Discovering Borneo – my time with Global Action

We asked Ben, one of our UK-based Global Action students, to share why he loved his Borneo trip so much. Here is what he wrote – thanks Ben!

So why did I sign up?

When Global Action advertised in my school, I knew I had to get on that trip. Far-flung jungle adventures? New friends? Exploring local cultures? It ticked all the boxes instantly.  The more I heard the more I knew it would be an invaluable experience and a chance to get away from the stress of school life and exams.

The trip and its impact

While the two weeks flashed by, we had time for animal sightings, trekking, home-stays and even beach volleyball! The trip was split into sections, and we began with wildlife, visiting the Sunbear and Orangutan sanctuaries near Sandakan. There’s nothing quite like seeing these animals up close.

Then it was time for our home-stays, the part many of my group believed had the most impact on us. It’s the chance to really engage with a local community, in our case the riverside village of Billit. We met some of the kindest people I’ve ever come across, who opened their homes and way of life to a group of young strangers. I learnt more about the world in those few days than a classroom could teach, that’s the best part of Global Action, they get you involved in what really matters and give you the chance to make a small but impactful change.

After this, we donned our walking boots and headed into the ‘jay’ as our leader loved to call it, or the jungle to you or I. This was a three-day descent into the thick of the jungle in the foothills of the beautiful Mt Kinabalu.

If you hadn’t already bonded with your new friends at this point, then you certainly would by the time you leave the ‘jay’ having shared long days pushing through the jungle, climbing peaks,  jumping in rivers and sharing starlit nights rocking in a hammock.

We rounded up our trip in the capital of the province, Kota Kinabalu (or KK as everyone called it). This was a great opportunity to see the city life on the island, and immersing ourselves within bustling night markets, local history and the beach! We got our own time to explore the city in our small close-knit groups, then we headed offshore to Manukan Island to have a day snorkelling, chilling in the sand and playing beach volleyball (which of course got as competitive as you can imagine).

Fundraising

The peripherals for the trip were well managed too. Fundraising is a process which you get useful information and in-person advice on.  For us we did group fundraising projects as well as solo ones: from cake sales to sponsored runs, you can get creative in how you raise money for your trip. If money feels like a barrier, it doesn’t need to be, to me it felt like a daunting task to begin with but, the support is there, and it is perfectly doable in the run up to your trip.

How it all links to the SDGs

With modern problems of inequality and climate issues being so apparent, it was important to me that I chose an ethical provider which works in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Global Action really stood out because their trips aren’t just about travel, they’re about learning, sustainability, and making a positive impact. Their projects connect directly to several of the UN’s key goals, such as reducing poverty and inequality, promoting quality education, supporting gender equality, and acting against climate change.

Through their partnerships with local communities, Global Action ensures that every project supports long-term development rather than short-term volunteering. This means the work we do whether it’s helping with conservation, education, or community projects actually contributes to lasting progress in the places we visit. It’s a great feeling to know that while gaining new experiences and perspectives ourselves, we were also playing a small part in a much bigger global effort toward a fairer and more sustainable future.

Why you should go!

A Global Action trip gives you the chance to make lasting friendships (yes, we still keep in touch!), experience unforgettable adventures, take in breath-taking landscapes, including some of the most beautiful sunsets you’ll ever see, and give something meaningful back to communities less fortunate than our own.