We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
- T.S. Eliot, The Dry Salvages

2
.
Content Page

First Things First Administration Accommodation Facilitation

6 preface 39 official papers 65 setting up camp 88 the basics
7 motivation 41 communications 67 home stays
10 the right attitude 43 finance 69 food Documentation &
73 water
Project Scope Your Team Media
75 alcohol
11 a mindmap 45 team size 115 general
76 smoking
13 project types 47 team selection
77 sanitation
15 a continuum 49 team building The Return
17 service learning 51 team bonding
Logistics 117 closing
21 duration of stay 53 coordination tips
118 rest & relaxation
23 when to go 55 language barriers 79 the airport
119 giving back
25 itinerary 59 delegation 81 other gear

Host Partner Transportation Medical Volunteer-sending

27 making contact 61 budget airlines
83 general Organisations
29 recce tips 62 travel agents 121 thanks
85 first aid
31 child considerations 63 in-country
33 money issues
Acknowledgments
35 other considerations
37 risk management 123 thanks

3 4

God grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change, the courage to
change the things I can, and the wisdom
to know the difference.
5 6
First Things First – Preface
Choose a project. Choose your team. Choose a mode of
transportation. Choose what you should eat when you’re there.
Choose to take a leap into the unknown.
There are about a thousand different decisions, big and small,
that await the potential expedition leader. Some are easy no-
brainers. Most will require some degree of agonising over. And
a few you will have no control over.
Which is where, hopefully, this guide comes in. The Guerilla
Guide to Youth Expeditions represents the collective knowledge
of some of those who have led or facilitated youth expeditions,
some successful and others less successful.
If you’re looking for a document that will plan your entire trip for
you, this isn’t it. But it can help you to make informed decisions
about the choices that await you. We’ll let you figure the rest
out. =)
 First Things First – Motivation I want to do an expedition because:

“I’m a teacher, and my principal told me to do

this.”
Let’s get it out of the way – why indeed are you doing an
expedition?
“I’ve always wanted to travel to (insert name of
country)”
It might seem a simple enough question, but perhaps you
haven’t really put it down to paper. So go on, take a minute.
”My friends are doing this, so I thought it would
And be honest with yourself – after all, no one’s looking here.
be a good idea if I joined in.”
Check one of the boxes on the next page.

“I have an entire holiday to spare, so I might as

If you already know the reason in your heart, then good for
well do something useful with it.”
you. Understanding this will keep you focused along the way,
especially when things aren’t going as planned. You’re going
“I want to make a difference in the lives of other
to need it.
people.”

The same goes for your participants as well. Some might give
“I’ve been reading about this issue, and I want to
you reasons like “My friends are doing this, so I want to come
do something about it.”
along.” And “I’m free during my holidays, so I want to do
something useful.” But their reasons at the start aren’t as
This is my reason:
important – it’s how these reasons change in the course of
the expedition that counts.

Activity: discuss this with your teammates

7 8
 First Things First – The right attitude

Going overseas and sacrificing your time and energy to do

community work might seem like a wonderful idea to begin with.
Yet, the very idea of stepping into another culture and doing
some work which you believe is ‘good’ for ‘poor people’ can
prove counter-productive if not approached with the right attitude.

It’s easy to be blind to our own ethnocentrism. Like it or not,

Singaporeans are commonly associated with certain values –
‘efficiency’ for one, and ‘integrity’, for another. And to us, these
might seem like perfectly normal values to have. And they would
be – if we were still in Singapore.

However, to people from another culture, these behaviours might

instead come across as ‘impatience’ and ‘inflexibility’. The more
polite of your hosts will not share this with you, of course.
Go to the people, live among them. Learn
from them. Love them. Start with what they The truth is, if you’re looking to work with impoverished peoples

know; build on what they have. But (for) the or people from another culture, you don’t have to look too far.
Singapore has plenty of lower income families, as well as migrant
best leaders, when their task is accomplished,
worker communities. So why go overseas? What is it that people
their work is done, the people will remark, "We in another country can’t do for their countrymen that you can?
have done it ourselves." Ancient Chinese
philosopher Lao Shi Activity: use this as a topic for facilitation among your
group.
9 10
 Project Scope - a mindmap

11 12
0

Project Scope – Project types
There is work that is work and
there is play that is play; there is
play that is work and work that is
play. And only in one of these lies
happiness. – Frank Gelett Burgess
13
Project scoping can make or break the entire expedition. An ill-
conceived project could leave your team unable to do anything
without being handheld by your host, thus becoming an additional
burden on a NGO’s already strained manpower.
One team in Vietnam learnt this the hard way – their host partner
didn’t think their youth could build a decent house. The team ended
up plucking weeds for 5 days, and eventually decided to change their
project scope to teaching English.
Fully-Specialised Projects
Project types like Marine Conservation and Documentation require a
team of members who are at least moderately competent. Capacity
Building projects require a small team of experts.
Semi-Specialised Projects
Infrastructure & Construction, Water & Sanitation and Arts-based
project types can still operate with a team of inexperienced
members, as long as the team leader/resource person is fully
competent, and is able to transfer these skills.
Generic Projects
IT Education, English and Maths, and Refurbishment of rooms
project types are more generic and can be carried out by first-time
groups. But doing it well still requires experience.
14
 ‘Hard’ vs. ‘Soft’ Projects
Project Scope – a continuum
If youth development is high on your agenda, infrastructure
projects are less preferable - teams tend to run into existential
dilemmas when they find out how much easier (and cheaper) it is
to contract some local workers to build anything.

