ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

Transcription

1 ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME The once in a lifetime experience for the adventurous and hardworking! Participate firsthand in our field projects in Borneo & see orangutans in their natural habitat June 16 July 28 Registered Charity No / cat@orangutan.org.uk 7 Kent Terrace, London NW1 4RP / Tel:

2 Volunteer Programme 2012 Background The Orangutan Foundation Volunteer Programme was established in 2000 in Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). It has never failed to be a success; not only does it provide the Foundation with a base of committed supporters but past volunteers all agree that taking part was an unforgettable and amazing experience. All volunteers walk away from the programme better informed and more passionate about orangutan conservation than when they set off on their adventure. The location of the programme depends on the needs of our field operations at the time and hence volunteers have worked in Tanjung Puting National Park (ex-orangutan release site), the Lamandau Wildlife River Reserve (current release site) and Belantikan, home to the largest remaining population of orangutans in an unprotected area. Volunteer Programme Objectives Please note that the volunteer programme exists to help with our field operations as and when necessary, so projects could change at the last minute if the need arises. **None of the projects will involve hands-on contact or direct work with orangutans** Past projects have included the construction of Guard Posts, an orangutan release site and building dams with piping to supply villagers with clean drinking water. All work is physical and hands-on, and you will get to grips with chiseling, sawing, painting and cementing! No experience is necessary but enthusiasm is a must. The planned project for 2012 is the construction of an overland boardwalk of about 4km in length to allow access to one of our orangutan release sites, Camp Mangkung, in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve. In times of low rainfall the river can become too shallow to allow access by boat so an overland means of transporting orangutans to the site is essential. This is a massive task which was started in 2010, continued in 2011 and will hopefully be completed in 2012!

3 As well as tired and happy, we want you to finish the volunteer programme informed about the threats to orangutans and the work that we are doing to conserve them and their habitat. We want you to go away as an ambassador for us and, ultimately, the orangutans. A visit to the old orangutan release site of Camp Leakey will be built into the programme to ensure all volunteers see the origins of the Orangutan Foundation and get a chance to see the species they are working to save at close quarters. You will also pay a visit to Kampung Konservasi, a ground-breaking education programme and agro-forestry site run by our local partner organisation Yayorin (Yayasan Orangutan Indonesia). Length of stay The programme is for a set period of six weeks. Programme costs The cost of taking part in the programme is 850. This payment covers all accommodation (from when you arrive in Pangkalan Bun until you depart), food, equipment, materials and transport for the duration of the programme. Half of this cost is a non-refundable deposit and must be paid in advance once your place on the programme is confirmed. Travel costs and other expenses In addition to the programme cost, you will be expected to organise and pay for all of your own travel arrangements to Pangkalan Bun, Indonesian Borneo. This will include your 60-day visa, international and local flights, transfers and accommodation en-route. You must also fund yourself for additional items during the programme (i.e. souvenirs, extra snacks and drinks, extra activities during rest weekends). We estimate that the total cost of taking part in the programme, including travel is approximately but obviously this will vary according to your own personal budget and expenses. Selection Process Interviews are conducted until all spaces have been filled. All successful UK applicants will be expected to attend an interview at the Orangutan Foundation office in London. Telephone interviews can be arranged where necessary and for international applicants. Once your place on the programme is confirmed, Foundation staff will be at hand to help you and give advice. You will be sent a Briefing Book, which is a comprehensive guide to the programme and contains useful travel information. Orangutan Foundation The Orangutan Foundation is the foremost orangutan conservation organisation. We are saving Asia's endangered great apes by protecting their tropical forest habitat, working with local communities and promoting research and education.

