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�� Consciously or . unconscIous INDONESIA-Maybe you've surfed it. now you can preserve it. Head to the island of Buton and the Tukangbesi Islands of southeast Indonesia where Operation Wallacea. a small non profit organization. gathers data on all aspects of the local envi ronment. Take a break from survey-hikes into the rainforest and drop down to observe reef ecosystems. For more people oriented work. join Wallacea's programs with the Bajau fishing communities. where towns rise from the reefs on stilts. Volunteers must pay their own way but may look for sponsors to help fund their trip. Operation Wallacea 011-44-1790-763665, tcoles@ecosurveys.win-uk.net and on the web at www.opera tionwallacea.win-uk.neUMAINMENU.HTML. . america UNITED STATES-Help house America. Participate when Native American elders move their families into a house you helped construct. Red Feather Development Group is a non-profit organization attempting to improve living con ditions on Native American reservations. Volunteers are involved in daily life on a reservation. working and living with the elder whose new home is being constructed. For locations information and placement opportunities at reservations. you can get in touch with Red Feather at 425-453-71 BB. or head to their website at www.redfeather.org. There are many ways and many levels to get involved wherever you go. There are also many organizations that will help you start out. Some will accept help from any grungy backpacker who drops by their office. while many of the larger foundations have endless application processes. More established programs may actually require you to pay a fee before participating. But remember to read between the lines, the fee often covers airfare and insurance. as well as room and board. making it a pretty good deal. Some pro grams will allow you to stay as long as you wish. while others have rigid timelines. Knowing what NGOs. health organizations and international non-profits operate in the area can help, they'll often be more than happy to enlist a little free help. You may also want to look up a consulting organization that can put you in contact with any of the thousands of volunteer programs available. Contact Amerispan at 800-879-6640 for their databases on opportunities in Latin America. Or search the above-listed websites for references. Amizade's webpage. for example. has links to volunteer programs around the world like www.idealist.com. With a little research prior to boarding the plane you'll be free to hit the road-and make a difference along the way. 21