Ocean Giants Programe
A little about us Ocean Giants Program apprentices and how we came to be volunteers with Manta Mexico Caribe:
By Alisha and Jen.
Jenna:
When I heard about OGP, it sounded like such an amazing opportunity I knew I had to apply! I really enjoyed making my application video and reflecting on why I thought I would be right for the programme and why this programme would be great for me.
The chance to receive training from professionals within the Manta Trust and contribute to real research within an NGO is an experience not many undergraduate students are lucky enough to get. From the start, I was particularly interested in the Manta Caribbean Project.
The project’s holistic approach to mobulid conservation, through robust scientific research, community outreach and communication with legislators and government appealed to me.
I have really enjoyed working with Karen and the Manta Caribbean Project, getting an insight into how this is done, and being able to have hands-on experience in most of these areas.
Alisha:
I have always embraced taking every opportunity, if you go for it and it doesn't work out you still have the experience of applying.
If you never go for it, you never get to know if you could have had that amazing opportunity. So naturally, when I saw the Ocean Giants Programme application in my inbox I had to send an application in!
The application process, specifically the interview with the founder of the Manta Caribbean project (MCP), Karen Fuentes, was such a beneficial experience in itself.
Choosing the MCP due to their incredible research on the beautiful endangered Manta’s, including their incessant work towards defining the Manta Rays in the Caribbean as a third species, meaning there would not be two but three species of Manta Ray!
The Ocean Giants Program for Conservationist Development was set up by the University of Plymouth and the Manta Trust, to prepare the next generation of marine researchers and ocean guardians for the challenges ahead. Especially vital in this increasingly academically-based world, where the opportunities for graduates is slimming. We’re expected to know how to network, be interviewed and apply for scientific jobs fresh out of university. Never being taught these basic, but vital skills for the field were set to work in. The ocean giants program truly provides skills that I will use in my academic, career and personal life.
Apprentices are partnered with a Manta Trust affiliate project and given training in the operations of marine NGOs. We were then tasked with fundraising for our partner organizations ahead of a work-based placement in the field with the NGO. In our case we joined the volunteering program with the Manta Caribbean Project, participating in outreach with a local school and other NGOs based in Isla Mujeres, in field data collection and data processing.
Training
Over the year we were working with OGP and the affiliate projects we had the opportunity to receive training from the Manta Trust, providing us with essential skills in conservation and our placements moving forwards with our conservation central careers.
The social media training was led by Jas, the social media and communications manager of the Manta Trust; who ended up coming to help out with the Manta Caribbean Project during our placement! Provided us with the skills to target our audience to raise awareness for our cause in the best way possible to reach as many people as we could via social media, and by other creative means including infographics and informative posters.
The Fundraising training by Eithne, fundraising manager of the Manta Trust. During the initial training, we were advised on the best way to fundraise for NGOs specifically. We presented our ideas to Eithne to gain expert advice on our fundraising plan, which in the long run was incredibly beneficial for trying to fundraise as much as possible in just under a year, alongside university and to students… good luck to us!
The Finance training by Eleanor, Finance manager of the Manta Trust. An extremely valuable training, being advised on different ways to manage our budget, the funds we raise, how we will keep a track of it all and ensure we’re putting the right amount of funds into the projects that will provide us with the most fundraising for the NGOs.
I will carry the lessons I learnt and the advice I so carefully noted down from these inspiring, intelligent managers from the Manta Trust. The support we received throughout the programme from each of them was amazing and I will appreciate and carry everything I learnt with me for the rest of my life.
Fundraising
To begin, us 5 volunteers had almost too many ideas and plans on how we can fundraise for this amazing company! (If that’s possible) We were all so anxious to get started and help the affiliate projects we were paired with, in whatever way possible. But, we did it! We made a plan of attack, and decided on our main fundraising activities; merch, a quiz and an online raffle. One of the volunteer's very talented artistic friends drew up a beautiful design for some t-shirts we made and sold. This was such a big hit, everyone loved them as do we! And now we have a bunch of OGP supporters showing off the gorgeous design all around the world. We held a quiz for all of our friends and supporters, which was so amazing to see everyone dedicated to helping us, OGP and the Manta Trust. The raffle, held online to be inclusive to everyone who couldn't be in the UK for our raffle, seeing people buying tickets from all over the world to support the projects was incredible. We had some amazing companies, 4Ocean, Two Bare Feet, Pineapple Island, Silverstick and various small independent businesses supporting our raffle and donating the prizes.
Placement
Photo of the manta and sunset by Jasmine Corbett
Overall the experience, however in some places rocky, balancing university and the placement alongside each other has been outweighed with the insane experiences. Gaining in fieldwork with the best boat crew there is! Everyone on board is dedicated to protecting our oceans, searching to conserve the Manta Rays by gathering IDs of them, working towards distinguishing the Caribbean Manta Ray as its own species. Following collecting the data in the field through to processing it has been an amazing experience. Observing how an NGO, the never-ending tasks, promoting and funding the company on top of just wanting to protect the species the NGO set out to is an everlasting job that not a lot of people can do, nevermind successfully. I feel ready now to try and make my way into the world of conservation, feeling more prepared to take on the challenges and fight to make a difference for the ocean I am passionate about.
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