4 The approach of the Orangutan Foundation goes beyond that of purely protecting the orangutan. Critically it also includes a recognition that orangutan habitat is unique in it's richness of biodiversity and crucial for local communities, who are as dependant on the forest as is the orangutan. Further information on the work of the Orangutan Foundation can be found on our website, As a registered charity in the UK (no ), the Foundation relies upon public donations, fundraising and grants. How to apply You must be a current member of the Orangutan Foundation to participate. Nonmembers will be expected to join the Foundation if selected. To apply for a place please fill out and detach the application form located at the back of this brochure and send together with a covering letter and C.V/resume. If you would like to speak to Foundation staff for further information about the programme or would like to contact previous volunteers please call Cat in the office on (00 44) Is there an age limit? Frequently Asked Questions All volunteers must be over 18 but there is no upper age limit. However, you will need to be very fit, healthy and prepared for humid conditions and demanding physical work. You will need to complete a medical form if you have an ongoing medical condition. If you are in any doubt please contact Foundation staff and your doctor. The programme attracts all ages from gap year students to career-breakers, to retired professionals and teams are completely mixed. Are couples allowed to participate on the Programme? We welcome applications from couples but we do limit the number of couples per team in order that the team dynamics are not too disrupted. We do advise couples that personal space in non-existent for the duration of the programme and also trust couples to apply together only when they are in a happy and established relationship. What are the conditions like? You will be living and working in a rural and remote region of Indonesian Borneo, where the humidity and the temperature are high and the terrain tough. Work on the programme will necessitate a great deal of physical exertion.

5 Depending upon location and project, you may be required to undertake some of the following activities: strenuous walking/hiking, climbing and clambering through dense forest, handling fallen and slippery logs, painting, digging, carrying loads, working in swampy areas where water and mud can be waist deep and home to leeches! Will I see orangutans? Although you will not have direct contact with orangutans or participate in orangutan field research, opportunities may be available for the team to accompany our resident assistants into the forest to search for wild orangutans. You will also meet many of the free ranging ex-captive orangutans in the locality. A day is put aside to visit our Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine Facility, which is located in the village of Pasir Panjang. (Please note that you will not work at the Care Centre). The Volunteer Coordinator will try to find time give you informal talks on the orangutans at Camp Leakey and local conservation issues. Naturally please just ask them if you have any questions too! What skills might be of use? Whilst carpentry skills would be useful, we do not expect you to have particular skills or experience. Essential qualities are a sense of humour, a keen interest and an ability to function happily as part of a small team. Past participants have come from all over the world to take part, however we do ask that individuals be able to speak fluently either in English or Indonesian. What is the team size? Each team will comprise up to 12 individuals and will be supervised by either one or two Volunteer Co-ordinators, who are responsible for the overall programme. Each group will work on a specific project during their length of stay. Tasks will be rotated and assignments distributed to members on the basis of interest and willingness, health and skills. What is the accommodation like? Accommodation at project sites is very basic and there may well be no conventional sanitation or electric lighting. Most of the time there will be no phone or connections (only expect these facilities when in town at the very beginning and end of the Programme. Washing takes place communally, usually on a jetty, by the river. You may sleep on a pondok (see left) but may also stay

6 overnight in the forest sleeping in hammocks or in a house in the village in which are working/ staying. Whichever, your bed may well represent your only personal space. What food can you expect? Food is basic but good and as varied as is possible in these remote locations, thanks to the skill and resourcefulness of our cook Ibu Opit. Simple dishes of rice, vegetables and noodles (typical of the region) are to be expected and then you may be pleasantly surprised in the days following the supply run. Unfortunately we are unable to cater for people with specific food requirements (i.e. food allergies, low sodium diet etc). Vegetarian meals can be provided but you will share crockery and cutlery with the nonvegetarians. Meat is limited but provided where possible. Meat is typically in the form of fish or chicken. What kit and equipment is needed? A Briefing Book with full details will be sent to you prior to your departure, but important items of kit include; a day pack, poncho, headlamp and hammock. You are encouraged not to buy expensive gear to work in; it will be ruined by the end of your time on the programme. What is the medical advice? As far as health is concerned it is imperative that expert advice is sought from your local doctor/ clinic and that all recommendations for inoculations and anti-malarial drugs are precisely followed. The nearest available hospital and medical care is in the town of Pangkalan Bun (4hours by boat/jeep). However facilities here are limited. In the event of a major accident or illness, you would be sent to Singapore, which is the closest major town or city offering full medical facilities. This is approximately 12 hours travel by the quickest possible means. **Full medical and travel insurance is essential** Do I need a visa? Yes, you will have to apply for a 60-day tourist visa before traveling to Indonesia. It costs around 35 and is single-entry. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. You should contact the Indonesian Embassy in your country of origin for further information and visa requirements.

