Ecoteer

First High School Session in Melangking

Melangking Palm Oil Estate is the project site for the Teach in Borneo volunteer program organized by Ecoteer. Last week the Ecoteer Team visited the estate to check out how things were going.

Things were going quite well especially with the support of the Indonesian Government, providing the students dedicated teachers, free books and school uniforms. The Ecoteer team took over some teaching lessons, teaching the primary level kids English and Mathematics. The kids were really active but at the same time very enthusiastic to learn new things.

The kids were very polite too, warmly welcoming new teachers and visitors into their class. They will even love you more when you play games with them, treat them a can of soft drink or take them for a walk to the Pondok Angin on the top of the hill a.k.a. Windy Hut.

We were also very lucky to be able to attend the first high school session! Usually after the age 12-13, the children will stop schooling and start to work in the oil palm estate. There were no secondary schools in the oil palm estate to provide older kids an education.

But now there is! On the first day, about 30 teenagers from age 13-19 years old turn up in class. Even though the first lesson was quite chaotic, but seeing so many turn up is really a big deal! Many of the older kids have not been to school for more then 3 years, it is really a big step for them.

According to the teachers too, many of them were familiar faces as they used to attend the current primary schools in Melangking Oil Palm Estate. Let’s hope that they can benefit a lot from this secondary school to gain a brighter future!

Want to volunteer for this project in Borneo? Go to Teach English in Borneo or email explore@ecoteer.com for more information.

View our other teaching projects here.

A memory from Venezuela

This was written by Eva an ex-volunteer who had participated in a community and conservation volunteering project based in Venezuela.

The 4 weeks I have spent at the project site have been a fantastic experience! I’m back in Denmark now, back to my “normal life”, my nice apartment and comforts, my busy social life… But thinking at the time at the foundation I can’t help smiling! It has been a journey for me.

I had one entire month vacation and I was looking for inspiration on how to spend it: I wanted to do something different, see something new and possibly give a meaning to that experience, so there I found the best project, just browsing the net: the website, the information, the places shown in the pictures: they all looked good, professional, well organized, so after some investigation I thought, why not? And I sent my application. So here I come! First time in South America and first time as volunteer!

When I arrived in Santa Elena (after an incredibly long trip) I was wondering where I was and trying to grasp what that was all about. The place was really beautiful, the nature and the landscape were breath-taking. The project site is really an amazing place for personal development: you can make what you want out of it! There are different options on the way you can contribute and my experience in the teaching and tutoring programs was really rewarding. Working with the kids had been good fun and I loved it when they expressed words of appreciation to our work and the fact that they enjoyed learning English and eager to try new things out. And when meeting them on the streets in Santa Elena and hearing “Hola Profe!!” I must admit that made me feel good!

The cooperative living part was the least easy for me, used to total freedom and independence, the life together in a shared space sometime was pushing my limits a bit. But the people I’ve met have definitely left a trace in me: Sarah, we arrived the same day and we bonded a lot and had great time together. Yunior, fantastic friend, my staying would not have been the same without him. We were the early birds of the project and it was nice starting the day chatting with you in the kitchen while preparing breakfast. And we had really good time playing pool and enjoying a Polar Ice. Kelvis, short but sweet, would have been fun if you could stick around a bit longer. Ruben, todo bello, the man full of resources.

Once we got to know each other better it was really good fun to spend time and have a laugh together. Andrea, it was great meeting you. And very encouraging to see that being a volunteer and working with NGO’s can be a truly professional experience, requiring the right background and motivation that can be closer to the world I know, and it is not only for idealists and visionary people that are trying to save the world before trying to save themselves. I think that the experience of being there and working with Manfred in the NGO management of the project will be brilliant for you and your future career.

Manfred, you are the men! I hope that your ambition of being dispensable at the project site will finally work (a bit at least) so that you will be able to take your well deserved vacation! I hope that the other volunteers will have the chance, as I did, to get to know you better and hear some of your stories. Your passion and dedication to the organisation cause are absolutely admirable and this world needs quite a few of your kind! I’ve been really impressed and inspired by your stories: your life and experiences, working with street children in Caracas, moving to Santa Elena, starting everything again from scratch… I hope you’ll have the chance to travel back to Germany with your gorgeous daughter, and give your mum the pleasure to meet her only grandchild. Manfred, take care, and thanks again for the experience!! A big hug to everybody!

