Opportunities to volunteer in Malaysia are as varied as the country itself, but projects related to wildlife and education are by far the most common, so volunteers frequently work with nonprofit organisations dedicated to these areas.

Animal Welfare. Malaysia is the perfect destination for individuals interested in wildlife volunteering projects. Wildlife volunteering in Malaysia spans a range for species, from conserving endangered sun bear populations (the smallest bear species in the world that is also known by the sweet name of “honey bear”) to protecting the orangutans that call the Malaysian jungle home.

Marine Conservation. If you are more of a water person, you can chose a volunteer placement in Malaysia focused on marine conservation instead, and help conserve and protect endangered turtles in Borneo and in Peninsular Malaysia. Better yet, if you like people as much as animals, why not volunteer at a non-profit bar in Borneo that is committed to wildlife conservation? (yes, that is really a placement option!).

Teaching English. The Malaysian government is stepping up its emphasis on English language learning, which means there are incredible opportunities for to volunteer as an English teacher in Malaysia for up to 12 months. However, there are some volunteer programs in Malaysia that offer teaching placements for a minimum of two weeks. English teaching placements in Malaysia can be based in either urban or rural areas. Becoming a teaching volunteer in Malaysia can be one of the best ways to discover Malaysian culture and the local way of life from the inside. It doesn’t matter if you are teaching English in a big city or in the dreamy surroundings of the jungle, or working with kids or adults, this type of voluntary work in Malaysia will be an incredibly beautiful and rewarding adventure.

Although Malaysia used to be an English colony, the English language is not as widespread as you’d expect. The Malaysian language, or Bahasa Malay, is the official and most used language throughout the country, followed by Mandarin, Cantonese, and Tamil. However, individuals that want to volunteer abroad in Malaysia won’t necessarily be expected to be fluent in any of the latter languages.