7 What to expect an overview What to expect... By Roberta Giovedi, Volunteer Co-ordinator 2009 & 2010 As clichéd as it sounds be prepared to expect the unexpected. When I was coordinating in 2008 I had three teams working on the same project in the same location, despite this all of them faced very different working and living conditions! Team 1 spent almost a week working in the river we were working on to clear it and transport materials. The next few weeks were extremely dry and the team had to cut a trail to the main river in case we were unable to use the smaller one. Boat trips down the small river we worked on took hours. For the second half of team 1 there were torrential downpours, the site was flooded and travel up and down the river was easy. Team 2 by comparison had to walk to and from camp every time using the trail cut by team 1. The site was incredibly dry and there was very little rain at all. This caused problems as the river was so low that it became difficult to wash and get supplies into camp. Team 3 had torrential downpours almost all of the way through. They had to abandon the pondok and sleep on the site and the water levels were so high that they almost entered the buildings! As you can see things can change very quickly and it's best to be prepared for anything conditions and plans change all of the time. The most important thing is to not let it all stress you out! The Structure You will hopefully all arrive by the Saturday of the start of the programme. Normally you will have the afternoon to get yourselves oriented in Pangkalan Bun and to do any last minute shopping. On the Saturday evening you will all go out for a meal together and you will be briefed by your co-ordinator on the plan for the coming six weeks. It's a good opportunity to get to know the other volunteers and also to ask any questions about the project that you might have. The usual plan is then to travel to Camp Leakey in Tanjung Puting National Park on the Sunday. Camp Leakey is the first site used by Professor Birute Galdikas and Rod Brindamour for the release of ex-captive Orangutans. You will spend a few days there learning about Orang-utans and getting used to a different climate, culture and way of life. Typically this is followed by a visit to The Orang-utan Care Centre and Quarantine (OCCQ). This is where ex-captive Orang-utans are cared for and rehabilitated for release into camps. You will also have the opportunity to visit Yayasan Orang-utan Indonesia (Yayorin). They are a Indonesian NGO who do work within communities and schools educating. Normally a talk will be given by Pak Togu and you will have the chance to walk around the Kampung Konservasi and look at how they are trying to show to local people how it is possible to live in harmony with the forest. These visits should hopefully put the work you are about to do in perspective. Normally the next four weeks will be spent at the project site although this can vary. The project typically ends with a few more days at Camp Leakey and finally a farewell meal in Pangkalan Bun before you all leave on the last Saturday of the project. Plans are by no means set in stone though so please be prepared. Last year the volunteers on teams 2 & 3 were unable to travel to Camp Leakey at the beginning and

8 the end of the project and as a result went in the middle. To compensate team 2 spent 4 days on a fishing boat travelling to some of the guard posts, the beach and a silica mine and team 3 spent a few days doing some more work at one of the release camps within Lamandau. It is always the intention to follow the standard format detailed above but as I said plans can change! The Work The work can be incredibly varied, it is however, completely determined by the project you are working on. The work might involve general woodwork such as sawing, chiselling and hammering or you could end up working with cement and putting up entire walls! The work might not always be geared towards construction. Last year volunteers had to work in a river clearing fallen trees to make the river accessible by boat, some volunteers had to cut a trail for around 5km through the forest and some volunteers had to travel to an abandoned silica mine and collect sand. When I came as a volunteer in 2006 I ended up helping to fight forest fires! The work can be incredibly challenging especially in the heat and it's important to take plenty of breaks and drink plenty of water. You might find that at time the work can at times get monotonous and boring, having to chisel holes all day through blocks of hard wood three inches thick isn't always everyone's idea of paradise but, it is important to remember what you are working towards. The working day usually starts at between 7:30 and 8:00am after everyone has finished breakfast. You will normally be briefed in the morning about the duties for the day and then you will normally work until around 10:30. After a short break you'll normally continue until around 12:00 and break for lunch. Lunch breaks are typically 2 hours long as between 12:00 and 2:00 it is far too hot to work. After the lunch break you will probably work until around 5:00. There will normally be one rest day per week but this can vary according to the project location. The Climate Indonesian is a tropical country and where you will be working in Kalimantan is not very far from the equator so it is undeniably hot! It will take all of you some time to acclimatise, some longer than others. The most important thing is to keep hydrated as dehydration can be a big problem and in extreme cases can lead to fainting which is extremely dangerous on a building site. You will all sweat, even the Indonesians do and they are likely to complain about the heat just as much as you! Living Conditions It is likely that the project site will be remote and several hours from the nearest town. In the most remote areas you will stay in a Pondok although there is a chance that on some projects you may stay at an existing house in a local village. The pondok is a temporary building made from a wood frame and tarpaulin which is used for the walls and the roof. It's surprisingly homely and most volunteers enjoy staying there. Depending on the site there may also be the opportunity to sleep in the forest in your hammocks. This is at the coordinators discretion. You will have a little space beside your bed to keep your belongings but, you will all be sleeping in very close proximity to

