Volunteering and Intern in Planting Bitti Trees in Takalar

  Indonesia

• All Other Areas: 
Makassar

Durations of Program: 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: All the year

Description: Local farmers in Laikang, Takalar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, use to cut trees for sale as fuel wood to brick and handicraft making industries in the surroundings and to a surgar factory. No replanting takes place and the many thousands of hectares of the land became empty and unproductive. LPTM cooperates with Rotary Club of Makassar in initiating reforestation and introducing the method of Tree Farmingand Agro Forestry to the farmers. With Tree Farming and Agro Forestry, farmers can get sustainable income while preserving the environment.

The reforestation will be with Bitti trees which is a local species of Sulawesi. The wood is the main materials in building traditional wooden boat of Bugenease people, Phinisi Perahu. This industry is a very old tradition and as a culture heritage which is still exists this time. Preserving the wood will preserve the income sources of local people and preserve their cultural heritage. Further information about the Phinisi Perahu may be obtained through internet browsing with the following words:
- Perahu
- Bulukumba
- Ara
- Kajang
- Tana Beru/Tanaberu
- Bugis
- Makassar
- Mandar
- Sulawesi
- Etc.

In the concept of tree farm and agro forestry, the farm is expected to give sustainable income to the farmers with fire wood and wood charcoal beside agricultural products which can be sold locally and in town. The wood is obtained by the thinning and the waste wood.

Highlights: Volunteer can gain experience by staying with the villagers and plant Bitti trees. An intensive one month Indonesian language training will be provided to empower the volunteers in their communication capability so that their stay in the village becomes enjoyable. Volunteer who prefers to stay in city, can help in our tree nursery in Makassar.

You enjoy more your stay if you could communicate with local people which are mostly very friendly to overseas guests. Therefore, we provide you with one month intensive Indonesian language training in Makassar. Mostly after this training volunteer can do basic communication. Our staff will assist you so that you could be closely in contact with local people and immerse in local activities. During the week end and holiday you may visit various interesting destinations and excursion.

After the one month training you would be sent to the location where our local staff or our local partners will assist and support you. You would stay for minimum 7 to 10 days at the project location to carry out assignment concerning the reforestation as mentioned above. Then you would go back to the city of Makassar for about one week for report and consultation with our staffs concerning what you have observed in the field or the project location. If volunteer/intern prefers to stay longer in the location, it can be arranged.

Thereafter, you may have about one to two weeks holiday which you can use to visit tourist destinations such as, Toraja, Bira, Bali, Bunaken etc. It is a free time for you.

Two months is the minimum stay. If you will stay more than two months you will have then one week holiday in every one month stay extension.

Qualifications:
The requirements to take part in the project are:
- at least 18 years old
- in a good health
- travel and insurance coverage
- readiness to be in and to enjoy being in a different culture
- environment lovers
- enjoy meeting villagers

Cost in US$: 95-registration, 750-/month of stay

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: From European countries, USA, Australia, of all ages.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Indonesia Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

LPTM's Mission Statement: The future of mankind is on the hands of the younger generation. LPTM is contributing on supporting young people in improvement. One of the missions is to bring them together and make them communicate and promoting the understanding of each other. By that way LPTM is promoting the understanding between different cultures, different economic development, etc., to attain better cooperation between countries in the future.

Year Founded: 1989