Group Volunteering Projects
While the majority of our volunteers embark upon projects as lone travellers, we often get requests from groups wanting to experience the adventure together. As a result of this, we have honed and developed both our group volunteering projects and family volunteering projects.
Volunteering as a group is an ideal option for school and university students as it gives them one of the most unique learning experiences available, as a team-building opportunity for work colleagues, or simply for close friends to bond over an unforgettable journey. Partaking in one of our incredible projects as a group has immense, far-reaching benefits for both the group and the cause, and is a particularly excellent opportunity for young people, as volunteering abroad widens horizons, develops vital life-skills, and raises self-esteem.
Our specially developed projects work with some amazing charities based in a variety of worldwide destinations, all dedicated to making a real difference to their causes and fully immersing volunteers in the process. The project staff are positive, dynamic, and compassionate specialists, always on hand to make sure you and your group have the best possible experience in the most worthwhile of ways. Safety is always at the forefront of our group projects, particularly with younger volunteers, and our 'Know Before You Go' packs are full of pre-departure information, safety procedures and requirements to ensure a safe and successful trip. We pride ourselves on providing the best volunteering experience possible, and we work hard to ensure every group has an incredible, life-changing experience never to be forgotten.
Take a look at some case studies below of groups who have volunteered with us!
The Groups
Durham University Charity Committee
In August 2013, a group of students from Durham University's DUCK (Charity Committees) organisation volunteered together on our Great Orangutan Project in Malaysia. Whilst working on the project, the students played a vital role in the husbandry and day-to-day tasks of running the Matang Wildlife Centre, as well as interacting with the resident orangutans. The group all agreed that their experience at Matang had been eye-opening, thoroughly enjoyable, and had brought them closer, united by the shared experience of making a difference to a truly worthy cause.
Reaseheathe College
We are also offering a group of university students the chance to complete a two-week 'study tour' as a part of their course, working on our Amazon Conservation Project in Peru. This project will allow the students a chance to work directly with exotic species through camera-trapping, footprint assessment and behavioural measurements, and to conduct research into the biodiversity of the Amazonian ecosystem. This group study tour will also involve a large number of educational lectures and discussions. This is an excellent opportunity for the students to actively engage in research towards their degree courses, and to have a sustainable, environmental impact whilst doing so.
George Spencer Academy
We have already organised a number of group trips for the new year. Our amazing Orangutan and Tribes Voluntour is set to be visited by a group of students from the George Spencer Academy, who are set to experience the enchanting magic of the area's orangutans and the incredible indigenous communities, with some brilliant group-package benefits. These include a visit to the beautiful coastal Tanjung Datu National Park and a stay in a traditional Malay village among the local villagers. This will provide the students with an unequalled insight into the lives of indigenous communities in Malaysian Borneo.
Durham University Charity Committee
After the resounding success of their trip to the Great Orangutan Project in Malaysia, the Durham University Charity Committee ventured back to Borneo, but this time they visited the Indonesian side of the island as they helped out at the IAR Orangutan Project. Here the group played a pivotal role in continuing the growth of this orangutan sanctuary, helping with construction tasks as well as entertaining the orangutans via enrichment. This trip gave the group a great chance to help at a sanctuary which is still finding its feet, and the work they did there proved invaluable in efforts to improve orangutan conservation in the area.
Group Projects
Samboja Lestari
The Samboja Lestari Orangutan Project is set in an area of restored tropical rainforest near the city of Balikpapan, Indonesian Borneo. The centre’s large primate population of around 200 apes means that this project is perfect for groups as there is always a lot of work that needs to be done!
You can expect to really get stuck in as you will be helping with a number of activities including husbandry, construction work, and most people’s favourite activity - creating enrichment for the orangutans!
The work your group will do on the project will prove invaluable, as many hands make light work, and your help will enable the sanctuary to continue releasing orangutans as they have done every year since 2012!
Mozambique Marine Project
Mozambique is often referred to as one of Africa’s hidden gems and for good reason. The country may not have the rolling grasslands the continent is famous for, but it does have an incredible underwater ecosystem.
Your group will be located in Tofo, and on the project, you will all not only get a dive qualification, but you will all directly contribute to the marine conservation efforts that the Megafauna Foundation (who run the project) are part of.
You will be involved in numerous activities including assessing the health of manta rays, taking underwater pictures of whale sharks, and monitoring turtles and humpback whales when in season! This truly is an incredible project and perfect for a group of volunteers who are looking to help!
Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
As one of our most popular and constantly changing projects, the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary is always on the lookout for groups of hard-working volunteers to help get all of the work at the sanctuary done. There’s always a lot that needs to be done, so prepare to get your hands dirty! This project offers you the chance to volunteer with some of the world’s most well-known animals including cheetah, lions, baboons and zebra. Your group will be involved in all aspects of the sanctuary work and will help to rescue, care for, clean, feed, and rehabilitate some of the wide variety of animals who reside at the sanctuary. With the sanctuary ever-growing and expanding to help care for more animals, it is the perfect project for groups looking to engage in hands-on conservation work!
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