9 one another. You will sleep on a fairly thin mattress and you'll have a pillow too. It's not going to be as comfortable as your bed at home but it's still cosy. Mattresses and pillows tend to get a smelly quite quickly due to the humidity levels so it's important to hang them up each day to air them out. You will wash your clothes in the river and getting them dry is often a daily struggle as you try to catch the spells of sunshine in between the rain spells and there will most likely be days when you have to wear wet or dirty clothes. None of your clothes will ever feel properly clean so don't wear anything you want to keep. You'll normally be washing in the river that you were working on although as a rule you won't be able to swim in it because there will most likely be crocodiles. Girls must wear a sarong. Evenings are normally spent relaxing playing card games, talking or listening to music. Most of the time you will stay awake until the generator powering the lights runs out of diesel or you just get sick of the sound of the generator. Volunteer Programme life is very different to your life back home, there is absolutely no privacy and you have no personal space! Despite this volunteers seem to adapt very quickly to this way of life. The Food You will be eating a traditional Indonesian diet, this mean lots of rice and lots of noodles. They will be the basis for all 3 meals everyday. The location of the site and absence of amenities such as a fridge place limits on the life of and types of food available. We try to provide vegetables as often as possible although there may be times when they are not available or they have just run out in the run up to shopping day. We also try to provide fruit as often as is possible however, the orangutans are likely to get more than you. Tofu and Tempe is normally eaten once or twice a week on the days immediately following the shopping day as they can't be stored for long. Meat is very much a luxury and if at all will only be something that you get once a week. It is likely that LIVE chickens and fish will be brought into camp and killed at camp. Our diet is mainly vegetarian but when meat is prepared it is not possible to use separate cooking utensils/pots, vegetarians must be aware of this. The Culture and People Getting to learn about a new culture and meeting people from another country can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the project. The local people are incredibly warm and hospitable, the staff especially. You will find that EVERYBODY in Pangkalan Bun will want to say hello and no trip into town will be complete without cries of hello mister (even if you're a girl). There are some important things to remember about Indonesian culture, the first is that Indonesia culture is non confrontational, and extremes of emotion should not be shown in public. Getting angry in Indonesia will get you nowhere; it is more likely to get you laughed at. The Indonesian way of life is very different to the western way of life and it is very important that you are able to adapt to this. One of the most important things to realise is that punctuality is not taken as seriously in Indonesia as it is in the West. There will be many occasions where you will have to wait for pre-booked taxis that are over half an hour late because they decided to take on another job! The important thing to remember is just to be patient and relax - if you're more than half an hour late and you

