Deakin's global volunteers

Global citizens build educational resource centre for the people of Borneo

Seven Deakin students recently returned from Borneo after helping to establish a children’s educational resource centre with money they had raised for the inaugural Global Citizenship International Volunteering Project.

The students spent six months fundraising for the resource centre to go in the Kampang Selupoh village in Sabah, Malaysia, to provide a place for the children of the village to go after school for learning activities, to play games and to learn more about the Lotud tribe.

International trivia nights, silent auctions and a banquet held at a Melbourne restaurant were among the fundraising methods used, resulting in an impressive grand total of almost $3000.

Upon arrival in the village, the students were heavily involved in the establishment of the aptly named Kangaroo Learning Centre, including helping the builders with the structure, design and décor, seeking donation of books, and hosting an Open Day, during which the centre was officially opened by a government minister and the village leader. Distinguished guests such as the Honorary Australian Consulate for Kota Kinabalu, the Head of the State Library and the local Lotud Elders attended the opening, as did the children for whom the centre had been built.

The Selupoh were extremely grateful for the assistance of the Deakin students, holding a party in their honour which the entire village attended.  The students were even named ‘the Famous Australian Lotuds’ in the local newspaper.

The volunteering program and cultural experience surpassed all expectations. While all seven of the students who participated in this project have been involved in a wide variety of international experiences, each one confirmed the trip was like none other they had ever experienced, commenting that the program was personal, intimate and rewarding.

The volunteering project was conducted as part of Deakin’s Global Citizenship Program which involves a combination of different international activities such as international study experiences, participation in internationally-focused units,  seminars on international topics, international internships, international-centred volunteering along with personal reflection and growth. The program supplements studies at Deakin and aims to instil in students the values of global citizenship and prepare them for success in the increasingly global society in which we live.

For more information about the Global Citizenship Program, please visit www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/student-exchange/exchange/gcp.