Having a worn out team at the end of the day doesn’t help
facilitation either. Building projects also usually sustain higher
levels of injuries. But of course, it’s the process that matters, and
what kind of learning points you’re able to bring out of the
experience.

That said, some volunteers do need to see concrete results for

their work, as opposed to doing soft skills projects, like interacting
with school kids, which are largely intangible. So do consider
having an element of ‘hard’ projects, such as refurbishment or
painting.

One generation plants the

Issue-based
trees; another gets the Consider doing projects that are based on a particular issue.
shade. – Chinese proverb Geography students, in particular, will appreciate this. So it’s not
just about building toilets because they’re needed – but also
about understanding the state of sanitation in the host country,
understanding how sustainability can be achieved, and tying that
back to the situation in Singapore.

15 16
 Project Scope – service learning
Service, combined with learning
adds value to each and
transforms both. - Honnet and
Poulsen
17
A service-learning framework adds immeasurably to the
experience that your team takes home at the end of the day.
Timothy Stanton said it best with his Principles of Reciprocity: “I
serve you in order that I may learn from you.” and “You accept
my service in order that you may teach me.”
It’s about being able to see a situation from the perspective of
the community that you are serving, and even to question your
own fundamental beliefs.
Case study
A team did a theatre expedition, in collaboration with a local
partner, on the issue of early marriage. After 2 weeks of intense
discussion and workshops with youth from the host country,
some members of the group arrived at the conclusion that
given the circumstances, that early marriage was the best
possible option.
It wasn’t that the group approved of early marriages in general,
nor was it something that they would have wished for
themselves, but when they put themselves in the shoes of their
host community, they were able to understand and empathise
how cultural and physical factors had come together to produce
a less than desirable option for the young women in that
particular community.
18
 Activity: where do you think your project stands in this
graph of service (S) against learning (L)? Mark an ‘x’ !
Why is it so?
Big L
Resources
The National Youth Council produces a booklet called
“Beginner’s Guide to Service Learning”. You can also
visit the website http://www.nyc.gov.sg/sl/index.htm for
more.
The Raffles Centre for Experiential Learning also runs
YEP Leader Training Courses. You can find out more at
http://www.rcel.edu.sg/course_yep.htm

Three S-L elements you can’t leave

Big S Small S
home without:

1) A well-trained facilitator with a plan in mind

2) Journals – people need time and space to
constantly reflect on their experience.
3) A project scope that allows for a good balance
Small L between meeting the needs of the community as
well as those of your team’s.

19 20

Project Scope - duration of stay
Arrival (Day 0)
If you arrive on a weekend, your host partner/school may have
closed office for the day, leaving your team to wander around for
the first day. Of more concern is arriving late at night, which may
compromise your team’s safety.
Also, a lot of participants expect to go to work straight away on Day
1. Help them to realise that they may need a couple of days to
prepare for the work and get used to the conditions.
Your host partner might even want to perform some ceremonies or
show you the local sights to make your team feel welcome, so do
factor that in.
21
In between
The length of a project can vary, from 5 days to 3 weeks. What’s
important is that you have enough breathing space to feel at home and
build solid friendships. Some organisations recommend a minimum of 21
days in order for change to be internalised in a person’s character, and
to be ingrained as a habit.
The constraint is usually on those with work commitments, so do
exercise flexibility in accommodating them. Tip: consider asking them to
pay the full price, with the option of flying back earlier if necessary.
An alternative is to have 2 overlapping teams, so that the length of
engagement is longer, and halving the team size means that the local
infrastructure is not overburdened. The first team will also be able to give
the next team a head start by letting them know how to prepare better.
Departure
Although you may have an advance party, do try to have your entire
team depart the project at the same time, to avoid a sense of lingering
on (which may cause the project to lose momentum), and so that
farewell sessions have more of an emotional closure.
Keep it in perspective
However long you choose to stay, keep in mind that even 1 month is
considered short-term by professional overseas volunteering
organisations. For them, a good volunteering range is in the range of 6
months to 2 years.
22
 Project Scope – when to go
Clashing projects
Understand the project cycles of your host partners. While they
may have regular projects which run on a maintenance basis
throughout the year, they may have planned certain high profile
events during the period of your expedition, which might leave
you high and dry, while their staff are running all over the city
trying to get things together.
23
Climate
Weather is a big factor, as it can cause lots of health problems.
Summer seasons can be hotter though less humid than
Singapore’s. And monsoons can be a great dampener on your
activities, even if you’re building rainwater harvesting systems.
Typically, most expeditions are left to the end of the year to
coincide with the school holidays, which would be a good thing,
except that it clashes with the regular tourist season. That said,
having an expedition in the off-peak period isn’t such a bad
idea after all, if you can find the volunteers.
Festive moods
National holidays can wreck your plans, so check with your
hosts if there are any special occasions during your project
period. Some cities like Kolkata close down for an entire week
during Durga Puja.
And some cities have regional holidays on top of national ones,
which your host partner may have omitted in your discussions.
So do plan contingencies into your schedule to give yourself
some flexibility.
24
 Project Scope - Itinerary Keep it to an outline
However well you may have planned your expedition, the reality is
that things will change on the ground, and you’ll have to manage
your team’s expectations. So don’t promise too much with a detailed
itinerary. Remember, you’re not a tour guide, so keep it to an outline
for the next day’s programme, to keep them mentally prepared for
any changes. Oh, and do keep parents in the loop as well.

