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New OFI Volunteer Program

Orangutan Foundation International has volunteer opportunities available for active individuals who want to get their hands dirty and help save one of the earth's most bio-diverse areas.

The Basics: In order to participate in our Volunteer Program:

• You must be a member of the Orangutan Foundation International

• You must be 18 years of age or above

• You must be in good physical condition and be prepared for hands-on manual work in a hot, steamy, equatorial environment that may occasionally have buzzing and biting insects and other inconveniences as well as the occasional danger [such as the rare poisonous snake].

• Volunteers should also be cognizant that Borneo's endemic diseases consist of such tropical diseases as malaria, dengue, hepatitis, etc.

• Volunteers are responsible for their own vaccinations and should bring anti-malarial prophylactics and medications as well as medicines for common conditions such as diarrhea.

• Volunteers do not need experience in the field, just a willingness to help, a sincere interest in forest conservation and orangutan survival, and a passion for the work OFI does.

• Volunteers are expected to work approximately 8 hours per day with one day of rest on Sunday. This should not be seen as a "holiday."

• Living conditions are very basic, remote, and isolated. There is no running hot water. In fact, there is no running water at all. Toilet and shower facilities will be very rudimentary.

• You will be sleeping in the middle of the forest in temporary shelters. There will be two hot meals per day cooked by a local staff member. Both meals will consist of rice and vegetables, possibly supplemented by eggs, chicken, or fish. There will be no red meat in keeping with local practice.

• The cost of taking part in the program is $650.00 to be paid upon acceptance of volunteer's application.

This program payment includes:

All accommodation, food (breakfast, and dinner), and materials for the duration of the program as well as travel to and from the program site from the town airport.

This program payment does not include: snacks, postage, laundry, or activities outside the volunteer experience.

This program payment also does not include international and internal travel to the town airport. You must purchase your flight tickets to and from the closest airport which is located near the town of Pangkalan Bun, Kalimantan Tengah [Central Borneo, Indonesia]. You will also want to purchase travel insurance and bring extra money for any personal spending you may want to do while there. Also, medical travel insurance and evacuation insurance is a good idea.

• The volunteer program will take place at sites in Kalimantan Tengah (Central Indonesian Borneo) in the general vicinity of Pangkalan Bun.

• Volunteer projects will take place at one of the following sites: the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ), in the Dayak village of Pasir Panjang, Camp Leakey, Park Guard Posts, plant nursery facilities, as well as other sites to be determined. The projects for 2009 will not be confirmed until later in the year and will be specific to the needs at that time.

• Each volunteer team runs for a set period of approximately 3 weeks.

Dates for 2009 are:

Team 1 -July 22, 2009 through August 10, 2009
Team 2 -August 11, 2009 through August 30, 2009

• Members of Team 1 are required to leave August 10th.

• Accepted volunteers will receive a 2009 Volunteer Program Manual before they go into the field.

A Volunteer's Typical Daily Schedule:

7:30am Breakfast

8:00am Work Begins

12:00pm Lunch break

1:00pm Work

5:00pm Work ends, time to bathe

7:00pm Dinner

7:30pm Discussion of day's events and discussion of next day's work

9:00pm Bed (at volunteer's discretion)

*There will be opportunities to visit Camp Leakey and OFI's Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine during the 3 week program.

HOW TO APPLY:

Fill out online application form and email or mail us your resume and cover letter:

SEND TO:

Email: OFIOFFICE@GMAIL.COM

Mail:

OFI

Attn: Volunteer Coordinator; Sarah

824 S. Wellesley Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90049

Fax: 310.820.4962

Feel free to call Sarah at 310.820.4906 with questions/concerns!

You then will receive an email once we have received your application/resume to set up a phone interview with you.

After the phone interview, if accepted, you will receive a letter of acceptance and you will need to pay the full amount of $650.00 to maintain your space on the team.

We will refund your fee if you decide not to go up to 1 month before the trip.

Once you have been accepted and have paid your fee, you will receive a Volunteer Program Manual. This will include emergency information relating to Borneo, Indonesia; a What To Bring list; and info on the program and local community.

If you are interested in applying for the 2009 program, please send your cover letter and resume along with the application form on our website.

Volunteer Application

All applications will be acknowledged. Once applications, cover letters, and resumes are received, phone interviews will be conducted with chosen applicants.