Project details:
I will spend the first two weeks of my expedition on Mantanani Island. The small isolated community of Mantanani remains one of the poorest in the region with high levels of unemployment. Many families have set up homestay initiatives to generate income for their families. I will be working with the community that the camp is based alongside, working on projects to combat waste management, inadequate school facilities, and overfishing. I will help teach conversational English to the local children and arrange games and sports sessions to keep them active and engaged in their education. I will also be involved in continuing the development of a purpose-built office & reception to welcome guests and expand homestay initiatives.
The next two weeks I move to the mainland at Camp Bongkud, under the watchful eye of mighty Mount Kinabalu. We’re building a kindergarten here, so I will be involved in improving the local education infrastructure. Bongkud village has a small kindergarten that uses a small church building. However, the population of young children in the village is growing fast and the current kindergarten is becoming overcrowded. I will help by continuing the development of a purpose-built kindergarten, providing a stimulating and safe environment where these young children can learn and play.
Potential activities:
Depending on what stage the project is at by the time I get there the activities I will take part in could be
- Digging foundations & laying bricks
- Plastering, painting, and decorating buildings
- Installing bathroom facilities for visitor toilets
- Making furniture
- Creating a play area & landscaping
- Installing water storage tanks & associated piping