Plan Bs
Always remember Murphy’s Law. Your best defence to anything that
happens is really to just adapt and compromise where necessary.
Your role as a leader is to make the best out of any given situation.
This sometimes means making decisions with less than adequate
time or information.

What’s important is that your teammates understand that you have

their best interests at heart, and are therefore willing to follow your
directions, even if the decision turns out to be incorrect later on.
Tip: You can also choose to have a Exercise your influence wisely.

large format schedule (see above)

Cultural immersion
pasted at a convenient location near
Visiting local museums and places of interest such as the Killing
your work site, so that participants will Fields in Phnom Penh can be a good way of helping your team to

be able to easily to refer to any understand a country’s past. This can be done on the weekends,
when the NGO staff aren’t working.
changes in programming.

25 26
 Host Partner- making contact
Negotiate a river by following its
bends; enter a country by
following its customs. –
Cambodian proverb
27
Liaison person
A lot of projects go awry because of miscommunication with the host
partner. This is especially so for NGOs with several levels in their
hierarchy, or a central HQ which manages satellite projects. Your
contact person could have been chosen of his/her fluency in English,
but may not be involved in the frontline work, and therefore not in the
best position to evaluate the feasibility of your proposal.
So by all means talk to the decision makers, but when your
conversations with the field staff don’t match, check back with the
coordinator. Where possible, have them agree to a written document,
so that expectations are clearly aligned. It’s crucial to find a reliable
host partner, in whom you can trust your team’s safety with.
Multiple stakeholders
Beware of having to cooperate with too many groups who have
different expectations of your work, especially if there are political
considerations. Multiple interests have a way of quickly strangling the
scope of your project – you’ll need to prioritise who you listen to.
Resources
1) Expedition SG (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ExpeditionSG/)
2) The Choice Initiative (www.thechoiceinitiative.org/sending.htm)
3) Youth Expedition Project (http://www.yep.sg/)
28
 3. Plan Bs
Host Partner - recce tips
It’s cliché but oh so true. You never know when a Catch-22
situation is going to hit you, so do keep an eye out for other
projects with potential, and keep up some kind of friendly
communication, so that if you need to switch project sites, it’s
not so awkward.

4. Monitor the situation

Your recce doesn’t end when you return to Singapore. Keep
yourself updated by reading online newspapers. You might not
be able to spot disasters before they happen, but if there’s an
ongoing conflict, the newspapers will carry it.

5. Advance party
1. Managing expectations
In addition to the feasibility trip, it’s a good idea to have a small
Beware of making promises prematurely – especially monetary ones.
advance party that arrives a few days before the main group
One group in Laos was threatened with guns during their recce trip
proper. This is to ensure that all arrangements are finalised,
when they moved from one village to another, when the first village
and to allow you to personally supervise the buying of
were worried that the volunteers would not be helping them.
materials. It also allows the advance party to prepare the main
expedition party back in Singapore.
2. Don’t get flashy
One corporate expedition on their Cambodian recce quickly became
6. Key processes
known as “17 millionaires” in the local newspapers. Needless to say,
There’s a really good checklist for your key processes that you
they had to change countries. Oh, and avoid creating a wishlist
can find on the YEP website, at
mentality in the minds of your hosts, artificially creating needs for the
http://www.yep.sg/toolbox/starterkit.html
sake of spending money. Take the time to get to know them.

