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What I Learned While Volunteering in the Turtle Conservation Center
"To volunteer at the conservation site, your love for animals is crucial. Have some knowledge about the sea turtle and the effect of the pollution on these animals." Catarina, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Portugal
Beginning of my journey
I was thinking about an adventure like this for a long time. During the last few months, I have been searching for an experience that combined my passion for animals and the opportunity to live in a different culture.
After careful research, I found this program and I immediately felt that I should become part of this project. What could be better than being in Bali, with direct contact with nature and other cultures, while taking care of animals? I then applied for this opportunity that I believe was about to change my way of perceiving life.
Image: Giving medication to injured turtle
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My first week in Bali
After a long good flight from Portugal to Bali, I noticed that the weather was slightly different. Luckily I packed for a tropical weather, the heat and humidity was quite challenging to adjust to. One of the most shocking experience was definitely the traffic! It was all so chaotic, according to what I am accustomed to.
I stayed at Bali Internships volunteer house in Sanur, where I met the other volunteers, Sarah, Anne, and Sarah, we quickly became family, Bali family. Our days in the house would be us sitting and gathering around the outdoor dining table while appreciating the garden and discuss several matters and share our experiences.
I think Sanur is a fantastic place because we stayed in the middle of an authentic Balinese local neighborhood, away from the touristy area, which allowed me to understand and experience local Bali experience and culture in a better way.
My daily activities as a volunteer at the Turtle Conservation Center
At the Turtle Conservation Center, we were doing 2 shifts of 4 hours each shifts, which took place the morning or the afternoon. We were quickly greeted by the staffs who were all warm and friendly. In this project, we did several activities such as cleaning the tanks, give medication to injured turtles, preparing food and feeding the turtles, and cleaning the conservation site surroundings. Our final task as a volunteer would be to welcome international tourists and visitors who came to the turtle conservation and wish to get more information and education about the sea turtles and mostly how to support the NGO through donation.
During our free time, we shared personal stories, acknowledge different ways of looking at life while traveling around Bali.
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What I enjoyed the most about my volunteering was to be able to observe and witness rare and magical moments such as the baby turtle releases in the sea. During this volunteering, I have learned a lot about turtles and wildlife in general. I would like to thank all turtle center staff, especially to Dodi, for educating and teaching us everything that we needed to know about these wonderful creatures, and to Yoga for teaching us their a bit of Balinese language.
It was no doubt a great experience, not only because it was my first trip alone, where I had the opportunity to encounter with a new culture and meeting myself a little deeper, but also because I met extraordinary people that I have the pleasure to call friends now. I recommend an experience like this to everyone: pack your bag and go on an adventure, that I am sure that you will not regret doing!
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Finally, I am deeply thankful to Bali internships for having me and for their kindness to all the volunteers. I also want to thank my Bali family, for all the places we visited together, for all the laughter we shared and all the silly things we did... Thank you, girls, I hope to see you soon!
Suksma
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