This expedition provides pupils with extraordinary opportunities. Life on an expedition will place them in situations that cannot be replicated in the classroom and will set them apart from the rest of their peers in the eyes of future employers or colleges/universities. Whilst travelling to an exciting part of the world, participants will contribute to very important and rewarding community, wildlife and environmental projects that are fun, memorable and exciting and will give them unique opportunities to integrate with new cultures, speak new languages, gain a deeper understanding of other communities, make new and lasting friendships and improve their leadership and team working skills. Pupils will be taking on new challenges, many of which will push them further than they though they could go but they’ll soon realise, they can achieve anything they set their minds to. It may only be one month, but the pupils involved will have an experience that will last them a lifetime.
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located in Southeast Asia. It is comprised of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, the sultanate kingdom of Brunei and the Indonesian province of Kalimantan. This multicultural island is home to an enormous diversity of exotic flora, fauna and natural beauty. The extensive rainforest ecosystem that covers most of the island is the oldest in the world and the island also boasts the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, the mighty Mount Kinabalu. The state of Sabah is a cultural melting pot with a bewildering multi-cultural and multi-religious aspect, yet everyone lives together in harmony. Sabah has no less than 32 indigenous ethnic entities, speaking as many languages and over 50 dialects. The main indigenous group are the Kadazan Dusun, living around Kota Kinabalu. Next are the Bajau who live along the coast and the Murut who live in the interior and were once famous intrepid warriors and reputedly the last to give up the ancient custom of headhunting!
The pupils will spend their expedition living with their team and visiting a number of our camps, which will give them the opportunity to see exciting parts of the country. No matter which camp they stay in, they’ll wake up to awesome vistas and an orchestra of wildlife. The camp staff will become their extended family as they guide them through various projects. Every project may not be seen through to the end, but they will be contributing to the ultimate long-term goals of the area. Simply getting to the projects is an eye opener in itself, whether on one of our vehicles getting the chance to spot wildlife as they travel, walking through the village with their new neighbours or even entering the school grounds to be met by eager children who want to practice their English. Don’t forget to take some time to relax after a hard days project work: for some this means challenging the locals to a football match, for others this is the ideal time to give hand-washing their clothes a try! The food in camp is varied, rich in flavour and gives pupils a chance to sample the delicious local cuisine as well as some well-known favourite western dishes. Finishing their day with evening games or by taking part in some traditional singing and dancing.
Working and living alongside a rural Sabahan community will be one of the highlights of the Borneo experience. Their warmth and generosity, despite obvious hardships, is incredible. During the expedition pupls will live as part of an island community and work on a number of our award-winning, ongoing projects designed to improve the living standards of local people. Project work will vary hugely depending on the needs and priorities of each community at any given time. Much of our work focuses on trying to improve facilities and promote environmental awareness within communities. Project work could involve anything from low-level construction work, painting classrooms, building desks and teaching pupils and adults, to playing sports or assisting with harvesting and planting, so it is important to remain flexible, enthusiastic and keep an open mind!
The health of our oceans, rivers and forests are essential for our survival and wellbeing and yet our planet is under increasing pressure from our unsustainable activities. Our Marine Conservation Programme aims to protect and conserve our marine ecosystem and is designed to complement the diving course. Pupils will spend a few days participating in fun, educational activities such as monitoring marine life, teaching local school children and adults about sustainable ways of fishing and beach, lagoon and reef clean-ups.
This phase of the adventure will take place on the banks of the mighty Kinabatangan River in eastern Sabah. The river runs from the heart of Borneo and is steeped in history since it used to be the only way of getting into the deep interior jungle. Pupils will participate in an environmental project, helping to reforest areas where the jungle has been destroyed to provide a safe haven for the animals that depend on it for survival. Travelling by boat to and from the project site each day gives pupils the chance to view some of the spectacular wildlife Borneo has to offer. The jungle and riverbank is teeming with wildlife, including elephants, wild boar, crocodiles, a variety of birdlife and 10 different species of primates, including Asia’s only great ape – the Orangutan. Pupils will also get the chance to visit Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary to view this magnificent animal at close quarters.
PADI Scuba Diving Course: Experience the wonder of diving in warm tropical waters and coral reef, surrounded by brilliantly coloured tropical fish and a chance to see turtles, dolphins and whale sharks by challenging pupils to undertake a PADI Open Water Diving course, the most widely recognised and respected diving course in the world. Upon successful completion, pupils will have the freedom to dive with a buddy, independent of a professional, almost anywhere in the world! Pupils will learn the fundamentals of scuba diving, including equipment and techniques before completing a number of confined and open water dives. There are plenty of alternative activities for those that don’t want to take part. Rest and relaxation: The idyllic white-sand beaches of Borneo’s north coast provide the perfect place to relax and socialise with the team. This is a very social time when teams organise lots of different events, from volleyball competitions and beach BBQs to fancy dress parties. There are also some limited shopping opportunities during the expedition and many teams choose to go to one of the local restaurants for a team meal.
Download the information by clicking here… Borneo Scuba Expedition (.pdf)
