Malaysia
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We are a non profit NGO focusing on social innovation to help individuals have a sustainable future. We have a number of projects including working with homeless individuals to get them into work and off the streets, community engagement with homeless people to end their stigma, training homeless people/marginalised individuals (LGBT, Single Mothers, etc.) to be tour guides to end the cycle of poverty, working with Afghan Refugees helping them build small businesses allowing them to become financially stable until they are resettled, teaching English to refugee children, working at an Afghan community centre to hold classes and events, amongst a range of others!
Below are some of the roles we are currently looking for (but if you have something else you think you can offer please let us know!) :
- Conversational English teaching Refugees
- Working on an initiative to assist individuals out of homlessness
- Website Content (Wordpress editor)
- Digital Content Editor/Social Media assistant
- Counsellors/Psychologists (1 yr + Experience)
- Marketing strategists
- Funding/Grant writing/Strategy managers
- Business/product development
- Accounts/bookkeeping
*️️*️️We are also looking for a manager for a 2 month period (minimum) starting in September, this post does not incur the fee and you are paid a stipend for your time here (based on probationary period) **
Please list which skills you have/role(s) you would be interested and your length of stay when applying. Please be aware there is a 3 week minimum when staying with us.
Although everyone likes the idea of teaching refugees, helping homeless people, and other 'glamorous' volunteering but don't want to do tasks such as research, data entry, admin, etc. to ensure the cohesive running of the NGO. By choosing to come here you are putting the needs of our beneficiaries before your own wants/desires and expecting to volunteer your time without self gain. We have had some volunteers come with a "Western Saviour Complex" who only want to come and do the jobs where they feel empowered or that make a good story, please leave this behind and approach the House with an open mind.
QUALITIES YOU MUST POSSESS:
- reliable, resourceful, results orientated
- excellent leadership qualities
- able to get along with all types of personalities and cultures
- able to listen and follow instructions.
- mature and no drama
Discipline and respect are the key words here and if you are someone who is lazy and messy and with an attitude, 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 culture and customs. The local people will appreciate your sensitivity towards their culture, lifestyles and beliefs. Be respectful at all times and offer your assistance to your host or staff whenever possible. You must have a broad mind for cultural differences.
LOCATION AND ACCOMMODATION
We are situated in a suburb called Ampang, a small mixed race village (kampung) setting about 8kms from Petronas Twin Towers. Our neighbours comprise of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Indonesians and some aborigine people too. We are well connected and close enough to the city but still far enough to see wild civet cats and hear the crickets at night. You will be staying at a volunteer residence which is a traditional village house. We have basical facilities at the house but considering our beneficiaries often do not have a roof over their head we are lucky to have what we do. If you are looking for a luxury stay this place may not be for you.
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!
Please note that if you are not comfortable with dogs or cats, our home is NOT suitable.
A typical day will look like this (however, this may change depending on the project you are assiting with) :
7 am - 8 am -- wake up / Breakfast
8 am - 8.30 -- Housekeeping
8.30am -- short meeting to plan the day
9 am - 1 pm – volunteer activities
Lunch & planning for following day
After 3 is your free time.
This schedule is followed 5 days a week.
We request that arrivals are on a weekend (ideally a Saturday or early Sunday afternoon) to allow yourself time to settle in and receive an induction prior to beginning volunteering on Monday.
WE ARE EQUIP WITH:
- bunk beds mixed dorm style with fans in every room
- 1 Western toilet, 2 outdoor showers
- Communal kitchen
- WIFI
- Night market 2 times per week
- Gym Nearby
- 24 hour laundromat nearby
- 24 hour restaurants nearby
- Supermarkets nearby
- 5 minute walk to bus stop with buses to Chinatown, Central Kuala Lumpur, and LRT station every 10 minutes
Please be aware that we offer basic accommodation, if you are looking for 5*️️️️️️️️️️ luxury this Workaway may not be for you! We have 3 resident dogs and a cat. In between, they would love some cuddles and play time
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY:
- We have a curfew from midnight to 7am.
- Female volunteers are required to cover their knees and shoulders at all time. Please wear your bras.
- No drugs allowed in the house (including marijuana).
- No footwear allowed inside including indoor slippers
MEALS:
Groceries are provided for self cook from Monday to Sunday. We provide groceries/vegetables and volunteers are welcome to self cook. We live as a community so whoever cooks has to cook for everyone and everyone who doesn't cook helps by cleaning up. Food is mostly vegetarian, meat can be purchased with your own money. Kindly note that our food is bought once a week and managed by the volunteers to prevent waste. Unfortunately we can't cater for specific diets e.g gluten free, super strict vegetarian, vegan, etc. when buying food for volunteers. If you require this you may have to purchase additional items for us to cook with.
If you want something more like milk, peanut butter or fruits, you can buy them for yourself at the local store but these come under your own personal purchases.
Thank you, we hope to hear from you soon.
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Animal care
Helping with Tourists
Charity work
Language practice
Art project
Help with Computers / internet
Teaching
An opportunity to learn the food culture of Malaysia, learn how to make a few local dishes, get involved with street people project's KL where we train homeless people and marginalised communities (former convicts, urban poor, LGBT+, etc.) to be tour guides, how to run a hostel and volunteer programs, learn about refugee issues, language practice, sustainable goals and social enterprise.
Indoor work: Art projects, DIY, cleaning, internet publicity and social media, cooking for the house, website maintenance, accounts and paperwork, marketing, pet care, etc.
Outdoor work : gardening, composting, general DIY
Offsite work: Street Salon and soup kitchen, daily engagement activities with the homeless, washing and playing with adoptable dogs, activities with the local Afghan community, helping Afghan refugees set up businesses, assisting with tours run by homeless people, and swimming with special needs children.
English (always), Malay (always), Tamil (always)
Fan-equipped dorms with bunk beds are available for four volunteers per room. The house has one indoor bathroom and two outdoor showers.
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.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
More than two
Five hours per day for 5 days a week, minimum 3 weeks or 15 working days
