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.

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

How our project is benefiting the local community

At the beginning

-Most local thai people and children cannot speak english.

-Some local people don’t know what benefit our centre can bring to the local community

Our project has been running now for 4 years and the local people and children can speak in english with our volunteers and the community are starting to see how they are benefitting from our volunteer centre.

How the children have improved their English

Before at the school and in the village (rural schools in Thailand do not teach the children english) most of the students cannot read, write, speak and pronounce english. In the beginning the students cannot communicate with our volunteers our camp leaders (Thai volunteers) will always translate for them. But now our students can communicate and speak much better with the volunteers and even in some classes they do not need a camp leader to translate anymore. The children now know how to greet and talk with the volunteers and are no longer shy as they were before.

Success with our community farming

The volunteers help to raise fish and chickens. They also help us to grow organic vegetables (no chemicals) which are used in the camp making our project more self sustainable.  We also plant Galanga and can now send them to be sold at the market.  We have just started to plant new baby rubber trees.

Our fruits tree are growing up very fast and we have already got fresh fruits ready to eat.

The volunteers have finished building our new chicken house.

Other progress

Our volunteers and local people get on well and enjoy exchanging their experiences, culture and language.

We are helping the local school and community by supplying support teaching materials such as textbooks, pencils, colouring pencils and more.

We are starting to support the disabled, blind and old.  People with disabilities are not well looked after in Thailand. And are also supporting traditional activities (such as Children day, Songkhran festival, merit ceremony) in the village and community.

Our environmental programs in the villages are another success we collect the garbage (at the temple, school, beach, waterfall) and plant trees near the street, temple, school and other public places. We always ask the local community to join in when we do these activities.

We have alot of work still to do and we need some more help from volunteers.  Inparticular we need help at the schools, teaching the children English.  We are connected with 10 schools and we dont have enough volunteers to support all of them. Secondly we need volunteers for help with our farming, agriculture and environmental awareness projects like recycling and tree planting so we hope in future we can welcome more volunteers to our centre.

To find out more information please go to our Ecoteer page below

Volunteer Thailand

What Ecoteer volunteers get up to in India

In 2009/2010, we had a total of 15 volunteers at our rural development project in
the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 120 miles east of Delhi.  They included
three L.S.E. graduates, a nurse from the U.S.A., a computer scientist from Canada, a
language and media teacher from Germany, a high school graduate from Norway, a
mental health nurse from Barbados and a marketing manager from Spain as well as
six others from the U.K. – in other words, a very cosmopolitan mix. They all
enjoyed their stay and four of them, who live in or near London, joined our
executive committee on their return and are now trustees.

These volunteers did a range of activities while in the project. Two of the L.S.E.      graduates undertook a research project into the pollution of the countryside caused by a large paper mill that was set up in the area fifteen years ago. The third looked into the financial viability of running a computer course for local villagers and students.  Anita, whose particular interest is photography, took many excellent photos for us during her stay. She also assisted with the teaching of English in the project primary school.  Teaching English to the primary schools students is an activity that is always available to volunteers and visitors. Our volunteers also worked hard to stimulate the village children whose parents are often illiterate. They organised simple games, songs and art projects which the children loved.

There were also opportunities to teach Conversational English to older students who are studying in the degree college in the village. This is an important part of their education. Without a reasonable knowledge of English, villagers cannot compete for jobs against townspeople. The project’s aim is to bring the modern resources and facilities of the towns and cities to the villages.

During the year, we also had return visits from three people who had volunteered with us several years ago.

To find out more about our project please visit our Ecoteer page at Volunteer in India

Volunteers making a difference in Sri Lanka

The volunteer Sri Lanka Project has developed to the extent of being unrecognisable. It has the advantage of the superior accommodation as well as the proximity of the beach, and therefore attracts a huge number of volunteers.

The project now places volunteers in 2 orphanages, 4 schools, 2 nursery schools as well as a nursery school for street children, a male elder’s home, another elders home for men and women, the local hospital and the Nurses’ Training School. In addition occasional projects are undertaken with volunteer funding support such as building a new home for a poor family living in a shanty town dwelling that wasn’t weather proof and a pumped well with water tower for a poor family whose well dried up. There are also sports classes, art classes for elders as well as children and language classes for teenagers. At the NTS a small IT centre has been established for improving the nurses’ IT skills. This will be extended to the wider community when resources allow.

