KOA Podek Mission 1

Let's bring happiness and aid to KOA Podek

This mission is postponed to a later date due to unforeseen circumstances. The mission will be reopened for volunteer recruitment at a later date.

About Kampung Orang Asli Podek

Kampung Orang Asli Podek is home to approximately 55 families (around 200-300 people) of the Temiar community. Located 3km from the nearest mini-market, the village is accessible by SUV or 4x4 vehicles. While the road is passable, there are large potholes along the way.

The story of Jorita

Jorita is a 29-year-old Temiar Orang Asli from Kampung Orang Asli Podek. She lives with her mother and is the guardian of her late sister’s five children. Jorita studied English at SOLS and Business Management at Saito University College and worked in a law firm before returning to her village to care for her sister’s children. She was trained by SUKA Society to run a pre-school, despite failing to complete her training at the Institute Pendidikan Guru.

Jorita runs a small "pre-school" for 13 children using her mother's house which was a brick house built by the government. She uses the syllabus provided by SUKA Society, focusing on teaching English, Maths, Science, and Malay to children aged 4 to 6. Classes are conducted in Malay and held five days a week, from 2 pm to 4:30 pm, sometimes extending to 6 pm.

Projek57 helped Jorita set up the "pre-school" with furniture, equipment, learning materials and basic necessities and funded Jorita’s training under SUKA Society.

Projek57 continues as sponsor of bi-monthly supervision of the "pre-school" by SUKA Society and purchases syllabus materials from SUKA. Projek57 is also currently providing a monthly salary of RM750 and RM250 for food, which Jorita prepares for the children. She also uses her own salary to buy any additional school supplies and cover utility costs. The pre-school operates in a government-built house, and there is an urgent need for additional educational materials like storybooks and arts and crafts supplies.

For this Kampung Orang Asli Podek Mission, we are also partnering and working hand in hand with Projek57.

Agenda 1: To build a Rumah Baca

Current situation: Children attend primary and secondary schools located further away (Sekolah Rendah Kuala Petis and Sekolah Menengah Pangkung Jaya). Children faces challenges in keeping up with formal education. The current space used by Jorita is too small to accomodate more children, and the space was intended to be a house when built by the government for Jorita's mother.

Proposal: to build a Rumah Baca "pre-school" on the 40x100-foot plot of land donated by Jorita's mother. This school will serve as a foundation for early childhood education, accommodating up to 20 students or more.

Photos below are the current space used by Jorita

Photos below are the proposed Rumah Baca designed with a kitchen and storage

Agenda 2: To build a water system & provide water filters to each household

Current situation: About 15 families living on lower ground depend on untreated river water from Sungai Petis, which is polluted by neighboring estates. This has led to skin diseases and cases of diarrhea. The river also becomes excessively muddy during the rainy season, worsening the situation. 

Proposal: to construct a water tank near Sungai Petis to store clean water for the community. In addition, to provide each household with portable filters to ensure immediate access to clean, safe drinking water. This will mitigate the health issues caused by polluted river water.

Photo below is the proposed water tank

Agenda 3: To build toilets

Current situation: Although some houses have toilets, they are non-functional due to the lack of running water. These toilets are now being used as storage spaces.

Proposal: to build some communal toilets with running water which can also be used by volunteers for future projects.

Photos below are the proposed toilet

Food & Beverages

We will set up a central kitchen to cook food for volunteers. The ticket fee of RM80 includes:

- Friday: Lunch, Dinner

- Saturday, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

- Sunday: Breakfast

However, volunteers are advised to bring their own drinking water. We will not be providing drinking water.

Camping

There is no accomodation facility in the kampung. All the volunteers will be camping in the kampung for 2 nights during the mission. Volunteers are advised to bring your own camping equipment such as tent, sleeping bag, camp bed.

Pre-mission briefing

We will conduct a volunteer briefing around third week of November. we will announce the date soon. Do keep a lookout for any changes in this mission brief. If you have signed up, you will receive our email through Sedunia on the briefing and logistics information. 

Logistics

All volunteers will gather at a location on a given date for a quick briefing, then the cars will form a convoy heading towards the kampung. We will announce the meet up point, date and time in due course.

What to expect?

Not gonna lie, some Hard Labour for sure. If you think you cannot do hard labour, you can also help out in the kitchen team or the food aid team as well.

But there are also a ton of fun if you come with an open mind. Playing with the local kids, talking to the local folks, meeting other like-minded volunteers.

At the end of the mission, we hope that you will feel contended and fulfilled for having done something for a community.