Volunteer Terms

1. About the Volunteer Program

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project offers volunteer opportunities for people who want to support sea turtle conservation and shark conservation awareness in Sri Lanka in a responsible and meaningful way.

The program is suitable for international volunteers, European gap year travellers, university students, wildlife lovers, responsible tourists, families, and small groups.

Volunteer activities depend on project needs, turtle activity, season, weather, visitor bookings, and local team guidance.

Volunteering may include beach cleaning, project maintenance, visitor education, awareness support, turtle care support where appropriate, shark and ray awareness, simple record keeping, and learning about marine conservation.

This is a conservation support program, not a tourist entertainment activity.

2. Conservation First Principle

The most important rule of the volunteer program is simple:

Sea turtle welfare always comes first.

Volunteers must understand that sea turtles are wild animals. They should not be treated as entertainment, photo props, personal pets, or tourist products.

All volunteer work must be done with respect, patience, and care.

Our Conservation First Rules

Do not disturb sea turtles
Do not touch turtles unless clearly guided by the project team
Do not pick up hatchlings for photos
Do not request staged turtle releases
Do not use flash photography around turtles
Do not make loud noise near turtles or turtle care areas
Do not enter restricted areas without permission
Always follow staff instructions
Always place turtle welfare before personal expectations

3. Volunteer Eligibility

Volunteers may be accepted based on availability, suitability, age, health, behaviour, and project requirements.

Volunteers Should Have

Respect for animals and nature
Willingness to help with practical tasks
A positive and flexible attitude
Patience when plans change
Basic ability to follow instructions
Respect for local culture and community
Interest in conservation and responsible tourism

No previous turtle conservation experience is required.

Volunteers Under 18

Volunteers under 18 years old may need to join with a parent, guardian, school, university, or authorised group leader.

Parental or guardian consent may be required before confirmation.

The project reserves the right to decide whether a young volunteer can safely join the program.

4. Volunteer Duties

Volunteer duties may change daily. The project team will guide volunteers based on the needs of the project.

Volunteer Activities May Include

Beach cleaning and plastic waste removal
Cleaning and maintaining project areas
Helping with visitor education
Supporting awareness activities
Basic turtle care support where appropriate
Helping with feeding preparation where guided
Simple record keeping
Supporting conservation learning sessions
Helping with responsible photography or content with permission
Supporting project preparation and maintenance work

Volunteers should understand that cleaning, maintenance, and education are important parts of real conservation work.

5. No Guaranteed Turtle Activity

Sea turtles follow nature, not human schedules.

The project cannot guarantee that volunteers will see turtles, hatchlings, nesting activity, or turtle releases during their stay.

Turtle activity depends on season, weather, nesting patterns, hatching time, rescue needs, ocean conditions, and project guidance.

Some days may involve turtle related support. Other days may focus on beach cleaning, project work, visitor education, maintenance, or learning.

Volunteers must accept this before joining.

6. Shark Conservation Volunteer Policy

The Shark Conservation Volunteer Program is a non-invasive education and awareness program. Volunteers do not catch, handle, feed, or swim with sharks as part of the project.

Volunteers must follow all project guidance, use respectful language about sharks, avoid fear based or misleading shark content, and support responsible marine conservation messages. Any shark and ray awareness activity must be safe, educational, and approved by the project team.

7. Hatchling Release Policy

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project does not sell or guarantee hatchling releases.

Hatchling release is not a volunteer right, tourist show, birthday event, or photo opportunity.

If hatchlings are naturally ready and conditions are safe, the project team will handle the release responsibly.

Volunteers Must Understand

No baby turtle release is guaranteed
No exact date release is promised
No volunteer is promised personal release participation
No staged release is arranged for photos or videos
No hatchlings should be handled without project guidance
No flash photography is allowed
The project team makes all release decisions
This policy protects hatchlings and keeps the project ethical.

8. Volunteer Code of Conduct

All volunteers must behave respectfully and responsibly during their time with the project.

