Volunteer in Kalimantan (Borneo)
If you are looking for an inherent understanding of local Indonesian communities, culture, spirituality, the threats to the amazing wildlife and habitat, and to experience the work of a small, local, front-line conservation and community development NGO, then you are the volunteer we are looking for. You will work closely with our staff and local communities and join a program that will benefit local inhabitants, wildlife and the habitat. Our program will give you a taste of what it is really like to live and work in a remote area, working for a small front-line conservation and community development organisation.
Please note that we are not a commercial operation. All proceeds from guests are “donations” and 100% of the money is used to fund FNPF’s project work. By staying with us, you get to stay in a unique environment, participate in conservation and community development work, and provide funds that help FNPF to continue its work.
FNPF will place volunteers to work with our teams on one of our two project locations: Tanjung Puting National Park (TPNP) and Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve (LRWR).
Volunteer projects in Tanjung Puting National Park
- Community empowerment projectsTanjung Harapan village, also known as Sekonyer village, is located on the borders of Tanjung Puting National Park. Volunteers will stay with a family in the village, will be welcomed in the local primary schools to teach English and will help the FNPF environment education program. Volunteers will live with the locals as locals.
From the Sekonyer Village, volunteers travel to the FNPF re-forestation sites of Pesalat and Padang Sembilan, where you can take part in the FNPF re-forestation project, help planting trees, nursing saplings, monitoring the re-forestation site. All this at a short distance from the Tanjung Puting orangutan release sites, which is surrounded by a stunning natural environment. You won’t miss the opportunity of cruising along the Sekonyer river and spot macaques, proboscis monkeys, red leaf monkeys hornbills, kingfishers, and if lucky enough also wild orangutans and crocodiles. - FNPF re-forestation projectsPesalat, located within the Tanjung Puting National Park, is the first re-forestation site established by FNPF. Volunteers can experience the benefits of a successful re-forestation project.
Volunteers will also visit the re-forestation site of Padang Sembilan, close to Beguruh re-forestation site on the borders with Tanjung Puting National Park, where volunteers will spend the night sleeping in hammocks.
At approximately 1.5 hours trek from the Sekonyer River you can find the FNPF self-sustainable farm of Jerumbun. Volunteers will spend the night at the farm, help with farming and also have the opportunity to see the effects of oil palm plantations, and the logging and mining in the surrounding forest. - Long term volunteers
Our program is also appropriate for those considering a long term volunteer role in a remote location (Central Kalimantan or elsewhere in Indonesia).
Accommodation
Accommodations will be a mixture of home stay with local families, field staff quarters and hammocks in the trees. Please realize that our project sites are in remote and tough environments, with basic accommodation and food, for authentic taste of the local way of life and jungle experience. Adaptability to field conditions is required and a basic understanding of the local culture is advised
Accommodations will be a mixture of home stay with local families, field staff quarters and hammocks in the trees. Please realize that our project sites are in remote and tough environments, with basic accommodation and food, for authentic taste of the local way of life and jungle experience. Adaptability to field conditions is required and a basic understanding of the local culture is advised
How to get to Central Kalimantan (Borneo)?
Pangkalan Bun is reachable…
Pangkalan Bun is reachable…
By air – direct flights from Jakarta and from the main Javanese cities Semarang and Surabaya are scheduled daily (duration of the flight is about 1,5h). There are also flights from other Indonesian cities. Please note that some domestic flights in Indonesia, especially to Kalimantan (Borneo) can only be booked from the airports, maximum 1 month prior to arrival. Please contact us on the following email address for assistance with your domestic flights booking: info.kalimantan@fnpf.org
Once you have landed in Pangkalan Bun, your project guide will meet you and your fellow volunteers, and will accompany you to the FNPF office in the town of Kumai, 40 minutes away from the airport.
By sea – It is also possible to catch a ferry from Semarang or Surabaya directly to Kumai harbor (approximately 24 hrs).