29 30

Host Partner – child considerations
If you think you are too small to
make a difference, you’ve
never been in bed with a
mosquito. - Bette Reese
31
Child protection policy
Some NGOs will have this in place, while others may not need it. In
either case, as the team leader, there are fundamental precautions
you should take in order to ensure the safety of the children you may
come into contact with as part of the project. These are as simple as
having all interactions take place in a public area (volunteers should
not take children to a private corner without staff supervision), or
depending on the profile of the child (ie. children of prostitutes), not
publishing their photo in any mass media.
Beggars
Disabled children pose a moral dilemma for many. While you might
soothe your conscience by giving a street urchin a few coins, you
might be doing more harm than good. It’s likely that he/she is part of
a begging syndicate – and the continuous source of income from
foreigners makes it hard for such children to move away from the
streets into rehabilitation programmes run by NGOs. You’re better off
buying some food for them to consume on the spot.
Saying goodbye
Some children, when they are aware of your impending departure,
might start crying, even as early as halfway through your expedition.
Its times like these that will make you question whether you should
have come at all, since they were so sad to see you go. But
remember that sadness will go away, but friendship will stay. Keep in
touch with them – they’ll treasure it.
32
 “Bribes” or “Social Customs”?
Host Partner – money issues
You may have experienced it before – being requested to buy a
Johnnie Walker to appease the local town council, or to slip a customs
officer some dollar notes to get your computer out of the airport. Either
way, you’re going to have to weigh the consequences (a run-in at the
police station or possibly more exorbitant costs later on) against what
you believe in. There are no easy solutions - but having your host
partner around to negotiate on your behalf certainly helps.

Commission
Some locals assigned to you may make extra cash for themselves by
going grocery shopping and getting commission from certain
shopkeepers. You can try sidestep such tactics by saying that “we’d
like to try doing things by ourselves, it would be fun learning how to”.

Gifts
The love of money is When giving gifts of any size, think twice about the implications. While

the root of all evil. it might seem like an act of goodwill, repercussions can often extend
beyond our knowledge. For example, a simple gift from a volunteer
might be interpreted as a sign of liking and cause jealousy among the
girls in a shelter home, or might cause rifts between staff who sense
unequal treatment.

33 34
 Host Partner – other considerations
Commitment of host partners
The level of commitment from your host partner is important –
at the very least, at least 1 staff should be assigned as your
point of contact. The provision of resources such as
facilitation of transport or food is also a good indication.
Beware of partners who have to simultaneously host different
expedition teams.
35
Singaporean time vs. “Rubber time”
Singaporeans are used to working at a breakneck pace, as
well as arriving punctually. But take this as a situation in
which both sides can learn how there are different ways of
doing things.
Conflict of interest – “guan xi”
In some situation, having the right connections may mean
the difference between a successful project and having it
canned at the last moment by some strange twist of
bureaucratic logic. The web of relations is often too
complicated and invisible for an expedition team to unravel
during their time there, which means that you’ll have to rely
heavily on your hosts to help guide you through the murky
waters.
Task vs. People Orientation
You might find that the villagers become more interested in
interacting with your team than in your contribution to the
construction work, surprising you with ad-hoc invitations or
“wayang ceremonies” that eat into your work schedule. But
side trips might also turn out to be valuable learning
experiences. Decide on the kind of balance you need
between being hospitable and getting the job done.
36
 Host Partner – risk management Political risks
Election period violence and negative sentiment against Singapore
can threaten to derail the project. Parents will pull their children out,
and you may be torn between postponing the trip, else going in with
a half-strength team. What you need to ascertain for yourself is
whether the risk is a localised or national one. Political risks usually
have their epicentre in a country’s capital, which may cast the entire
country in a cloak of doubt. But people in the outskirts may not be
affected at all.

Cultural risks
This can range everything from the wandering village drunk to the
headman who decides that your group is the cause of their recent
stroke of ‘bad luck’. There might be cultural norms that are specific to
that district, which your Lonely Planet won’t tell you about. The best
4 ways to deal with risks
way to figure out what these are is really to spend time in your
stop the manage the risk chosen location, so that you can understand the daily rhythms of the
project & re- by altering society in which your team is going to insert itself.
evaluate conditions

Physical risks
Terminate Treat Bird flu, a recent spate of earthquakes, and attacks by insurgents
seeking independence are all very tangible dangers which you can
Transfer Tolerate deal with (see box on left).

allow another party like

carry on with Resources
your host partner to take
the lead the project Sign up for a course at http://www.yep.sg/toolbox/training.html