Local orphans spent their whole day penned in a corner of a room, without any toys and without adults to play with them until the project persuaded the orphanage staff to allow volunteers in. Now the children are taken outside into an area cleared by project volunteers where they play under a tree in the open air for a few hours. They play with sand, water, balls, ropes and other toys. It’s a whole lot better than sitting in your own pee crying all day.

All this is the result of the tremendous energy with which Janaka de Silva manages the volunteer placements and accommodation. He is supported by his extended family who seem to spend their entire day, every day, producing delicious food for the volunteers.

The latest development is the weekly evening dinner for the families of the street kids. Volunteers love to assist with this, as well as keeping company with the families. It’s good for the street families to be honoured in this way so that on Friday nights at least they feel as they matter.

Volunteers have the opportunity to affect the well being of whole sections of this area of Galle by following the ethos of this project.

This project shows how a gap year Sri Lanka and volunteer Sri Lanka can make a real difference.

Volunteer in Sri Lanka and make a real difference

Success of volunteers in Uganda

Our school project in Uganda is now just 2 months off the completion of its second full year. The changes in the school are amazing. The whole list is too long but here are the highlights. As a result of volunteer’s generosity the school now has a 60,000 litre underground water tank and a hydration programme for the pupils, a free mug of maize porridge every day for every child which means they can concentrate in the afternoon instead of trying to work on an empty stomach, a secure store room, a staff room, tables and chairs for the staff room so for the first time they have a flat surface to mark all the exercise books – sometimes 200 from 1 lesson!, 4 cupboards, a 4 stanza ecosan pit latrine, shutters on all the windows, a night watchman is now employed, electricity in 4 rooms, a computer, 3 laptops, a combined printer/scanner/copier, resurfaced blackboards, a sickbay with bed, a properly levelled football pitch with metal goalposts and a simple score board, some books and resources including Ugandan musical instruments such as drums. Amazing! There is also a girl’s sanitation project so that the girls don’t miss 25% of their time off school – some children are 18 by the time they leave primary school so nearly all the girls will benefit from this.

There is still much to do. The teacher’s accommodation needs completing so that most can live at school and then night classes can be held for the community. The school needs a library, a separate store room and a separate staff room. Also, the store of text books and science equipment need building up so that pupils don’t have to share books and can really learn science well. At present the children’s science ability is very poor so it is a priority area for development. Volunteers often want to try to bring out supplies to help the school and many buy them in country which is much better as it contributes to local income.

As long as volunteers continue to volunteer, the school will continue to develop. No volunteers equals no development as there isn’t any funding otherwise. The school achieved the best results in the sub county at the end of the last school year and it’s vital that the development is maintained and further developed as these children are the future for Uganda.

Moses, the Project Manager, is a man of extraordinary vision, especially given the impoverished background from which he has striven to raise himself. He is a phenomenon. Moses relates to all people as equals. He soaks up everything he can from volunteers who have experienced so much more of the world but he has a great deal to give too. No-one I ever met matches him for tolerance and patience and humility. He has catered for the needs of people from so many very different countries which are just coloured shapes on a page in an Atlas to him. Yet he is able to relate to everyone and volunteers become very fond of him and his whole lovely family. Moses’ motivation to improve the lot of his fellow Ugandans through the project knows no bounds.

Potential volunteers should know that they will make a huge difference to the future of these children and their descendents when they come to this school to work with Moses and the staff to improve teaching, learning and general conditions at the school. They can have great fun with these kids who love the volunteers and readily play and laugh with them and if given half a chance will get up to all sorts of mischief too!

volunteer in Uganda and continue the good work of this project

Gap year in Asia

Taking your gap year in Asia is a great way to see one of the worlds most diverse and enthralling continents while also making a positive difference. Gap year Asia means gaining a far greater insight into the local cultures and everyday life rather than merely passing through, making for a far more authentic volunteer Asia, careerbreak Asia or travel Asia experience. Plus, if you want to take a gap year in Asia its not necessary to have any specific skills or qualifications just bring along your passion and an enthusiasm to give something back and keep an open mind! In return you will gain an unforgettable and worthwhile gap year Asia experience that you’ll treasure for years.

Gap year Asia with Ecoteer whom provides you with a wide choice of worthwhile gap year volunteer programs and projects. You can get involved with one of our popular wildlife conservation projects, presenting thrilling gap year opportunities to work with some of Asias most endangered animals, such as Turtles in Malaysia. You may also consider gap year volunteering in Asia to make a contribution towards improving the lives of disadvantaged children and adults in local communities, or you could make a vital difference by contributing your time to gap year in thailand or gap year in India. Our recent gap year projects in Sri Lanka enable gap year volunteers to help reestablish communities destroyed by the 2004 tsunami and 6 years on have long been forgotten. Whatever you do when you take your gap year Asia you can be sure to find the adventure thats right for you.

