COBEC is a community-based organization officially registered with the Kenyan Ministry of social services in 2009. COBEC works with and enjoys support from the community and stakeholders in all its conservation activi-ties along the Coastal region.

COBEC approaches are bottom-up (or grass-root) activities that bring individuals and organizations together to work towards achieving desired environmental goals. These approaches are fueled by a community force that exerts pressure on government agencies. Commonly referred to as localization or subsidiarity this force reflects peoples’ desire for a greater say in issues that affect them. While government agencies may set strategies and prepare plans and policies, their ultimate success depends on the support of a wide spectrum of socie-ty, so this desire for involvement needs to be acknowledged and acted upon. People are usually proactive in protect-ing things of value to them, and it is in this context that biodiversity conservation initiatives have to be understood. Community-based environmental conservation seems compelling because it starts from the most fundamental principle: individuals will take care of those things in which they have a long-run, sustained interest.

The rationale behind COBEC is that, by working together, people are able to achieve more than individuals or or-ganizations working on their own and involving those affected is likely to result in a better and more acceptable long-term solution. These desired outcomes have led to increased acknowledgement of participatory activities as a means of achieving environmental and sustainability goals.

COBEC operates at a local or community level. CO-BEC tends to be voluntary, people-centered and participatory, with community members making management decisions. Expertise may be provided by outside agencies but management responsibility remains with the commu-nity group. Community-based environmental conservation reverses top-down, center-driven conservation by focus-ing on the people who bear the costs of conservation. In the broadest sense, then, community-based environmental conservation includes natural resource or biodiversity protection by, for, and with local communities.

COBEC Volunteer Programme/Activities :

COBEC works currently works directly with two communities in Malindi district, Coast Province in the Republic of Kenya. COBEC has activities with MCCC in Mida creek and has activities with Marereni BMU in Marereni. All these activities are geared towards sustainable management of the marine ecosystem.

Most of the activities that volunteers will be engaged in are:

• Habitat Restoration :

Together with the community, volunteers will be involved in mangrove planting in the creek and at Marereni man-grove habitats. These are planting events that take place regularly Planting normally depends on the availability of seedlings which is seasonal but COBEC has tree nurseries managed by local communities. Volunteers will also at times be involved in nursery establishments and participate in planting, monitoring and surveys.

• Beach Cleaning :

Beach cleaning is part of a COBEC activity so as to ensure that the nesting beach is free from debris for nesting turtles and safe to the public. In Watamu volunteers will jointly conduct beach cleaning with WMA waste man-agement project staff and other groups. In Marereni, volunteers will participate in these activities together with the BMU and local schools.

• Sea Turtle Conservation :

COBEC has two programs relating to sea turtle conservation. One is a by catch release programme where volunteers will work with community turtle attendants to collect turtles accidentally caught by fishermen and release them back to the sea. This activity depends on the fishing season. It is not a guarantee to catch turtles. Before releasing them, data recording takes place i.e. taking measurements for research purposes. This data is later computed and then analyzed for reporting purposes. The other activity is the beach patrol, nesting mapping and monitoring. This activity takes place in Marereni project site. Volunteers will be patrolling the beach to find out any nesting turtles. They will be expected to fill a nesting information form any time a nest is identified. Monitoring will continue until hatchlings come out.

• Ecological surveys/snorkeling/Diving :

Research and data collection is done on the new identified site for the establishment of a Marine Protected Area in Marereni. It is done during day time and those participating should have knowledge of swimming, snorkeling and diving.

• Education and awareness :

COBEC conducts awareness to schools and to the community. Volunteers will be put on a programme to visit and give lectures/presentation on environmental conservation. Volunteers will thus help in the development of educa-tion materials especially for school children i.e. primary and secondary schools. They will also be involved in organ-izing outdoor activities with the children so as to foster quick learning and making the programme attractive to stu-dents. COBEC also conducts awareness presentation for the public.

• Website and social media development and marketing :

Volunteers who are good in content development and have hands-on know how in IT, will be charged with the re-sponsibility of working on COBEC social media handles and enhance the website.

• Fundraising for COBEC Programmes :

Each volunteer will be tasked to fundraise for the programme they wish before their volunteering period ends. Fund-raising can be through proposal development or developing sponsorship activities or any initiative that would raise funds.

• Community Ecotourism Programme :

Volunteers will closely work with the local community to develop and add-value to the existing ecotourism facilities within MCCC and Marereni BMU.

Some of the activities that volunteers will work in-on include:
• Crab farming :

Together with the community in-charge, volunteers with expertise in this area and those learning will be involved in crab cage construction, crab stocking, feeding, monitoring and harvesting. In all these process, data will be captured for research purposes. Volunteers will also be engaged in sales and marketing where possible.

