AZAFADY | get involved

Pioneer | Lemur Venture | Specialist Volunteering | Volunteer UK | Donate

home > get involved > Pioneer Madagascar > why?

"I had a truly wonderful time, and local staff were very welcoming. I really enjoyed the Malagasy lessons which made the experience in the villages more worth while. It was a life changing experience, I’ll never forget!"
Francesca Spoerry, 2006


	WINNER Best Volunteering Organisation

Why Pioneer Madagascar?

..................................................................................................

Team Experience

Volunteers will be working with the grassroots Malagasy NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) Azafady that has many years of experience based in one of the biologically richest yet financially poorest corners of the world. A team of Malagasy staff and international coordinators travel and work with the group to offer translation and advice on Malagasy culture, ensuring that the group is safe and that they are able to interact well with local communities.

Not For Profit

Pioneer Madagascar is a not-for-profit scheme. There are no shareholders, no fancy salaries, no plush offices, and there’s no glossy literature. Because we are not-for-profit our program is significantly less expensive than other similar programs. We encourage you to look at our accounts on the UK Charity Commission website.

Funds generated by the Pioneer program support Azafady's projects in Madagascar, with some 90% of all donations to Azafady being spent in direct pursuit of our charitable aims.

Personal Development

This is an invaluable opportunity for you to gain on-the-ground experience that will assist you in pursuing a career in development and/or conservation work, with an organisation that has a proven track record in these fields.

Pioneer Madagascar could help you to choose a new direction in life or to develop a career path you may already be on. It could be both a personal highlight and a practical stepping stone in a gap year or, for anyone at any time, a great way to go abroad for more than just a holiday.

For those that do not foresee a future for themselves in development or conservation, participation in the program will show future employers that you have a broad set of experiences, which would be beneficial to a wide range of careers.

You will acquire the following skills:

Knowledge of how a small grassroots NGO operates
Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment
Efficient teamwork skills
Understanding the resource needs of rural communities in less economically developed countries
Understanding how poverty effects conservation
Understanding of sustainable livelihood strategies in impoverished areas
Understanding of biology research methods
Experience working on the provision of clean water and reduction of waterborne diseases
Active participation in community-based health awareness programs
Basic understanding of Malagasy language

Internship

As the international development sector continues to grow, most jobs at international not-for-profits, charities, and NGOs will require their employees to have experience working abroad. Our internship program allows individuals to gain the experience necessary for a future in this sector.

Awards

Azafady's project coordinators are among an award-winning team. Azafady projects over the years have received many prestigious endorsements such as those from Sir David Attenborough, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (UK) and Duke Primate Centre (USA). It has won a number of coveted awards such as the Sting and Trudie Styler Award for Conservation & Human Rights (one of the Whitley Foundation's awards - the so-called 'Green Oscars', presented to the organisation by HRH Princess Anne); two Flora and Fauna International 100% Fund cash awards for conservation research and four Walt Disney Foundation awards for conservation research. Azafady was awarded funding from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Netherlands for its Community Forest Management project. Most recently Pioneer Madagascar was Highly Commended in the Best Volunteering Programme category of the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards organised by online travel agent responsibletravel.com, in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine.

Any questions? Feel free to call +44 (0) 20 8960 6629 or email us at mark@azafady.org.

[back]

[top]