Hatchling Season 2022

Code: 8886a82d-94bd-11ec-920f-fa163ef8d720 Copied

Cape Verde Youth activities Environment Youth activities Environment Permanent

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

Project Biodiversity is a Cabo Verdean organisation committed to conserving and restoring the island’s unique ecosystems.

Based on the island of Sal, the project implements a variety of environmental programmes that achieve ambitious conservation goals and support sustainable economic growth for the community.

Our Vision: A world in which humans and nature can thrive together; where communities practice sustainable use and management of natural resources, and are committed to protecting them - ultimately giving back in return.

Our mission: to implement conservation programs that promote a sustainable growth model, protecting Cape Verde's natural ecosystems and paving the way for a more vibrant community - one that is both environmentally conscious and economically strong.

💼 What the programme involves

During the hatching season, volunteers are responsible for the monitoring of Loggerhead nests in the hatchery and on the nesting beaches. Under the supervision of the coordinators, volunteers will take part in different activities:

• Overnight shift in the project hatcheries monitoring the nests that are due to hatch and releasing the hatchlings on nearby beaches;

• Excavation of nests that hatched on the previous night and collection of important scientific data. During those excavations volunteers will also be releasing any hatchlings left inside the nests;

• Input of collected data into the project Data Base;

• Taking part in outreach activities with the local community and tourists;

• Maintenance of material used throughout the nesting season;

• Morning patrols on the main nesting beaches of Sal Island looking for nests that hatched during the previous night.

With this experience, you will learn about turtle conservation techniques and will have the opportunity to make a real difference in the survival of marine turtles.

🏠 Accommodation on site

Volunteers are based in an apartment in Santa Maria. You will be sharing a bedroom with more volunteers.

🍲 Food

Meals are not provided. Food is not cheap here, but you will be able to save some money by doing communal cooking.

📍 About the location

The islands of Cabo Verde constitute the world’s second most important nesting site for the Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), one of seven marine turtle species found worldwide. This incredible species is a critical link in marine ecosystems, helping to maintain the health of seagrass beds and coral reef systems that provide food and shelter for a vast array of other marine life.

🎒 Leisure activities

Volunteers work six days each week and will have 1 day/night off to explore the island, enjoy diving, surfing, and other watersports, or just lay on the beach and relax! The project has agreements with different businesses that do a very good discount for our volunteers.

⚠️ Requirements

Living under these conditions can be challenging, extremely tiring, and stressful, and will include work both at night and during the day. A good level of fitness and physical and mental energy is required as night shifts are long and morning patrols can be tiring. Shift patterns vary but you will have 1 day of rest per week.

• Desire to participate in conservation;

• At least 18 years old;

• Must understand written and spoken English;

• Good level of physical fitness;

• High level of energy and flexibility;

• Able to cope with physically challenging conditions (sleeping on the beach, long walks, working late nights, hot weather, insects);

• Ability to work and live with people of different backgrounds and nationalities.

ℹ️ Additional information

Volunteer contributions cover accommodation and utilities such as water and electricity. Volunteer contributions also provide critical funds needed to support the basic but essential needs of the project, allowing us to patrol the beaches more effectively, and ultimately protect more turtles.

One week: €220

Two weeks: €270

Three weeks: €320

€50 for each additional week

At your arrival, you will be required to pay a €100 refundable security deposit against loss or damage of project equipment, and you should bring sufficient funds for any other activities that you would like to do. Once a volunteering period has been agreed upon, you will be asked to pay via bank transfer €100 of your fees in advance. This payment will ensure that your place is booked as we have limited spaces and the demand is big. The payment will not be refunded if you cancel your volunteering – unless the cancellation is due to travel bans and/or flight

restrictions, as a result of the pandemic . The remaining amount of the fees should be paid at least one month before your arrival. If once you arrive at the project you decide to leave before the agreed date, your total contribution will not be refunded (this does not apply for the refundable security deposit, which will be refunded).

We strongly recommend a stay of at least 2 weeks, but the minimum stay is of 1 week.

Some airlines only fly to Sal Island on specific days of the week, depending on where they fly from. Please, confirm the best routes to Sal Island with our team before purchasing your flights, we will be happy to assist you. The period when you can participate runs from the 20th of August until the 10th of December. Volunteers can apply at any point throughout the season.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.

📅 Available sessions

PB-hatchling-2022

20/08/2022 → 10/12/2022

Closed

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ℹ️ Key information

Age required

18–45 years old

Solidarity donation

220.00 EUR

French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).

📍 Location

Santa Maria, Cabo Verde

Cape Verde

🌍 Location info

Local currency

Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE / $)

Exchange rate

1 CVE = 0.009107 EUR

Rate as of 31/05/2026

Timezone

Cape Verde Standard Time

Local time: 21:15 (12/11/2026)

🛡️ Before you leave

Security information

📞 Contact us

[email protected]

+32 2 888 67 13

Contact form

✅ Features

🏠 Accommodation

Apartment Collective

🗣️ Languages spoken

English Portuguese