so the title of my talk today volunteers unpaid star for superheroes well I’m
unpaid star for superheroes well I’m
unpaid star for superheroes well I’m going to dodge the question slightly and
going to dodge the question slightly and
going to dodge the question slightly and I tried to think about what to say I
I tried to think about what to say I
I tried to think about what to say I remember as a 13 or 14 year old the
remember as a 13 or 14 year old the
remember as a 13 or 14 year old the advice of my English language teacher
advice of my English language teacher
advice of my English language teacher who after giving me yet another c-minus
who after giving me yet another c-minus
who after giving me yet another c-minus for my work said write me an essay about
for my work said write me an essay about
for my work said write me an essay about something that you have experienced so I
something that you have experienced so I
something that you have experienced so I went away and I wrote about trout
went away and I wrote about trout
went away and I wrote about trout fishing with my father in the Highlands
fishing with my father in the Highlands
fishing with my father in the Highlands of Scotland and to my surprise and
of Scotland and to my surprise and
of Scotland and to my surprise and amazement I got named so I put that
amazement I got named so I put that
amazement I got named so I put that lesson to good use in talks and speeches
lesson to good use in talks and speeches
lesson to good use in talks and speeches that I’ve given since the questions that
that I’ve given since the questions that
that I’ve given since the questions that came to me were why do we volunteer and
came to me were why do we volunteer and
came to me were why do we volunteer and what is volunteering do we volunteer to
what is volunteering do we volunteer to
what is volunteering do we volunteer to assuage our conscience it’s about the
assuage our conscience it’s about the
assuage our conscience it’s about the giving something back for you because we
giving something back for you because we
giving something back for you because we have the time to or we can afford to for
have the time to or we can afford to for
have the time to or we can afford to for myself speaking as a late baby boomer
myself speaking as a late baby boomer
myself speaking as a late baby boomer where my life and career was still
where my life and career was still
where my life and career was still trying to be mapped out for me I have
trying to be mapped out for me I have
trying to be mapped out for me I have been a casual volunteer for a good part
been a casual volunteer for a good part
been a casual volunteer for a good part of my life but it’s only in the last two
of my life but it’s only in the last two
of my life but it’s only in the last two years that I have been getting serious
years that I have been getting serious
years that I have been getting serious about it if we look at what is
about it if we look at what is
about it if we look at what is volunteering I can think of two options
volunteering I can think of two options
volunteering I can think of two options the informal the footwall by informal I
the informal the footwall by informal I
the informal the footwall by informal I mean such activities as helping at a
mean such activities as helping at a
mean such activities as helping at a church event running a university club
church event running a university club
church event running a university club like this a lot of volunteers today or
like this a lot of volunteers today or
like this a lot of volunteers today or helping somebody to rebuild their house
helping somebody to rebuild their house
helping somebody to rebuild their house things I suspect many of us here have
things I suspect many of us here have
things I suspect many of us here have have done or do or take take part in
have done or do or take take part in
have done or do or take take part in warming the formal approach implies
warming the formal approach implies
warming the formal approach implies structure and commitment and sacrifice I
structure and commitment and sacrifice I
structure and commitment and sacrifice I qualified as a dinghy sailing instructor
qualified as a dinghy sailing instructor
qualified as a dinghy sailing instructor I gave up my weekend as a barest weeks
I gave up my weekend as a barest weeks
I gave up my weekend as a barest weeks in the summer to teach maybe kids to
in the summer to teach maybe kids to
in the summer to teach maybe kids to sail I went to Nepal for five months to
sail I went to Nepal for five months to
sail I went to Nepal for five months to build schools and I’m here in Malaysia
build schools and I’m here in Malaysia
build schools and I’m here in Malaysia for four months to help a community find
for four months to help a community find
for four months to help a community find a way forward the example I gave of
a way forward the example I gave of
a way forward the example I gave of helping to rebuild build school houses
helping to rebuild build school houses
helping to rebuild build school houses is one that could span across both
is one that could span across both
is one that could span across both approaches I have spent many weekends
approaches I have spent many weekends