37 38

Administration - Official Papers
Nobody’s last words on the death
bed were ever ‘I wished I had
spent more time in the office’. –
Mark Twain
39
Letters of Support
Get signed letters of support from your host NGO, sending
organisation and Singapore embassy, especially if you’re bringing
over brand-new electronic equipment. Also, do try to make contact
with local/provincial government, to make sure you’re not stepping on
their turf. And have photocopies of your passports, just in case.
Registration
Remember to e-register all your participants with MFA
(www.mfa.gov.sg) before leaving, as well as Mindef, for your male
participants. Also, contact the Singapore embassy in your host
country upon arrival – they can get you out of a tight spot in
emergencies, especially those which are politically related.
Insurance
Generally speaking, if price is a factor then NTUC Income is a good
choice. However, AIG Travel Assist is more suited to the expedition
format (http://www.aig.com.sg/personal/personal_aigassist.html), as
it provides International SOS coverage as well. Bear in mind that you
should have handy their emergency hotline numbers, in case of
evacuation.
Also, if your plane or luggage is rerouted or delayed, remember to
get a letter from the airport, to make it easier to assess your claim. In
some cases, you might even get the cost of your flight back! Lastly,
take note that waiver of liability or indemnity clauses cannot exclude
liability for death or injury if caused by negligence or wilful means,
under the Unfair Contract Terms Act. 40
 Administration - Communications
Nature gave us one tongue and two
ears so we could hear twice as
much as we speak. – Epictectus
Greek Stoic Philosopher
41
SIM Cards
Buy local top-up SIM cards where possible – handphone bills upwards
of $1000 are not unheard of, especially with hour-long conversations
with loved ones back home. Ask your host partner to apply for a line on
your behalf if necessary. A much easier alternative is to use local call
booths, and which will usually cost much less than a handphone call
back home.
Satellite phones
Though necessary in mountainous regions, satellite phones don’t
always get good reception, especially if an area isn’t well covered by
satellites.
Mini Contact lists
This should contain the current roaming and new local numbers of
teammates, the host partner, as well as embassy and hospital.
Call waiting
While we take e-mails for granted as the fastest form of
communication, overseas NGO staff may be ‘out-stationed’ for
extended periods, and dial-up modems might crawl along at a snail’s
pace. Your host partner might only have access at the cybercafé and
not the office. One expedition leader in particular was known to have
waited 2 months for a reply to an e-mail! So never hesitate to simply
pick up the phone.
42

Administration - finance
Grants & subsidies
The best source of expedition funding remains the Youth Expedition
Project grant, currently administered by the National Youth Council.
Visit their website at www.yep.sg for more. Some schools will also
subsidise their students, as part of their youth development budget.
Fundraising
It’s easier to raise money from friends and family for project cost items,
rather than for participant cost. Instead of asking for cash, try asking
them to match the monetary equivalent of specific items, such as a
computer, giving reasons for this need (take note on your recce).
And declare your accounts and how the money was spent post-
expedition to all your donors, thanking them for their contribution.
Donors who made it all possible are sometimes forgotten in the post-
expedition euphoria. This can be done with a simple card, perhaps
written by one of your beneficiaries, or a photo of the refurbished room.
Remittance policies
It might be easy to wire money to your host partner, so that they can
finish the foundation for a house by the time you arrive, but this is
unadvisable unless you trust their integrity. The short story is to be
there when they spend it.
43
Changing money
Good places to change your money include People’s Park Complex
and Mustafa’s Foreign Exchange, especially when you need large
sums for your project. However, in recent times, rates at other major
moneychangers have become more competitive, so do compare for
yourself.
Whichever vendor you choose, do remember to get a certain portion of
your notes in smaller denominations – very helpful when you need to
tip people at the airport, and so forth. And watch out for Cambodian
Riels – they’re the same colour as US Dollars.
Carry money
When bringing large sums of cash through customs, it’s advisable to
divide them into separate envelopes between a few people, as some
countries have limits on how much currency can be brought in.
Travellers’ cheques are another option, useful in Laos where there are
no ATMS (trust us).
Accounting
Appoint a treasurer within the team, preferably someone with previous
experience with money. Physically separate money meant for project
cost and general living expenses. Also, do have a float account, for
unexpected emergencies. Keep a running ledger of all expenses, and
make sure receipts are asked for, and translated where possible. And
watch out for thermal paper, which fades after a month. Photostat!
44

Your team - Team size
Let’s go big!
There are 2 schools of thought on this: some believe in bigger
teams, which enable you to carry out projects with a more
ambitious scope (such as infrastructure projects), and which
give greater diversity in terms of what can be contributed.
However, sending teams of anything bigger than 10 may mean
a strain on the resources of your host, and that extra work will
have to be done in order to accommodate you. This can range
from building new toilets to hiring cooks to prepare your meals,
so do understand how your presence affects them.
45
A more pressing issue is inter-personal communication. Bigger groups
tend to experience more conflict between members, especially when
cliques are formed or some members are perceived to be slacking off.
Behaviour can get juvenile without an experienced facilitator to keep
everyone in line.
Small is beautiful…
Others believe that sending small, regular teams of 4-8 people is more
sustainable and effective, since they can integrate better into the daily
lives of the locals. Workload is also maximised, since everyone will
have to pull their own weight in a small group. And conflict among
team members is easier to resolve. Skills training can also be
customised.
Another plus point is travel. 8 people can fit nicely into 1 dinner table, 2
taxis or 4 hotel rooms. After all, have you tried flagging down 4 taxis at
the same time?
Sub-groups
A good compromise between large and small teams is simply to break
up a big group into sub-groups, giving them independence to run on
their own during the day (each with its own co-leader) and reuniting at
night. Such an approach has some impact on team unity and identity,
but may also present opportunities to look at an issue from a different
perspective.
46

