Malaysia is a fast progressing nation with big improvements in living conditions and better education for its people. But many children living in the remote areas of Borneo still do not have access to schools, such as the children of Indonesian or Filipino plantation workers in Sabah, mainly because of distance, poverty and/or legal status. Teach English and other subjects with us on our volunteer Borneo program and really help make a difference to the future of the children of Borneo.

The Volunteer Borneo and Teach English experience enables the children to benefit from English teaching from native speakers. An added benefit of the Volunteer Borneo program is that the children have to speak English to the volunteers, facilitating the children’s development and confidence in using English.

The Volunteer Borneo program has also introduced afternoon activities for the children increasing contact time between the volunteers and the children further facilitating the children’s confidence in English.

Project overview

Project pictures

Project days:

Program starts every Monday but doesnt run during school holidays. Project dates for 2012 are:

- 2nd January to 9th March
- 19th March to 25th May
- 11th June to 27th August
- 20th September to 9th November

Project activities:

Lead English lessons, math, science and art. Prepare lesson plans. Play sports with the children (badminton, volleyball, football, etc), sing, go for a walk, practice arts, crafts etc.

Project fee:

GBP 175 for 2 weeks.

Project location:

Borneo, Malaysia.

Accommodation:

Shared accommodation with other volunteers

Testimonials:

This is a new project, where only a few volunteers have taken part so far. Their names are mentioned below. If you wish to get in contact with them to find out about their experience please inform us. Michelle Oldham, Sorrel Golding, Jenny Watkins

What is included

Accommodation:

Shared accommodation with other volunteers

Food:

3 meals a day

Airport Pickup:

Safe and comfortable journey to the project

Orientation:

Introduction to the project

Support:

In country help and advice for volunteers.

Internet:

Not available at the project

Drop off:

Available on request (small extra cost)

Not included

Community and coral conservation project

Project activities
- Day 1(Monday)
Pickup at Sandakan airport at 10am where Mr Chee will pick you and drive you to the plantation. The drive is about 2 hours. Mr Chee will show you to the Plantation guest house where you will be staying. Relax in your new surroundings. (D)

- Day 2 (Tuesday)
8am the new volunteers will be taken to the same learning centre and introduced to the teachers and of course the school children. You will be expected to lead not only English lessons but also maths, science and art. In the first session we always recommend you do an ‘introduce yourself’ session. The school day finishes at 12 noon.

You will be collected from your school and driven back to your guest house where Mr Chee will provide you with lunch. After Lunch volunteers normally think about lesson plans for the next day.

At 3pm the volunteers visit the school nearest the guest house for informal afternoon activities with the children. The children love to play sports (badminton, volleyball and football), sing, arts and crafts etc, they also like to go for a walk! this is time for volunteers and the children to just simply interact. After dinner is time for you to relax and watch a movie or read a book.

- Day 3 , 4 & 5 (Wednesday & Thursday)
7am                     Breakfast;
8am                     Go to school;
8.15-12 noon       Lead 1 hour lessons in English, Maths and then either Art, environment studies, science or a topic of your own choice.;
12 noon- 3pm      Lunch and prepare for afternoon activities and lessons for the following day;
3pm – 5pm          Volunteer organised Informal afternoon activities;
7pm                     Dinner;
8pm                     Relax;

- Day 5 (Friday)
Friday is sports day for the children so with the teacher you will organize sporting activities which is normally badminton. School finishes early at 11am.

- Weekend breaks
At midday on Friday you will have the option to leave the plantation for the weekend. Transportation will be arranged for you to the Sukau Junction where you can get cheap public transport to various natural wonders. Within 3 hours you can watch wild pygmy elephants, orangutans and proboscis monkey’s along the Kinabatangan River, dive at Sipadan one of the worlds top 10 diving sites, or quite simply relax in Sandakan and experience true traditional England at the English tea house.

- Day 7 (Sunday)
You will need to be back at the Sukau Junction by 4pm where you will be picked up and taken back to your accommodation.

- Day 8-28
Follow the same weekly routine but with no Malay language lessons in the evening;

Reality check
This is a teaching project and you are expected to teach for a four hours every day.

We would also like to stress this project was new in 2011 so please do not expect to come and see a finished volunteer experience.

It is important to remember that projects evolve and if you volunteer you will be at the start of this evolution period which makes it an exciting time to participate.

 
More information
For more information about Accommodation, flights, host family, local transport, project dates, project locations, sim cards, the first couple of days, the team behind LEO, travel & socializing, travel insurance, vaccinations, visa, volunteering in general and why you would pay to volunteer please visit our FAQ.