VOLUNTEER LOCAL
Secret Paradise and Sun sHADe Volunteers provides opportunities for responsible and meaningful working holidays in one of the most beautiful places in the world. We work in conjunction with Sun sHADe Volunteers, which is entirely led by Huvadhoo Aid (HAD), a non-governmental, youth organization located in Huvadhoo Atoll. HAD was founded in 1987 and welcomed the first international volunteer programme in 2009. Since then many foreign volunteers have experienced an authentic travel experience in the Maldives, while working on various projects. The various volunteering programmes offered-on education, community development, cultural exchange, healthcare, sports- all aim to develop community life while conserving the island itself and the marine life surrounding it. We work with each volunteer to design a program that is best suited to their skill level and interest while filling a need in the community. Secret Paradise acts as a non profit making organisation for all our volunteer holidays.
TOUR DETAILS
VOLUNTEERING INFORMATION
Huvadhoo Aid is an NGO based in Huvadhoo Atoll. This not-for-profit set up ensures that the entirety of your fee is spent on the costs of your placement. This means that your entire fee goes back into aiding the community.
Our volunteering fees include all your food and accommodation, a local sim-card for your phone, visa costs, 24 hour support, local transportation both to and within the atoll, weekly activities and anything else you will require specific to your placement. Weekly activities may involve fishing trips, snorkeling round the coral reefs or picnics to uninhabited islands. Locals will more often than not be used for transport within the atoll, and as much of our food as possible is locally sourced. Our transparent policy ensures that our volunteers know exactly where their money goes. You will be able to see precisely what your money is being spent on and if you have any questions or issues at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Additional to the program fee is an administration Fee – This US$200 fee helps to cover the administrative costs involved for the time and work between our application review and your arrival in Maldives such as visa applications, office overheads and local staff.
Our activities as an NGO greatly benefit the local community, and when you join our family you too will be able to watch your time and money become invested in the happiness of the local people.
We offer several incredible opportunities to try and make our volunteers stays as memorable as possible. These range from cost-inclusive excursions to career-enhancing workshops.
WEEKLY "DESERT-ISLAND EXCURSIONS" AND TOURS AROUND THE ATOLL
A real desert island experience! We drop you and the other volunteers (and local guides) off on an uninhabited island in the morning and leave you there all day! We provide everything you will need, including food, drink, sunblock, chairs, umbrellas and sports and snorkeling equipment to make this the perfect day out.
Most islands in the Maldives are unique and are host to different customs and sights to see. We offer trips which can visit several of these islands over the course of a few days. This really does give you a better view of what the Maldives is really like.
SHIP-WRECK DIVE, NIGHT-SNORKELING AND SURFING
As well as regular scuba diving which can be provided upon request, we also offer an excursion to a nearby shipwreck! A not-to-be-missed experience, this is something you will remember for the rest of your life. Has to be requested during the application process.
Feel like an olden-days explorer by taking a trip snorkeling during the night. It’s an amazing feeling swimming in a warm sea at night with just a torch and a few friends for company. The marine life at night is spectacular, expect to see turtles, reef sharks and hundreds of different species of brightly coloured fish! And if you’re lucky, maybe even a dolphin!
LEARN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE AND DEVELOP PROFESSIONALLY
‘Dhivehi’, the national language of the Maldives can be taught to volunteers here and provides an interesting past-time which will help improve your relations with locals.
We can help aid your career development by providing training sessions and workshops in a variety of different areas. From Project Cycle Management to Human Rights, we can make a real addition to your CV on top of your volunteering placement.