Ecoteer

Interview With Malati

Malati is one of the key staff members of an organization in India which helps alleviate poverty, provide orphan and old age care, relief and rehabilitation to anyone. This is one of the organization that provides volunteering opportunities in India. To know more about Malati’s projects, visit Primary School in Shillong, Primary and Girls High School in Uma Nivas and Jaipur Orphanage, India.

1 Could you describe briefly what is your organization is about and the main focus of your projects?

Our organization is a small NGO trying address some of the problems faced by the rural poor in India. So far, our efforts have mainly focused on education – improving both educational facilities and the quality of education offered in rural and poor suburban areas as well as creating support systems for orphans and other disadvantaged children.We provide support to schools and orphanages in the following ways:

* infrastructure: by installing electrical and water connections and toilet facilities, repairing leaking roofs, and constructing additional classrooms in overcrowded schools.

* by helping to arrange basic teaching materials such as blackboards, desks, chairs, and textbooks.

* by running a volunteer programme to recruit volunteers to tutor children, teach classes and to train teachers in orphanages and schools.

* by arranging sponsors for orphans and children whose impoverished families cannot afford school fees.

2. What aspect of your role you enjoy most with the organisation?

What I enjoy the most is to see a real improvement in the conditions of the project we helped or in the quality of health of the child who is now getting better food or an education its parents couldn’t afford… to see that we have really been able to make a difference. Sometimes with a small intervention, you can even save a life. It’s just wonderful!

3. What is the level of support from the community towards your organization and projects?

Generally we work through the schools themselves, so that the credit for the development of the school goes to the school itself, which also helps the school to develop further. Of course the schools are happy with us for helping them.

4. What is the most emotional event you have seen from your projects?

I think for me the most emotional event was something that happened around 15 years ago before our NGO really got going. I found a very ragged young woman walking listlessly along the little lane near our centre in Kolkata with a badly malnourished baby in her arms and dragging a two year old along, also looking thin and pitifully weak. The baby had boils all over its head. All of them were filthy dirty. On enquiry I found that they were living in a broken down shack nearby. The husband had abandoned them some time earlier, and they were on the edge of starvation. Seeing their pathetic condition I made arrangements for them to eat at our centre twice a day. We also gave them some better clothes. To feed them cost us only Rs. 200 (around US $ 4) a month. They ate with us for around 9 months and the health of the whole family improved dramatically. After 9 months the husband came back and took them all away. Probably he didn’t know that we had saved their lives. What impressed me the most about this was how little it cost to have such a huge impact.

5. From volunteers feedback, what are the interesting aspects of the projects? What can they learn when they volunteer in your projects?

I think with every volunteer it is different. Many go through an initial culture clash as they are plunged into the chaotic, hyper intense atmosphere in India where everything seems to be falling apart but somehow keeps moving forward in an ever changing kaleidoscope. They are deeply touched by the joie de vivre of people who have nothing, the warm hospitality, and the love and genuine care they receive from our project directors and children.

One volunteer in Jaipur commented about how serious the children were with their studies..”Most of these children have really good marks – they study every day at home, and the little ones get the help of the older ones. They really help each other, it’s very beautiful to see how united they are.”

Most volunteers say it has given them a much deeper understanding about life in India, and some went further and expressed that volunteering had helped them to establish a deep connection to the people and wished to return again and again.
“There were so many opportunities to give to the children, and to receive their love and affection. I consider everyone living in the orphanage to be members of my family now, and I will make every effort I can to return to visit them.” Brianna, Jaipur

When two volunteers left Shillong last year after a two month stay, the whole orphanage cried. The project director was still tearful when I spoke to her on the phone a couple of days later.  So you can understand that something much deeper happened there. And in India, once the people have taken you into their hearts, they never forget you and will ask after you even years later.

6. What type of volunteers are suitable for your projects?

We have welcomed volunteers of all ages and types. However it is expected for volunteers to respect the culture of India which is quite conservative to avoid any conflicts with the local community.

7. What are the organization future plans?

Right now, we are happy to continue as we are doing, helping the projects to develop and providing as good a service to the kids as we can with the help of the volunteers, sponsors and general donations. At this moment, together with local people, I am engaged in putting together a progressive, child friendly kindergarten curriculum with a training programme for use in Bangladesh where there are currently no kindergartens in the villages and no education at all for poor kids till age 5. I hope this curriculum will gradually be used in the schools we support in India too, replacing the more traditional models that tend to stress the kids as they are not always age appropriate.