Recommended gap year Asia projects

Gap year in Malaysia

Gap year turtle volunteer project in Perhentian, Malaysia

Cost – GBP200 per week

Be part of our fledgling gap year turtle conservation and marine awareness project in the most beautiful islands of Malaysia, the Perhentian Islands, off mainland Malaysia. Green turtles are in dire need of our help especially in Terengganu, where 4 species of marine turtle nest but three of them, the hawksbill, Olive Ridley and Leatherbacks are almost locally extinct. Gap year volunteers help protect two important turtle beaches, run weekly after-school clubs at the primary school and teach tourists about marine conservation and turtle protection.

Join the Turtle gap year volunteer project now

Gap year Malaysia and teach English at learning centres

Cost – GBP749 for 4 weeks

Ecoteer are combing forces with a local NGO to help them expand their network of learning centres across Sabah, Borneo Malaysia. This gap year volunteer project will be the second project to be run by Ecoteer. Help teach English to the children of palm oil workers during your gap year asia. Provide the children education which they would otherwise have no access too.

Teach English in Sabah, Borneo Malaysia.

Orangutan gap year volunteering in Borneo

Cost – Over GBP200 per week

The gap year orangutan project is a collection of orangutan conservation projects in both Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, funded by gap year volunteer contributions. The GOP’s strength lies in its unique collaboration of orangutan conservation organisations or individuals who exchange knowledge, advice and ideas towards orangutan conservation in this part of the world. Each project has the shared vision of increasing the size and health of Borneo orangutan populations, bringing them back from the brink of extinction.

Join the Orangutan volunteer project new

Marine gap year volunteers in Sabah

Cost – GBP100 per week

Giant Clams the pearls of coral reefs are almost locally extinct. Become a marine volunteer in Borneo and help save these Giants. Gap year Asia volunteers help with the spawning of giant clams and coral re-planting work. Gap year Asia volunteers are also involved in the environmental education work with school children.

Become a marine volunteer in Borneo

Gap year in Cambodia

Volunteer in ecotourism or teach in Cambodia

Cost – Free

The lodge offers bed and breakfast accommodation to “green” and eco-friencly travellers, but it is also open to all kinds of visitors who want to stay somewhere completely different to conventional lodging in town. Gap year Asia volunteers teach English to the youth of the tribal groups to make them more employable. English is not included in the national curriculum so gap year Asia volunteers teaching English is of great need.

Volunteer teach english and help the Cambodian youth find future employment

Gap year in Laos

Volunteer in Laos textiles

Cost – GBP50 per week

This gap year volunteer project in Laos is dedicated to Lao cultural preservation through the promotion of Lao textile arts. It is our goal to economically and socially benefit Lao rural mountain artisans and thereby contribute to the wider community especially to women.
Unique aspects are that our new gap year Asia volunteers do not come into an existing role rather they become part of the community and co-steer the process of building up the future work of the ladies. A small team is in place to supervise and the founder of the Foundation can guide through various ideas connected to the projects aims.

Volunteer in Lao textiles now

Gap year India

Volunteer at tiger reserve ecolodge

Cost – GBP50-100 per week

Nestled deep in the picturesque Ramganga valley and surrounded by lush hills, the Lodge lies in total seclusion with the meandering Ramganga virtually cutting it off from human habitation. The lodge is strategically located on the banks of the river, the lifeline of Corbett, before it enters the park at Domunda. We provide a unique gap year Asia volunteer wildlife experience for nature lovers and our lodge easily ranks as one of the wildest jungle lodges in India. The rustle of the breeze in the adjoining forests, the calls of birds, the rumble of the river as it goes over rapids and sitting around a campfire at night to hear alarm calls of sambar and barking deer, provides an unforgettable dimension to the ambience. What makes it unique is the diversity it offers. The envious location affords long walks into the surrounding forest, something not permitted inside the park. A good mix of riverine, forest and high altitude habitat makes it a birdwatchers haven. With exclusive fishing beats replete with Golden Mahseer, anglers have rated it as the best sportfishing destination in North India. The added attraction of elephant safaris in the wild country makes this an irresistible proposition for your gap year in Asia.

