Many local and international students look for opportunities to volunteer in Mauritius. Volunteering is committing yourself to devote time and effort to benefit a community, society, environment, and individuals. It is about doing something for others, being selfless and charitable. It gives opportunities for societies to help each other without expecting anything in return. Volunteering is for people who are generous and kind-hearted.

Volunteering opportunities are found everywhere in the world and for many different causes. In Mauritius, the focus is on conservation and community development. Volunteering opportunities for conservation focus on beaches, endangered species of animals and plants, and the protection of the environment of Mauritius. Community development projects include helping educate children with disabilities, the less fortunate, the elderly, and the population’s health.

Here are the top 10 volunteering opportunities in Mauritius:

1. YUVA

YUVA was founded in 2015 by a group of enthusiastic young individuals. Its aim is to create a brighter future for the children and youth of Mauritius and India. YUVA is one of Africa’s and India’s largest and most active youth-led organisations.

YUVA focuses on creating better opportunities for the children and youth of Mauritius and India by getting them involved in the country’s development. Their voice is heard, and their concerns are being acted on. Children and young people gain new skills and experiences that will be useful for their development.

YUVA’s objective is to develop healthy, educated, empowered, and employed individuals to break the cycle of poverty.

2. Caritas Mauritius

Caritas Mauritius was founded in May 1965 and is defined as “an initiative in which charity would at the same time be devotion and expertise”. Initially, it was focused on emergency relief. But as of 2001, Caritas Mauritius works to rehabilitate the poor, the excluded, and the oppressed. It offers the love and proximity the people need to build a fair and united community.

The actions of Caritas Mauritius are divided into three services. Accompaniment and development service, Training service, and Accommodation service. The Accompaniment and development service is for emergency relief. It supports the victims of natural disasters, counselling, and helps children’s education. The Training service consists of literacy centres, Life Skills Management Programme, a Centre of Learning, domestic science schools, and a pastry-making school. The Accommodation service provides accommodation assistance to low-income families, night shelters, and The Hope Inn, a temporary apartment for families.

3. Mauritius Wildlife Foundation (MWF)

The Mauritius Wildlife Foundation is the largest non-governmental organisation in Mauritius to be exclusively concerned with conserving and preserving the nation’s endangered plant and animal species. Their conservation projects are carried out in Mauritius, including the islets around Rodrigues.

They restore entire ecosystems to save endangered Mauritian species. There are several ways in which you can help the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation. You can donate, become a volunteer, purchase their products, or simply visit Ile aux Aigrettes. The conservation efforts will benefit future generations of Mauritians.

4. Diabetes Foundation Mauritius

Diabetes Foundation Mauritius is a voluntary and active Non-Governmental Organisation founded in April 2006. As Mauritius has a high prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes, Diabetes Foundation Mauritius created a structured, organised, and committed organisation. Most of its members are active healthcare providers.

Diabetes Foundation Mauritius enhances public awareness through the conduct of aggressive sensitisation and prevention campaigns on problems related to diabetes. They also emphasised the early detection of diabetes and its risk factors. Hence, they carry out diabetes screening programs for persons at high risk of developing diabetes throughout the island of Mauritius, especially in the outreached regions which are in the pocket of poverty.

5. FWH Mauritius

FWH Mauritius was founded and is run by students. The actions of the FWH align with five of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. They collect funds through donations, volunteers, and partnerships to purchase the necessities and distribute the amenities to those in need.

The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the existing inequalities in Mauritius. All supermarkets closed for several weeks, leaving thousands of people confined in their homes with restrained access to food and water. This inspired the FWH to start its initiative to assist people in need in these difficult times. In three weeks, they were able to raise 120 000 MUR, with which they bought food and necessities to distribute in the North of Mauritius, in the districts of Pamplemousses and Rivière du Rempart. Today, they have successfully helped 80 families, and they want to continue to help even more communities in need.

By giving out boxes with food, water, and hygiene products, FWH aims to help people in Mauritius during these difficult times.

6. APEIM (Association de Parents d’enfants Inadaptees de l’Ile Maurice)

The APEIM is a non-governmental organisation that targets children and adults with psychological disabilities in Mauritius. It was founded in 1970 by Nancy Piat, mother of a child with Down syndrome. She took the initiative to contact other parents with disabled children and fight for their children’s rights.

The organisation gives the families the knowledge, support, and courage to help their children live happily. They offer medical assistance, education and family support, and domiciliary visits.

7. SOS Children’s Village Mauritius

SOS Children’s Villages worldwide Organisation started in Imst, Austria, in 1949. Hermann Gmeiner, the founder, was committed to helping children in need – children who had lost their parents, security, and families due to the Second World War. With the support of donors and collaborators, the organisation has expanded to help children worldwide. The idea to establish an SOS Children’s Village in Mauritius originates from Miss Anne Marie Cheung Leung Chung, who visited the SOS Children’s Village in Imst, Austria.

The organisation offers long-term care to needy children who have been abandoned, neglected, and have lost parental care upon court order by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development, and Family Welfare. SOS Children’s Villages Mauritius constantly innovates and improves the work towards SOS family care to explore relevant care solutions for children, together with partners and alternative caregivers.

8. Reef Conservation Mauritius

Previously known as “The Marine Conservation Management Consortium”, the Reef Conservation Mauritius is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the marine environment of Mauritius through the implementation and management of research and education projects.

Reef Conservation has expanded its work from FMBs to marine environmental education, working with coastal communities and fishermen to establish voluntary conservation areas, establishing an eco-guide training program for out-of-school unemployed youth, and working in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries to reinforce the capacity of Marine Protected Areas around Mauritius.

9. SOS Patrimoine En Peril – Save our heritage

SOS Patrimoine En Peril – Save our heritage was founded in November 2006 and aims to identify heritage objects and places and keep them safe. They make an inventory and document history, where possible, of historical buildings, works of art, literature, and relics, within the Republic of Mauritius, highlighting their current status and their need for preservation.

They inform and educate the public and tourists about our historic buildings. They also take action toward the preservation of historic structures. Their objective is to promote activity for the conservation of historical structures (including but not restricted to) by raising awareness and mediation, including government assistance.

10. Hope House Mauritius

Hope House is a non-governmental organisation founded in early 2014 by Andre and Yvette Holl. They aim to uplift and empower individuals and communities. This is achieved through education, skills development, and mentoring. We all know that skills alone do not feed a man. At Hope House, they connect the products and the craftsmen to an end market.

Housing improvement is one of the most important aspects of caring for an individual. Hope House builds projects that aim to achieve economic housing development and sustainability. Their dream is to empower people. They reach forward with them by mentoring, educating, entrepreneurship, housing development, and sports education.

Ingrid Roussel, YUVA Intern