Your team - Team selection
It takes a great deal of courage to
stand up to your enemies, but a
great deal more to stand up to our
friends. – Professor Dumbledore to
Harry Potter
47
Cast your net wide
Do as much pre-trip publicity as you can in order to get critical
mass for your screening/interview stage, otherwise you’ll fall into
the trap of having to make up numbers and compromising on the
quality of the team. However, selecting only the most experienced
should not be your sole criteria – look out for those who may need
the opportunity more.
Dropping a team member
You should have no qualms dropping a participant pre-trip if you
strongly feel that their inclusion would be detrimental to the morale
of the entire team. It’s a difficult decision to make, but sometimes
you have to put your foot down. Red flag such participants early
on: if the person is a hassle to attend to pre-trip, be prepared to
expect a lot more during the trip. Counsel them if necessary, and
see if things improve. Be firm yet diplomatic.
Diversity rocks
School groups with same-age youth tend to be homogenous. But
having a heterogeneous group means that people bring different
perspectives and life experiences to the mix. Having a gender-
balanced group allows you to look after both boys and girls among
your beneficiaries. And a racial balance allows you to showcase
the multi-racial aspect of Singapore in cultural performances.
48
 Managing expectations
Your team - Team building
Get these out in the open at the first meeting. Ask the team to set
their own ground rules, personal and group objectives. Then
along the way, remind them of it. It helps to have a rough idea of
what’s going to happen, but it’s better to help them to understand
that change is the only constant. Always hope for the best and
prepare for the worst!

Romantic relationships
Budding relationships (even cross-country ones) do occur. If
you’re a teacher leading a school team, your options are quite
limited. But for open groups where the participants are more
mature, you may choose to exercise a light touch, as long as it
doesn’t affect team morale or the project objectives.

Time frame Of equal concern is the image you might be projecting of

A proper expedition takes about 6 months to prepare. But Singaporeans in general - some rural communities do not look
in reality, the typical expedition team has about 3 months kindly even on seeing men and women chatting at night, let alone
to get everything together. But it is possible - if you work a romantic attraction. Tread wisely.
as a team.

Ice-breaking
Identity Switch and the Blanket Game are all great for When spider webs unite,
breaking the ice and learning new names. 2 Truths & 1 they can tie up a lion. –
Lie is useful for both people who don’t know each other,
an African proverb
49 as well as for people who know each other very well. 50
 #1. Overnight camps
Your team – Team bonding
Organising it may turn out to be like another expedition,
but the rewards are immense.

#2. Games like Human Knots

Remember, the objective is not about undoing the knot.
But rather, this is an excellent opportunity to observe how
the team behaves under pressure. Facilitation is key here.

#3. Hike to Bukit Timah

Easy and quick to implement. Again, it’s not about
reaching the top, but how you get there as a group.

#4. Fundraising flea market

There are about a hundred different ways to conduct team Good excuse for everyone to stay in one place and get to
bonding sessions. They can be conducted as part of official team know each other. And of course, raise funds!
meetings, just before a heavy logistics discussion. Or they can be
organised for their own sake. We suggest just 6 ways here.
#5. Food!
What better way to get used to the cuisine of the country
However you choose to do it, one thing remains in common – do
you’re going to, then to sample it together in Singapore?
it before you leave. Participants have to be comfortable
interacting and working with each other, so that they’ll hit the
ground running where you get there, allowing you to focus on the
#6. Pre-trip community service project
project at hand. An excellent opportunity to focus the team’s energies.

51 52
 Your team - Coordination tips Regular scheduled programming
Schedule your meetings for an entire month in advance, say
every Tuesday, so that people will keep that day just for the
project. Knowing in advance when you’re going to meet would
also circumvent distractions like project deadlines and tests by
giving people enough time to prepare.

Soft and hard tactics

Use a tried-and-tested combination of 1) cajoling, 2) persuasion
and finally 3) coercion to gather your team for meetings and
activities. Combine business-like team meetings with a movie
afterwards, so that the team can get to know each other on a
personal basis as well.

Plan, plan, plan

Have a time table planned out so that you can see which are the
Those who fail to critical tasks that need to be take care of each month, and in the
different phases of pre-expedition, expedition phase and post-
plan, plan to fail. –
expedition. Simple to do, but it’ll save you countless headaches
Anonumous down the line.

53 54
 Your team - Language barriers
Language is the blood of the
soul into which thoughts run
and out of which they grow. -
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
55
This is the difference maker in expeditions. You may have the
best plans laid out, but if your team is not willing to pick up the
local language and stubbornly sticks to using English, then you’re
just tourists looking for a different holiday.
Knowing even a few words of the local language will immediately
open doors of understanding into the lives of your beneficiaries,
and is the strongest signifier of your sincere interest in their lives
and culture.
Do make it a point to know at least 20 words and phrases of the
local language before you leave – and don’t wait till you get there
to start learning. Find someone in Singapore who will teach you.
And if you don’t manage to get any practise in by the time you
leave, an airplane packed with locals is a great place to bring
them up to speed. Give them an assignment to learn 20 words by
the time they touchdown!
But if you’re really sincere about wanting to be able to
understand the complexities of the country that you’re going to,
the best way is still to do a language course. NUS Extension
(http://www.nus.edu.sg/nex/list_lllan.htm) has a great range of
classes for Southeast Asian languages available. Tutors there
have at least a relevant Masters degree, and will give you a
strong foundation over 8-10 weeks.
56