approaches I have spent many weekends friends with their house expansions but
friends with their house expansions but
friends with their house expansions but in 2016 I spent 10 months working
in 2016 I spent 10 months working
in 2016 I spent 10 months working alongside my brother-in-law as he
alongside my brother-in-law as he
alongside my brother-in-law as he completely refurbished his house so why
completely refurbished his house so why
completely refurbished his house so why does someone who was managing partner of
does someone who was managing partner of
does someone who was managing partner of affirmative surveyors with 10 years to
affirmative surveyors with 10 years to
affirmative surveyors with 10 years to go to retirement and reasonably
go to retirement and reasonably
go to retirement and reasonably financially secure suddenly changed
financially secure suddenly changed
financially secure suddenly changed course and faced total uncertainty and
course and faced total uncertainty and
course and faced total uncertainty and insecurity that’s certainly the question
insecurity that’s certainly the question
insecurity that’s certainly the question my daughters asked me when I told him I
my daughters asked me when I told him I
my daughters asked me when I told him I plan to do this I suspect that the
plan to do this I suspect that the
plan to do this I suspect that the majority of the audience here today
majority of the audience here today
majority of the audience here today would be classified as Millennials and
would be classified as Millennials and
would be classified as Millennials and the refreshing thing about you is that
the refreshing thing about you is that
the refreshing thing about you is that even though you might qualify as
even though you might qualify as
even though you might qualify as engineers or lawyers there seems to be
engineers or lawyers there seems to be
engineers or lawyers there seems to be no commitment to following that course
no commitment to following that course
no commitment to following that course to retirement I would say at this point
to retirement I would say at this point
to retirement I would say at this point of course my perspective on business
of course my perspective on business
of course my perspective on business from a Western approach so it may be
from a Western approach so it may be
from a Western approach so it may be that you have a different but I will
that you have a different but I will
that you have a different but I will soldier on that basis now I realize that
soldier on that basis now I realize that
soldier on that basis now I realize that I might be generalizing a bit here and
I might be generalizing a bit here and
I might be generalizing a bit here and equally as I said this could apply more
equally as I said this could apply more
equally as I said this could apply more to Western society but of the four
to Western society but of the four
to Western society but of the four Millennials that I’m currently working
Millennials that I’m currently working
Millennials that I’m currently working with to don’t have a job to go to at the
with to don’t have a job to go to at the
with to don’t have a job to go to at the end of our program at the moment one is
end of our program at the moment one is
end of our program at the moment one is taking a sabbatical and only one of the
taking a sabbatical and only one of the
taking a sabbatical and only one of the four is Western so there’s a very
four is Western so there’s a very
four is Western so there’s a very scientific dubious scientific data for
scientific dubious scientific data for
scientific dubious scientific data for you but in my travels over the last two
you but in my travels over the last two
you but in my travels over the last two years I have met a big cross-section of
years I have met a big cross-section of
years I have met a big cross-section of age groups the time and again people
age groups the time and again people
age groups the time and again people were taking time out either in a
were taking time out either in a
were taking time out either in a structured way for a sabbatical or
structured way for a sabbatical or
structured way for a sabbatical or having left their jobs with no clear
having left their jobs with no clear
having left their jobs with no clear plans as to what they were going to do
plans as to what they were going to do
plans as to what they were going to do on their return I find this incredibly
on their return I find this incredibly
on their return I find this incredibly refreshing it’s all about going on a
refreshing it’s all about going on a
refreshing it’s all about going on a journey literally and metaphorically the
journey literally and metaphorically the
journey literally and metaphorically the Millennials with no fixed ideas about
Millennials with no fixed ideas about
Millennials with no fixed ideas about career paths are doing it early on are
career paths are doing it early on are
career paths are doing it early on are the baby boomers and Generation X’s are
the baby boomers and Generation X’s are
the baby boomers and Generation X’s are turning to it later in life that said
turning to it later in life that said
turning to it later in life that said those of us who are over over 50 have
