Raphe has had a life-long affinity for the natural world, which lead to him attaining a degree in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Kent in 2013. After a series of chance encounters later that year, Raphe spent 6 weeks on Hayati's (The Founder) land looking after the turtles. The following year they officially set up Lang Tengah Turtle Watch, which has since taken a clear form and is gaining momentum year-on-year.
What is your favorite travel memory?
I have so many fond memories from my travels, but without a doubt my fondest is coming into contact with Hayati, the Lang Tengah Turtle Watch Founder. We have been working together ever since, building the organization to where it stands today.
This chance encounter in an antiques shops whilst I was travelling through Penang - which has lead to the growth of our organization - is awesome proof that anything can happen if you put yourself out there, and that there's no better way to meet people and create opportunities than travelling.
This is still a very prominent element of the project, which we are hyper aware of and try very hard to foster - if you have a skill, or knowledge base, be it photography, cooking, taxonomy, waste management etc. - we want you on board and offer you a real chance to leave your mark on the project.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
My goodness, it's changed me a lot! Coming from a background in natural sciences and conservation, taking data from the turtles was something I was already accustomed to.
It was starting the organization that took me out of my comfort zone - suddenly you end up becoming a writer, accountant, secretary (and much more!) having to go for meetings with government officials and secure sponsorship funding - which all rests on your head! On the other hand was integrating the project with the local community - getting to understand life from their point of view, and trying find win-win solutions for them, the turtles and the environment at large.
All of this has made me highly driven. It has given me such a well-rounded view of all different facets of conservation work - which I was somewhat oblivious to when my only focus was nature itself - for this I am eternally grateful!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
We're a bit of a 'kooky' bunch, but somehow it works! I'm generally proud of the team all the time, there seems to be unwavering dedication to the project - through thick and thin.
Every member of staff, intern and volunteer bring their own charisma to camp, which makes it an extraordinary, ever-evolving blend of cultures, personalities and humor - no two months on the project are the same, which we love!
I must say, this year our team managed to remove and recycle 4.3 tons of waste from the island - for that, I take my hat off!
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
We only have one project, at our jungle camp on Lang Tengah. This is a truly special place, which offers a raw experience - where the wave of camaraderie rides high.
Daily life there never ceases to amaze - the stunning beauty of the island and all it has to offer, not to mention getting up close with the majestic turtle mothers and comical hatchlings as well as a myriad of other natural wonders.
There's something rather romantic about drawing water from the well, or huddling in the kitchen making a hot chocolate waiting for a storm to pass, which later reveals a whitewash of stars in the sky, mirrored by blue-glowing phosphorescent plankton in the bay - you might find yourself asking "is this real?!"
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
I think the most charming stories (it happens a fair bit!) I hear are when people who have met on the project then go on to meet in other parts of the world and become great friends.
I've also had a couple of people tell me that because of their time spent with us, they are now choosing to pursue post-graduate degrees, or careers, relating to wildlife conservation.
These are such extraordinarily nice things to hear - to know that the impact of the project doesn't end on Lang Tengah, but affects people's decisions and goals long after they've left us - what more could we ask for?!
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