Your team - Language barriers
Body language
Your copy of Lonely Planet will probably do a better job of
explaining this, but do be aware the language isn’t just conveyed
by what you speak. For example, in Thailand, pointing with your
feet when you sit down and patting a person on the head are
rude, as is pointing at something with your index finger in some
Muslim cultures. And crossing your arms is almost universally a
sign of defensiveness – or just being cold.
57
Greetings
It seems common sense enough, but simple courtesies such
as greeting people in the local way are appreciated. Do note
the variations involved – for example, Thais have 5 slightly
different ways of greeting, depending on whether it’s a god,
elder, peer or child.
Translators
Central to inter-cultural communication is the need to
precisely comprehend nuances in language. You might end
up with someone who summarises a 5-minute conversation
with just one sentence, or run into a couple of university
students who want the opportunity to practise their English.
But in any case, don’t forget to take care of them – they can
become your best friends.
Variations
Also do take note of the differences between national
languages and regional dialects, city vs. village variants. For
example, people in northernmost Thailand don’t speak Thai
at all. In any case, stick to what your host community uses, or
get a phrase book. And as a last resort, be creative and use
sign language and drawings to get your message across.
And bring calculators if you’re bargaining at the markets!
58
 Should I delegate?
Your team - Delegation
You should always avoid carrying the weight of the world on your
shoulders. It’s heavy. Even if you’re a school teacher who’s been
assigned specifically to do this task, it doesn’t mean that your
students can sit back and watch you organise everything. In a
service-learning framework, the delegation of duties among the
team members provides an excellent opportunity to challenge
themselves.

How do I delegate?
Ideally, everyone volunteers themselves to fill up the various
roles. But as is often the case, you’ll have to delegate. It’s good
for each team member to have at 1 pre-expedition and 1
expedition role to play. Do create sub-committees that each
person can sign up for.

Job descriptions
Teamwork is no Facilitator – just as important as the leader
Assistant leader – to look after the team in your absence
accident. It is the by-
Programmes – responsible for a specific component, say reading
product of good Logistics – making sure everything makes its way there
Fundraising – bringing in the project cost
leadership. – John Adair
Finance – looking after the purse strings
Documentation – doing photography and videography
Language – the experts who can do some translation
Medical – provide first aid, but let’s hope you never use them

59 60
 Transportation - budget airlines
Expedition teams need a block booking, so do get on the
mailing lists of budget airlines like Jetstar Asia and Tiger
Airways to hear about the latest offers. Get participants to pay
upfront for their air tickets, as a confirmation of their interest in
the project. It’s also less sticky if someone has to pull out at the
eleventh hour – the responsibility of getting a refund (if at all)
lies with them. Watch your luggage limit too.
Oh, and do carbon offset your flights if possible.
http://www.climatecare.org/
61
Transportation - travel agents
If you’re not going for a budget destination, it’s important to
have a good travel agent. It might seem more convenient to
go for the big guns like Chan Brothers, but mega travel
agents are usually more interested in selling travel packages
then worrying about every single part of your itinerary.
And when it comes to making last-minute changes to your
flight ticket, group discounts, and making open jaw bookings,
small agencies are much more accommodating. Here are
some travel agents who have treated us well. Do compare
them with other travel agents for the best deals.
Misa Travel
Blk 531A Upper Cross Street, #03-106. E-mail Ida at
ida@misatravel.com, or call 6538 0318.
Choice Travels & Tours
The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street, #03-46. Ask for Jina Joseph
at therightchoice@choicetravels.com.sg, or call 67206878.
Palm Travel
15 Queens Street, #04-03, Tan Chong Tower. Contact
Georgin Loo at georginloo@pacific.net.sg, or 63349233.
62
 Trains
Transportation – in-country If you’re taking an overnight sleeper train, invest in a padlock and
chain, to ensure that your whole backpack doesn’t go missing the
next morning. Keep your valuables close to you.

Buses
Avoid the rush hour/last buses as far as possible. If it’s not
possible, look out for gender segregated seats – some countries
have female-only seats in buses, for instance. And make sure
that your female participants don’t commute alone – such
confined spaces may invite opportunistic sexual harassment.

Jeeps
If you’re going to be traversing the mountain side, find a jeep and
Is the vehicle you’re planning to travel in safe? It’s a
driver you can trust. Car pooling for jeeps is quite common. Oh,
commonly asked question, but one which you might have
and keep your limbs within the vehicle.
no answers to. Here are some precautions you can take to
lower your risk profile.
Tuk tuks / autos / songthaews
Likely to do detours and take you on the scenic route in Bangkok,
Planes
or be unlicensed and run into police trouble in Laos – in addition
Some domestic carriers may come across as cheap, but
to introducing you to the best of street level pollution. Make sure
check that against their reputation and propensity for
you at bargain hard before you start, if there’s no meter.
delayed flights. Also, some airport conveyor belts have a
funny habit of spitting out your bags with the flimsy lock you
Vehicle capacity
used wrenched open – this can be avoided by simply using
Understand first that there is no such thing. But here are some
a much more intimidating lock.
numbers that have been eye-witnessed: family of 5 for a bike, 6
for a tuk-tuk (one on each side of the driver), 14 for a jeep. So far.