Cheers Eva

Want to know more about this community and conservation project in Venezuela? Find out more at Ecoteer Volunteer Venezuela.

Interested to browse volunteering projects in other parts of the world? Try Volunteer in Malaysia!

Help out in a Uganda Primary School

Moses is a teacher from the a primary school in Bujagali Falls Uganda, is a very dedicated teacher. Besides teaching the kids, he is very much involved in many things related to the community development around the school. Uganda as many people know, is a poor country with high cases of AIDS. Many of the kids who attend the school where Moses taught, are orphans as their parents were victim to AIDS. With that, many of the kids have little or no money at all.

Thus Moses with another 15 teachers form a volunteering project to provide for the children and community needs. Most of the children need books, stationary, uniforms but these are generally quite expensive so most of the children drop out from school not soon after they have joined. However this does not deter the teachers to make a difference.

Moses and his team of teachers form projects to help make their school and community environment a better one. The projects were successful with the help from local and foreign volunteers as well as donations.

Children could not concentrate in class because they have no breakfast and lunch, so porridge are provided to help with the children concentration. Now the school have a new kitchen thanks to the volunteers and more porridge can be prepared to fill up more tummies to make these children feel more energetic! The children now also have a room called ‘Library’. However more books of reading age 7-15 are needed to fill the shelves of the Library. But it is a good progress looking back from how the school started just from a few shacks.

Volunteers who had participated in this projects are touched by the dedication of Moses and his team of teachers put in to the projects. The ex-volunteers donated some money and with that Moses has recently put electricity, running water, showers and flush toilets in the volunteer accommodation so that the volunteers could have the benefit of this.

Currently in this project, donations are needed to provide the children with teaching and learning resources, three new classrooms, science equipment and raw materials to conduct basic experiments, cupboards and shelving, metal doors and shutters and second hand digital camera used as teaching resources.

Besides that, the girls are in need of sanitary pads because it is too expensive for the poor communities. Without sanitary pads, it becomes very unsanitary and disallow the girls to go out from their home during during their periods. Most of the time, the girls would be using water from the puddles to clean themselves because they have no access to nearby clean water sources. Thus sanitary pads would help them and reduce the unhygienic conditions.

Volunteers are welcome to join Moses and his team to help out in the projects to make the school and the community surroundings a better place to live in. More stories about this project at Success of Volunteers in Uganda.

Find out more about this project at Teach/ Help a variety of task to help develop a poor Uganda primary school.

Here is a video on the children singing the Busoga tribe national anthem before their school starts.

Want to find for other humanitarian volunteering projects? Find out more at Ecoteer – Humanitarian Projects.

Ecoteer article in The Star newspaper!

The Star newspaper is one of the main daily newspaper read in Malaysia and today on the 17th of January 2012, an article on Ecoteer was published! Of course quite an amount of effort was put in to have this article published in a quite glorious manner.

Our two full paged article appeared in the Star 2 section paged 2 and 3 of this newspaper and hopefully it looks attractive and would inspire local and foreign tourist to opt for a low environmental impact holiday. The article included an introduction on how Ecoteer was found by Daniel Quilter, followed by the concept of Ecoteer and how this concept of volunteering while holidaying is quite foreign to Malaysian tourist.

The article also included some background stories about the community & conservation program and turtle conservation project in the lovely tropical island of Perhentians as well as the English project located in the palm oil estates of Sukau, Sabah.

Read the original article in The Star Online: Ecoteer – Vacation with a difference

Want to know more about green traveling and responsible volunteering? Find out more at Ecoteer: Travel With A Cause or drop us an email to inquire more about our projects at contact@ecoteer.com.

Volunteer: Conservation of Amazon Community

The Ecuador Amazon rainforest is one of the Earth’s treasures, a highly biodiverse place and also the home to the Shiwiar people. The Shiwiar territory is one of the most pristine and isolated places in the Amazon forest and could only be reached by air transportation.

A hardcore nature lover could spend their whole day living in this jungle observing unique, wonderful or even weird creatures roaming around in the forest while enjoying the peace and serenity of this pristine undisturbed forest. Sadly the Ecuadorian government does not value the forest and indigenous people of the Amazon. Lands are being sold off to multinational companies for short term profits, destroying the fragile ecosystem and the negatively affecting the lives of the indigenous people.