those of us who are over over 50 have
those of us who are over over 50 have more divided ulema I think the reaction
more divided ulema I think the reaction
more divided ulema I think the reaction I get from those I talk to you ranges
I get from those I talk to you ranges
I get from those I talk to you ranges from that’s very clear
from that’s very clear
from that’s very clear Regus or noble of you – wishing that
Regus or noble of you – wishing that
Regus or noble of you – wishing that they could do the same thing a bit being
they could do the same thing a bit being
they could do the same thing a bit being very envious and some have admitted even
very envious and some have admitted even
very envious and some have admitted even to living vicariously through me as I
to living vicariously through me as I
to living vicariously through me as I told my adventures through mine what’s a
told my adventures through mine what’s a
told my adventures through mine what’s a true my parents had a strong sense of
true my parents had a strong sense of
true my parents had a strong sense of duty and values and their lives were led
duty and values and their lives were led
duty and values and their lives were led with a very clear path in front of them
with a very clear path in front of them
with a very clear path in front of them but they lived in incredible times my
but they lived in incredible times my
but they lived in incredible times my father was was in the colonial service
father was was in the colonial service
father was was in the colonial service working here in KL and then in subber
working here in KL and then in subber
working here in KL and then in subber until independence in 1963 my sister was
until independence in 1963 my sister was
until independence in 1963 my sister was born in KL and I was born in Sabah and I
born in KL and I was born in Sabah and I
born in KL and I was born in Sabah and I believe that my formative years out out
believe that my formative years out out
believe that my formative years out out here have eight what I’m trying to
here have eight what I’m trying to
here have eight what I’m trying to achieve what is all this got to do with
achieve what is all this got to do with
achieve what is all this got to do with volunteering I think I’m trying to set
volunteering I think I’m trying to set
volunteering I think I’m trying to set the scene and again referring back to my
the scene and again referring back to my
the scene and again referring back to my English teacher talking about my
English teacher talking about my
English teacher talking about my experiences volunteering is a way of
experiences volunteering is a way of
experiences volunteering is a way of putting something back even if you can’t
putting something back even if you can’t
putting something back even if you can’t change your life and run off to Africa
change your life and run off to Africa
change your life and run off to Africa or Asia you can still make a difference
or Asia you can still make a difference
or Asia you can still make a difference to other people’s lives have an open
to other people’s lives have an open
to other people’s lives have an open mind be prepared to change I think too
mind be prepared to change I think too
mind be prepared to change I think too many people don’t do something because
many people don’t do something because
many people don’t do something because they feel the time isn’t right but
they feel the time isn’t right but
they feel the time isn’t right but that’s a copper because when you think
that’s a copper because when you think
that’s a copper because when you think the time is right that will have passed
the time is right that will have passed
the time is right that will have passed so listen to your heart
so listen to your heart
so listen to your heart don’t be ruled by your head remember
don’t be ruled by your head remember
don’t be ruled by your head remember this isn’t too dry run I have had what
this isn’t too dry run I have had what
this isn’t too dry run I have had what could be defined defined as two midlife
could be defined defined as two midlife
could be defined defined as two midlife crises in my forties when I was under
crises in my forties when I was under
crises in my forties when I was under huge pressures at work and leading a
huge pressures at work and leading a
huge pressures at work and leading a very full home life with a growing
very full home life with a growing
very full home life with a growing family
family
family I checked out for a while and then again
I checked out for a while and then again
I checked out for a while and then again in my 50s but in a very different way it
in my 50s but in a very different way it
in my 50s but in a very different way it was more of a realization that this was
was more of a realization that this was
was more of a realization that this was the time to change thankfully I listened
the time to change thankfully I listened
the time to change thankfully I listened to my heart and seized the day
to my heart and seized the day
to my heart and seized the day carpe diem in which more fully or the
carpe diem in which more fully or the
carpe diem in which more fully or the translation will fully seize the day but