Volunteer projects at Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve
- FNPF re-forestation projects
Pos Kajang, FNPF re-forestation site, will be a complete change of scenario. This project started in 2009, and therefore, the land and forest regeneration process is still at the embryonic stage. While Staying at Pos Kajang, volunteers will be involved in planting, nursing saplings, making compost, as well as helping with mapping the area and collecting data on the local wildlife and habitat. Volunteers will be expected to help with these daily activities, help and guidance will be always available by our field staff, and of course by your tour guide. FNPF is also looking for volunteers willing to help with data collection and information recording, as well as the mapping of the reforestation area. Camp staff guidance and GPS will be provided. - English classes
Volunteers will be involved in English lessons in the local school and English conversation with the locals in the village and with FNPF staff. - Using your specific skills
FNPF is in need of skilled volunteers that can help to document the local wisdom and pass it on to the future generation. To be a volunteer with FNPF, you do not need to have any specific skills other than being in general good physical health and enthusiasm to help us with our projects, but if you have any specific skills that you want us to be aware of, please email us with details. Examples are the organization of dance, music, and yoga classes for the local youth.
Accommodation
Accommodation and facilities are very basic. Volunteers must be also prepared to share accommodation, meals, work tools and personal space with other volunteers and local staff.
Accommodation and facilities are very basic. Volunteers must be also prepared to share accommodation, meals, work tools and personal space with other volunteers and local staff.
Important: volunteers will not handle orangutans
Please do not apply if you are hoping to handle orangutans during this project.
Please do not apply if you are hoping to handle orangutans during this project.
In 2002 the Indonesian government introduced regulations which prevent orangutans that have been held in captivity from being released into areas containing wild orangutan populations (because of the risk of disease). Therefore, FNPF no longer runs a permanent orangutan rescue, rehabilitation & release centre. Instead FNPF focuses on reforestation to rebuild native orangutan habitat within Tanjung Puting National Park and Lamandau Reserve, and to help local communities.
FNPF occasionally rescues wild orangutans from nearby palm oil plantations and relocates them into the safety of the park or reserve. However, FNPF does not directly work with orangutans, as there is considerable controversy over the real purpose and benefit of orangutan rehabilitation facilities (they have become lucrative tourist attractions and few orangutans are successfully released to survive in the wild). Therefore, FNPF chooses to focus on reforestation projects to create habitat for wild and ex-captive orangutans (and other wildlife). Reforestation also helps restore the native environment, reduces soil erosion and flash flooding, and will combat climate change. We combine this with community development projects to bring benefit to the local communities (education, agro-forestry, eco tourism). Check our website to Sponsor a Hectar of Orangutan Habitat, help FNPF to rebuild native forest habitat to support and increase population of orangutan.
Volunteers that join FNPF’s program will not have direct contact with orangutans. However, volunteers will accompany the local school children to the 3pm feeding station of Tanjung Harapan as part of FNPF education program, where volunteers are very likely to see wild orangutans. Nevertheless, volunteers who want to visit Camp Leakey can arrange a tour before or after the project with local travel agencies. FNPF staff will be happy to assist volunteers with that.
What must I bring to Borneo?
- Indonesian Rupiah cash, for your personal expenses (you might want to buy souvenirs or cold drinks)
- 2 photocopies of your passport to process police checks, which is normal practice for tourist in Indonesia
- A photocopy of the Indonesian visa.
Volunteer Costs with FNPF
The volunteer fees for 2012 are as follows:
Tanjung Puting National Park
1 week (USD800)
2 weeks (USD1,500)
3 weeks (USD2,300)
1 week (USD800)
2 weeks (USD1,500)
3 weeks (USD2,300)
Lamandau Reserve
1 week (USD700)
2 weeks (USD1,300)
3 weeks (USD2,000)
1 week (USD700)
2 weeks (USD1,300)
3 weeks (USD2,000)
How to apply?
Email us with your preferred dates and any question you might have. Please CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the application form and send it to info@fnpf.org. We will then review your request and confirm whether we have availability. To secure your placement, you will then be asked to pay a deposit of 50%. Please note that we cannot secure a place without a deposit (we receive many requests to volunteer from people who change their plans).
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