Learn about eco-building and help us out in a small village in Kulai, Johor, Malaysia

Details

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  Description

  Selamat Datang ! ( Malay: Welcome!)
  
  We are a local Chinese community that runs a treehouse homestay, a cafe and a Waldorf-inspired education programme located in a small Malay village in Kulai, Johor. We started to construct treehouses and facilities in 2014 and officially opened in 2015. All the treehouses and other facilities were built using natural and recycled materials in cooperation with indigenous friends. The natural and recycled materials used include old shipboard, second hand wood, natural bamboo, mud and bricks.
  
  The core concept of the house is to realize the coexistence of man and nature while maintaining the original ecology of the forest to the greatest extent with minimal damage. As we are taking care of the forest ecosystem, we can still carry out our daily and economic activities, like a self-sustaining ‘ecological village’. Therefore we collect compose and encourage recycling within our compound.
  
  We have five guest tree houses, a three-story cafe, classrooms, a storeroom, common areas and a conference hall. Our reception or lobby area has an organic garden with chicken (only one at the moment) and a wood-fired earthen oven. The focus of our homestay and cafe is to bring city dwellers out into the jungle to learn about sustainable lifestyles and experience a different way of living in Malaysia. "Other than
  a vacation, you need an experience." Most of our guests are locals so you will meet many Malaysians or tourists from different backgrounds.
  
  Our school is a Waldorf-inspired private school with about 40 students aged 4 to 12. It is a school based on the balance of children's physical and mental development. The school has four characteristics: being close to nature, stimulating creativity, emphasizing children's learning rhythm, and artistic accomplishment. Our goal is to provide a space for children to learn and play, planting the seeds of nature conservation in their hearts.
  
  Life here is filled with healing surprises. I hope that your time here allows you to embark on an ecological and intellectual journey, experiencing the tranquillity and joy of a simple life, just as we do.
  
  Some other notes:
  -We have four cats here, and many wild visitors from the forest, including monkeys (long-tailed macaques) and mosquitoes or other unknown insects. We recommend that you wear long sleeves to protect your skin.
  - Our three-acre area is located on a mountainside, so be prepared to walk uphill on the jungle path 2-3 times a day.
  -Our treehouses are pristine and close to nature, and we will always advise our volunteers and guests to put important items in boxes or our storage room. (Prevent clever monkeys from sneaking them away)
  - Unlike the existing reservoir of the Johor River in Johor, the water supply of the relies on the clean and clear water source in the forest. So yes, we drink and shower with mountain spring.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are located in a small village with mainly local guests so you will meet many Malaysians from different backgrounds (we have three main races here: Malays, Chinese and Indians). You'll learn about tree houses, running a homestay locally and with more sustainable ways, natural buildings, green roofs, and other forms of ecological architecture. Our guesthouse is built in the Temiar style, one of Malaysia's indigenous tribes and we are lucky to have them as our staff.
  
  People are our greatest asset. We hope that volunteers not only acquire new skills from their tasks but also find unexpected rewards through interactions with staff, children, guests, and fellow volunteers. Enjoying engaging conversations and games with us is also part of the experience. Most importantly, we wish for you to find inner peace while being surrounded by nature at our place.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  As a volunteer, we hope you will learn about natural and indigenous architecture, the plants and animals in our forests, and our culture. As we run a school, treehouse (Homestay) , the tasks may be varied, and we're always open for discussions.
  
  We love it when volunteers share their skills and knowledge and lead their own projects, so let us know if you have any ideas! Volunteers work approx. 25 hours a week not including own meal preparations and cleaning with one to two days off a week and a minimum of three weeks. We prefer non-smoking volunteers who speak English, Mandarin or Malay.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Malay: Fluent
  Chinese (Mandarin): Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  We offer shared treehouses/available guesthouses and even other common areas (cafe, lobby, classrooms, hall) with electricity and fans. These open-air structures are made from recycled materials and come with mattresses, blankets, and pillow bedsheets. Many volunteers like to change treehouses every few nights, depending on availability, to enjoy various options. To keep belongings safe from our monkey neighbours, bags are generally stored in our storeroom, while volunteers usually bring a small bag of essentials to the treehouse.
  
  Our meals are mostly vegetarian and include a mix of self-cooked and group dishes, with groceries, kitchen supplies, and garden vegetables provided. Our water, sourced from a mountain spring, is safe to drink directly from the tap. You’ll frequently cook and share meals with our key staff who live in the treehouses. You are also welcome to prepare your own meals if you prefer. We encourage volunteers to share their culinary traditions with us!

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  What else ...

  During free time, volunteers can relax in our common areas, tree nets, meditate, join our daily morning jungle trek, enjoy the views from the library, swim in the nearby waterfall, explore the village, or hike the mountain. If time allows, we also organize group outings to nearby attractions and restaurants.
  
  Our village is small, with just a few simple restaurants and a small convenience store. Transportation to the town is limited, but you can hitch hike or welcome to join us for rides when we go into town for groceries and laundry.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Although we are located in a rural area, the internet connection is considered stable. We have a WIFI connection, yet you will have to move around to find the best spot to enjoy faster internet speed. Most of our staff use their own mobile data plan.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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