Nutrition Volunteer

Nutrition Volunteer

Honko Mangrove Conservation & Education, an NGO working with communities in SW Madagascar to promote community-based mangrove management, is looking for a volunteer to assist with our nutrition initiatives in Ambondrolava, SW Madagascar, through raising awareness about Moringa oleifera, the “miracle tree”. We have an immediate 1-month opening from June 15th to July 17th for this exciting opportunity to play an integral part in Honko’s initiatives to raise awareness about nutrition across five coastal villages.

The volunteer will be picking up where our previous nutrition volunteer left off, with the education on all things Moringa. The volunteer will be responsible for giving information sessions about Moringa to all five of the communities we work with. Moringa is a miracle tree that grows well in almost all climates and has an amazing array of vitamins and minerals. In a place where nutrients are hard to obtain at a cheap cost, the Moringa tree steps in and makes everyone healthier.

This is a great chance to see a part of the world that not many have the opportunity to explore and a good way to make a positive change in people’s lives.

Responsibilities:

The nutrition volunteer’s day-to-day activities will involve learning about Moringa, practicing propagation, preparation, and maintenance of Moringa, arranging presentation schedules, and preparing for and delivering presentations to local communities. There will also be many opportunities to assist with Honko’s other projects, which include women’s association activities, ecotourism, fish farming, apiculture, and environmental education. We also ask that volunteers contribute to our blog and Facebook page during their stay here to share our progress and stories with our supporters.

Qualifications:

• At least 1 year of university completed
• Confidence in delivering presentations to a varied audience
• Basic French helpful but not required
• Open minded and culturally sensitive
• Motivated to get a lot of things done in a short amount of time
• Knowledge of basic biology/nutrition and interested in learning more

Time and duration:

This is a 1-month position available immediately, from mid-June to mid-July.

Cost:

The monthly cost for the volunteer program is €300/month ($400), which covers all food and accommodations at the site and a small contribution to help cover the costs of running Honko’s site in Ambondrolava. The volunteer fee covers:

• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• All meals on-site
• Basic accommodations (includes mosquito net and bedding)
• Training in the use of Moringa oleifera
• Filtered water
• Limited solar power
• Opportunities to meet with Honko’s partner NGOs in this region
• An enriching experience in a fascinating environment

Note that the fee does not include flights, visas, or insurance (we ask that all volunteers be covered by extensive medical and travel ensure during their stay).

Apply:

This 1-month position is available immediately, ideally starting mid-June. We will consider applications as we receive them and will select the first qualified candidates. To apply, please email volunteer@honko.org with your CV and a letter of interest. Be sure to mention where you found our announcement.

About Honko:

Honko is a Belgian-registered NGO that works in the south west region of Madagascar, based in Ambondrolava, 12km north of Tulear. 

The mangrove forest at Ambondrolava covers 120 hectares, with an additional 13 hectares of degraded and deforested mangrove that Honko and the community have reforested. We are located just south of the Bay of Ranobe, which has a 32km long reef bordering a lagoon and intermixed seagrass beds with patches of reef. The local communities strongly depend on the mangrove for its wood and animal resources, but with rapid population growth in this region, there has been over-usage of the mangrove’s resources and evident degradation.

More information:

You can learn more about us through our website www.honko.org, our Facebook page, and our blog where we post regular photos and updates on all of Honko's community and conservation initiatives. You can also contact us with any questions at volunteer@honko.org.