Best experience of my life

When an opportunity arose to participate (through Operation Wallacea) in a conservation project in the jungle and coral reefs of Madagascar, I seized at the chance to broaden my mind and to do something positive to help the planet. I visited beautiful locations, largely untouched by human development, and helped in project work designed to protect against threats of poaching, habitat loss and to safeguard biodiversity. The daily lectures furthered my understanding of the result of deforestation and bleaching of coral reefs. I had previously heard these terms in Geography and Biology lessons, but to see the consequences on the ground has inspired me to read for a degree which will enable me to make a difference in person. Even in such a remote and isolated destination, which took 40 hours travelling to reach, the local economy, which is predominantly based on agriculture, fishery and tourism, is affected by multinational companies such as Lays and Orange Telecom. These brands had a monopoly on the market and I didn't see any of their competitors. I want to understand better the factors affecting business success within national economies at differing stages of development. These major organisations also have an important role to play in the grassroots development of local communities through their environmental projects, such as Coca Cola's project to fund access to clean drinking water.