures in December)
Arrival on the 1st Saturday of each month
RATES :
- 4 weeks: 1,110 euros
- 12 weeks: €2,930
- Decreasing rates for longer stays
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE :
- Homestay with a family from the local community
- Daily working breakfast and lunch, unlimited water, tea and coffee
- An association T-shirt
- Full on-site logistics support
- Comprehensive support and advice before and during your assignment
- The opportunity to work alongside a Filipino team, at the heart of a community dedicated to marine conservation.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE :
- Association membership (15 euros)
- Travel to the Philippines and Malapascua
- Visa fees
- Personal medical insurance
- Personal diving insurance (compulsory)
- Dinners and all meals on days off
- Personal expenses
Timetables
You'll work Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, with a good 1.5-hour lunch break. Rest on Sundays and public holidays (there are 21 a year in the Philippines!). Every month, you have the possibility of taking an extra flexible day off.
HOUSING :
Ecovolunteers stay with a host family. The homestay program, Inato Homestay, was set up to offer families on the island an alternative source of income by welcoming tourists or volunteers into their homes. The ecovolunteer will live with a host family and discover Filipino culture: eating, sleeping and living local! All families like to share their culture and get to know the volunteers. You'll have your own room and shared access to the bathroom. The family provides towels and bed linen.
Sundays and vacations are free so you can get the full Malapascua experience: explore the island, discover its beautiful beaches and landscapes, sample the local food at the many restaurants on the island or learn more about the culture and people of Malapascua!
You can also take advantage of this free time to spend some quality time with your host family and organize picnics on the beach. For those wishing to explore the ocean further, there are diving clubs on the island where you can take your diving levels or go on recreational dives. Finally, admire the splendor of the waters by snorkeling!
About the partner association
Since its creation in 2015, the People and the Sea team has been working at the heart of the Malapascua community to help them adopt more resilient lifestyles and protect their marine resources. Whether you're looking for an eco-participatory trip or an enriching internship, immerse yourself in a tailor-made stay between marine protection and international solidarity!
