Jessica Killaspy’s story from her time on Azafady’s Conservation Programme: Lemur Venture in April 2009
Posted on 07 December 2009
Hi, my name is Jessica and I decided to get involved with Azafady before the start of my gap year in the summer of 2008. I had always wanted to spend some time in Madagascar and lemurs have fascinated me ever since I learned about their existence, so the Lemur Venture programme was just what I was looking for. I was also pleased to be volunteering with a charity, where I knew that my money was not just going to be swallowed up by one of the numerous profit-making gap year companies that are out there.
I had 9 months to fundraise and although I faced the task with some trepidation (I had fundraised before and knew that it could be tough) I did manage to raise most of the money from only a few events. Bag packing is a good one, you just have to bite the bullet and ask! And after a long day fundraising you can always go to Blacks or Cotswold Outdoors as a reward and get excited about choosing mozzie nets, fleeces and sun cream (I get ridiculously excited about the most mundane preparations!)
It was finally the end of March and I took a Eurostar train for the first time to Paris - I had booked a flight with Air France. I will never forget my first sight of Madagascar - the red earth of the highlands spreads out like a patchwork around Tana and we circled a few times before landing, giving me the opportunity to take in the whole panorama. I found my way easily through the quaint, little airport and into the bustle of Ivato, where I was to stay before flying down to Fort Dauphin.
We were met and welcomed at the airport by a couple of the Azafady guides as we stood sweating and waiting for bags. The staff in Madagascar were amazing – throughout the programme I felt very well supported, both with the info from the team in London and the support in place for volunteers in Madagascar. Even when I had completed my time as a volunteer, I and another volunteer stayed in Fort Dauphin for a week and they were anxious to help us out with accommodation and onward travel plans. We really felt cared for, a part of the Azafady family the whole time we were in Madagascar.
I worked in Sainte Luce and in Berenty; our main project in Sainte Luce was to construct transects in the remaining sections of littoral forest and walk them slowly, on the lookout for lemurs. However we also did some work in the tree nursery and with the children from the local school – our environmental education lesson was wonderful, the children were all intelligent and aware of most of the issues we brought up already. They were also very polite and listened to all we had to say, proving our fears of a riot unfounded! In Berenty we did all-day follows of ring tailed and brown lemurs, which enabled us to understand their lives and their behaviour. One of my favourite memories is of a young ringtail who was curious about us – he would leap to the tree nearest to us and peer round it surreptitiously, but then leap away again when we caught him looking!
I am used to camping, so I didn’t find it a hardship – we camped in some beautiful places, and even though we did get flooded once and the sand does get inside no matter what you do, I can look back on the whole camping experience with fondness now! The great thing about working with Azafady rather than being a tourist was that we were able to live alongside Malagasy communities (and tents are hardly less luxurious than some of the huts we saw) and live with the people for a little while. I love the people and the culture as much as I love the flora and fauna of Madagascar – all of them are amazing and I am so glad I found Azafady. I know it’s a cliché, but most of the best moments of my life were spent in Madagascar this year. Don’t miss out!
2 responses to Jessica Killaspy’s story from her time on Azafady’s Conservation Programme: Lemur Venture in April 2009
Hi Jessica - I’m so glad you enjoyed your time in Mada. I completely agree with you about the last comment, even if it is a cliche: I’m 31 and I would say exactly the same.
Hope you’re enjoying being back in the UK (it took me AT LEAST 6 months to get back on track and used to *proper* cars and supermarkets ..
Polx (Pioneer, Jan 2009).
Hi Jessica! Sounds great! I’ll be volunteering for Lemur Venture this April, so you can imagine how excited I am right now (what with it being February already!), as I’m sure you were too. At the moment I’m just really busy trying to get the money, but I have no doubt whatsoever that it’ll be worth it!
Take care,
Xaali