Hi there! Thank you for visiting my fundraising page! My name is Shu Anne and I’m currently raising funds in order to participate in a Youth Cultural Exchange to Bario, Sarawak. Bario, mostly famous for its rice, is also home to the Kelabit people. At approximately 5000 people, the Kelabits are one of the smallest ethnic groups in Sarawak. Due to various economic and social factors, the Kelabit youths are slowly moving away to urban areas to seek jobs or a better education and just over a thousand of them remain on the highlands. The main goal of this youth exchange is to help the women of Bario earn an income through eco-tourism. Right now, there are 25 homestays in Bario which are already hosting mainly Western eco-tourists. Being able to converse in English would make their job as a tour guide all the more fulfilling, in addition to appealing to a wider audience. Throughout the exchange, volunteers like me will be assigned to 1-2 women each. We’ll be teaching and encouraging the use of English while helping with their daily activities. By doing so, we hope to improve their economical sustainability through eco-tourism as well as rekindle the traditions and practices of the Kelabits in Bario. With this project, we hope to raise awareness amongst youths about the needs of the community and environment in the rural areas of East Malaysia. In the long run, this project hopes to see the Kelabit youths return to Bario to join the efforts in reviving the community. So what are you waiting for? Click on the DONATE button now! Every donation counts in making this project a reality. Don’t hesitate to share this page with your friends too! For more information on Project WHEE!: www.facebook.com/projectwhee www.theprojectwhee.blogspot.com