Yayasan hopes for more local volunteers
Published on: Friday, March 06, 2020
Exchange of documents between Yayasan Sabah Group and Raleigh International Kuala Lumpur.
Kota Kinabalu: Yayasan Sabah Group and Raleigh Malaysia are synergising to bring volunteers specifically to the implementation of projects in the conservation areas under the purview of Yayasan Sabah Group.It’s Director cum Chief Executive Officer of Innoprise Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (ICSB), Datuk Jamalul Kiram Mohd Zakaria said this at the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding between Yayasan Sabah Group and Raleigh Malaysia at Menara Tun Mustapha, here, Wednesday.
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“Through volunteerism work, individuals are able to impart the skills and abilities to run environment projects and shall learn more about the environment and culture,” he said.
“Besides going back to the community and the environment, workers are also able to make connections with professionals and like-minded people, have gain valuable job experience and training. As volunteerism is a fun and rewarding experience, indirectly it will help us make the environment a better place to live,” he said.
He hopes through the collaboration, Raleigh Malaysia will bring in more volunteers’ especially local youth to come to conservation areas under the purview of Yayasan Sabah Group namely Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon, Silam Coast and Taliwas River.
“Previously, majority of the volunteers came from abroad but this time around we want more participation from local volunteers. It is time for our youth to learn about our forest and I believe through volunteering works with Raleigh Malaysia, they will understand the importance of guarding our forest,” he said.
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At the same time he also expressed hopes that volunteers from abroad will continue to come to the conservation areas and shared their experiences with the local rangers.
“Our staff have also benefited from the presence of the foreign volunteers who came from all over the world. While assisting Raleigh’s volunteers, our rangers gained confidence in communicating with foreign visitors and raise their self-esteem. At the same time, the volunteers also learn about our forest through our rangers,” he said.
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Jamalul signed on behalf Yayasan Sabah Group, witnessed by Corporate Secretary of Yayasan Sabah, Dr Ishak Johari and President of Raleigh Sabah Society, Norhafidzah Abin and President of Raleigh International Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chung Shin signed on behalf of Raleigh Malaysia and witnessed by Secretary of Raleigh Sabah Society, Eliz Fung Nyuk Yee.
Raleigh Malaysia is part of the Global Raleigh International Association, but is independently governed by its own select committee.
Its two components, Raleigh Sabah Society and Raleigh International Kuala Lumpur, are both listed as a non-profit and non-governmental organisations.
Raleigh International has been working closely with Raleigh Malaysia, to support them in continuing to create lasting change and contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals after Raleigh Borneo Expeditions ended in October 2018.
Collaboration between Yayasan Sabah Group and Raleigh International started back in mid- 1980s.
Throughout the years, Raleigh International has helped facilitate the implementation of conservation programmes in the conservation areas by undertaking construction and maintenance works on facilities such as suspension bridges, water gravity systems, jungle trails and satellite camps.
Jamalul further elaborated that both parties have kicked-off two Raleigh expeditions in Maliau Basin Conservation Area since last year.
“The first expedition, a pilot project, was a collaboration between Raleigh Sabah Society and Raleigh International Kuala Lumpur. The expedition has brought together Raleigh International alumni that have been involved during the last expedition in 2002.
“Through this expedition, the volunteers dismantle the damage sky bridge structures in Maliau Basin and cleared trails used by visitors and researchers,” he said.
After the pilot project completed, Raleigh Sabah Society continued with the first project at Agathis Research Station also in Maliau Basin. The volunteers teamed up to repair the washrooms and cleaned the whole compound of the campsite.
The second project took place in Belian Camp where participants assisted in maintenance works on the 300 metres long sky bridge.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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