Building Bridges Beyond Borders (BBBB)

BBBB

19th October 2024

Hannah volunteered with Malaysian children online during her whole time at university, in January she will go and volunteer with them in person

I volunteered with BBBB, Fun with English Online, during my three years at Durham University. I worked with several classes and loved getting to know the children. I had never taught before but was well supported by the team at BBBB, including other volunteers who encouraged me and shared lots of great ideas to help […]

read more

BBBB

14th October 2024

Annabel is now back in the UK after her Bath University placement in Kuala Lumpur

Taking the Leap: My Transformative Experience with the BBBB Programme When I first saw the BBBB programme advertised online, it ignited something within me. I began exploring other placements that were closer to home in England—ones that seemed less daunting. Honestly, I was scared and unsure if I could do it, but I couldn’t stop […]

read more

BBBB

19th July 2024

Max Shares Some Personal Thoughts on his University Placement in Malaysia

I found myself lost during my placement year at the University of Bath. Originally, I took a year-long placement opportunity in London, but I really did not find what I was doing fulfilling or enjoyable. I ended up leaving only after three months. Pondering what to do next, I knew I wanted to do something […]

read more

Celia Recalls an Unexpectedly Rewarding Three Months in Malaysia

After completing my psychology degree at the University of Edinburgh, I found myself at a crossroads. I craved adventure and new experiences, but I also wanted to make a meaningful impact. That’s when I stumbled upon Just Volunteers and their BBBB program. The prospect of traveling while contributing positively to others’ lives resonated deeply with […]

read more

BBBB

6th August 2023

Ella recalls her time volunteering at Building Bridges Beyond Borders in the first half of 2023

I arrived in Kuala Lumpur just before the beginning of Chinese New Year. This meant two things: The first, I was introduced to the beautiful and whole-hearted celebrations of Malaysia. Malls were full of dramatic displays, glowing red lanterns adorned the streets, and fireworks lit the sky each evening. One of the schools I taught […]

read more

BBBB

14th December 2022

Rachel leaves Kuala Lumpur after completing her 6 months volunteering

Rachel sets off for a brief last trip in Southeast Asia before returning to the UK after 6 months as a Bath University Placement Student at the BBBB project. My name is Rachel and I study International Development with Economics at the University of Bath. I chose to do my placement in Malaysia as it […]

read more

BBBB

12th October 2022

Miza, our BBBB Project Coordinator writes a very personal account of her 5 years with the project

Five years with Building Bridges Beyond Borders Miza contacted the programme when she was finishing her Masters at Edinburgh University and about to return to her native Malaysia. After being a volunteer herself, she completed her PhD and has now become an invaluable member of the BBBB management team! Here she remembers some key moments […]

read more

BBBB

26th July 2022

Rachel is Our First International Volunteer to Arrive in Malaysia for over 2 years!

For the past two years our projects in KL have been sustained by a number of hard working and dedicated Malaysian undergraduate volunteers working in person, as well as international volunteers working online. After two years we are delighted to be able to welcome international volunteers in person again! Rachel arrived at the beginning of […]

read more

BBBB

25th July 2022

During the pandemic we have had a wonderful group of international volunteers working with the children in Malaysia online

While the largest number of online volunteers have been placement students from the University of Bath, we have also been very lucky to have a dedicated group from the University of Durham volunteering a few hours a week online throughout the second half of this academic year. The experience of both sides has been very […]

read more

BBBB

25th May 2022

Harriet finishes one year of online volunteering as a Bath University placement student and expects to travel to Malaysia this summer to finally meet all the kids she already knows so well!

With Just Volunteers, I have been privileged to teach for three inspiring organisations in Malaysia: the Rumah Aman Orphanage and Welfare Home, the [Myanmar Refugee school supported by SID] and the YTL Foundation. Just Volunteers has been supportive and encouraging from the outset. As this is my first time ever teaching, having a strong network […]

read more

BBBB

4th May 2022

Ciara has learned more than she expected volunteering online!

Ciara will soon finish her more than 6 months volunteering at BBBB online. (And this summer we will be welcoming in-person volunteers to Malaysia for the first time in over two years!) My name is Ciara and I am currently studying Social Sciences (BSc) at the University of Bath. Working for Just Volunteers has been […]

read more

BBBB

16th January 2021

Madalena is finding online teaching much more interesting than she expected

Maddie talks about how she has been dealing with an internship done entirely online and working from home – when she would otherwise have expected to be in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia working with disadvantaged local children. The experience is challenging for everyone but the attitude of the kids has made it a […]

read more