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Host is looking for help immediately
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Details
Description
Updated January 2023
Min stay – 2 weeks to 3 months
Hello!
We are a local registered non-profit NGO on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur and are looking for some volunteers to help (multiple roles available – see below!). The NGO works in the local community to support vulnerable and marginalised groups including the elderly and disabled, children with special needs, refugees amongst others. We focus on social innovation and aim to create sustainable solutions for individuals and households so that they can be self-sufficient.
Experience working in the sector is a bonus but not a requirement, however, it is critical that rules and guidelines are strictly followed when working with all beneficiaries who must be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion.
We are currently looking for people to help with farming and gardening, social media and photography, and housekeeping and general help. A longer-term position is also available for an admin and project supervision role.
As per Workaway exchange, your contribution is 5 hours a day and 5 days a week ie 7am until 2pm each day (breakfast and lunch within this time) and the rest of the day is free!
Please see the Help section for details on each.
Accommodation and Location
I am Shyam, I am the CEO and live at the same property where volunteers will stay with my 3 rescue dogs and cat who are the leaders of the house! They need lots of cuddles so please only enquire if you are comfortable around animals.
We are situated in a suburb called Ampang, a small mixed-race village (Kampung) setting about 8kms from Petronas Twin Towers. You can reach the city easily by bus during your free time. You will be staying at a volunteer residence which is a traditional village house with basic amenities (see details below in Accommodation section).
Our home is not a hotel and we would appreciate volunteers to respect that before arriving. Since we do not have a maid, housekeeping is a shared duty with other volunteers and will take 15 minutes to complete. To stay here you must not be afraid to get your hands dirty!
Expectations for volunteers
Please only enquire if you have taken all the necessary steps to keep yourself safe and are fully vaccinated (we may need proof of vaccination). We have a strict safety policy, and we look for workawayers who are mature, professional, proactive and able to learn quickly and follow instructions. As an NGO we really seek people who will have added value and wont need too much guidance!
Discipline and respect are the key words here so if they don’t describe you then please give this a pass. Your behaviour influences a lot of the local people's ideas about the western world so we ask you to be sensitive to local culture and customs. You must have a broad mind for cultural differences as we work with people with all kinds of backgrounds.
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY:
- We have a curfew from midnight to 7am.
- Volunteers are required to cover their knees and shoulders at all time. Female volunteers, please wear your bras.
- No drugs allowed in the house (including medicinal marijuana).
- No footwear allowed inside including indoor slippers
Thank you, we hope to hear from you soon!
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities.
You will be able to experience life in a small and diverse community in Ampang, while learning about the food culture of Malaysia where we can show you many new dishes. You can also learn about the social development in the area and how we are trying to support in a sustainable way.
Help
The roles available are:
1. General role for housekeeping and food preparation (minimum 2 weeks) - everyone
2. Social media – someone to promote us online and take photos of projects and activities (minimum 2 weeks)
3. Vegetable farming – we are in the process of starting a vegetable farm and would appreciate someone with prior experience (of Asian farming if possible!). 3 weeks minimum with potential to extend.
4. Project oversight and administrative role for the NGO. 3 to 6 month position, however, a 1 month starting period to ensure suitability. Potential for a small allowance to help with some expenses. Individual would have priority for a private room where possible but not guaranteed!
Accommodation
We are equipped with:
- Dorms with up to 4 people per room with fans in every room. Depending on the number of volunteers you will get your own room where possible and rooms will be split by gender but this may not always be possible!
- 1 Western toilet, 2 outdoor showers
- Communal kitchen (see more details below)
- WIFI
- Services nearby include a night market 2 times per week, gym, laundromat, restaurants, supermarkets and bus stations.
Meals:
You can cook for yourself in the shared kitchen, or collectively with other volunteers. Basic cooking items (oil, salt, pepper, rice etc.) and breakfast items (oats, tea, coffee etc.) are provided and other items can be bought at the local supermarket or night market which is very cheap.
Food is a huge part of Malaysian culture so we may also have the opportunity to cook together and share meals and recipes!