• Canoe riding and Bird watching :

This is an enjoyable activity especially for tourists and birdwatchers. Volunteers will together with local tour guides develop a guiding programme/procedures that will be used within Mida creek. They will also be expected to identify good channels with the creek that the guides can use for mangrove tours/canoe riding tours.
• Tented Restaurants and the Board walk :

This is one of the important ecotourism attraction developed by the community for the community. Volunteers will work with the community to modify and add value to these structures so as to be up to standard with the current tourism tastes.

• Capacity Building Trainings :

As COBEC works with different community groups, depending on volunteers’ knowledge, training programs will be organized ranging from financial record keeping, computer training, tour guiding skills etc.

This volunteer programme has been built to fit the volunteer’s expectations. COBEC has put in place an accom-modation plan that will see volunteers have a taste of the locals’ homesteads environment. Every volunteer will have a week or two for a home-stay with the local community. Volunteers who will be willing to extend their home-stays, will be allowed to do so. These houses are fully equipped with kitchen appliances. Rooms are cleaned and bedding washed and changed regularly. The rooms are of good standard and bed fitted with mosquito nets so as to provide all the basic requirements for a comfortable stay.

The homestays that COBEC has identified is just close to the ocean – at a walking distance or by boarding a motorbike.

During your stay on this project food will be provided by your host family, volunteers will be provided with three meals a day (break fast, lunch and dinner), food will be prepared by the host with the help of volunteers most of foods are locally made and fresh produced.

For volunteers who maybe want to stay in a guest house for their privacy then will prepare food for themselves the shopping will be available in the house. 

Location: Coast Province watamu in Gede. Kilifi County.

Transport :
Volunteers will be expected to arrange their own transport to the office and sometimes to the field. The mode of transport is either by motorbikes, bodabodas (bicycles) or matatus. Transport cost is affordable and at times volun-teers will be walking to the field as it may not far.

Leisure time: Excursions at Mombasa with a lot of beaches, fort Jesus, Maasai Mara game reserve for night game drive and day game drive, visiting touristic destinations around the county, there are so many activities to be done in Mombasa.cultural centres etc

You'll need to meet certain requirements, including age, health, and attitude. You'll also need a passport and visa to enter the country.

1. Age: You must be at least 18 years old (if you are below 18 years you need written consent from a guardian), or the age required by your program ;

2. Language: You should be able to speak at least basic English, or the language required by your program ;

3. Passport: You'll need a valid passport to enter Kenya ;

4. Visa: You'll need a Single Entry Visa or tourist visa to volunteer in Kenya ;

5. Travel insurance: You'll need to have travel and health insurance ;

6. Background check: You may need to provide a criminal background check report ;

7. Vaccinations: You may need to get certain vaccinations before entering Kenya ;

8. Training: You may need to participate in training provided by your organization ;

9. You should also be open-minded, flexible, and patient, and willing to step outside your comfort zone ;

10. A positive attitude towards independent progress of others.

11. A willingness to adapt to local conditions.

Arrival Terminal--Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi

Day 1:

Arrival and pick up from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi, Kenya and transfer to host family home or hostel.

Day 2:

Morning: registration and start of orientation. About 4 hours lecture at the home of your host. Topics covered during orientation lecture will include East African culture, history, customs, politics, geography, and necessary health precautions, and various other topics, such as the diversity of Kenyan life.

Afternoon is free for exploring rural Kenyan life and getting to know your host family.

Orientation: Orientation meeting will take place in Nairobi before proceeding to the project.

Additional requirements
1,Some programs may have additional requirements, such as a registration fee or program fee
2,Medical volunteers may need to provide college enrollment documents
3,Volunteers working with children may need to provide a criminal background check report

Duration of the project: 1-6-12 months. The program is running throughout the year.
Participation fee: 600 Euros per months (12 months) The project fee or extra fee includes Airport Pick up, Airport Transfer, Food 3 meals a day Breakfast Dinner Lunch, Accommodation and Host, Transport From Nairobi to the Project And Back to Nairobi after the project, City Tour, 2 days host In Nairobi on your arrival and last day after project, 24 hours Agape Centre Of Hope Office Support and project monitoring.
This Project Run All Round the Year is Open for Applications All times.
Communication
Kenya is one of the fast growing country in-terms of information communication technology. With your mobile phone, you may need to change a sim card to stay in-touch with your loved ones. The area also has more than three cyber cafes for internet purposes. COBEC has a WiFi in the office that can be plugged in a computer and be online.
Shopping and eating out areas.
With many cottages and hotels around, Watamu has invested in shopping places comprising of retail shops and two supermarkets. All these shopping out areas have whatever you may need. There are several eating out area serving various Atlantic and local dialects. The choice is yours – either you eat in a hotel, restaurant or a local kiosk.
Financial Transactions
Most local banks engage in international transactions and accept Visa Cards, money gram, western union etc.
Night Out!
For socialization and getting out for a Jig to the rhythms, the area has over three spots playing local and English music. Live bands also performance during weekends upon invitation.
Security
There are police stations in both project areas that ensure everyone is safe. Police patrol the area at night and any misconduct may find its way in police custody.