With that, a natural instinct to protect ones home came to Pascual Kunchicuy from the Shiwiar tribe. An ecotourism project was set up to invite people to come and have a look at the Shiwiar people way of living. The money will then be used to purchase the forest land with the long term aim of protecting the forest.

Volunteers are welcome to experience their culture but at the same time volunteers would be helping out in tasks such as teaching English to the local tribes, construction, accountancy, floral and fauna studies, hosting tourist and many more.

Volunteers are also needed for the biodiversity research programme working in conjunction with local community projects. The expedition is a biodiversity research expedition working in conjunction with local community projects and research findings will help to more effectively manage and conserve this endangered habitat. Volunteers will be able to study rare and endangered species, hear the sounds of the Dusky Titi and Howler monkeys in the mornings while exploring the Amazon forest and learn a wide range of methods used in biodiversity research. It is the perfect project for nature lovers who are looking for green eco projects during their gap year, career break or just simply for the fun of it!

Interested and want to know more about this volunteer project? Find out more at Volunteer For The Conservation of Amazon Community.

This video shows what drives the Shiwiars to protect their forest and their future.

Welcome to Phil, Alex & Football!

At the start of October, RUDEC welcomed Ecoteer Volunteer Phil Gurney from the UK to the family. He will be initially volunteering until July 2012 and is open minded about joining as a long term volunteer. A Scouts Leader and Senior Mentor at ‘The Challenge’ (The largest provider of the British Government’s National Citizen Service), he is passionate about young people and helping them to unlock their potential as responsible, energised members of the community.

At the start of November, RUDEC also welcomed Alex Bradley from the UK. Alex will be volunteering until the end of January and brings with him a wealth of experience of working with, and supporting, the most deprived and disadvantaged families in the communities of the UK. During his time in Belo, Alex will be working with Phil to develop and launch a new development project which utilises the power of sport. Football4Action (F4A) aims to empower young people to be leaders of social change. By providing educational workshops which combine football with health/life skills F4A will help young people to develop their personal & social skills, give them a safe environment to express themselves and discuss important community issues, and lay the foundations for a legion of F4A Ambassadors (peer-educators) capable of spreading their message throughout the region. The project start date is January 2012 and Phil and Alex are hard at work laying the necessary foundations to make the project a success. Donations of footballing equipment are essential to make this project possible.

Any donations (financial or equipment) are greatly welcomed and will enable RUDEC to provide young people with rights that are not currently being adequately met: The ‘right to full opportunity for play, recreation & sport’ (principle 7, Declaration on the Rights of the Child) & ‘the right to a voice on matters that affect them and to havetheir views taken seriously’ (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child).

Pavin looks back

Below is an excerpt from a blog which Pavin the ‘awesome’ Ecoteer House village facilitator wrote after he had left the Islands.  The islands touch many with no exception.

It is weird …
I look out of the window and I don’t see the clear ocean no more
Instead , I’m overwhelmed with the sight of buildings and the ever deafening vehicles
I see people walking on the streets with an obsession to a fast paced society
I wonder what is going through their heads right now
They don’t look at ease but they sure are walking it

I miss the hills that stood high on the island
The mist that subsides at dawn
And the bats that used to fly narrowly missing my face
The locals who walked by greeting me
As I sat there smoking on my bright blue porch

One season passed and many friends made
Memories that one would cherish
But could never chase
Grab your snorkels to the tide that we embrace

I now sit humbly on the corner of my bed
Fuck me , the world is getting smaller
But time seems to be pacing
Dare to dream and dare to live
Are you in a rush to get somewhere
Why do we even bother

It’s been a good run of faith and dedication
Snap back in the real world
Kickin’ it like a rock and rolla
Dreams are made for a reason
And the reason is nothing but a bare self confession

The Ecoteer House Project is based in the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia.  The project aims to conserve through education be it the diverse marine environment or the  Malay culture.  To find out more about the Ecoteer House Project please go to www.ecoteerresponsibletravel.com.

Follow Pavin’s rock and roll life by reading his blog at Trippy and Twisted.  He is currently building his own Eco adventure Park in Ipoh, Malaysia.  Good luck Pavin we are all behind you 200%!!!

Does voluntourism make a difference?

