Teaching English While Documenting Wildlife

Hi, I am Nick Welburn, a wildlife and nature enthusiast from York, England.

I have always had a passion for the outdoors and learning about the other animals we live with. I am 39 years old and really should have achieved my goals by this point. Unfortunately, I have been fighting mental illness for over 20 years. My diagnosis is Dysthymia with major depressive episodes and this really holds me back from doing what I would like to do. I am a veteran, serving in Iraq in 2003 and managed to complete my Masters degree in 2013 gaining first class honours in Zoology with Molecular Ecology. My mental health however has kept me from making my degree work for me.

After years of thinking, planning and struggling, I have decided I would like to document the wildlife of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa and the Ryukyuan Islands in general (where I have visited and love). I would start a website, blog, and in time write a book about my exploits and discoveries. Following on from this I would remain living abroad and document wildlife in another location depending on my personal situation.

In order to do this, I unfortunately need to gain some funding, so here I am on bended knee. To finance my time over there, I will need to work, so I need to pay for and complete a CELTA course in order to teach English, and earn enough money to get by. I will also need money for flights, shipping, camera equipment, diving gear, a deposit for living quarters and my first months’ rent. I am not in a position to save any money currently, so as it stands, my dream will remain a dream unless some philanthropic saviours come to my aid.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, I hope you will be able to help.