Support Jenni Birch - Sponsorship needed for Charity Work in Borneo

Jenni Birch heads to Borneo soon 

We all have one week until Sunday 16th January to raise awareness (and sponsorship) for Jennifer Birch who will be volunteering for charity projects based  in Borneo. What's in Kenilworth are delighted to be supporting Jenni and charting her progress.

Next Sunday, 16 January at 9.30am from Abbey Fields, Jenni will start a 20 mile cycle ride to raise sponsorship for the trip. Depending on how many people spot Jenni along the way to offer support and sponsorship will determine if she gets back to Abbey Fields at about 3pm. To sponsor Jenni now, email: jennibirch@talktalk.net The full route will be published here.

Raleigh International

Jenni (19) is on a gap year having just finished A levels from Castle Sixth Form (KWN article). In Jenni's own words, 'I did a lot of research about similar projects with other charities before I decided on this one at Raleigh International, it seemed to be the most worthwhile! I'll be in Borneo for ten weeks doing three weeks on one of two community projects either working with NGO's to improve the standard of living for local people by improving and maintaining infrastructure such as building a school or working on a gravity feed system which involves working with locals to bring fresh clean water into their villages. 

The next block of three weeks, I will work on an environmentally based project doing conservation work in areas not accessible to tourists to increase access to environmental resources, conduct research or raise awareness. I will either take part in a reforestation scheme through collection, cultivation and replanting of forest trees to reclaim barren areas or a new conservation initiative, for the native Sun Bear, the smallest of nine bear species in the world whose numbers in the wild are on the decline. 

A Malayan Sun Bear

As a Raleigh volunteer I would be constructing parts of the conservation centre (enclosures etc) and raising awareness for the project. In the final stage of the trip I will take part in a trek across physically challenging terrain for twelve days and then scuba dive off the Mamutik Island gaining a PADI open water diving qualification followed by two days of either reef survey work, an underwater clean up or collecting data for the International Reef Check project.

All the projects Raleigh works on are sustainable and really benefit the communities in each area. I'll be working on these projects with other 17-24 year olds from all over the world as well as Borneo, the host country, which will be such a unique experience. I'm really looking forward to it!'