Program Reviews

I volunteered for teaching during 2 months. Definitely, it was one of the best times of my life! As a teacher I had students all ages, from 3-4 to 50 years old. Classes in different villages, with several levels of English. This was a big challenge! A challenge I would love to deal with again and definitely for more than 2 months. There is so much to do!
Camp and it’s life style is amazing. The acomodations are really good with very good views to Nosy Be. Staff members and local people are very welcoming and friendly, creating a very good atmosphere to live.
My experience with other volunteers was really really good. I met awesome people. I learnt plenty of them and I had my small family back on camp. This made my experience even better. During weekends we did some trips to other islands, national parks and other turistic places, which I recommend 100%.
But volunteering is not only about teaching. It starts from the moment you arrive to Madagascar, see the people, other volunteers, camp, everything. All of it, It was an amazing experience!

I worked on the Community development program for 2 weeks in February, and had the chance to do some English teaching in the schools on Nosy Komba and Nosy Be. The best thing about my time teaching was how appreciative the kids and teachers are of you teaching, and the chance to work with students of all ages. You don't need any prior experience teaching, a good understanding of English is the most important asset, and the local staff you work with are always there to help out. I will never forget the experience I had teaching in Madagascar, and I look forward to doing it again very soon.

1. The “Local Experience”: Stayed in a campsite located in the middle of the forest, atleast 30 minutes away from the nearest village, a life without mobiles and tablets, woken up at dawn everyday by the pet rooster; enjoyed the local diet of rice and zebu(local cattle) meat; hiked daily among the mountains, passing by charming always smiling local villagers scampering by.
2. Expanded my knowledge database exponentially: I am originally from a Biology background, and I have been able to gain so much more knowledge about the endemic species of Madagascar and the ecology.
3. Accumulated valuable Survey Skills: Performed surveys in the forests of Nosy Komba. This was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to observe the endemic species of Madagascar in their undisturbed natural habitat.
4. Met people from…everywhere!- From Canada to Australia, Iceland to Columbia!
5. Fun Fun Fun: This volunteering trip has been possibly the best experience of my life till now.
A big thank you to MRCI :D

The program itself was great, we went out on hikes everyday and if you couldn't hike as was the case for me for a bit they also had something you can do and there was always a way to help out on camp. The accommodation for Madagascar was better then I expected and had most amenities like flushing toilets and good showers. The rooms we stayed in where hostel style with 6 beds in a room but there was more then enough room for everyone. The food was also really good with rice and beans being staples but there was also fish, chicken and beef that served. For the program itself it was very cool and rewarding to see some of these amazing creatures in the wild. With most of them you can only find in Madagascar. The research that you gather exploring the forests in nosy komba is so valuable when it comes to studying these creatures and for someone who wasn't really a reptile person before I left I was in awe of some of the things I saw. So I would highly recommend this trip

I spent an amazing 9 weeks at MRCI doing forest conservation and helping with their social media efforts. Nosy Komba, Madagascar is not an easy terrain. The nearest village is a 30-40 minute walk from camp over rocky and beach terrain. The locals walk this island like experts and put all the volunteers to deep shame. The locals are humble though and one time while walking back from the village, I stepped aside to let some young local girls passed. The last one grabbed my hand and showed me where to step easily and it was very sweet and a great bonding experience between me and the locals. They are a wonderful caring people, certainly worth meeting!

I think the most rewarding thing about teaching english in Nosy Komba in Madagascar is realizing how much both the kids and the adult students get to appreciate you.
I spent 4 months teaching in different villages in Nosy Komba, and in all of them you'll find amazing people.
Obviously apart from seeing the progress students make, it's an amazing feeling walking into the village and hear the kids yelling your name and running uphill towards the classroom.
Most of the time, teaching is somewhat tiring, because you have to walk certain distances all the way to the villages, and classes themselves are quite energy demanding, but have the kids wave you goodbye and see them laughing throughout the lessons and understanding what we are reviewing is more than any reward.

After doing forest conservation for 2 months, I did marine conservation for 2 months. I never went scuba diving before coming here, it was the best experience I have ever had. I can't imagine a place more ideal for scuba diving than Madagascar. Madagascar is definitely the most beautiful and unique place I've ever been too. The staff is very helpful and passionate about what they do. For marine, we did a lot of shore dives and some boat dives. The boat dives were at some spots nearby camp, they were always very fun! I loved that no dive was ever the same, we would always see something really interesting and different on every dive. There is an abundance of beautiful coral and marine life everywhere on the reef. I would recommend to stay as long as possible, you won't want to leave. The only thing I regret is not doing marine for longer. Madagascar had a big impact on me and really changed me. I will never forget all the amazing people I met and the memories made.

If you want to go to Madagascar this is the program to do. I spent roughly five months at MRCI and didn't have a single problem at all. The staff is amazing. They are very friendly and accomadating but also have a strong passion for what there doing! The Cape sits in a perfect location a short boat ride away from the main town and from the front of the camp its about a 30 second swim to "Turtle Towers Reef" where they do many of there surveys! I also highly recommend doing the 10 day Eco Tour! Going around to remote islands, atoms, and reefs for 10 days what one of the many highlights of my trip. Nosy Be and the Surrounding area is an amazing place and theres no where else in the world like it. I recently went back for the second time and had just as much fun.

If you get the chance to do this program believe me you won't regret it