Natucate
Volunteering Australia – Benita
Contributing to the protection of Australia's pristine natural areas – that's exactly what our volunteer Benita did. In her feedback interview she reveals more about her time Down Under.
Profile
Name: Benita
Age: 19
Project: Nature conservation in Australia
Location: Newcastle and Adelaide in Australia
Duration: Mid-July until end of August 2018 – 6 weeks
Rating
Support from the Natucate-Team:
Arrival:
Project partner:
Accommodation:
Volunteering in Australia – Feedback: Eight questions for Benita
1) Could you give us a brief overview of your activities in the project?
Planting reeds on the beach, protecting native plants by removing harmful plants (mostly in national parks), collecting garbage on the beach or river banks, planting trees.
2) What were the biggest challenges for you during the project?
Adjusting to different tasks in a different environment every day.
3) Was there something you liked most? Or something you remember particularly negatively?
The people in Australia are extremely helpful, open and communicative. You feel right at home and welcome. Nature is unbelievably beautiful and unique. The cities, especially Sydney, are simply a highlight in themselves. Sydney is a real metropolis, there is so much to see and you definitely come back a little happier and more open than before. Of course, you start to miss your family and friends after a little while – but as you are always on the road and there is so much to see and experience, homesickness is really not that bad and you are happy about the stories you have to tell afterwards.
4) Did you have certain expectations before you travelled to the project?
I thought that the work would be a little more strenuous than it actually was. But you really can't complain about having more free time than you expected. What also surprised me was the fact that you had your privacy despite the project and the group and were able to take a quiet minute for yourself which everyone simply accepted.
5) Have you done anything in your free time that you can recommend to future participants?
Personally, I went hiking a lot or just spontaneously drove into town. I can only recommend very volunteer to grab a backpack and go out during the leisure time you have! The world doesn't wait, you have to explore it yourself!
6) What recommendations would you give to other participants?
Don't try to plan every step of your journey, many things happen by themselves and the people there are so helpful and friendly; they even like to give you tips and advice. Just accept these. And especially important: BE OPEN, take everything as it comes and make the most of it.
7) Can you estimate how many additional costs you had on site?
Around 400 dollars, depending on how much you like to go shopping ;D
8) Here is still room for suggestions or stories from you:
I can only recommend everyone to go on such a trip, because the projects enable you to quickly meeting new people and to seeing more of the "real" Australia than only the tourist attractions. One comes back happier, more open-minded, more tolerant and more independent. You quickly learn to adapt and take everything as it comes and then just spontaneously decide what is best. Since then my motto has been: Just go out and discover the world.