Volunteers Must

Respect sea turtles and all wildlife
Respect project staff and instructions
Respect visitors, other volunteers, and local people
Keep the project area clean
Avoid harmful or careless behaviour
Speak politely and professionally
Be punctual for agreed activities
Dress appropriately for project work
Avoid unnecessary disturbance to animals
Avoid smoking, alcohol, or inappropriate behaviour during project work
Use project facilities carefully
Report problems to the team

The project reserves the right to remove any volunteer who behaves irresponsibly.

9. Safety Rules

Volunteering may involve outdoor work, beach cleaning, hot weather, slippery areas, water, sand, tools, animals, and local travel.

Volunteers participate at their own risk and must follow safety instructions.

Volunteers Should

Wear suitable clothing for outdoor work
Use sun protection
Drink enough water
Wear suitable footwear for cleaning work
Use care when collecting waste
Avoid sharp objects unless guided
Avoid entering the sea during project work unless permitted
Inform the team about health concerns
Keep personal belongings safe
Follow local beach and weather safety guidance

The project will provide reasonable guidance, but volunteers remain responsible for their own personal safety.

10. Health and Medical Responsibility

Volunteers are responsible for their own health, medication, travel preparation, and insurance.

Volunteers Should Inform the Project About

Important medical conditions
Allergies
Dietary requirements
Physical limitations
Emergency contact details
Any issue that may affect safe participation

International volunteers are strongly advised to have suitable travel insurance that covers volunteering, medical care, travel delays, accidents, and personal belongings.

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project is not responsible for medical expenses, illness, injury, or travel insurance claims.

11. Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation and meal arrangements may vary depending on the volunteer package, travel dates, group size, and availability.

Some volunteers may choose accommodation arranged through the project, while others may arrange their own stay nearby.

Volunteers Should Confirm

Whether accommodation is included
Whether meals are included
Room type
Check in and check out dates
Shared or private room arrangements
Meal plan
Transport support
Additional costs
Cancellation rules

Accommodation and meals must be confirmed before arrival.

If accommodation is provided by a third party, the project is not responsible for issues caused by that third party unless otherwise agreed in writing.

12. Volunteer Fees

Volunteer fees may apply depending on program duration, accommodation, meals, transport support, project support, and selected package.

Volunteer fees help support project operations and conservation related work.

Fees May Support

Turtle care support
Beach cleaning supplies
Project maintenance
Education materials
Volunteer coordination
Local team support
Awareness activities
Responsible conservation work
Accommodation or meal arrangements where included

All fees, inclusions, and exclusions should be confirmed before booking.

13. Payments and Confirmation

A volunteer place may only be confirmed after the required details and payment arrangements are completed.

The project may request:

Completed volunteer enquiry or application details
Travel dates
Volunteer duration
Accommodation requirements
Emergency contact details
Payment confirmation where required
Acceptance of volunteer rules

If payment is required, the project will share payment details before confirmation.

14. Cancellations and Refunds

Volunteer cancellation and refund conditions may depend on the package, accommodation bookings, third party arrangements, and timing of cancellation.

General Policy

Volunteer fees may be non refundable once arrangements are confirmed
Accommodation related costs may depend on the provider’s rules
Transport costs may be non refundable after booking
Refund requests will be reviewed case by case
No refund is given for lack of turtle activity
No refund is given for missed hatchling release
No refund is given if a volunteer is removed for breaking rules

Volunteers should confirm cancellation terms before making payment.

15. Changes to Program Activities

Project activities may change due to weather, turtle welfare, season, safety, staff availability, visitor bookings, government rules, or other local conditions.

The project reserves the right to change schedules, activities, or arrangements when needed.

Volunteers should be flexible and understand that conservation work cannot be fully planned like a fixed tour itinerary.

16. Photography and Video Rules

Photography may be allowed where appropriate, but it must always follow project guidance.

Volunteers Must Not

Use flash photography around turtles
Pick up turtles or hatchlings for photos
Stage turtle photos
Crowd turtles for videos
Share misleading content
Enter restricted areas for photos
Use the project name for commercial content without permission
Film visitors, staff, or other volunteers without consent

Photos and videos should support education and awareness, not harmful wildlife tourism.