translation will fully seize the day but
translation will fully seize the day but very little trust
very little trust
very little trust tomorrow I believe I have been living
tomorrow I believe I have been living
tomorrow I believe I have been living like this for a while now so how did I
like this for a while now so how did I
like this for a while now so how did I get standing here in front of you today
get standing here in front of you today
get standing here in front of you today well towards the end of 2015 a friend of
well towards the end of 2015 a friend of
well towards the end of 2015 a friend of mine challenged me to go somewhere where
mine challenged me to go somewhere where
mine challenged me to go somewhere where I had always wanted to so with some
I had always wanted to so with some
I had always wanted to so with some trepidation I booked a flight to Buenos
trepidation I booked a flight to Buenos
trepidation I booked a flight to Buenos Aires and spent two months traveling
Aires and spent two months traveling
Aires and spent two months traveling around Argentina Chile and Bolivia and
around Argentina Chile and Bolivia and
around Argentina Chile and Bolivia and had a wonderful time and proved that I
had a wonderful time and proved that I
had a wonderful time and proved that I could survive on my own I then spent the
could survive on my own I then spent the
could survive on my own I then spent the rest of the year working with my brother
rest of the year working with my brother
rest of the year working with my brother and brother-in-law rebuilding their
and brother-in-law rebuilding their
and brother-in-law rebuilding their health Umbria farmhouse during that time
health Umbria farmhouse during that time
health Umbria farmhouse during that time I was researching getting into disaster
I was researching getting into disaster
I was researching getting into disaster reconstruction and humanitarian aid work
reconstruction and humanitarian aid work
reconstruction and humanitarian aid work and realizing that I needed to do more
and realizing that I needed to do more
and realizing that I needed to do more volunteering to prove to those who might
volunteering to prove to those who might
volunteering to prove to those who might give their job that I was serious and
give their job that I was serious and
give their job that I was serious and for me with the earthquake still fairly
for me with the earthquake still fairly
for me with the earthquake still fairly fresh in the mind the Paul was the
fresh in the mind the Paul was the
fresh in the mind the Paul was the obvious place to go by chance when I was
obvious place to go by chance when I was
obvious place to go by chance when I was looking at the website of the company
looking at the website of the company
looking at the website of the company that one of my daughter’s was working
that one of my daughter’s was working
that one of my daughter’s was working for I saw the police support they
for I saw the police support they
for I saw the police support they sponsored a charity who were involved in
sponsored a charity who were involved in
sponsored a charity who were involved in education in Nepal so I wrote to them
education in Nepal so I wrote to them
education in Nepal so I wrote to them and asked if I could be of any help they
and asked if I could be of any help they
and asked if I could be of any help they said no but their sister charity the
said no but their sister charity the
said no but their sister charity the farha trust you the paja trust / Nepal
farha trust you the paja trust / Nepal
farha trust you the paja trust / Nepal had been building schools out there for
had been building schools out there for
had been building schools out there for 25 years so I wrote to them and after
25 years so I wrote to them and after
25 years so I wrote to them and after some chewing and throwing they offered
some chewing and throwing they offered
some chewing and throwing they offered me a job
me a job
me a job unpaid as project manager to run a
unpaid as project manager to run a
unpaid as project manager to run a couple of rebuilds in loungin district
couple of rebuilds in loungin district
couple of rebuilds in loungin district bingo and so in early January of this
bingo and so in early January of this
bingo and so in early January of this year I landed in Kathmandu with a
year I landed in Kathmandu with a
year I landed in Kathmandu with a three-month tourist visa that’s all the
three-month tourist visa that’s all the
three-month tourist visa that’s all the volunteers do have work visas cost a
volunteers do have work visas cost a
volunteers do have work visas cost a fortune involve a pile of paperwork my
fortune involve a pile of paperwork my
fortune involve a pile of paperwork my base for the three months was to be
base for the three months was to be
base for the three months was to be progra which is a wonderful city with
progra which is a wonderful city with
progra which is a wonderful city with the annapurna range as its back the two
the annapurna range as its back the two
the annapurna range as its back the two schools i was working that the two
schools i was working that the two
schools i was working that the two schools were I was working were an eight