Lastly, I would like to say to volunteers that travel is, in my opinion, one of the greatest educations. To be able to share the lives of people from very different backgrounds by volunteering at a project and getting to know the people at the most basic level of their daily lives, sharing their struggles and joys, gives a far deeper insight into the local culture and personal satisfaction than just visiting the country as a tourist. I see volunteering as a way of building bridges and understanding between peoples from all corners of the world.

Many volunteers return home saying volunteering has completely changed their lives! I think it did mine, and maybe that’s why I am still here, year after year, sharing in the joys and sorrows of those who are otherwise forgotten, helping solve problems where I can, and doing whatever I can to make a difference. One person cannot do a lot alone, it is true, but if many of us work together, collectively we can bring genuine change where it is most needed, at the grassroots level. Won’t you join me for a while?

With warm greetings to all,
Malati

To know more about Malati’s projects, visit Primary School in Shillong, Primary and Girls High School in Uma Nivas and Jaipur Orphanage, India.

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.

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.

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

Ecoteer volunteers use their volunteering to start a career

As a small boy Nick Hogervorst(20) from Holland loved to watch wildlife documentaries on the Discovery channel. Especially Africa drew his attention. When he got older he really went for the adventure. A three months trip to south Africa, an amazing experience. Now back in Holland he shakes up the world. Be careful with nature!

“Most of my toys were plastic wild animals or stuffed animals”, is what he remembers. “ and besides my uncle had a dairy farm where I often stayed in the holidays and helped out. I think this is where my passion for animals developed.”

After High school Nick started a study to become a veterinary assistant. the plan was to study further and become a vet. But after a while the study started to bore him so it appeared not to be the right choice. “I needed to get out and do something completely different”

“With my mum I stated to look at travel agencies. I always wanted to experience Africa. After a few weeks we found the perfect organization with amazing projects. After a intensive preparation I went to Hoedspruit, South Africa. Where I had the best 12 weeks of my life! I got the chance to help raising lion cups and rhino baby’s, caring for a cheetah cup. Training vultures and lots more. Also I achieved my FGASA level 1. That is the first level in Field guiding. So now I’m registered as a recognized first level safari guide at the field guide association southern Africa. Witch I’m proud of. I’ve learned, seen and experienced so much. And especially I’ve met incredible people. As a turned just 18 this journey had a big effect on me. I started to get really annoyed by all the things humans where doing to the beautiful nature worldwide. I had to do something, but what could I do?”

After the travel the adventurer started a new study Ecology&Wildlife. While looking for an internship he found the Atlantic whale foundation in Tenerife.

A hit !

Atlantic Whale Foundation
“This organization gives students a chance to observe and study dolphins and whales on the south coast of Tenerife. But the biggest part of the work is spent on problems in the world like whale hunting, poaching in Africa, loss of habitat, marine pollution and many more horrible subjects” Nick says.” The AWF raises awareness thru media and presentations and they also fight these problems where they start. by letting people know who is responsible for these scandals. They are also setting up new projects in counties as Sierra Leone. That is where AWF will help the community after years of war by education and setting up small businesses. They will also make documentaries and provide the opportunity for students to study the fantastic wildlife of Sierra Leone.”

Nick was very impressed by the organization of Ed Bentham, the founder of AWF, a very inspiring man. “I’ve went to Tenerife four times now to help out.”

Volunteer with Cetaceans

AWF Goes Wild
“After this experience I found it very difficult to stay busy with conservation at home. So I decided when I was back in June to set up my own part of AWF. A fundraising mechanism where I can put in all my energy and idea’s. and do completely my own thing an raise money for amazing projects around the world.”

Jake Parsons
Nick: “in the meeting at the house in Tenerife I held a shout out to anyone who would want to help me out with all my idea’s. everyone was enthusiastic and same night we all got together and had a little brainstorm. But there was one person who stood out and stayed up the whole night with me. And that person is Jake Parsons who without I would’ve never been able to do this. After a few days we decided on a name AWF Goes Wild! After that the whole thing took off and we’ve got a beautiful website.” (www.awfgoeswild.com)

Amsterdam Goes Wild
This year Nick and Jake are raising money for Save the rhino trust Namibia. This organization protects the last living wild population of black rhino’s. they raise the money by organizing big party’s around Europe the first party was on the 28^th of Oct in Club Roses Amsterdam and was a big success! And soon they will have a bar crawl in Bournemouth.

