Volunteer beware

The more time I spent at SOS 24/7, the more I disliked it. I worked in the office, and every day I was exposed to the chaotic management, disorganised environment, in addition to undermining and even bullying of the demotivated staff and volunteers.

Member of Project 100 were usually sent to far-flung Malaysian districts with little training and very limited ongoing support. Volunteers would sometimes be recruited for projects that did not exist.

The teaching system has had success and great potential, but the materials were in need of an overhaul by native English speaker. Attempts to enhance the system or materials were usually rejected.

Crucially, what is not revealed to you in advance is that SOLS 24/7 has strong religious beliefs - namely the Baha'i faith - that underpin its entire philosophy. There's nothing wrong with that necessarily, of course. But when an organisation is presented as non-religious, it should be just that.

Twice-daily prayers, mandatory for pupils, should not feature at schools nor training centres. Pupils should not be co-erced into religious fasting. Religious fasting should not be disguised as part of the 'SOLS program'. Religious iconography should not be visible throughout schools and training centres.

But they all are.

It's little wonder the tens of students and volunteers have converted to the Baha'i faith. There is barely a long-term volunteer or member of staff who is not now Baha'i, across Malaysia, Cambodia and Timor Leste. Those who do not want to "Baha'i-ify", leave sooner rather than later.