schools were I was working were an eight
schools were I was working were an eight a two hour bus ride and one of those
a two hour bus ride and one of those
a two hour bus ride and one of those amazing local buses where which are the
amazing local buses where which are the
amazing local buses where which are the lifeline of the communities in the in
lifeline of the communities in the in
lifeline of the communities in the in they stop for everybody and take
they stop for everybody and take
they stop for everybody and take everything the journeys were in equal
everything the journeys were in equal
everything the journeys were in equal measure breathtaking on account of the
measure breathtaking on account of the
measure breathtaking on account of the scenery that he passed through and
scenery that he passed through and
scenery that he passed through and terrifying when looking out at the open
terrifying when looking out at the open
terrifying when looking out at the open bus door to attack a 1000 foot drop
bus door to attack a 1000 foot drop
bus door to attack a 1000 foot drop inches away in fact there were two
inches away in fact there were two
inches away in fact there were two occasions when there was a mass exodus
occasions when there was a mass exodus
occasions when there was a mass exodus from the bus as the ground that we were
from the bus as the ground that we were
from the bus as the ground that we were driving over started give way the second
driving over started give way the second
driving over started give way the second of my two schools was in a Finnish
of my two schools was in a Finnish
of my two schools was in a Finnish called gamma ray which was at the end of
called gamma ray which was at the end of
called gamma ray which was at the end of the road at a rate of six and a half
the road at a rate of six and a half
the road at a rate of six and a half thousand feet and at the eastern end of
thousand feet and at the eastern end of
thousand feet and at the eastern end of the annapurna range in the shadow of the
the annapurna range in the shadow of the
the annapurna range in the shadow of the landrum him all the school itself would
landrum him all the school itself would
landrum him all the school itself would be badly damaged in the earthquake and
be badly damaged in the earthquake and
be badly damaged in the earthquake and the first story had been taken down it
the first story had been taken down it
the first story had been taken down it became apparent when I got on site but
became apparent when I got on site but
became apparent when I got on site but the plans I had been given for the
the plans I had been given for the
the plans I had been given for the project were totally inaccurate so my
project were totally inaccurate so my
project were totally inaccurate so my first job was to resurvey and redesign
first job was to resurvey and redesign
first job was to resurvey and redesign the whole thing and then go back to poke
the whole thing and then go back to poke
the whole thing and then go back to poke or arms to their contractor during the
or arms to their contractor during the
or arms to their contractor during the steel work and agree the redesign after
steel work and agree the redesign after
steel work and agree the redesign after that there were battles with the
that there were battles with the
that there were battles with the suppliers materials with rivet but
suppliers materials with rivet but
suppliers materials with rivet but delivered by tractor and trailer from
delivered by tractor and trailer from
delivered by tractor and trailer from the nearest town which is four hours
the nearest town which is four hours
the nearest town which is four hours away but no one wanted to make the trip
away but no one wanted to make the trip
away but no one wanted to make the trip up the mountain so it was always a
up the mountain so it was always a
up the mountain so it was always a struggle when the materials finally
struggle when the materials finally
struggle when the materials finally arrived the tractor was usually driven
arrived the tractor was usually driven
arrived the tractor was usually driven by a couple of lads who invariably got
by a couple of lads who invariably got
by a couple of lads who invariably got to stock or drop things in the wrong
to stock or drop things in the wrong
to stock or drop things in the wrong place but we persevered equally getting
place but we persevered equally getting
place but we persevered equally getting the workforce to stay was a constant
the workforce to stay was a constant
the workforce to stay was a constant problem and often at the time when I was
problem and often at the time when I was
problem and often at the time when I was told by my young Nepali project
told by my young Nepali project
told by my young Nepali project supervisor that the men were leaving
supervisor that the men were leaving
supervisor that the men were leaving that morning never thinking that I
that morning never thinking that I
that morning never thinking that I needed to know a week in advance so that
needed to know a week in advance so that
needed to know a week in advance so that we could line up replacements advance
we could line up replacements advance
