Volunteer in Madagascar with Abroad Escape.

Prepare to be captivated by the charm of the city as you venture into its kaleidoscope of colors at the lively markets.

 Explore the bustling streets, guided by your senses as you indulge in exotic and cosmopolitan cuisines that will tantalize your taste buds. Wander along the foothills of Mont Passot, ascending to its summit to witness a breathtaking sunset that paints the sky with hues of pure magic. And let the allure of Hell-Ville beckon you with its intriguing mysteries, waiting to be unraveled.

Welcome to Nosy Be Culture Week, where an authentic experience of the Malagasylifestyle awaits you. Throughout the week, prepare to embark on unforgettable journeys to cultural and natural wonders scattered across Nosy Be’s landscape.

Schedule

Monday
Breakfast at the accommodation
Introduction meeting: House rules, expectations, health & safety tips, and document handling
Culture session: Malagasy etiquette, country history, and basic Malagasy phrases
Guided Hell-Ville tour
Lunch at the accommodation
Visit to Mount Passot
Dinner at the accommodation
Tuesday
Breakfast at the accommodation
Hands-on Malagasy cooking class (lunch included!)
Visit to the Sacred Tree
Dinner at the accommodation
Wednesday
Breakfast at the accommodation
Explore the Ylang-Ylang Museum & Distillery
Meet the lemurs of Madagascar
Lunch at the accommodation
Dive into Malagasy culture with dance and makeup sessions
Dinner at the accommodation
Thursday
Breakfast at the accommodation
Discover Madagascar’s marine wonders at the Marine Museum
Lunch at the accommodation
Hike to a stunning waterfall in Nosy Be
Dinner at the accommodation
Friday
Breakfast at the accommodation
Nosy Komba Island tour with a scenic picnic lunch
Dinner at the accommodation

* The schedule can be changed as per local conditions and unforeseen circumstances

As an English teacher, you’ll have the incredible opportunity to not only impart language and communication skills but also nurture their overall development.

Kindergarten teaching goes beyond textbooks and classrooms. It’s a chance to inspire young minds, fostering their creativity and helping them develop essential life skills. As you immerse yourself in teaching these bright-eyed children, you’ll witness the warm embrace of the local community, gradually becoming an integral part of their lives.

The children you’ll meet at the kindergarten are at the beginning of their educational journey, and introducing them to English at such a tender age will shape their future in invaluable ways. While the teaching style remains informal, with children yearning for playtime as much as learning, your mere presence will ignite their excitement for attending school. By teaching them simple English phrases and greetings, you’ll unknowingly sow the seeds of a lifelong love for learning. Their eyes will sparkle with anticipation as they eagerly await your arrival, ready to welcome you with genuine warmth. Being one of the few foreigners they’ve encountered up close, your presence will be cherished and celebrated.

From Monday to Friday, your mornings will be filled with the delightful company of pupils aged 2 to 3 or 4 years old, as you guide them through three hours of engaging lessons. Afterward, you’ll return to our Center, where a delicious lunch awaits you, rejuvenating you for the afternoon. At 14:30, you’ll head to NAZAREANA School, where you’ll interact with and teach children aged 4 to 7 for two hours. Wednesdays hold an additional opportunity to engage with the teachers, fostering collaboration and exchanging ideas for approximately an hour.

* The schedule can be changed as per local conditions and unforeseen circumstances

Your presence at a state-managed school will not only involve teaching but also extending support to the dedicated teaching staff. Together, you’ll create an environment that fosters growth, encourages extracurricular activities, and ignites the students’ potential to expand their horizons.

In many parts of Madagascar, travel remains a distant dream for most, and in villages like Tsararano Ambony, opportunities for contact with the outside world are scarce. As a foreign teacher, you become the bridge that connects these students to someone from a different background and culture, nurturing relationships that broaden their perspectives. Simultaneously, you’ll have the chance to share your expertise and introduce the local teachers to new, innovative teaching methods and techniques. Even without a formal teaching background, your assistance and collaboration will greatly contribute to this project.

As you embark on this educational journey, you’ll encounter children of varying ages, each with unique learning capacities. Feel free to leverage your own teaching materials and methods, tailoring your approach to meet the needs of each child. Whether you refer to a coursebook as a reference or engage them in conversations to enhance spoken English, the possibilities are endless. During your time here, you’ll have the privilege of teaching a range of subjects, from mathematics, history, science, and geography to computer technologies, music, arts and crafts, educational games, personal development, environmental awareness, general health and safety, and more. While higher education in Madagascar is primarily conducted in French and Malagasy, it’s crucial for children to acquire English language skills as well, considering Nosy Be’s status as one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the country.

From Monday to Friday, your days will be filled with a diverse array of responsibilities. Primarily, you’ll focus on teaching English, but you’ll also have the opportunity to delve into drama, games, music, art, and even foreign languages. Encouraging academic excellence while nurturing the holistic development of each child will be at the core of your mission. You’ll actively assist teachers and other staff members, working together as a cohesive team. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to create teaching plans that align with the unique needs and aspirations of the students.

