Marine Conservation in Africa, Asia and Latin America

Kaya's mission means that we consider ethical, environmental and cultural concerns in order to ensure that all of our projects are sustainable, and ultimately, beneficial for local community-members. The projects we support are small, grassroots, community-led, and genuinely appreciate the help of our volunteers and interns. Kaya participants benefit as well, growing in global knowledge and gaining real-world experience. Book with us to immerse yourself in your country, region and field of choice, and to make a difference whilst doing so!

Highlights

Gain Diving Certification - Depending on the location, this option may be included!
Expert Advising and Support - Sleep well knowing our advisors have helped you choose the right gap year for you & that we’ll have your back while you’re abroad
So Much Choice - With 250+ projects to choose from, we have ethical gap years for everyone
Non-Traditional - Travel off the beaten path in Asia-Pacific, Africa or Latin America & get to know the locals on a deeper level
Responsible, Ethical, Sustainable - All of Kaya's gap years, no matter the location or field, feature community-led, grassroots initiatives
Culturally Immersive - Part of a responsible approach involves proper preparation and education; we’ll provide you with the cultural context you need to get the most out of your trip abroad
Make a Difference - See and help the planet, get your hands dirty & make friends along the way

What's it like

A typical day on this gap year project

At Kaya Responsible Travel, we offer gap year experiences that combine travel and volunteering, helping you see the world and make an impact while doing so. If you’re interested in marine conservation, you may spend your time diving and conserving coral reefs, monitoring endangered species, or creating “refuges” for critically endangered turtles, like the Hawksbill. Volunteers are much needed, and can help improve the outlook of specific, targeted efforts. On the other hand, volunteers can gain quite a bit as well, such as valuable experience in research, data collection and sampling, tagging, habitat restoration, and more - and they can even gain internationally recognised diving certification, depending on the placement!

We support a variety of conservation projects, and each project varies in its goals and needs. Therefore, the activities differ, depending on the placement you choose. Just to give you a taste for the range of projects available to you, daily tasks may include learning more about marine conservation efforts, monitoring dolphin behavior, monitoring endangered species populations, growing new coral colonies from fragments, participating in seahorse research, caring for rescued turtles and monitoring their growth progress, collating data, and so much more!

As a volunteer, you’ll provide an essential extra pair of hands. There will always be plenty to do, wherever you choose to travel and work. Volunteers may work together independently or in groups, depending on the project. You will have the guidance and training you need to complete daily tasks effectively. Here are some of the activities that you could be involved in, depending on the project you choose:

EXPANDING YOUR KNOWLEDGE

*Learn about local ecosystems and challenges from knowledgeable and passionate community-members

*If applicable to your placement, perform community outreach, contribute to research, and aid in conservation efforts directly, as needed

*Have an adventure and experience the country for all it has to offer, whilst making strides in the field of marine conservation

ENGAGING IN MARINE CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Research; snorkeling and diving for species monitoring, tracking, mapping; habitat restoration; coral reef maintenance and regeneration; turtle care, depending on the project; community outreach

Check out our website to find out more about specific gap placements, or talk to a placement advisor. They’ll have all the details!

Project Requirements

Who would be a suitable participant?

Project Benefits

What we can offer you

*Placement advising and project-matching
*Detailed pre-departure information and 24/hour support on the ground
*Airport pickups and drop-offs (except on 6-month placements)
*On-site orientation
*Accommodations (some placements may include meals as well)
*Depending on the type of placement and your needs, you may have a supervisor with structured learning goals (this is specific to internship placements and study and service)

DETAILS
We’re here to support you the whole way, from programme start to finish (and beyond!). The accommodations we provide are safe and vetted. Programme lengths and start dates vary, so talk to a placement advisor for details.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have decided to re-open limited locations as "Pod Programs" that meet our strict safety standards. Depending on your area of interest and your origin country, we may or may not have in-person programmes available now. Depending on what you want to do, you can travel with a small group of tested students and volunteers to select locations! If you want to wait and travel later, we are happy to chat about your options and timelines. Looking for a virtual option? We have a series of virtual internships available that include cultural components that may interest you.