Volunteer with tigers at India ecolodge

Volunteer and teach english in India

Cost – GBP20 per week

Gap year Asia volunteer opportunity in India and teach English and core subjects to the poor children and orphans in the beautiful hilly town of Shillong, North East India. Little Prakash and his friends in Shillong need help! In a poor tribal area of Shillong, a primary school with an attached orphanage housing 10 children is being run by Didi Ananda Kalyanbrata, a yoga nun. The school currently has 120 children, some of whom study free as their parents are unable to pay even minimal fees. All the children learn meditation and yoga.

Volunteer in India now

Volunteer at sustainable ecotourism lodge in India

Cost – Free

Gap year Asia volunteers can work at this retreat which is a unique project that combines sustainable ecotourism with sustainable agriculture and environmental education. Our eco-lodge is situated on a certified Organic farm in the rainforests of the Western Ghats of karnataka. We cater to environmentally conscious gap year asia volunteers who want to experience a harmonious existence with nature. We also organize and host workshops and educational programs with emphasis on organic farming, sustainable living, rainforest ecology and biodiversity for students and special interest groups such as organic farmers. We are recognized as one of india’s leading eco-lodges and have received a 1st prize award from eco-club international in 2005.

Volunteer in ecotourism in India

Gap year Thailand

Volunteer and help rural communities of Thailand

Cost – GBP20-50 per week

The rural population in Thailand is poor and has only little access to education. Gap year Asia volunteers share their lifes with the local community. The gap year Asia volunteers support is making a big change in the villagers. During your gap yer volunteering at this project you can get involved in teaching English, construction and just about anything that makes the lifes of the local community better.
Highly recommended.

Volunteer and make a difference in Thailand

Gap year with Elephants in Thailand

Cost – GBP100 per week

The gap year Asia Elephant project is unique and set in Northern Thailand. Established in the 1990″s their aim has always been to provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. Elephant gap year volunteer jobs are varied, from bathing elephants to basic health care. Gap year Asia volunteer roles also include assisting elephants keepers bathing elephants and general duties around the park and surrounds.

Become an elephant volunteer in Thailand

Gap year China

Teach English in Shanghai, China

Cost – GBP50-100 per week

Gap year Asia volunteer teaching in Shanghai: After a one week Induction course in Shanghai (include, Induction, culture course, Mandarin lesson and sightseeing explore) you will spend 4 weeks to 12 weeks teaching english to 7 to 18 year olds. Your teaching will usually be spread over 11 lessons to 15 lessons per week (35 to 40 minutes per lesson), Monday to Friday.

Volunteer and teach english in shanghai China

Gap year Japan

Sustainable living volunteer in Japan

Cost – Free

The ethos of this gap year Asia volunteer project is to live sustainably and in harmony with nature. The mission statement is: “To inspire and educate the citizens of Earth to create their own environmentally sustainable lifestyles and businesses, through participation in the creation and operation of a self-sufficient education center, organic farm, restaurant, fair trade shop and eco-technology development and demonstration center”. The farm and Cafe are run by an international volunteer team of staff from all over the world. About 4 or 5 team members and volunteers live on Mt Fuji full-time. We are also largely supported through the help of our Short Term Farm Volunteers, who help with everything from planting to cooking.

Volunteer at sustainable farm and lodge, Japan

Gap year Sri Lanka

Gap year Asia volunteers help rebuild communities

Cost – GBP50-100 per week

This is a rare opportunity to volunteer during your gap year asia and do a variety of different work in the poor areas of Sri Lanka. The people in the poor areas of Sri Lanks are still suffering from the devastation left by the Tsunami in 2004. Gap year Asia here and help these people whilst gaining an insight into day to day Buddhism. Gap year Asia volunteers do not, however, have to participate in religious activities.
The gap year Asia volunteer Sri Lanka Project is a small, personal, multi faceted project which was started after the devastating Tsunami in 2004 by Janaka De Silva, the General Manager of a local hotel and a dedicated philanthropist. He spends his spare time helping poor Sri Lankan families living on the outskirts of Galle town.
The project is totally non profit making. Any money left when the volunteers have been fed & accommodated, is ploughed straight into buying equipment, books & building works for the project.

Volunteer in Sri Lanka now

Help medicinal plants volunteer in Sri Lanka

Cost – GBP20-50 per week

We are a grassroot NGO involved in conservation of fast disappearing native plant species and documentation of indigenous knowledge or ethno botanical values associated with native plants. We possess a wonderful arboretum with rare medicinal and wild fruit plants with plenty of valuable traditional knowledge and all volunteers are placed in our arboretum in eco friendly architecture. Our main objective is to propagate these rare plants amongst Sunday schools in rural church parishes and Buddhist monasteries with hands on experience.

