Quotes!!!

'I can remember one day trekking, in the pouring rain and we'd gone two hours the wrong way down a muddy, slippery slope... However, as a group, we all decided we could do it, we put a smile on our faces (or at least tried) and trekked through thick jungle and then out into one of the most spectacular views I've ever seen.' Jenny Reynolds Costa Rica & Nicaragua expedition

Ross MacPherson joined a 10 week expedition in Costa Rica and Nicaragua in 2008 after finishing his A levels. "Raleigh gave me the perfect opportunity to figure out what I wanted from life and seemed a perfect choice as it had challenges that would push me to my limits both mentally and physically. It gave me a focus on life and I know where I want to go now".
Since his expedition, Ross has returned to the UK and is now working as an assistant project coordinator for a local youth organisation called Haldane Youth Services. "Raleigh helped me realise that you don't always have to follow the crowd and instead of me following my peers going to university, I am now doing something else that I love. I would never have gone for the job if it wasn't for the self-belief or the self-worth that I experienced at Raleigh."

Want to have an experience of your life time? Register now! There are still places left for Borneo Autumn09 (October) expedition... Limited though! Email expedition@raleighinternational.org.my for more information.

Sept monthly meet - Let's Explore FRIM!

This monthly meet, we'll be exploring the jungle in the city - Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM).

You guys must have learnt about FRIM from geography books, but what is so special with FRIM? Our attraction this time being will be the Canopy walk, the only Canopy walk in KL, you will have a nice view of canopy in the forest as well as the KL city view. Amazing, isn't it?!

We'll also be trekking along the educational trail. Don't miss the opportunity to check out the flora and fauna in the tropical rainforest. Also, you be receiving updates from the venturers, Drake the Raleigh Bear and other Raleigh support groups. Come sign up for Sept Monthly Meet now!

What?

Sept MM - Exploring FRIM

When?

5th Sept 2009

Where?

Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)

Meeting point?

As usual, KL Sentral (KLIA departure exit) @ 8.00am SHARP!!

Agenda?

8.00am - meet up @ kl sentral + registration

8.30am - depart to FRIM9.00am - ice breaking + monthly meeting

9.40am - trekking + canopy walk

11.40pm - trek down

12.30pm - transfer back to kl sentral

What to bring?

YOURSELF (do wear trekking shoes), water and snacks (to be shared with the group). Remember to bring your student card to enjoy a cheaper rate at the Canopy walk.

How much?

Raleigh KL members RM10Non-members RM15 * small token fee covers entrance fee, refreshment and petrol costs

To register, please log on to: http://spreadsheets.google.com/a/raleighinternational.org.my/viewform?formkey=dEhxcFlOUWtHczdZeElQVTF4Mk5McHc6MA

Registration deadline is 3rd September (Thursday) 11pm.

See you guys there! Cheers!

Drake's Adventure... so far!

Hi,

If you have not heard, Drake the Raleigh Bear is the latest member of Raleigh KL! He has been to...

1) IW June09 training:

Group photo

A photo with the guys and girls

Note the blue Raleigh HK t-shirt, no no NO, Drake is still in Malaysia

Next up, the actual IW:

For overseas adventure, read on more here:

1) Australia! http://www.raleighinternational.org.my/2009/06/adventures-of-drake-teddy-i.html
http://www.raleighinternational.org.my/2009/06/adventures-of-drake-teddy-ii.html

2) Bali! http://www.raleighinternational.org.my/2009/08/where-has-raleigh-bear-been.html

And finally, you can read on more on Drake's best buddy, Walter's adventure here: http://waltertheraleighbear.blogspot.com/

Walter travelled widely from Portland, to Oxford, even Timbuktu!

If you are an alumni, travelling somewhere, has a story to tell, get the Raleigh Relay bear guideline here: http://www.raleighinternational.org/files/Relay%20Rules.pdf AND contact Drake's travel manager at skills@raleighinternational.org.my

What's up next for Drake? Conquer Mount Kinabalu!

Till then, update soon.

-Drake's spokesperson-

Letters from Sabah!

do you know who write this letter? Haha... I'm so inspired to join another Raleigh expedition after reading his letter... You?

Su Lan still misses FISH =) let's have a feast of nice KL food when they're back...

---
KL: Update! Short note from Dino @Hui Yein:

helllo !!! drop by to say hello !

please help me send a warm hello to all fellow mates of RIKL and wishing you guys every happiness !!

i at rangers' camp now, waiting the loop people and then trek back to bbc camp.

dino koong

from imbak

--

Time flies... it's now the last phase of summer expedition!