Alot of people ask the question ‘do volunteer projects make a REAL difference?’  This is a very difficult question to answer as it really depends on the project.  So the answer is YES and NO depending on the project so the question should be ‘Which volunteer projects make a positive difference?’

Below is an article from a blog I found which address’s this issue, listen to the radio talk show, it gives interesting listening.

I was recently on a radio show on CBC radio in Canada called “Q with Jian Ghomeshi” in a segment titled “Do gap year volunteer programs do more harm than good?”.
You can listen to it here if you’d like. I agree with the comment regarding animal and conservation projects (trail clean-ups etc) as being examples of volunteer programs which have the potential to add a lot of value. And I agree that it’s not black and white. My main point in speaking on this issue is that we need to consider our impact – collectively and individuals – when we engage in programs claiming social impact as a main purpose. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Comment by a reader

thats the problem that its not always black and white and there is so much disinformation competing with cautionary advice like yours that its hard to tell whats what.

unfortunately marketing which is designed to connect with a potential volunteer on an emotional level and claims something like “make an amazing difference on people more unfortunate than yourself” will always outshine cautionary advice for a gap year youngster who hasnt yet had enough life experience to become as cynical as us

the problem with animal conservation centers at least here in South America is that some trap animals and keep them like a zoo and claim they are rehabilitating them to bring lots of unsuspecting gringos and cash – but then again there are some great animal rescue centers out there as well where an high turnover of lots of short term volunteers make a difference

how do we get the message out about the good guys without resorting to the same wild marketing claims?   naming and shaming the bad guys?  trying to set a good example?  hope someone else can help answer !

So please before you go on a volunteering project ASK them many questions especially ‘HOW does your project make a positive impact’ and also ask for past volunteer emails.

Community development in India

Mitraniketan community, established in the year 1956 as a non-profit organization working for the development of children, youth, women and farmers. It is located in a 60 acre campus and is 25 km away from Trivandrum city, in South India. Education of tribal children through a Residential school is the core of Mitraniketan which imparts formal and non-formal education. Volunteers from abroad participate in these education programs along with local teachers in creative arts, craft education, sports, English in addition to conventional education.

Rural youth are empowered through life and livelihood skill development programmes in a Danish Folk High School model institution called People’s college. The work based learning helps the students to be more active part in the learning process and also gives opportunities for volunteers to work with them. Agriculture, pottery, sports, computer, carpentry and creative arts are some of the subjects in which Mitraniketan use volunteer service/skills.

The Farm Science Center (KVK) and Rural Technology Centre (RTC) of Mitraniketan cater the training needs of small farmers and artisans which concentrate on organic farming, mushroom cultivation, pottery and carpentry. The 600 member community also houses a floating population of volunteers who serve and use the facilities for learning by participating in the community activities like sports, yoga, music, technical skill training, health care activities and technology development.

Progress of society through the total development of individuals is the mission of the institution, for which local staff, part time workers, volunteers and visiting faculties strive together in a participatory manner.

Are you interested in volunteering with us? visit our Ecoteer page at Volunteer India

For other volunteer opportunities in India visit Volunteer in India with Ecoteer

For low cost volunteering in Asia go to volunteer in Asia

Review of 2010

I call 2010 a year of diversification.  We have been changing the essence of Ecoteer from just being focused on assisting people to find volunteer projects to actively pursuing change.  We are taking a more proactive role in change and as a consequence I hope we can benefit more grass root projects.  I personally want to say a big thank you to the Ecoteer Team – Mary, Mervyn, Azimi and Terence, the project leaders and of course YOU our volunteers and members.  2010 has laid the platform for bigger more significant change in 2011.

