Plastic Recycling & Community Clean-up Activist

You will schedule and participate in community clean-ups and litter pick-ups for a portion of each week of your placement. You will then be based in the volunteer housing or our workshop area to make ecobricks and carry out these projects as funding permits, or you can assist the team in developing and research items that can be made and upcycled using the waste materials gathered. We also organise assemblies and demos on plastic waste management and how everyone can get involved with the local schools and community groups for those of you who would also like to be part in the community outreach element.

The placement is very flexible, and the weekly schedule can be adjusted to match your interests and passions in addition to combining with our other conservation efforts in farming and agriculture.

Who will I be working with?

You will usually be working alongside your fellow volunteers, support team or members of the community however for parts of the day you may be required to work independently. 

A member of our volunteer support team will also visit you at your placement site periodically after the initial introduction to ensure you are getting on well and making an impact on site. 

What do we expect from a volunteer?

All we request is the passion and drive to make a difference with us, one step at a time. You will be able to contribute much more to this initiative if you get involved especially on the community cleanup days, which can be strenuous in the heat and humidity. The best qualities of a volunteer are zeal, empathy, and the capacity to adapt to other cultures. By being open to new experiences and viewpoints while also bringing your own to the table, you will make the most of your trip. 

We expect volunteers to visit their placements Monday through Friday; however, we can make an exception for long weekends or other travel-related reasons.

What can you expect from us?

We will be on hand any time of any day to support you in your placement and trip as a whole. There will always be someone you can speak to or get a hold of should you want to discuss anything or require any guidance, from organising and altering your timetable to changing your placement. Our team living in the volunteer house will also be able to offer advice regarding travel plans and the local area so you will soon feel at home.

What should I bring?

To use during the community clean-up days, pack at least one pair of sturdy shoes and full-length trousers or a tracksuit, depending on where you will be placed. We also recommend that those who are passionate about upcycling and developing new goods bring plans or paperwork on their ideas, which we then intend to share with nearby communities or sell online to support additional projects, depending on the items. Professional tools for litter picking would also be wonderful because they are hard to find locally.

What Happens During School Holidays?

The holidays will not directly affect this placement and the work can continue throughout the year. 
The school holidays usually fall three times a year; few weeks around easter, few weeks around August and a few weeks during December. 

• 07:30am - Volunteer transport leaves the volunteer house to project sites
• 08:00am - Arrive at project site destination and start placement work. Eg, watering and planting seedlings.
• 10:00am - 10:30am - Morning Break
• 12:30pm - 01:00pm - Lunch Break
• 03:00pm -  End of placement and start to travel back to the house to rest and meet up with the other team members.

In their free time, volunteers are free to go shopping in the local markets, return to the volunteer house or visit the local swimming pools.