10 have to wait a while it's not the end of the world! You should also be prepared for plans to change with very little notice. This might be in terms of the project schedule, departure times for boats and taxis or on the work site itself. The Indonesians attitude to safety on the work site is by no means similar to those in the UK. There are no hard hats or steel toe capped boots. The sites are safe but it is important to bear in mind that the conditions will be very different. The most important thing to remember is that Indonesia is a Muslim country and therefore women MUST dress appropriately. This means shoulders and knees covered at ALL times and nothing tight fitting (loose clothes also make the heat more bearable). This counts also when washing and getting dressed too, it is quite and art getting dressed and washing in a sarong but you will get used to it. Another important pointer is to remember not to use the left hand when offering or accepting anything as well as for eating as it is considered rude. Always use the right hand. This is especially difficult if like me you are left handed The Indonesian staff working with us on the project will only speak very little if any English. You will gain much more from your time here if you can speak some Indonesian. Fun This probably doesn't paint the most appealing picture of the volunteer project but what it does do is prepare you for the absolute worst! It's important to bear in mind that the completion of the project is of the greatest importance and there might be times where conditions will be unfavourable. Always keep in mind the reason why you are working and the goal you are working towards. You will be working on a project which will help to conserve and protect the Orang-utan which is an endangered species. The project is a lot of fun, you will very quickly adapt to the new way of life and start to really enjoy it. The experience of living in the middle of the rainforest is both a unique and incredible experience and I can guarantee you will take a way a lot of memories and friends that you will keep for the rest of your life. Kalimantan Borneo Borneo is unevenly divided into three countries; Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) is a sparsely populated territory of swamps, pristine jungle, mountains and rivers. Its location, a few degrees south of the equator, means the climate is hot and humid all year round. The population is small and concentrated around a handful of coastal towns and cities. Indigenous Dayak tribes still inhabit the rainforest interior, in villages and longhouses that lie scattered along riverbanks, which provide the only thoroughfares into Kalimantan. Tanjung Puting National Park

11 Tanjung Puting National Park is located in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. It became a game reserve in 1935 and was established as a National Park in 1982 after much lobbying from leading primatologist Dr. Birute Galdikas. The Park is composed of several forest types, including peat swamp forest, tropical heath forest and mixed dipterocarp rainforest. All of these forest types are found within the study area of Camp Leakey, which lies within the Park boundaries. Home to both wild and rehabilitated orangutans, Camp Leakey is a remote place that is only reached by boat (klotok) along the Sekonyer River. In addition to orangutans, the park sustains a vast variety of plant, bird, insect and animal species, including proboscis monkeys, macaques, gibbons, and crocodiles. Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve The Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve is located a distance from Tanjung Puting and is closed to the public. The Reserve is an ex logging concession which is now protected by the Orangutan Foundation and is our current orangutan release site. There are a number of strategically placed Camps and Guard Posts to allow monitoring and protection of the released orangutans. To date we have released 160 orangutans to a life in the wild there and more will follow. Many of the Camps and release sites have been built by past volunteer groups and it is likely that you will be carrying out some essential repairs during your time on the Volunteer Programme. Conservation Awareness The tropical rainforests of Indonesia, considered one of the world s most diverse ecosystems, are a refuge for some of the world s most endangered species. Indonesia s biographic position has helped to create habitats for more mammal and plant species than any other

12 country. However, the future of these forests and the species they support are under serious threat. Tropical rainforests are being cut down for timber and the land cleared for mining and palm oil plantations, a fast-growing industry in Indonesia. Whilst the use of biofuels is widely touted as the solution to carbon emissions and climate change, many are unaware that it is not. The clearing of forests to make room for palm oil plantations in fact releases more carbon into the air than the biofuels produced on that land save. Orangutans have lost 80% of their habitat in the last 20 years new estimates suggest that 98% of the Indonesian forests may be destroyed by 2022, and lowland forest much sooner. As the forest disappears orangutans have less space to live in, less food and are vulnerable to illegal hunting.

13 VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME 2012 APPLICATION FORM NAME: DATE OF BIRTH: NATIONALITY: ADDRESS: TEL: (All correspondence regarding the Programme will generally be made via e- mail. Applicants must supply a valid address and inform the Foundation if this changes.) I am / am not a member of the Orangutan Foundation. (Please delete as appropriate.n.b. All successful applicants are expected to become a member). Orangutan Foundation membership no: (If applicable). PLEASE ATTACH CV / RESUME AND A COVERING LETTER RETURN TO: CAT GIBBONS ORANGUTAN FOUNDATION, 7 KENT TERRACE, LONDON, NW1 4RP, ENGLAND or to cat@orangutan.org.uk