Su Lan, Shon Lee and Dino (Hui Yein) will be coming back to KL next month.

Follow the blog for more updates about their expedition life and Raleigh projects...

Go For 9!

Calling all singers out there!
Here's your chance to express your love for the nation and be included in the Malaysia Book of Records!

You don't have to have Mariah's or Beyonce's powerful voice.
You don't have to be able rap like Eminem.
As long as you enjoy singing, (and by singing I mean in the showers, in the comfort of your car or at RedBox) this is for YOU!

All you have to do is gather a bunch of people, sing, and record yourself singing.

It's that simple!

And if you're lucky, you might even get broadcasted LIVE on national TV!

***

What is it?
Go for 9!
Join Andante Resources* in an attempt to gather 99 institutions / companies / organisations / corporations from 9 various sectors to participate in this nation building effort by singing 'This Is My Country.' an original composition, followed by the national anthem, 'Negaraku'.

Purpose:

To attempt to create a record of the biggest simultaneous participation in a patriotic singing event in the Malaysia Book of Records.

Date: 9th September 2009

Time: 9:00 am

Venue: Participants location of choice, with Berjaya University College of Hospitality being the central hub of activity.

Registration Fee: RM9.99 (inclusive of a T-shirt to be worn during the event)

***

Volunteers are required for the following:

1. To participate personally as an individual or in a group in your school, work place or home.

(Raleigh members who would like to participate but have no avenue to do so may form a group and sing their hearts out under Raleigh's name)

2. To approach institutions / companies / organisation / corporations to participate in the event.

3. To provide manpower on the event day at the central hub to help out with technical support and ushering.

Interested?

To register/for enquires, email info@raleighinternational.org.my


Note: This is NOT a Raleigh organised activity. However, Raleigh has agreed to provide a platform for Andante Resources to reach out to a wider audience.

* Andante Resources: An organisation that holds community focused program to promote nation building and practical learning and exposure for disadvantaged and marginalised children.

For further information, log on to http://www.gofor9.net/ or visit http://www.andantaresources.blogspot.com/

Clean piped water thanks to Raleigh Borneo team

KOTA KINABALU: About 200 children now have water from taps and in toilets at their remote primary school in northern Sabah.

This is thanks to the hard work of local and foreign youths over the last six weeks to build a gravity-feed water system.

The Raleigh Borneo team used a natural source to bring water to Sekolah Rendah Pinapak in Pitas, an effort which saw them building a dam, putting up two 400-litre tanks and installing two kilometres of pipes through the jungle.

The project is a partnership involving Raleigh, local community organisation Pacos Trust and Sabah-based Asian Forestry Company (AFC).

The Raleigh Borneo volunteers who spent six

weeks building the gravity-feed water system.

It is also to help the people in Kampung Pinapak and Maliau Pusat as water taps have been fixed in the two villages.

Raleigh Borneo country director Jim Clements thanked AFC for its support and hoped there would be more projects that help communities in remote places.

"The people of Pinapak now have constant and clean water supply.

"Our volunteers, too, have learned a great deal about their culture and way of life after living and working in Sabah," he said at the opening of the gravity-feed water system on Thursday.

AFC managing director Graeme Brown said access to clean water was a priority for villagers who made this clear at a meeting half a year ago.

"By working with the community and our partners, hundreds of people have gained as part of our overall community development programme for the region," Brown said.

The company is also planting fruit trees close to where the source of the gravity feed is located to conserve it and to educate communities on the need to protect water sources.


Source of Article: New Straits Times

Where has raleigh bear been?

Dear all,

I am back from Aussie, thanks to mama Pei Ting and Mae Xi... then the Yap sisters brought me to Bali...

Next week, I'll be flying to Hong Kong... Wow, I'm very excited now... I might catch the opportunity to participate in Wilson Trail, running a relay to celebrate Raleigh International 25th Anniversary...

Ok, that's all for now... I have to pack my rucksack... also, I gotta watch more TVB series to improve my Cantonese...

Come see the pictures I took in Bali =)

i was watching barong and silat dance

oh, now I know how batik is made

hey, this is my fren ele-fun =)

terrace paddy field

Tanah Lot

**updates - Raleigh Bear's latest travel itinerary** after discussion with my fellow babysitters, im not going to HK next week... i'll be visiting Sabah, Borneo... wow, im such a lucky bear!! Thanks to Raleigh KL!! Follow the blog for more updates on my adventure =)

PS: if you would like to bring me to travel with you, please contact my manager Lu Yi: skills@raleighinternational.org.my

Hooray!!! Kinabalu Project 0909 Deadline Extended!

