Azafady

Voted Best Volunteering Organisation 2007 at the Responsible Tourism Awards, Azafady offers volunteer opportunities on the tropical island of Madagascar. Join the Pioneer Programme and take part in sustainable development projects making a difference to the region’s poorest communities. Or join Lemur Venture and carry out vital conservation work for the protection of endangered primates and their natural habitat. If you only have a couple of weeks to spare, then the Short Term programmes offer you the opportunity to really contribute to Azafady’s community development and conservation work.

The placements

Pioneer:

A chance to join a well-established UK charity and Malagasy NGO working with experienced development and conservation professionals on the ground.
Working in remote areas with impoverished local communities on projects that they have requested and which make a significant difference.
A chance to sample a wide range of projects from building schools to working with scientists planting critically endangered palms.
A fantastic vocational experience which could prove the first rung in a career in sustainable development.
A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the fascinating Malagasy culture.

Lemur Venture:

A chance to work with endangered lemurs found nowhere else on earth to provide viable conservation for the future.
A great first step in a career in practical conservation, or a way to make a lasting one-off contribution to the preservation of endangered lemur species.
The opportunity to work with professionals from Duke Primate Institute and Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza.
Includes time spent working hands-on alongside the captive breeding programme in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.
A chance to work with rare species such as the ring-tailed lemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur and the tiny mouse lemur in the spiny and littoral forests of southeast Madagascar.

Short term:

A chance to contribute to sustainable community development and conservation projects and achieve meaningful results in a short period
Choose from a choice of Community Conservation, English Teaching and Community Construction programs
Working in remote areas with impoverished local communities on projects that they have requested and which make a significant difference.
Each programme is led by an award winning team of experienced project leaders

Location

Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, has a staggering diversity of plant and animal species including 71 species of lemur which are found nowhere else on the planet. Madagascar lies in the Indian Ocean separated from Mozambique on the African continent by the Mozambique Channel.

While one of the biologically richest places on earth, it is also one of the world’s poorest countries. Only about a quarter of the 17 million population has access to safe drinking water and the infant mortality rate stands at 1 in 10.

How long?

Pioneer Programme – 10 weeks
Lemur Venture – 8 weeks
Shorter Term programmes – 2-3 weeks

Pricing

Pioneer Programme – £2,000

Lemur Venture – £2,200

Short term – £595 - £995

The price includes:

Pre-departure support
Assistance with arranging flights, visas, medications, vaccinations and insurance
Transportation to the project site from Fort Dauphin
Food & accommodation
On-site training and guidance
Malagasy language lessons

About Azafady

Azafady is a UK-registered charity and Malagasy NGO whose aim is to eradicate poverty, suffering and environmental damage in Madagascar. Our approach is one of co-operation and participation with local communities living in the southeast of the country and our work aims to alleviate the effects of poverty and to support viable, environmentally-sensitive development. We work for a better future for people, communities and the environments in which they live.