* The schedule can be changed as per local conditions and unforeseen circumstances

Join us in exploring the hidden beauty of this country while working alongside the local community to transform their schools into aesthetically pleasing institutions that enhance the quality of education for the children. Unleash your creative talents as we utilize local resources to create a captivating landscape that truly reflects the spirit of the community.

The Construction and Renovation project in Nosy Be is a heartfelt initiative that supports small communities in and around the island. Our mission is to build and renovate school buildings that serve as the foundation for children’s growth and development, nurturing their potential. Collaborating with local families and fellow participants, you’ll be guided by a dedicated coordinator who will provide essential training and support throughout your journey.

Prepare yourself for an immersive experience that involves physical and manual labor. From laying bricks and carpentry to painting, waterproofing, tiling, landscaping, and gardening, your efforts will encompass improving the community’s hygiene and sanitation facilities. The project is an embodiment of teamwork, resilience, and a shared vision for a brighter future.

Monday to Friday will be filled with purposeful activities. You’ll start with a meeting with the coordinator, discussing the tasks and objectives for your stay. As we focus on light construction work, your assistance will be invaluable in painting school buildings, crafting tables and chairs, constructing and renovating playgrounds, creating pathways, building toilets, repairing school walls, and even constructing new classrooms. Depending on local needs, construction and renovation work may extend to other areas within the community.

* The schedule can be changed as per local conditions and unforeseen circumstances

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of this incredible island as you engage in a range of conservation activities, allowing you to express your deep concern for the environment—both natural and cultural. Our program offers you an extraordinary opportunity to contribute your own initiative, research, time, and effort towards safeguarding the island’s precious ecosystem, with a particular focus on the magnificent mangrove forest.

At ESPACE ZENY, a remarkable cultural and ecotourism site located just a short drive from HELL-VILLE, you will find yourself amidst a captivating mangrove forest. This sanctuary is dedicated to training youth from rural communities in Nosy Be and the mainland in the art of professional organic farming. As a conservation participant, your journey will begin by delving into the wonders of the Nosy Be mangrove forest—its abundant biodiversity, diverse uses, and pressing threats. Drawing upon your passion for environmental education, you will have the opportunity to develop an engaging teaching manual for children, imparting valuable knowledge about the importance of mangroves and their sustainability to local communities and schools.

In collaboration with the local team, your efforts will extend to nurturing mangrove forest seedbeds. These young plants will be utilized to restore and create a living classroom, serving as a showcase site for the local children. Through your leadership, a new generation will be empowered to appreciate and protect this vital ecosystem.

From Monday to Friday, your days will be filled with meaningful tasks that support the ESPACE ZENY’s mission. Following a warm welcome and an introduction to the site’s history and traditions, you will immerse yourself in various activities:
– Contributing to the mangrove regeneration program.
– Establishing seedbeds for future growth.
– Creating captivating sketches highlighting the importance of mangrove forest conservation.
– Leading engaging environmental education sessions tailored to the surrounding children.
– Collaborating on sustainable mangrove exploitation programs.

Throughout your journey, the knowledgeable local staff will be by your side, providing support and guidance whenever needed. Daily activities will be planned in collaboration with the on-site coordinator, ensuring that your efforts align with the project’s requirements and the community’s needs.

* The schedule can be changed as per local conditions and unforeseen circumstances

This enchanting island provides a remarkable opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the preservation of its precious fauna. Through your involvement in various conservation activities, you will contribute to the protection of this gentle and captivating creature.

Our program is designed to engage participants in vital work that maintains and safeguards Madagascar’s rich wildlife heritage, focusing on a private lemur species rehabilitation center. As a conservation participant, you will gain comprehensive knowledge about the island’s flagship species, particularly those endemic to this region of Madagascar. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to encounter other unique fauna, such as the Madagascar fish-eagle and the Ploughshare tortoise.

Your responsibilities will include assisting in the preparation of the lemurs’ diet, which involves chopping vegetables and fruits in the morning. You’ll also support the local staff and veterinarian during monthly health checks. Moreover, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the care of other captivating species, including tortoises, chameleons, and other residents of the park.

During the afternoons, you’ll be engaged in mangrove conservation activities, collaborating with our coordinators. Together, we will plant mangrove saplings, nurture them at the plant nursery, and clean the mangrove area from pollutants, ensuring the preservation of this critical ecosystem.

From Monday to Friday, your daily routine will be as follows:

On Monday, after breakfast, we will visit Lemuria Land Park, where you will have the chance to meet the dedicated local staff.

Throughout the week, we will depart at 7:00 am to the Lemur park, commencing work at approximately 8:30 am. Your tasks will include cleaning the enclosures, with a short 15-minute break, followed by collecting fruits, vegetables, and green leaves for the lemurs.

You will actively participate in preparing the lemurs’ meals and feeding them, concluding your daily park activities at noon. After returning to the center for lunch, our coordinator will guide you to the mangrove conservation area, where you will engage in daily activities at the plant nursery and in the mangrove forest.

To ensure seamless coordination, our on-site coordinator will plan the daily activities based on project requirements and the evolving needs of the program.

* The schedule can be changed as per local conditions and unforeseen circumstances