The following guest blog was written by volunteers Yasmin and Julia. This mother and daughter have joined us on 3 volunteering trips and got in touch to tell us about their latest adventure at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary!
We are a mother and daughter volunteer duo, and this was our third volunteer experience so far! We chose the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary in Borneo because orangutans are animals close to our hearts. Reading about how the project ran and helped the orangutans just made us fall in love with it and we wanted to be part of something so great. 
Our favourite moment came whilst visiting the playground, where we witnessed the baby orangutans being their naughty selves and playing up for the babysitters. It was truly a great moment that will stay with us, and to watch the babysitters do their job was such a great insight into what goes on behind the scenes of the orangutan sanctuary. Time truly stood still as we watched on the sidelines!
We took part in the daily life and tasks of the sanctuary workers who do such an incredible job maintaining the site for the animals. Daily tasks were such a rewarding thing to take part in, we felt that the workers could undergo their other tasks to the best possible standard while we were helping with others. 
Us being there and preparing treats, cutting down branches for them to eat and play with, creating enrichment items and being educated about conservation, all helped the orangutans daily life in that they would have more items to play with and keep them entertained (and out of trouble!) Plus, we could go home with a better understanding about conservation and relay this back home. Planting trees to help reforestation was probably the most rewarding thing, knowing that the trees we planted will be part of a home for orangutans someday.
For anyone thinking of doing this project, it is truly a once in a lifetime experience and a chance to be part of something very special, making a difference to this beautiful species’ future. Our advice would be to bring clothes that are for getting down and dirty and cover your arms and legs!
Absolutely unforgettable experience with a beautiful send-off that we will hold close to our hearts forever!
Yasmin & Julia