we could line up replacements advance planning simply doesn’t feature in a
planning simply doesn’t feature in a
planning simply doesn’t feature in a Nepali mindset but throughout so one of
Nepali mindset but throughout so one of
Nepali mindset but throughout so one of this was the delight from seeing the
this was the delight from seeing the
this was the delight from seeing the children every morning with bright eyes
children every morning with bright eyes
children every morning with bright eyes up bright eyes and a welcoming namaste
up bright eyes and a welcoming namaste
up bright eyes and a welcoming namaste so eager to
so eager to
so eager to learning and they would follow me around
learning and they would follow me around
learning and they would follow me around and prod each other
and prod each other
and prod each other to dare someone to ask me a question in
to dare someone to ask me a question in
to dare someone to ask me a question in English and my response would induce
English and my response would induce
English and my response would induce fits of giggles my stay coincided with
fits of giggles my stay coincided with
fits of giggles my stay coincided with the end of term so I was roped in as the
the end of term so I was roped in as the
the end of term so I was roped in as the special guest to do the honors for the
special guest to do the honors for the
special guest to do the honors for the prize-giving and when I left they had a
prize-giving and when I left they had a
prize-giving and when I left they had a special feast and they’re worth
special feast and they’re worth
special feast and they’re worth presentations and speeches and I was
presentations and speeches and I was
presentations and speeches and I was quite overwhelmed but their gratitude
quite overwhelmed but their gratitude
quite overwhelmed but their gratitude was hot and I was very humbled by the
was hot and I was very humbled by the
was hot and I was very humbled by the experience unfortunately I wasn’t able
experience unfortunately I wasn’t able
experience unfortunately I wasn’t able to stay to the end of the project but
to stay to the end of the project but
to stay to the end of the project but this is the building now completed and
this is the building now completed and
this is the building now completed and being occupied just before I arrived in
being occupied just before I arrived in
being occupied just before I arrived in Nepal someone told me about another IMG
Nepal someone told me about another IMG
Nepal someone told me about another IMG a All Hands volunteers and they look
a All Hands volunteers and they look
a All Hands volunteers and they look like an interesting organization so I
like an interesting organization so I
like an interesting organization so I applied to join them and they were they
applied to join them and they were they
applied to join them and they were they were in the pool within 72 hours of the
were in the pool within 72 hours of the
were in the pool within 72 hours of the earthquake and are still there now and
earthquake and are still there now and
earthquake and are still there now and for the foreseeable future they have a
for the foreseeable future they have a
for the foreseeable future they have a base in sin Tobacco district and have
base in sin Tobacco district and have
base in sin Tobacco district and have built six or seven schools having
built six or seven schools having
built six or seven schools having obtained funding from partner
obtained funding from partner
obtained funding from partner organization the model is pretty unique
organization the model is pretty unique
organization the model is pretty unique when it comes to charities in the third
when it comes to charities in the third
when it comes to charities in the third sector they’re looking for people of any
sector they’re looking for people of any
sector they’re looking for people of any age quite literally to work for a few
age quite literally to work for a few
age quite literally to work for a few days or a few months it doesn’t matter
days or a few months it doesn’t matter
days or a few months it doesn’t matter they provide food and accommodation and
they provide food and accommodation and
they provide food and accommodation and they’re charging nothing the only
they’re charging nothing the only
they’re charging nothing the only provider is that you will work and it
provider is that you will work and it
provider is that you will work and it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to
doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to
doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to wield a hammer you just need to have
wield a hammer you just need to have
wield a hammer you just need to have enthusiasm and energy and a sense of
enthusiasm and energy and a sense of
enthusiasm and energy and a sense of humor we were building to two classroom
humor we were building to two classroom
humor we were building to two classroom buildings as part of the schools that
buildings as part of the schools that
buildings as part of the schools that have been badly damaged in the
have been badly damaged in the
have been badly damaged in the earthquake just to put things in
earthquake just to put things in
earthquake just to put things in perspective eight and a half thousand
