Free Nights in Exchange for Volunteers

Looking for a good reason to holiday? If you’re headed to the Maldives, the Six Senses resorts Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili are offering the opportunity and an incentive to do volunteer work while on vacation. From June 1st to October 12th 2010, guests are invited to stay at either resort for up to five nights without charge as long as they are committed to volunteering on local community projects. This voluntourism package requires the first five nights to be paid in full, and in exchange for your volunteer hours made during that time (five hours per day), the next five nights are free.

This is a unique opportunity to relax at a fabulous resort and also go behind the scenes to do some good while interacting and learning more about Maldivian culture and environment. In addition, guests can choose to spend all ten nights at one or split their time between both resorts.

There are five volunteer options to choose from:

Marine Conservation – Divers and snorkelers are taught how to boost coral reef recovery and ways to protect the dwindling shark population.

Waste Management – Learn how to create home-made compost, charcoal and biochar while encouraging the local population to be self-sufficient and thereby reduce the importation of food that can be grown at home.

Carbon Mitigation – Spend time planting trees on nearby islands to provide much needed shade while off-setting the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Youth Education – Give local island schools a 30 minute (pre-prepared) talk on waste management and composting. Guests are invited to talk about their own culture and share with students their relevant expertise in whichever field they specialise in.

Boost Local Island Income – Assist local families by learning to make cadjan roofing material to sell and promote the use of public rubbish bins to raise the awareness of waste management. This not only helps create revenue streams for the locals whom struggle to find alternative methods, but also helps to keep the islands in a pristine condition.

Bookings need to be made at least two weeks in advance and the complimentary nights are given according to the number of days volunteered at each resort. For more information, please contact Ms. Sophy Willams, Soneva PR & Marketing Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Esther Ng

Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, Maldives: www.sixsenses.com/Soneva-Fushi/index.php

Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Maldives: www.sixsenses.com/Soneva-Gili/index.php