The "coordinator dream"
It was really unexpected. I got the email and the answer was "Yes, we want you as coordinator of our park!"
When I did the interview with
ARCAS, I knew I was aiming high: I am only 22 and I will have to coordinate a National Park.
But yes, they want me! I will be the coordinator of El Hawaii National Park for 8 months and I feel I am getting closer to the objective of my life.
If you are getting interested in my adventure and you want to save sea turtles, keep on reading!
How you can help
Being El Hawaii Coordinator for 8 months is going to be challenging and enriching, but it is an unpaid position. You can do a lot with your donation!
What I will be doing
As a coordinator I will work with ARCAS to fight against sea turtles extinction.
Take part in our fight! With your donation we can realize our projects of conservation and education.
Conservation
- Beach patrols: I will organize the patrols on the beach in search of nesting turtles and I will collect eggs and data from them. We will bury the eggs in a protected zone, the hatchery, and we will wait for the babies to hatch to release them. We need patrol equipment to protect the nests from predators and humans!!
- Gather a great number of data that ARCAS and other conservation organizations can use to improve sea turtles protection, for example promoting new laws.
- Research: the park director and I, have already started working on a new research project and we have plenty of ideas!
Education
- Work with volunteers: I will not patrol on my own, I will share this experience with groups of volunteers coming from all over the world. Volunteers are essential to help ARCAS in its conservation actions.
- Local community: I will help ARCAS organize plenty of activities with the local communities, to raise awareness among adults, to improve a local sustainable economy and to educate children.
Not only turtles
- ARCAS protects the wildlife of the entire Hawaii Park.
- rehabilitation and restoration projects of endangered populations, such as the spider monkey and the yellow-naped amazon, will be organized
The costs
Round-trip ticket Milan-Guatemala City: $ 850
VISA run trips: $ 600 (in total, for the 8 months). I will have to renew my VISA every 3 months, so I will have to travel towards a neighbouring country and spend 1 night there before going back to Guatemala.
Free week: $ 1200 (total for the 8 months). I will have 8 consecutive days to rest every month, where I'll have to buy my own food .
Malaria prevention treatment: $ 60
Equipment : $ 120. I will need good jogging shoes for the beach patrols, mosquito net, insect repellent and anti-histamine cream (both very expensive) etc.
TOTAL: $ 2 830
ARCAS will offer me housing and food. I will try to cover all the expenses there with my savings, but I really need your donation to fly to Guatemala.
Volunteer with ARCAS
Another way to participate in sea turtle conservation is to become a volunteer. This is a life-changing experience that you will never forget. It's easy! Check ARCAS website: http://www.arcasguatemala.com
Share!
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My way to thank you
I will never thank you enough for your support. The only way I have to express my gratitude is to share my experience with you. So I decided to keep the best pictures and videos of the sea turtles visiting our beach and send them to you. I will also keep you updated about the activities and project that ARCAS organizes. Have a look to the Perks section for more details.
Alessandra and the Turtles
The question is always the same: why turtles?
It is always very hard for me to answer. Of course, sea turtles are ancient, elegant, mysterious animals and this is the reason why I first got interested in these creatures. But the more I study them, the more I understand that turtles are more than this: they are part of the ocean and they remind us of its importance.
By participating in sea turtle conservation we will not only save turtles, but also preserve the environment through public education and awareness.
My story
I left my family in Italy to go to France when I was 19, to follow my dream of becoming a Marine Biologist. In Marseilles, I got a degree in Biological Oceanography. At the same time, I learned how to scuba dive and I did an internship about Green Turtles in New Zealand.
In September, I left for Costa Rica, where I spent 3 months on Caletas Beach working as a Research Assistant with an NGO to save sea turtles.
Caletas Project was my life-changing experience: for 3 months I patrolled Caletas Beach in search of nesting turtles, I collected thousands of eggs which gave birth to thousands of baby turtles that we released in the Pacific Ocean. During this period I experienced the joy of feeling that I was doing something to change things. Working with turtles is amazing and every day is a new adventure. I recommend you volunteering if you are looking for an experience to remember!
Now, I want to get more experience, increasing my responsibilities and duties. I applied for a Coordinator position with ARCAS, an NGO in Guatemala, at El Hawaii National Park and I got the job! I am very excited!