Volunteer in Sri Lanka now

Gap year Mongolia

Health care gap year Asia volunteer opportunity in Mongolia

Cost – GBP50-100 per week

As a gap year Asia volunteer, you will be assisting the Family Hospital in their effort to improve health care in poorest district in Ulaanbaatar and its surrounding areas. Two or three days a week, according to the community’s needs, you will accompany a mobile clinic that goes out to rural communities around the capital that often have little or no medical facilities. The drive to these communities generally takes about an hour-and-a-half. The mobile clinic usually visits Day Care Center, Black market, Orphanage center and Ger district, so that the doctors can give the children medical check ups. On the days that you are not going out on the mobile clinic, you will assist in the Family Hospital medical centre, which provides basic medical aid to children.

Volunteer in health care, Mongolia

Teaching english in Borneo

Its now been a few weeks since the return of pioneer volunteers, Donna Barlow, Arsalan Naeem and Jody Lee from the isolated schools of Sabah.  The volunteers certainly had an experience not to be forgotten from large spiders hiding in toilets to encountering herds of elephants whilst on night river cruises.

The volunteers first school was at Tomanggong palm oil plantation which is near  Tabin wildlife reserve.  The schools are very isolated and are a 2 hour 4×4 journey  away from the nearest town Lahad Datu.  But saying that the plantation has all what  you need including a small bar and badminton courts but phone signal is low which  is great.  The volunteers helped at the small school (60 children) run by Judith and  Ardana.  The children raise the Malaysian flag and sing songs including the Humana  song each morning.  The children were preparing for a competition at the end of  July where they would compete against 20 other schools in events such as football,  tyre rolling, volleyball, singing and dancing to name a few.  Each afternoon the  volunteers helped the children to practice for these events with Arsalan being the  football coach.  The housing the volunteers stayed in had been abandoned for a  while and many new squatters had taken residence in the house.  One day, Arsalan went to the toilet and to his astonishment when he stood up a HUGE spider was sat in the toilet bowl looking up at him! HELLO.  The plantation and surrounding forests are FULL of creepy crawlies and a nice dry cool house is very appealing for these critters.  Not all the animals living in the surrounding forest are all that creepy.  The plantation backs onto Tabin Wildlife Reserve which is home to Pygmy elephants, Sumatran rhino’s and orangutans.  On one of routes out of the plantation goes pass Tabin reserve and if you are lucky you can see these creatures crossing the road – Arsalan and Jody saw a few herds of elephants.  The weekend event soon came with the Tomanggong team ready and willing to take on the other schools!  After a non eventful journey to the event location the children of Tomanggong won all but 1 event!  With Arsalan’s football team not losing a single game.  The journey back was somewhat more eventful with tires bursting and heavy rains swelling rivers but after 7 hours and very wet clothes everyone made it safely back to Tomanggong.

The second month was based at Melangking which is just 15km from Sukau village which is the  centre of river cruises to see various wildlife including orangutans, elephants, hornbills,  crocodiles and even sun bears.  The plantation has three schools with between 20 to 40 children  going to each school. The children are again well behaved but it is obvious the children lack  confidence in speaking and writing english and their environmental awareness is very low.    Donna an orangutan and nature lover found her place at Melangking and started a recycling  scheme at all three schools at this plantation.  Teaching is not the only thing the volunteers  experienced here!  Have you ever seen male chickens’, cockerels wearing boxing gloves???  Well  one day the volunteers look out their window only to see two cockerels fighting with small  gloves on their claws.  These cockerels were practicing for cock fights which are illegal but are  run at all villagers throughout Borneo especially after pay day.  You never know what you may  see.  Being in the plantation is one experience not to be forgotten.

I personally would like to say a big THANK YOU to the Borneo Child Aid Society (BCAS), the two plam oil estates (Melangking and Tomanggong), Judith, Nesta, Junecel, Torben,  Mr Chee and Mr Wong and of course the three brave pioneer volunteers – Arsalan, Donna and Jody.

Ecoteer are now working with BCAS on a permanent volunteer program focusing on improving the English skills and environmental awareness of the children of the Palm Oil estates.  The program is starting on January 3^rd 2011 at Melangking estate and hopefully in the future we will be able to host volunteers at Tomanggong and other estates in the future.

We hope this is the start of helping not only the children but the wildlife living in the rainforests surrounding the palm oil estates of Sabah.

For more information on the new volunteer program please go to teach english in Borneo

For information on other volunteering opportunities go to the following pages

Volunteer borneo

volunteer malaysia

volunteer asia

Volunteer Abroad