THE JOY OF GIVING BACK

Ever fancied volunteering? These inspiring women have made a difference in many ways

- KIM WILIS

At sunset, we released baby turtles into the ocean'

Liz Radley, 50, lives in Suffolk with husband Kris, 50, and their daughter Tilly, 10.

In my 20s I worked at a leprosy charity and visited colonies in India as part of a fundraising challenge. I was desperate to do something meaningful again.

When I turned 49 in December 2023, I started thinking about what I'd want to do a year later to mark my milestone 50th. Our daughter Tilly has always loved nature, so WorkingAbroad's family volunteering scheme at the Reserva Playa Tortuga Conservation Project in Costa Rica seemed perfect.

SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL

We took Tilly out of school for three weeks but her school was supportive as they recognised the educational value. My work also had no problem with me taking time off.

In December 2024, we arrived in the rainforest. We covered the cost of food and accommodation and, in return, we participated in sea turtle research, crocodile monitoring, monkey surveys and butterfly garden projects. My most memorable day began at the crack of dawn, hiking to the beach to check for turtle tracks that would lead us to a nest. Turtle eggs are protected by conservation schemes because of poachers, so when we found a nest, we gathered the eggs to relocate them to the hatchery. At sunset, we released baby turtles into the ocean. It was an extraordinary day.