Help Our Penyu

2010 was the founding year for Help Our Penyu an Ecoteer initiated community-focused turtle conservation society in Malaysia.  Help Our Penyu ran a marine conservation project based at one bay in the Perhentian Islands, conducted awareness events in Kuala Lumpur and conducted the first long-ranged turtle track survey in Malaysia in the Walk for Turtles event.  In 2010 Help Our Penyu had significant national recognition in Malaysia for the walk for turtles event and the rehabilitation of a very rare Olive Ridley Turtle.  My Sincere thanks has got to go to Azimi, Libby and the Bubbles Resort Staff, the interns (Illi, Yanti, Mike and Paul), the volunteers and of course the place wouldn’t be the same without Dollah.  2010 was a good platform but in 2011 we are aiming for much more.  We are expanding the turtle project in Perhentian (protection of a second turtle nesting beach, doubling the frequency of the marine after-school marine club TnT Club, an info booth which will be hosted Fri to Sun throughout the islands and from week 2 the volunteers will be staying in the village fulltime), expansion of the Walk for Turtles (Survey 300km of beach, conduct awareness events at 8 schools and villages and 3 complimentary surveys between Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Besut) and we have various other developments planned for 2011.  In 2011 our new interns, Al, Hayley, Anuar, Bex, Vicki and Mike (Walk for Turtles Research Assistant) will surely be kept very busy as 2011 promises to be a fulfilling year.

Borneo Child Aid Society

The pioneer volunteers Arsalan, Jody and Donna had an experience with the Borneo Child Aid Society when they went to the schools of Tomanggong and Melangking from July to September.  They started their 2 and half month pioneer volunteer experience at Tomanggong school where they taught the children English in the mornings and in the afternoons got their class ready for the annual BCAS sporting event.  During their time at Tomanggong they got upclose and personal not only with the children but also the non-human denizens of the Palm Oil Plantation.  But they all said it was an experience they wouldn’t forget and would not change a thing.  After 6 weeks at Tomanggong the children were ready for the event and not only won a few of the competitions but won the grand prize – actually winning all but one of the individual competitions!  It must be due to the coaches J.  They then ventured north to a Palm Oil Estate called Melangking near to Sukau on the Kinabatagan river.  They volunteered at the three schools at Melangking and initiated a recycle scheme at the schools.  The program in 2010 was a great success and highlighted some of the good and bad points of the volunteering at these schools.  It is great news that the Borneo Child Aid Society wants to continue working with Ecoteer in 2011 at not only with the schools at Melangking and Tomanggong but also with their new floating schools in Semporna.  My initial volunteering experiences where in Sabah so not only Ecoteer but I personally hope this partnership builds and gets stronger through 2011, helping to improve the English and environmental awareness of the children of Sabah.

Find out more about our teach English volunteer positions with Borneo Child Aid Society

Ecoteer Responsible Travel

I have now lived on and off in SE Asia for the past 5 years and have visited many grass root organisations and movements in the ASEAN countries.  I started Ecoteer Responsible Travel as a means to further support not only the projects Ecoteer initiates and supports in SE Asia but also the many projects I have visited.  Through the Ecoteer Responsible Travel site we are supporting local communities in central eastern Thailand, Northern Laos and Komodo as well as Malaysia.  We created these experiences so you dont only see but actually DO.  I believe doing, is believing!  And through these packages which combine traditional tourism and volunteering we will enable more people to feel passionate about helping local grass root projects.  In 2011 through the Ecoteer network I HOPE can provide these projects with more voluntourists, opening the tourists eyes to other cultures.

Boom Festival

In August Jay, Kelly and Zoe held a stall at the Boom Festival in Portugal.  Jay was helping to set up the bamboo structures for the event and managed to get Ecoteer a free booth. I would like to personally thank Jay and the co-founder of the Boom Festival Artur.  The event went well and the guys spoke to lots of people.  We are continuing our partnership with the Boom Festival who are helping a project registered with Ecoteer in Mozambique.  The Boom crew are providing the Manda Wilderness Trust with training and skills sharing for the local community so they can improve their own community events.  This is another partnership we hope we can consolidate and build upon in 2011.

Green ANT

This is a very new concept which we are working on.  Green ANT or Green Adventure Nature Travel is a social network with a purpose.  We are currently building the Green ANT website which will enable the network’s members to buy responsible holidays, fundraise and buy indigenous handicraft all from one spot – with the ultimate aim of raising money which provides grants for one-off projects voted for by the Green ANT members.  Ecoteer hope a trial of this website to be online by February 2011.

2010 has been a year of change and diversification, in 2011 we hope it is a year of consolidation and growth supporting our current and new grass root projects around the world.

I would also like to give a special thank you to my fiancée Aida who had to put up with me in 2010.  For us 2011 will be a year to remember as we will be marrying in April.

Aman cinta ke semua hidup jiwa (Peace and love to every living soul in Malaysian)

Daniel

Volunteer abroad