Nosy Komba, Madagascar

My 10 weeks on the forest conservation project in Madagascar were full of hiking, wildlife, new friends, and beautiful scenery. The accommodations turned out to be better than I expected and I enjoyed spending weekends exploring other parts of Madagascar with other volunteers. You'll meet people from all over the world who share a similar passion for travel, volunteering, conservation, and community development. You'll have the opportunity to learn the local language, Malagasy, and to immerse yourself in Malagasy culture by talking with people, trying traditional Malagasy cuisine, and exploring the country. As one of the world's poorest countries, you'll see firsthand the effects of poverty on people's lives, but you'll also spend your days volunteering in ways that will improve people's lives, which can be very rewarding. In addition to the forest project, I also had the opportunity to teach English classes in the afternoons and to go on several construction trips to a rural village on the main island where MRCI volunteers are building a medical clinic for the village. It was rewarding to help in as many different ways as possible, and I made life-long friends from all over the world. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in conservation, community development, experiencing new cultures, or simply making a difference in someone's life.