17. Social Media Guidelines

Volunteers are welcome to share their experience responsibly.

Responsible Social Media Content Should

Promote conservation
Respect turtle welfare
Show beach cleaning and education work
Avoid staged animal content
Avoid misleading turtle release claims
Respect the local team and community
Avoid showing restricted areas
Avoid encouraging others to touch turtles

The project may request removal of content that is misleading, harmful, unethical, or damaging to the project.

18. Personal Belongings

Volunteers are responsible for their personal belongings.

The project is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items, including phones, cameras, money, passports, laptops, jewellery, bags, or clothing.

Volunteers should keep valuable items safe and avoid bringing unnecessary valuables to project activities.

19. Respect for Local Culture

Volunteers must respect Sri Lankan culture, local customs, religious values, local people, and community life.

Volunteers Should

Dress respectfully when outside beach areas
Speak politely to local people
Avoid offensive behaviour
Respect local traditions
Be mindful when taking photos of people
Avoid littering
Support a friendly and respectful project environment

Responsible volunteering includes respect for both wildlife and people.

20. Environmental Responsibility

Volunteers should support the project’s sustainability values.

Volunteers Are Encouraged To

Use a reusable water bottle
Reduce single use plastic
Avoid littering
Dispose of waste correctly
Join beach cleaning responsibly
Use water and electricity carefully
Respect plants, animals, and coastal habitats
Encourage responsible travel behaviour

Small actions can support a cleaner and safer coastal environment.

21. Volunteer Removal

The project reserves the right to remove a volunteer from the program without refund if the volunteer breaks rules, creates safety concerns, harms wildlife, disrespects staff, or behaves inappropriately.

Reasons for Removal May Include

Ignoring staff instructions
Touching turtles without permission
Using flash photography
Requesting or staging unethical turtle releases
Aggressive or disrespectful behaviour
Alcohol or drug related misconduct during project work
Damage to project property
False information in the application
Unsafe behaviour
Misleading social media content
Disturbing visitors, volunteers, staff, or animals

This protects the project, the turtles, and everyone involved.

22. Emergency Contact and Communication

Volunteers should provide emergency contact details before joining the program.

Volunteers should also keep the project informed if they are delayed, sick, travelling away from the area, or unable to attend scheduled activities.

For urgent communication, WhatsApp is usually the easiest method.

Phone / WhatsApp: 077 226 6888

23. Use of Volunteer Photos and Testimonials

The project may request permission to use volunteer photos, videos, reviews, or testimonials for website, social media, project updates, or awareness purposes.

Volunteers can choose whether to give permission.

If a volunteer later wants their photo or testimonial removed, they can contact the project. We will review and remove it where practical.

24. Privacy and Personal Information

Volunteer personal information is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

This may include name, country, contact details, travel dates, volunteer duration, accommodation needs, health notes provided by the volunteer, emergency contacts, and messages.

We use this information only for volunteer coordination, communication, safety, project management, and related purposes.

25. Liability

Volunteering involves some risk. By joining the volunteer program, volunteers understand that they participate voluntarily and at their own risk.

To the fullest extent allowed by law, Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project is not responsible for:

Injury or illness
Travel delays
Weather changes
Loss of belongings
Medical expenses
No turtle activity
Missed hatchling release
Accommodation issues caused by third parties
Transport delays
Personal decisions outside project guidance
Problems caused by ignoring safety rules

Volunteers are responsible for their own travel insurance, health, safety, and personal belongings.

26. Agreement to Volunteer Terms

By applying for or joining the volunteer program, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Volunteer Terms.

You also confirm that you understand:

Sea turtle welfare comes first
Volunteer activities can change
Turtle activity is not guaranteed
Hatchling release is not guaranteed
You must follow project rules
You participate at your own risk
You are responsible for your health, insurance, and belongings

27. Contact Us About Volunteer Terms

If you have questions about these Volunteer Terms, please contact us before applying or confirming your volunteer stay.

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project
Phone / WhatsApp: 077 226 6888
Email: info@ahungallaseaturtles.com
Location: Ahungalla, Sri Lanka