perspective eight and a half thousand
perspective eight and a half thousand schools were either destroyed or badly
schools were either destroyed or badly
schools were either destroyed or badly damaged in the earthquake and to date
damaged in the earthquake and to date
damaged in the earthquake and to date only between two and a half and three
only between two and a half and three
only between two and a half and three thousand have been rebuilt all hands is
thousand have been rebuilt all hands is
thousand have been rebuilt all hands is a very different organization they are
a very different organization they are
a very different organization they are full of mostly young people who have
full of mostly young people who have
full of mostly young people who have boundless energy and enthusiasm and I
boundless energy and enthusiasm and I
boundless energy and enthusiasm and I was incredibly impressed
was incredibly impressed
was incredibly impressed what they are doing they aren’t disaster
what they are doing they aren’t disaster
what they are doing they aren’t disaster tourists they work incredibly hard and
tourists they work incredibly hard and
tourists they work incredibly hard and selflessly to make things a bit better
selflessly to make things a bit better
selflessly to make things a bit better for such a noble people I was equally
for such a noble people I was equally
for such a noble people I was equally humbled by them although I had a totally
humbled by them although I had a totally
humbled by them although I had a totally different experience so what about in
different experience so what about in
different experience so what about in Malaysia well I got back to the UK in
Malaysia well I got back to the UK in
Malaysia well I got back to the UK in June and quickly started to look at
June and quickly started to look at
June and quickly started to look at where to go next by chance I saw a
where to go next by chance I saw a
where to go next by chance I saw a posting on Facebook about the VIP
posting on Facebook about the VIP
posting on Facebook about the VIP fellowship scheme volunteering from
fellowship scheme volunteering from
fellowship scheme volunteering from international professionals this is a
international professionals this is a
international professionals this is a scheme that is funded by the Ministry of
scheme that is funded by the Ministry of
scheme that is funded by the Ministry of Finance to improve the social wealthy
Finance to improve the social wealthy
Finance to improve the social wealthy welfare and well-being of various
welfare and well-being of various
welfare and well-being of various communities throughout the country it’s
communities throughout the country it’s
communities throughout the country it’s the third year of the scheme and each
the third year of the scheme and each
the third year of the scheme and each year they choose ten projects and select
year they choose ten projects and select
year they choose ten projects and select 30 international professionals and 20
30 international professionals and 20
30 international professionals and 20 local people to run I was immediately
local people to run I was immediately
local people to run I was immediately drawn to the concept it wasn’t put off
drawn to the concept it wasn’t put off
drawn to the concept it wasn’t put off by a very detailed application form and
by a very detailed application form and
by a very detailed application form and eventually I offer Skype interview I got
eventually I offer Skype interview I got
eventually I offer Skype interview I got the news that I’d been selected and
the news that I’d been selected and
the news that I’d been selected and seven weeks ago I landed in KL so let me
seven weeks ago I landed in KL so let me
seven weeks ago I landed in KL so let me tell you about positive living community
tell you about positive living community
tell you about positive living community the organization the fibers so here are
the organization the fibers so here are
the organization the fibers so here are helping it’s a home that caters for a
helping it’s a home that caters for a
helping it’s a home that caters for a chart for men with HIV and AIDS and
chart for men with HIV and AIDS and
chart for men with HIV and AIDS and other addictions some of whom are also
other addictions some of whom are also
other addictions some of whom are also disabled and all the Hera’s based in
disabled and all the Hera’s based in
disabled and all the Hera’s based in battle array an hour out of KL PLC is
battle array an hour out of KL PLC is
battle array an hour out of KL PLC is run by an incredible man
run by an incredible man
run by an incredible man Alex Erica who for 20 years has been
Alex Erica who for 20 years has been
Alex Erica who for 20 years has been champing the cause these men are
champing the cause these men are
champing the cause these men are selflessly devoting every waking minute
selflessly devoting every waking minute
selflessly devoting every waking minute to them there are 60 residents in four
to them there are 60 residents in four
to them there are 60 residents in four homes ranging from those who are bit
homes ranging from those who are bit
homes ranging from those who are bit bedridden and have to be helped with
