Camp 2 Camp Challenge - The funds and the projects

Following on from my at times very descriptive account of the recent Camps 2 Camp Challenge, I did promise to publish something about the funds raised and where they would be spent.

As you may or may not know, Camps International conducts many varied projects and activities in rural marginalised communities and endangered environments around the world.  In Asia, we concentrate predominantly in Cambodia and the Malaysian state of Sabah in the north of the island of Borneo.  Since this challenge event was based in Borneo, i intend for the proceeds of the fund raising to be spent there.  As an organisation we channel any fundraising through the Camps Foundation whose tag line is "Giving 100%" - in other words everything that is donated goes to the projects - we as a company cover all the overheads and admin for the charity, ensuring no wasted money.

I have been working on a project in Tinangol, where the challenge started, for several years now.  Tinangol is symbolic as our first camp in Asia and so it is with great pride i have watched the kindergarten project there grow to the point now where we are almost ready to open the building.  Below are some exerts from our project proposal and background for this particular community and project which you may be interested to read.  It is my intention to use the $4,000+ raised to equip and finish off the kindergarten, ensuring we hand over to the community and its teachers, a fantastic, fully equipped and amazing place for the small children of this impoverished village to start their educational journey.   Thank you to everyone who has made a donation that will ultimately go towards equipping and finishing off the kindergarten at Tinangol.

The existing dilapidated temporary kindergarten

Tinangol Background

Despite its beauty, northern Sabah is one of the poorest regions in the state; communities survive through subsistence farming and selling their produce at local markets.  The region was also one of the first in Sabah to be heavily logged, and the environmental degradation from that is stark and obvious.  Land is eroded and the clearance of large forest areas has altered the water table, making the ground less fertile and productive.  Locals now have to grow crops that are hardier, and they are denied the ability to fell large and profitable timber.  Traditional hunting grounds are also either gone, or hugely depleted of resources, including sources of meat such as wild boar or deer.  Some communities by the sea are at least able to fish as an additional source of food and income, but not those inland.  They grow coconuts and rice, mango, papaya, bananas and tapioca.

Working on the kindergarten lower walls

Originally communities in this area lived in one large traditional long house usually up to 100 ft long.  They were made from local timber and bamboo, but nowadays also incorporate zinc roof sheeting.  This style of accommodation has a long corridor running the length of the structure. On one side of this corridor is an open space for community gathering, where people sit and talk, care for their children, and prepare food. On the other side, are individual family rooms used for sleeping and more cooking.  Eating, sleeping and living in very close quarters gives villagers a strong and special community bond. Nowadays, smaller houses for individual families are replacing the longhouses, and the community is more individualistic as a result.

The kindergarten as it looks today, nearing completion

 The community of Tinangol lies 140km north of the state capital Kota Kinabalu and 30km from Kudat.  The village is home to approximately 100 households.  This subsistence Rungus community, predominantly still live in the traditional style longhouses, and is one of the most resolutely cultural of the many peoples that make up the population of Sabah, practicing their traditional handicrafts, music and dancing, taking care to pass the knowledge to their kin and happy to introduce strangers to their culture.  Life in the community is basic and a large proportion of the populace is below average by Malaysian education standards.  Those young people who do achieve in school often have to leave the community to find work in local towns like Kudat, Kota Belud and Kota Kinabalu.  Many people still farm rice on small plots of land which are sometimes a few hours walk away.  During planting and harvesting times, this means long hours spent away from home, often accompanied by members of the extended family.  Those from poorer families are supported and assisted by the community as a whole with donations of rice and food where necessary.  Many children do not complete school due to the poor facilities, lack of formal early education and the need to accompany their parents out of the village for work. 

Local kids and their beautiful smiles

The community at Tinangol has been “temporarily” using the Sunday school building for its informal and ad hoc kindergarten classes for many years.  This building is very forlorn, and the Sunday school wants to reclaim the building for other purposes.  With the support of PACOS Trust to train and support the teachers at the kindergarten, it was decided a dedicated building would provide a much better basis for early learning for the young children of Tinangol, ensuring a successful transition into primary education and beyond. 

The aim of the project is to construct a 2-storey kindergarten to include 1 main classroom/community area and a multipurpose downstairs area capable of being sectioned off into smaller classrooms.  External toilet, storeroom and kitchen to be included and all utility requirements (electrical wiring, plumbing etc).  The kindergarten was designed to be in keeping with the traditional style longhouses of the area as well as incorporating some innovative design concepts into the build such using commonly available and minimal impact resources.  Once complete the kindergarten is to be fully equipped with books, furniture and other learning materials and staff managed by PACOS Trust.