My Nonprofit Reviews

I worked with the Turtle Foundation in Cape Verde for two months in Summer 2009. This is an organisation that makes a real difference; poaching rates have dropped 80% in 2009 compared to 2007 figures, without this intervention, the turtle nesting population of this island could be extinct in under a decade. Please read my blog entry below from the TF website :) At the end of May this year when my degree course was complete, I had a choice to make; stay in my comfy-but-boring office job, or do something out of the ordinary. My degree was in Biology and I have always loved animals (especially reptiles) so the turtle project in Cape Verde looked like a good fit for me. This turned out to be, unequivocally, the best decision I have ever made, and something I would recommend to anyone looking to volunteer in 2010. I arrived at the airport from a very rainy Manchester on 20th July, not having slept for 2 days and still ill from a brutal going away party a few days previous. Nonetheless, the sights and sounds of Boa vista’s alien landscape galvanised me, and I was on my first patrol on Canto beach with Joana that very night, seeing five turtles! My first week was spent training on this beach, and fooling around with the only other volunteer there at the time, my good friend Mathias. It was a brilliant introduction to the project, a million miles away from all the dreariness and glum faces in England. Loggerhead turtles up close are amazing, powerful creatures. One must have the upmost respect for animals so tough they have managed to remain unchanged for millions of years, a true miracle of evolution. It is very humbling to bear witness to one of nature’s great events, namely watching these endangered animals dragging themselves laboriously from the ocean to build their nests. Each encounter with them is an amazing experience, from watching over the females whilst they bury their eggs, to helping hatchlings find their way home to the sea. The turtles can also astound you in unexpected ways too. On dark nights, their shells glow blue when touched due to bioluminescent zooplankton present on the turtle’s carapace, a beautiful natural phenomenon. If you crave action, this is the place to come! My first week at our southern camp, myself and Corporal Elson were patrolling Lacacao beach when six suspicious-looking figures appeared from the gloom a hundred yards from us, with a very angry dog. After a lot of shouting and squaring up (brought to a conclusion by Elson cocking his rifle and aiming at them!) we arrested a guy who was carrying a full bucket of turtle eggs! I had several other close encounters with poachers whilst I was there, and it hurt every time they managed to get away, but catching them in the act is extremely difficult. I lost count of the times myself and a soldier sprinted down a beach (still pushing around 30⁰C at night) to check out a light which could be a poacher, only to find nothing but tracks. One of the coolest things about this project was driving the 4X4. I remember riding with some soldiers and a fellow volunteer, Becky, to Norte beach one night via Espinguera. The road there is very rough and great fun to drive, especially with some good rock music blasting out. We talked about what people were probably up to in England at that very moment, most likely slumped in front of the T.V. vegetating, whilst we were here driving through the desert, about to march up and down a beach with guns looking for poachers. Makes you think! Another time, again on Norte (probably the most fun beach, its more like rock climbing than walking) our tent was destroyed by a huge storm, whilst we were still inside! This prompted a mad race through ferocious wind and rain to Canto beach, to get the teams off the beaches before we were stranded by flash floods blocking the roads. We made it back to base, soaked to the bone, but very happy to make it back! It may sound strange, but even the bad parts were kind of fun, because it is all part of the experience. I was constantly sunburnt, had maggots growing in my legs due to fly bites, was always dirty due to a lack of shower water, but loved every minute of it. The best thing about this project is it makes you remember what is truly important in this life; camaraderie and friendship, not money and possessions. The people of Boa vista own very little, but enjoy life much more than their wealthy European counterparts. Soldiers who had no particular reason to bother with me sat there for hours teaching me Creole, and became close friends as we spent so much time together. Goodbyes were difficult. I have many enduring memories of these boys, like my friend Adersion lending me his trainers when I forgot my patrol boots, or Aderito teaching me how to clean an AK-47. One month after I have returned to Manchester, I still miss the beaches, the turtles, and the night sky, which was filled with shooting stars. But being part of the team is what I miss the most. The project leaders are truly passionate about their cause, and fellow volunteers become like friends you have known for years. I have decided I want to continue helping this project from UK, organising fundraising and recruiting new volunteers, in the hope future generations can experience what I have. Who knows, maybe I will go back myself one day soon, and implore anyone considering going to give it a shot, you won’t regret it.

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