Belek is the second largest known nesting area in the Mediterranean, and we have many goals during our 4-months-long studies in the region, such as monitoring sea turtle populations, determining and minimising the negative impacts on nests and hatchlings, providing tourists and the local people with information about sea turtles, creating a public awareness about the conservation of sea turtles, and encouraging contributions to the conservation studies. In order to reach all these goals, we need volunteers to assist us in nature conservation. Would you like to work with us by joining EKAD's Volunteer Program?
Besides the peace of mind that you will have by knowing you have helped an endangered species in its struggle to stay alive, there is a whole lot more to gain from volunteering in a scientific project. You will:
Learn the methods of data collecting and scientific ways of studying, by taking part in a real scientific project that involves field surveys,
Get to know a species protected by international treaties, by seeing and touching it, besides having the opportunity to gain a vast knowledge about its bio-ecology,
Closely witness the problems of an endangered species, and the difficulties of conservation studies,
Contribute to the efforts aimed at strengthening the bond between NGO's - Scientific approach - Local Authorities - Tourism in nature conservation,
Take part in teamwork individually and taste a real team spirit,
Discover your personal attributes like leadership, organisation ability, responsibility, and sharing, and find the opportunity to improve those by means of numerous activities within the project,
Get the chance to meet people from different countries and have a better understanding of their cultures.
In order to join our volunteer program, you have to be OVER 18 and know enough English to communicate efficiently. German and Russian are also appreciated as additional languages, regarding the tourism potential and profile of Belek. We also require a private health insurance or a travelling health insurance that will cover the period of your stay.
You may participate in our Program for a minimum of 15 days and for a maximum of 3.5 months. The participation cost for a single 15-day period is 250€ for Belek region and 225€ for Kazanli region. Included in this fee are your daily 3 meals, accommodation, bed, shower, and all transportation expenses within the project that will be provided by EKAD. In case you arrange your flight dates in correspondence with the beginning and ending dates of the periods, EKAD's team will provide free transportation to and from the airport in Belek.
For each additional period you would like to participate, you will receive a 50% discount. Furthermore, in case of outright payment, we offer an additional discount of 5% on the participation costs of 1 or 1.5 months, and 10% on the participation costs of 2 months or longer. Please see the Volunteer Introduction Documents for detailed information regarding the fees and periods.
EKAD Volunteer Introduction Document for Belek Region
EKAD Volunteer Introduction Document for Kazanli Region (Coming Soon)
Studies in the program are divided into two main groups: educational practices and field surveys. Educational practices are targeted to a variety of groups including local authorities, local people, local tradesmen, tourists, the managers and staff of tourism facilities, and schools .
Field surveys, on the other hand, consist of the following scientific studies:
- Determining the location of nests, census and mapping
- Relocating nests when necessary
- Recording adult emergence tracks that did not result with a nest
- Adult tagging, measuring, and collecting nest data
- Caging nests when necessary
- Collecting the data for predation on nests
- Hatchling emergence monitoring and data recording
- Determining the hatchling success of nests by means of control openings at the end of the season.
Please fill out the following form in order to participate in our Program and send to the address provided in the form.
EKAD Volunteer Program Application Form
Other links for detailed information about our volunteer Program and regions are given below.
BELEK (ANTALYA):
Volunteer Introduction Document for Belek Region
Belek Region general information page
BETUYAB Digital Catalogue prepared by the Belek Tourism Investors Association (BETUYAB)
KAZANLI (MERSIN):
Volunteer Introduction Document for Kazanli Region (coming soon)
Kazanli Bölgesi general information page
EKAD is in a Volunteer Collaboration with MEDASSET - Greece. MEDASSET - The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles - is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 1988, working for the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats throughout the Mediterranean. It has been involved in conservation and scientific research programmes, public awareness, environmental education and lobbying decision-makers. MEDASSET offers an office based volunteer program in its office located in Athens.
Please visit their website for further information about their Volunteer Program.
http://www.medasset.org/volunteer1.htm
EKAD is also listed in the projects database of Green Volunteers.