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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
13 Jan 2025
Reply rate
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Description
Hi, I'm Alvin and I'm the owner and founder of a Martial Arts Academy. We are currently in the process of moving location to the beach area, with the new Academy set to open in February 2025. At the academy we run a community school project for the stateless and underprivileged kids - which is the main focus of our workaway.
Sadly, because the kids are stateless, they are not entitled to any identification documents and therefore, cannot leave the island of Labuan or attend normal state school. The kids come to my academy everyday; we don't have a set syllabus, so we teach them everything from Math and English to everyday life skills. Because the kids can't leave the island, we invite workawayers from all over the world to come with an open-mind and bring the world to them and teach the kids about different cultures, any skills, hobbies or interests the workawayers might have. I believe that education can create a better community, so I hope we can have the friends from all over the world to show the love and teach them.
In addition, we teach martial arts for fitness. My academy is not the commercial martial arts gym, you can see Deaf and Autistic members, Problematic kids, Disabled and less fortunate kids who enjoy the training environment here. Volunteers are more than welcome to take part in all the fitness/martial arts classes that we run.
The small island of around 90,000 residents is still highly-prized for its hurricane free, deep water port at the mouth of Brunei Bay. The island also serves as an excellent stopover for travelers crossing between Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah.
We open our hearts to welcome the friends from all over the world, to enjoy and gain the beautiful experience in Labuan.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
Animal Care
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The workawayers can stay at the academy, you can enjoy all the fitness and martial art classes that we offer, and you can use the basic gym facilities for free. The workawayers get to know the local cultures and local foods.
We are quite active with organising martial arts and sports event, you can learn to be the event organiser.
Help
We provide free tuition classes for stateless and underprivileged kids and we are looking for workawayers to teach these classes. As there is no set syllabus we are looking for workawayers who can share their own skills, hobbies, experiences to enlighten and engage the kids to provide a better future for them.
We love our ocean and we hope to learn some knowledge about environmental care, turtle hatchery and corals restoration - so if you specialise in these areas please also reach out to us!
Sometime we organise martial arts and sports event, so workawayers can be part of the committee member and organisation of these events.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Malay: Fluent
Chinese (Mandarin): Fluent
Chinese (Cantonese): FluentThis 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.
Accommodation
We provide a private room in the academy, the room has a basic bunk bed and fan along with a kitchen area that you are free to use. Most of the time we have several volunteers here, so you might need to share a room with others.
We can also provide you with the simple food too and take you out to restaurants to try the local food.
What else ...
Beautiful beaches every way in Labuan, you can see the corals and turtles on the island. I'm also trying to set up the water sports in Labuan too and I go to beach every weekend.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can possibly accept pets
Only dog
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (26)
This project has a real mission and has been the most inspirational of our trip so far. Here you will… read more
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This project has a real mission and has been the most inspirational of our trip so far. Here you will… read more
We spent 2 weeks with the kids, teaching them maths, swimming, football, cooking, nutrition, Drawing, make up, dancing, storytelling, searching information, history, geography and… read more
Alvin and chee Haw, the two owners, are doing really great job there. we want to thanks you two again for what you do… read more
Tana's time with us… read more
We originally planned to stay two weeks but at the end we stayed nearly a month.
Our daily task was teaching the children and teenagers for four hours a day.
On the evening, we became the students and were able to join the kickboxing lessons, hosted by the older students.
The… read more
It was an honor to… read more
The children are very caring, kind and funny. They all already have their own character and evolve together in kindness, mutual aid and sharing.
Alvin is impressively determined, he is a sensitive and strong person, the… read more
Alvin was very fast to answer my message and accept. I spent 1 wonderful month.
Alvin and your team (Chee Haw and Ellorna) are amazing. We had a lot meals together and always with moments to share informations and experiences.
It's beautiful listening Alvin talking about… read more
Beyond the mats, she was an embodiment of warmth and friendship. Whether it… read more
They extended their stay for another week because they want to spend more times with the kids.
They are loving and funny, and easy to get along.
Take care and all the… read more
Merci à Alvin de nous avoir permis de rencontrer tous ces enfants incroyables, nous n'oublierons jamais le temps passé, merci, merci ❤️
Ça aura été un vrai bonheur de donner des cours à des enfants aussi curieux, intelligents, gentils, attachants, motivés... Vous pouvez donner les cours que vous voulez. Parfois… read more
Sylvie helped us to organize martial arts event and she volunteered another project in Rusukan Island too. Whenever you need help, Sylvie is very supportive.
Sylvie will continue her teacher course and we… read more
The first week, I got the opportunity to help Alvin’s friends receive guests on a small paradise island close by. It was amazing.
Then I taught the children for 3 weeks and led different activities like mathematics, improvisation, games, crafts and fencing. I had a very good time… read more
She is open-minded, and loves to share her travel stories.
Since she is a social worker, she planned her teaching syllabus ahead for the kids. The kids enjoyed the class and they spent extra time with her.
We hope… read more
Tessa & Nicholas joined the local dive club for underwater ghost nets cleaning program, they love the community… read more
James stay for a month here and he creates a best memories for the kids.
The kids miss James and they love James will come back and visit again.
She is beautiful inside out and she will cried when she listen the stories of the stateless children.
The stateless children love… read more
We celebrated Chinese New Year together and he enjoyed the martial arts performance from the stateless students.
Eanna shared the stories of the … read more
All the best!
She stayed here for a month and we become good friend, we gained some weight due to she really enjoy the foods in Labuan.
Thank you and wish you all the best and you are always welcome back to the family.
Vincent and Armony will plan the different teaching methods so the kids can learn better. The stateless kids really enjoy the… read more
Hope to see you again.
Alvin showed… read more
