Some of the best waves in the world happen to be located in areas with the most severe environmental and social issues. This is the case for the Mentawais and each yeat hundreds of surfers visit the islands usually via a charter boat without even touching foot on land. Often surfers remain unaware of the issues and are unable to participate in any projects that are attempting to tackle the problem. Mentawai adventure is the only foundation offering volunteering placements in the area.

 

How does the placement work?

The placement duration is for one month. During this month indiviudals work in a two days on, one day off rotation, with the option to surf on the days off. During the two days on, individuals will be assigned to work on a range of projects. The day off will allow the indiviudal to be transported by boat to one of the world-class waves near the island.

 

The Projects 

                       

Evidence of the destruction caused by the series of earthquakes on Siberut island in September

Mentawai Adventure Foundation strives for the preservation of this long-established culture. Mentawai Adventure is wishing to particpate in the reconstruction and repari of the homes in the Mentawai islands by reviving the traditional method of building, a nearly forgotten technique, replaced by more expensive and western-style housing using concrete and other non-traditional materials. However this traditional method over the years has proved to be fully seismic, cheaper and far more sustainable to live in. Mentawai foundation has opened a ''Forest job school' to allow young Mentawai people to be trained by their elders in the art of traditional building and the sustainable use of the forest. The picture below represents the first 'uma' built by Mentawai Adventure. The construction involved 40 young Mentawain and caused the re-discovery of long forgotten techniques and now all as a result have jobs. Volunteers will participate in the building of one monumnetal 'uma' or a series of smaller 'ruzuks'.

 

Coral Regneration Scheme

Mentawai Adventure wants to revive the coral in the Mentawais, thanks to a revolutionary technique which by low level electrification of the waters allow the re-growth of coral at a rate 10 fold its natural regeneration speed. With 30 acres of land and 60acres of coral reef, Sioloinak is a perfect area to develop a pilot-project for this technique which could be applied all over the world. The island has gained classification as a marine reserve through cooperation with the Mentawai authorities. The technical and legal framework is all finalised and the project is ready to go. As a volunteer you may be asked to carry out duties such as collecting the coral and trying it on underwater metallic structures for investigation. You may also be asked to use diving equipment and a former scuba diving experience would be particuarly useful.

 

Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

One of the most endangered marine species within the Mentawais is the turtle which populations have recently diminshed, due to overfishing and poaching of the eggs. Mentawai adventure plans to build a turtle hatchery and rehabilitation centre within the lagoon where the coral regeneration project takes place. Volunteers will assist in a range of activities i.e. collecting eggs, taking care of the young turtles, feeding and counting them and building any necessary infrastructure.

 

Surf Job Schools    

             

Mentawai Adventure is in the early stages of developing a school to train and educate promising young Mentawai surfers to be professional surf guides. This project is beginning to develop and could help support the young Mentawai surf generation to create a living from the surf industry as a sustainable alternative to logging or overfishing, therefore saving the forest and the seas. As a volunteer, you could be asked to build the infrastructure for the school, assist in the training of the local mentawai people and even be one of the surf-guide instructors, if you possess the relevant skills.  

 

What do we want from the volunteers?

We are looking for indiviudals from a range of backgrounds, whether just graduated from high school or being in work for many years. The following skills or experience in these areas are particuarly useful within the projects and other duteis on the island:

Diving qualificaiton/experience, Tradesmen i.e. carpenters, electricians, plumbers, gardeners, builders; solar energy technicians/research experience; maine/environmental background (academic and work experience); Chefs: Experience in tourism/travel industry; Marine engine mechanics/research experience; Diesel mechanics.

Aside from having relevant skills, we ask our volunteers to be flexible, able to work overseas in a tropical climate on a range of projects and have a sense of humour!

Interested? Contact us via the website or download the application form - Click here to download this file    

 

Please read our terms and conditions before applying