Volunteer Operations

It was Saturday morning and I was ready to take my bags and depart to a new adventure. It was about one and a half months, since I arrived in Malaysia. I made good friends and met wonderful local people. To be honest it was a bit sad to leave, but I had to do what I had to do. Help the ones in need. We travelled around three hours to Perak and from then on we moved deep into the jungle. The landscape was only palm trees and many different types of insects, vines, flowers, butterflies and more. I come from the driest desert in the world, so this was one the most amazing things I've ever done. Once we arrived to Ampangan Sungai Woh. I was in shock, the place I was about to live looked like heaven to me. Beautiful bamboo made houses, a wonderful river and many kids looking curious and shy at the same time. We had a conversation previously with the leaders of Ampangan Woh, so they were waiting for my trainee and me. At the beginning I thought: would I be able to stay in the jungle without all the things I was used to in daily basis in the city, like a toilet, shower or a washing machine? However, I experienced many life changing situations during that year. I promised myself to write all my experiences in a book in the future.
One thing I can tell you. I’m not the same person, I’m more confident about my skills and I learned I have an amazing ability to adapt to different types of situations, regardless how difficult they may seem.
“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Being a part of the project 100 diverse and dynamic team from all over the world is a really amazing experience! The friendships i made, the love and respect everyone has for each other is wonderful!

As a part of my Bachelor Degree, I decided to join SOLS for an internship of 6 months.
In January 2015, I joined the Communications and Marketing department in the HQ in Kuala Lumpur.
This experience reveals to be the best experience in my life and the place where I have learned the most so far!
An incredible organization with amazing goals; a crazy, fun, dynamic and very inspiring Director.
A really supportive and professional Manager, who gave me the chance to share my experience and take part in the big projects.
An awesome and international young team with people from all around the world where I have experienced a totally new and innovative management.
I highly recommend SOLS for the people who are looking for an enriched working and life changing experience.

I was relocated into an orphanage home at the young age of 15 because of some problem at home in Johor, I completing my PMR and SPM in Kuala Lumpur. With dreams of being Graphic Designer. I had to find an answer to the questions: What will I do after high school? Where will I go? That’s where SOLS 24/7 Changemaker program came in. After the two month training, I has managed to learn so much about Graphic Design and Coding. I'm so proud to have been a part of SOLS 24/7 family. Now i'm working in office as Graphic Designer and more. I love what am I doing now.

I've had the best time with the communications team! Every day I learned something new and was facing challenging tasks as well. Coming to work gave me such a homely feeling. Why do I think this?
Mainly because of the amazing people I've met along the way. We are all so different, but by helping and supporting each other, we are evolving every single day. I honestly never thought that I would be this happy with my internship.
SOLS is evolving fastly, but realistically at the same time. The programs are sustainable and truly make a difference in the rural areas. That is why I have so much faith in P100. One of the most important things I've learned here is work ethics. I've learned that hard work pays off and if you do a good job, you will get recognized for it. It's all about determination and motivation to keep improving yourself, so that you can keep improving your skills, be a good team worker and be prepared for future challenges in your work life.
When I first came here, I was aware of my strengths and weaknesses. But when I had given a task I thought I couldn't handle, I was hesitating to get started. Now, I never think 'no i can't do this' as the first thing. I always give it a try and push myself. Only in this way can I keep learning. I guess my experience here made me realize this.

This program is an amazing experience, I think this Project is amazing because we get to be exposed to so many cultures at a very short period. It helps individuals to be able to socialise with people from all over the world and understand the cultures better. I think i have not only gained friends from my time with SOLS, but i have actually gained a family. The people in Project 100 is very supportive to one another, very nice and there are very nice moments that can be spent together.

Its never only about work with SOLS, its all about the experience thats not only related to your division, seeing the different situations people are placed in, enjoying the social life and amazing food surrounding the office

Hi! I have been volunteering with SOLS for the last 6 months and no one asked me to become Baha'i or pray or do anything I don't want to. Saying that people in SOLS are having arranged marriage is a really bad interpretation on what is actually happening. People come to SOLS from all over the world, fall in love, decide to get married and stay in Malaysia. In many cases SOLS offers them jobs so they stay and work for the NGO for longer time.
The English system has it's challenges but it under constant reviews and improvements and considering that I have visited many SOLS centers I can freely say that those people speak English. SOLS Malaysia doesn't organize prayers where SOLS Cambodia does, but for the educational purposes. No one is obliged to join those prayers and in case that you don't want to participate no one will push you to it.
When it comes to nepotism and favoritism, it is also not true because everyone is treated equally. Some people fit better, some people needs more time to adjust to working policy, but no one has ever been discriminated based on their race, gender or nationality. SOLS is very welcoming organization, opened for everyone with a good heart and wish do help to poor communities.
If you come in the middle of the nigh and don't announce your arrival, it will be hard that someone will know that you are here. It never happened that we had someone that got lost in Malaysia or someone that had an accident because SOLS is always very clear with instructions of how to reach the HQ.
I think that my experience in SOLS is really valuable, because I have learned so many things. My needs were always accommodated and even though SOLS (as any other NGO) is not perfect in many things, I learned how to be flexible and how to adjust myself to their working style.
People I met in SOLS I will remember for whole my life, I made some real friends and had an amazing time in Malaysia, same time working, having fun and learning so much.

I was with the program for 3 months...the first month left to my own, even upon arrival having to wake someone up to let me in! The religious overtones were too much for an organization which professes to be "non-religious". Conversion, fasting, and "community" arranged relationships/marriages...sounding a bit like a CULT! Then yes the message has been received. The "program" while good and has success needs to be edited and revised by Native English Speaking individuals.

The organization is full of nepotism and favourtism. All senior staff and management are part of the Baha'i Community started by the founders. I did not meet anyone in the organization's management that was not of the faith. If a strong personality was brought in they quickly found their way out to a DISTANT centre with little or no support. I was a victim of theft at the SOLS dorm, with nothing done to assist in the recovery of the items.

There are many FREE volunteer opportunities out there! Many of the volunteers also had to pay for there time at SOLS.