THERE are people who would take time out from their middle-class existence to fly thousands of kilometres away to a remote part in Borneo just so they could help underprivileged communities.
Ten people, aged between 17 and 26, have proven that volunteerism is alive and well.
These young men and women from England, Pakistan and Malaysia recently took part in a five-week project named Borneo 08G — involving community work and jungle trekking — which was organised by Raleigh International.
They were put together in a group code-named Alpha 4 and assigned to a remote village called Kampung Tudan in Ranau, Sabah to set up a gravity water system.
The village, which is six hours away from Kota Kinabalu by car, is situated on a highland region and the view of the surrounding area is impressive.
The majestic Mount Kinabalu dominates the landscape and the air is crisp at night. It rains almost daily.
The villagers are gentle and friendly. Most of them are of Kadazan-Dusun descent and they are mainly involved in tobacco and vegetable farming.
Until the Raleigh project, the village lacked clean water.
Earlier this year, Raleigh assessed the situation and decided to install a gravity water system in the area.
The 10 members of team Alpha 4 were given three weeks to complete the project.
At first, the villagers were sceptical about the abilities of the Westerners.
For some, it was the first time that they had seen white people.
They laughed among themselves and wondered: “Are these people crazy?”
Initially, it was hard for the volunteers. The elevation; the heat; the rain and the jungle terrain were difficult to tackle. Clearly, it was not a holiday.
It turned out that the village needed two gravity water systems as there are two water sources which are situated on remote hilltops and in opposite directions.
It takes about 30 minutes to walk to site A from the base and about 10 minutes to site B. This is not an easy task.
“I was shocked at how difficult it was to go to the project sites. It was quite daunting but then I got used to it. It was still hard work,” says Chloe Louise Mercer, 17, from Nottingham.
Mercer, who wants to be a surgeon one day, says that despite the initial shock, she was determined to complete the mission and not complain.
For three weeks, the Raleigh participants went up and down the hill carrying pipes, cement and sand bags on their backs.
It was an impressive sight.
“I have always wanted to do something like this. It is a wonderful experience. I know I am doing a good job of helping others and that feels great,” says Lucy Burton, 18, from Chester.
Burton wanted to prove to herself and others that she could survive in the harsh conditions of Borneo and complete her mission.
Scepticism turned into admiration and the villagers of Kampung Tudan decided to assist the young participants.
They appreciated the efforts of these youngsters to help their village.
Soon, the villagers opened their hearts to the tireless adventurers.
They started to describe the young volunteers as kuat (strong) and lasak (tough).
A fan of kickboxing and taekwondo, Sarah Lane was still climbing up the steep hill to the project sites even though her leg was injured.
The 22-year-old from Liverpool was limping up and down the hills because she did not want to let her team down.
“I signed up for the Raleigh project last year. I had always wanted to do something useful and interesting in my life and now I am doing that. I will not just leave because of this little injury,” she says.
The volunteers also took time off from their work schedule to engage with students at a school.
In the evenings they played soccer and games with the young children of the village.
David McCretton, 17, from North London even took the opportunity to learn some Bahasa Malaysia.
The most jovial of the group, McCretton even managed to learn a handful of Kadazan-Dusun words!
What started as a mission to build a water system for Kampung Tudan turned out to be a learning experience for volunteers and villagers.
The outsiders were eager to make friends with the villagers and learn from them. Bonds of friendship were forged between the youngsters and the villagers.
Village head Raifel Unsik Bendili, 67, is grateful for the presence of the Raleigh volunteers. He is impressed with the dedication and strength of the young participants.
“They are lasak, especially the girls. They look like gentle flowers but they are strong and brave. I am impressed with all of them,” he says.
Much to the volunteers’ delight, they were even invited to attend a Kadazan-Dusun wedding.
Being away from home and focused on their work, it was a welcome relief for the visitors.
The next day, it was back to work.
The gravity water systems in sites A and B were completed within three weeks. The Raleigh participants, villagers and Mohamed Kadri Mohamed Taib, Public Affairs and Communications Director of Coca-Cola Malaysia — the sponsor of the project — got together to celebrate the moment in a simple ceremony.
Ultimately, it was the satisfied faces at Kampung Tudan that said it all.
They finally have clean water! The Raleigh adventurers who made that possible will never forget the experience.
Edward Gillmore, 19, from London says: “All of us came here with the intention to help those who can’t help themselves. The villagers have touched us and taught us about the local culture. I will carry memories of them with me forever no matter where I go.”
EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE
HEALTH and hygiene are important to Raleigh volunteers.
In a remote area, far from easy access to medical attention, it is essential that everyone pays attention to keeping utensils clean, burying rubbish and maintaining toilet cleanliness.
Volunteers sleep by 10pm as they have to wake up early the next day. Those who stay up usually occupy themselves with reading or chatting.
The first activity of each day is to establish radio contact with Raleigh’s field base in Kota Kinabalu.
There will be another radio contact in the evening for updates.
That was how things work at all the project sites of the recent Borneo 08G programme.
Fifty participants — divided into five teams — from Europe and Asia aged between 17 and 26 took part in Borneo 08G. They were assigned to various isolated regions in Sabah to help villagers with projects which were peculiar to their needs.
Everyone in each team has a chance to be a leader and a new leader is chosen each day. The aim is to allow each participant to learn to be in charge of work at the project sites.
Volunteers take turn to cook and do the laundry. Everyone is expected to do his chores without complaining.
Andy Cottril, 26, one of the three project managers of Alpha 4 — the team assigned to Kampung Tudan, Ranau — says as a facilitator, his job was to make sure that the adventurers were safe.
“We are here to help volunteers. But everything else from the running of the camp to arranging the schedules, I have always wanted to do something like this, says Burtonvolunteers have to be responsible for those (things),” he says.
Problems are raised at regular meetings after dinner and settled peacefully.
Overcoming problems without hostility is central to team unity, says Cottril.
The night meeting also serves as a planning session on what to do the next day.
On some nights, a bonfire will be lighted and the volunteers gather together to play games or just relax in the cold night air.
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