During August 2013 I will be going to the Sabah region of Borneo, to help with various work based community projects: I will be going with four of my students from school and will be working along side 25 other students from the UK. This four-week expedition will be a challenge with physically demanding projects, high daytime temperatures and humidity. I will particularly find it challenging, being a below knee amputee. Our projects have been planned and organised through the organisation Camps International, whom have established many long-term projects in remote village communities, helping improve everyday lives of these communities. The projects employ local people throughout the year, who work alongside students from the UK.
Although I do not yet know the projects I will be involved with until closer the time, previous projects have included assisting with ecology and wildlife conservation, re-forestation and helping protect the endangered wild orang-utans, design and construction of a safe outdoor kindergarten playground, a community recycling centre for collection of rubbish that would normally have been burnt.
Towards the end of the expedition, we will live in a remote island community to help develop their marine conservation projects, helping protect turtle nests and educate the people about the dangers of bomb and cyanide fishing, both prevalent aground the island. Since losing my right foot to cancer 5 years ago, I have completed my PADI advanced diving qualification and this will allow me to help with the dive conservation projects. To go on this expedition I need to contribute to expedition funds and I am very grateful to the Douglas Bader Foundation in helping with a contribution towards my costs.
Phil Oakley