bedridden and have to be helped with
bedridden and have to be helped with every aspect of their lives and probably
every aspect of their lives and probably
every aspect of their lives and probably will never leave to those who can do
will never leave to those who can do
will never leave to those who can do some work but are not ready to deal with
some work but are not ready to deal with
some work but are not ready to deal with life outside in the real world and there
life outside in the real world and there
life outside in the real world and there are some who who have jobs outside the
are some who who have jobs outside the
are some who who have jobs outside the community and are preparing to leave
community and are preparing to leave
community and are preparing to leave they also take in Burmese refugees for
they also take in Burmese refugees for
they also take in Burmese refugees for the UN they have small farm and some
the UN they have small farm and some
the UN they have small farm and some livestock and produce me psycho cheeky
livestock and produce me psycho cheeky
livestock and produce me psycho cheeky however they are in a mess I badly need
however they are in a mess I badly need
however they are in a mess I badly need some help to sort things out Alex freely
some help to sort things out Alex freely
some help to sort things out Alex freely admits that management isn’t as strong
admits that management isn’t as strong
admits that management isn’t as strong quite they rely entirely on donations
quite they rely entirely on donations
quite they rely entirely on donations and some external funding and our remit
and some external funding and our remit
and some external funding and our remit is to put in place systems to provide
is to put in place systems to provide
is to put in place systems to provide stable management devise strong and
stable management devise strong and
stable management devise strong and sustainable revenue streams and provide
sustainable revenue streams and provide
sustainable revenue streams and provide the residents with therapies and a
the residents with therapies and a
the residents with therapies and a structure to their lives that has been
structure to their lives that has been
structure to their lives that has been missing all in for months a tall order
missing all in for months a tall order
missing all in for months a tall order but one that the five of us have
but one that the five of us have
but one that the five of us have embraced that will do whatever we can to
embraced that will do whatever we can to
embraced that will do whatever we can to achieve it and when you spend time with
achieve it and when you spend time with
achieve it and when you spend time with these men even those who stores are
these men even those who stores are
these men even those who stores are heart-rending you can see a glimmer of
heart-rending you can see a glimmer of
heart-rending you can see a glimmer of light in their eyes and it is up to us
light in their eyes and it is up to us
light in their eyes and it is up to us to try and give them a reason to feel
to try and give them a reason to feel
to try and give them a reason to feel positive about their lives we have
positive about their lives we have
positive about their lives we have already had two very successful days
already had two very successful days
already had two very successful days clearing up the site if brave people
clearing up the site if brave people
clearing up the site if brave people volunteering to help us and we have
volunteering to help us and we have
volunteering to help us and we have shifted numerous skips and the
shifted numerous skips and the
shifted numerous skips and the enthusiasm amongst the residents has
enthusiasm amongst the residents has
enthusiasm amongst the residents has been palpable
been palpable
been palpable Suren they’re still working away we are
Suren they’re still working away we are
Suren they’re still working away we are also hoping to construct a new building
also hoping to construct a new building
also hoping to construct a new building that will allow the residents to have
that will allow the residents to have
that will allow the residents to have some where they can learn new skills and
some where they can learn new skills and
some where they can learn new skills and have a proper recreation area and where
have a proper recreation area and where
have a proper recreation area and where meetings can be held so too
meetings can be held so too
meetings can be held so too very badly paraphrase are well known
very badly paraphrase are well known
very badly paraphrase are well known live from Star Wars we only have nine
live from Star Wars we only have nine
live from Star Wars we only have nine weeks left to save the community who
weeks left to save the community who
weeks left to save the community who will come and help us volunteers unpaid
will come and help us volunteers unpaid
will come and help us volunteers unpaid staff for superheroes
staff for superheroes
staff for superheroes I think it’s unpaid superheroes what do
I think it’s unpaid superheroes what do
I think it’s unpaid superheroes what do you say thank you
”
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