Hey everyone,

Good news to those who wants to conquer Mount Kinabalu and experience doing enviromental conservation work at the same time! All of this at a very affordable fee! The deadline for the Kinabalu Project is extended to 14th of August 2009!

Details of the project can be found here: http://www.raleighinternational.org.my/2009/07/kinabalu-project-0909-sign-up-now.html

Do drop me an email at secretary2[at]raleighinternational.org.my or call 012 201 8829 for more information.

See you in Sabah!

Cheers,
Kar Lye

Raleigh Graduate Bursary Award offered by the UK government!

"Raleigh allows you to step back from normal life and helps you to learn more about yourself, reflect on your past and think about what you want to do in the future." Ivan Chiu Ka Ho, Costa Rica & Nicaragua.

'When we see on someone's CV that they've worked with Raleigh, we always get more interested. When I am recruiting I am looking for something special in people and that is what they get from Raleigh: the gene for ingenuity.' Richard Reed, co-founder, Innocent drinks

"I'm sure being able to say that I successfully completed a Raleigh expedition, has certainly reflected well on me with prospective employers." Kirsty MacLeod, Costa Rica & Nicaragua

Quotes from: http://www.raleighinternational.org/our-expeditions/aged-17-24/graduate-bursary-award
---

Government announces funds for graduate gap years

A new government scheme is to fund university leavers having trouble finding a graduate job in the current economic climate to take a gap year.

Given to expedition company Raleigh International, the subsidies will see up to 500 young people visit countries such as Costa Rica and India in order to build schools and take part in other projects.

In what may be good work experience for those looking to land a graduate job in the charity sector, the ten-week courses will also be helping to better the facilities in remote communities.

David Lammy, the Universities Minister in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, said: "It can help to develop the communication and leadership skills that are so highly valued in the workplace."

Jenni Newberry, head of communities at employment consultants Working Links, recently said that young people such as graduates should be looking to gain some work experience if they are struggling to find employment during the recession.

Article source: Gradplus

For more articles, click here, here and here!

Letter from SunBear Su Lan

Dear folks,

Su Lan is missing us!

She sent her sit rep (situation report) from sandakan sunbear rehab centre...

[Click image to enlarge]

[Click image to enlarge]

[Click image to enlarge]

Su Lan is waiting for our letters desperately!!

Write to her @
(venturer's name)
Summer 09 Expedition
Raleigh Borneo
PO Box 14182
88848 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah

Write to Dino and Shon too =)
You may pass us your letters at Aug Monthly Meet this Saturday!
We'll be sending them lots of love from KL, along with some random + useful stuff from KarLye!

Zooriffic 5

The 5th instalment of Zooriffic, a volunteer project in collaboration with Zoo Negara was held on Saturday, 1st of August 2009. This time around, Raleigh intro weekend (IW) groups Alpha and Charlie co-organised the event.

The morning kicked of with a short briefing session by some zoo personnel. We were then delegated to work in various exhibits in groups of ten.

Yours truly and team had the chance to deal with the third largest land animal; the hippopotamus. Not as glamourous as those who got the grand opportunity of working up close with the kings of the jungle but hey, hippos are adorable.

Before warming up to us, they stuck to each other like glue.

Once they've got accustomed to our presence, inquisitive they became.

Delighted even, with our presence.

***

Our task was simple, really.

Step 1: Loosen soil in enclosure.

Step 2: Shovel sand into sacks and wheelbarrows.

Step 3: Transport them to the external compound.

Step 4: Construct steps leading to cage with sand-filled gunny sacks so that the hippos can enter the cage with ease, to be transported to another state zoo sometime this week.

Shovelling and heaving what seemed like tonnes of sand may have been blister-producing and back-breaking work but it reminded me of the times during expedition where I had to trudge through muddy trails to transfer sacks of cement weighing possibly more than half my weight from point A to point B, to build a foundation for a suspension bridge in one of the most pristine forest reserves in the heart of Borneo. Arduous, but at the end of the day when the job is done, it brings about a certain level of self-satisfaction.

Team Hippo


Of course, it wasn't all work and no play for us volunteers. We were given ample time to explore the zoo compound. Some interesting sights include

The swaying elephant

Headbutting deer

Prawn in the process of molting its outer shell


Even had the chance to watch the twice daily multitalent animal show.

Exhausting as it was, we all had a good time. Cheers team αharlie for a job well done!