What else…
Above anything else, we seek to help the people around us and to do that to a high standard we must be a cohesive, friendly and generous group of individuals who share the common goal of helping other people – and animals!Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
An opportunity to learn the food culture of Malaysia, learn how to make a few new dishes, how to run a hostel and volunteer programs, learn about refugee issues, language practice, sustainable goals and social enterprise.
Help
House keeping, tourism, simple DIY, pet care, vegetable planting, gardening, composting etc
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Malay: Fluent
Tamil: FluentAccommodation
Fan-equipped dorms with bunk beds are available for four volunteers per room. The house has one indoor bathroom and two outdoor showers.
What else ...
Ampang is a short bus-ride away from Kuala Lumpur, which has all the amenities of a big city. Nearby are the tourist attractions Batu Caves and hot springs. It is possible to visit places such as the Cameron Highlands, Ipoh and Penang on days off.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
yes.
Space for parking camper vans
park at the side of the curb/road
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours per day for 5 days a week or 10 working days
Feedback (51)
the accommodation needed :bed, shelter, fan, WiFi. I also could… read more
The Workaway is an incredible NGO that does fantastic work with a range of beneficiaries. This means that the work Workawayers do can vary from week to week and even day to day! Due to my length of time I committed to the NGO I not only managed the Volunteer house but I was given my own… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(4.6)
the accommodation needed :bed, shelter, fan, WiFi. I also could… read more
The Workaway is an incredible NGO that does fantastic work with a range of beneficiaries. This means that the work Workawayers do can vary from week to week and even day to day! Due to my length of time I committed to the NGO I not only managed the Volunteer house but I was given my own… read more
There are so many cool projects to work on, I've learnt so much being at the hostel for 2 weeks !
Shyam is such an incredible women, and I love the way she thinks, and how she leads the project so that we can really help people that needs it !
We worked on the website, and taught english to kids, it was an… read more
This strength has two sides: if you're motivated and comitted to your missions you will be… read more
During our stay we were involved with English teaching with street people, advice and assistance with the Unseen Walking Tours Project, helping with the accounts,… read more
Sam & Nick helped us with cooking chilli chutney as part of our social project for the… read more
have no problems. We loved the variety of experiences we had while volunteering with Shyam. We did a lot, from cooking and gardening to helping at a dog… read more
I was teaching English to refugee kids, which was a really nice and interesting experience. The school director and his family where very nice and caring, but unorganized. We didn't receive… read more
The vibe is extremely chilled. The social projects are very worthwhile and rewarding. The host is amazingly inspiring. And the food. Oh the food. You'll have to find a way to explain the awkward multiple… read more
This was my first workaway experience and I'm sure that it will be one of the best I will ever have, because it's a chance to stay in the wonderful country of Malaysia for nearly free and instead of the usual… read more
Volunteering oportunities are viral so You can check Yourself in many different situation (even if something is not pointed on the list it… read more
Projects with special children and homeless people are excellent, I would like give something same at home.
Nice to meet you Shiam, see you soon.
This project… read more
The projects were amazing, innovative and very community focused - Shyam's focus was always on the people and how best to help… read more
Overall, it's an amazing place to… read more
Shyam has an amazing heart and… read more
Michael - At first, he may seem a little quiet but wait till he gets to know you! Michael helped create and make metal baskets to capture the leaves falling in our drains, which was clogging our gutters every time it… read more
Shyam put a lot of effort into the running projects. We got the opportunity to volunteer in the special school for two weeks. The task was mainly to support the teachers and the children during the lessons. It was a great experience and I think we learned more from the kids… read more
Food – Kindly define… read more
Always a very very good experience!
It feels really like a home away from home.
Shyam is one of the special persons who directly invite into your heart.
Stay here and u will learn a lot! Don't forget all the fun u will have too!
Anytime again :)
From the moment they arrived they worked very hard even when I don't ask they would do work.
They are very hard working and very nice people
I would wish them all the best on there travels
And would recommend them to anyone who wants a lovely hardworking reliable couple
Thankyou Shaun and Amy for all… read more