Nick is a keen Ecoteer member and is currently helping to promote not only his new ventures but also Ecoteer.com

Volunteer abroad – Ecoteer.com offers volunteer opportunities around the world

Responsible Travel in Asia – Ecoteer Responsible Travel offers green holidays which include an aspect of volunteering in Asia

Volunteerabroadasia.com– directory of low cost volunteer projects in Asia

Turtle conservation – Help Our Penyu a sea turtle conservation project was initiated by Ecoteer

Making a difference at Uma Nivas

Although Uma Nivas has had a fairly quiet year so far with only six volunteers to date, Emma and Nuria and Sally and her family, lots is going on. The children’s English is coming on by leaps and bounds and after meeting our volunteers, the children are really motivated to learn to speak English, not just read and write in the usual Indian style. Even Sally’s children, aged 9 and 11, helped teach English, as well as how to play the musical instruments they had brought with them and a host of British games.

We have used the funds Sally and her team of volunteers fundraised last year to cover the high school garden with new topsoil and put water tanks on the roof. So now gardening has started in a big way. Lots of fruit and vegetables are coming up and we are well on the way to self-sufficiency. We also took over one of the two broken vehicles belonging to the orphanage, repaired it, got it working and have built a garage to keep it in. As a vehicle is a lifeline in remote villages, where public transportation is almost nil, this is no small achievement.

Didi Vratiisha has also been very active in other areas too, holding homeopathic medical clinics at different villages 6 days of the week. The clinics are always packed, and Didi is kept very busy, all this on top of her duty as high school principal.

Tatayara School, located in a village around an hour from the Uma Nivas project, used to run in a broken down building with many of the children studying outside in the open air under trees and some of them actually sitting on the dusty street. Now thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers, Denise, her children and her friends, who put on a pantomime called Dracula back in the UK, there is a beautiful school building with 5 rooms for the children to study in. The roof is finished, so all 200 children have now moved into the school, although the plastering and doors and windows are not yet complete. Fantastic work, Denise! Thank you all so much! And Denise just now told me that they have raised the funds for the doors and windows. Incredible!

There are so many ways to help. You can go out there and get your hands dirty helping with the garden. You can teach English and a whole range of other skills, you can help treating patients if you’re a doctor, or you can simply play games with the kids. If you prefer to do something from home, you are most welcome to help us fundraise.

As you will realize, a little here can make a big difference over there….Together we can give these kids a better, brighter future.

If you would like to know more about our volunteering opportunities please go to our Ecoteer page at VOLUNTEER IN INDIA

2010 Volunteers Impacts on Community projects – Kenya

We are proud to have made some positive impacts through our eye-opening volunteer program to local grassroots projects.

As the year 2010 winds up and we look forward to greater achievements, we have significantly changed the lives of both the local communities and volunteers as stated by one of our community project member:

“Volunteers have awakened a new sense of pride to our initiatives in the small forgotten villages of the world, it is a spirit to be upheld” Ann Anam – Uhanga education water and sanitation project, Nyanza Province – Kenya.

Indeed, this is a spirit to be cherished and honoured just like those who have volunteered would testify. There are many other sentiments echoed by volunteers and the communities, such as appreciation, pride, and openness to other cultures… This appreciation and hope calls for the continuation of our programs for the benefit of the local people.

In this Year 2010, we have worked with more than 10 different community projects in Kenya dealing with environmental and wildlife conservation, humanitarian, teaching and healthcare.

In these projects, we have been able to get over 200 international volunteer applicants from all over the world. And this has helped the communities to take the projects to the next level, for the benefit of the whole community, through implementation of ideas shared by the volunteers, skills input and physical labour.

All in all, there is still a lot to be done and many community initiatives to be uplifted. We thus hope that Year 2011 will bring more smiles to volunteer’s faces and thumbs up developmental steps to the community projects we support. We appreciate the efforts that have been put in by our partners, such as Ecoteer, which makes it easier for volunteers to find suitable placements. We also want to thank all the volunteers who have offered their time and energy to community projects. And we welcome any goodwill among the young people around the world, who want to make a difference in development and will thus discover more about themselves.

Thank You for reading,

Please visit our Ecoteer placement page now

Volunteer Kenya