63 64
 Accommodation - Setting up camp
When one door of happiness
closes, another opens; but
often we look so long at the
closed door that we do not
see the one which has been
opened for us. – Helen Keller
65
Clean up
Once they reach base, the tendency for most teams is to simply
unpack all they have and start setting up their own little villages. Stop.
Instead, mobilise the team, while the sleeping area is still unused, to
do a thorough clean up of your living quarters. Decide where your wet
clothes are going to hang, and whose feet are going to be in whose
face at night. You’ll thank yourselves when hygiene standards start
dropping.
Theft
Your host partner might be clean as a whistle, but there’s no guarantee
that his neighbours will behave likewise. Padlock all bags when leaving
the room (especially if it’s an open concept hostel). It’s not just about
protecting yourself – it’s also about protecting your hosts from
suspicion.
Blackouts/brownouts
Can be quite common in the rural areas in developing countries, and
might happen at a fixed hour every day, which may affect your
schedule. Check in advance with your hosts. As an alternative, hook
up a couple of car batteries – they can last 2 weeks!
Maps
Have maps back to your base camp from the nearest landmark,
annotated with the address in the local language. At if you’re putting up
at a hotel for the night, remember to get their name cards.
66

Accommodation – home stays
I went to the woods because I
wished to live deliberately…
and not, when I came to die,
discover that I had not lived. –
H.D. Thoreau, Walden
67
Home stays
Home stays might be the way to go if your host partner is unable to
find suitable accommodation. This may be good as some local
families might want to extend their hospitality to your team, and it’s
a good learning experience. On the other hand, it’s a leap of faith if
you don’t know how the host families were chosen, and might
expose your team to unknown risks.
Bedbugs
Regardless of where you stay, do look out for bed bugs, which can
devour your skin at night. A good bath can get rid of them, but the
best solution is still to use your own sleeping bags.
Noise levels
You can usually tell if a Singaporean group is nearby by the
amount of noise generated. This noise is amplified in housing with
thin walls, so do be a good guest and refrain from making a racket,
especially when other guests are sleeping.
Bathing
Sometimes, facilities might simply not exist. The girls in the team
may want to follow the local women, who may use sarongs to
cover their modesty, but this isn’t advisable as foreigners still
attract more attention. Beware of toilet stalls with gaping holes.
68
 Accommodation - food
Dietary requirements
You will have team members with dietary restrictions.
Some may be Jews who take only kosher food, or lacto-
vegetarians (ie. not even eggs and milk), others may
simply be petulant and eat only white rice for 15 straight
days (true story here). Whatever the case, ask in advance
what their situation is.
69
Marketing
As an outsider with little concept of how much goods actually cost
at the wet market, you’re liable to get hoodwinked if you go
bargaining on your own. Where convenient, entrust your money to
one of your host partners, or even tag along to see how the
haggling is done – and then do it yourself!
Singapore food
Bring ingredients from Singapore, not just because you miss
home-cooked food, but also because it’s a great opportunity to
share your local cuisine with your hosts. Easy-to-prepare comfort
foods are useful for when someone is down with stomach flu.
Halal food
Some countries have this in short order (Laos comes to mind), so
do check with your team members on where their tolerance level
is. Remember, no pork no lard is not the same as halal, and some
Muslim restaurants may not even have the halal certificate. An
alternative would be to stock up in the city – Bangkok’s 7-11 stores
stock halal food, for example.
Disparity
One group in Indonesia encountered a situation where all the
children on the host side ate Indo Mee everyday, whereas the
Singapore team got meat to eat, as part of the host’s hospitality.
No easy answers here.
70

Accommodation - food
Case Study
A team to Kolkata happened to have a chef on their
team who wanted to cook spaghetti for the girls in a
shelter home. The home superintendent said that the
girls wouldn’t like it, but the team was persistent. The
spaghetti turned out great (or so we thought), but the
girls politely took a bite and then declined to finish it. It
was a lesson in trusting your host, especially when it
comes to matters of food.
71
Vegetarian food
If you’re going to India, vegetarian food can be found in every
other restaurant. And remember, just because it’s vegetarian
food, it doesn’t mean that it’s halal too.
Fruits
As a rule of thumb, if they’ve been left lying in the open, forget
it. Especially if it’s cut watermelon, which has a tendency to
absorb bacteria. So eat only those which have been washed
before hand and freshly cut (or peeled by your hand), and even
then in small amounts. Supplement with multivitamins.
Kitchen help
Helping out in the kitchen might not be on your list of your
team’s things to accomplish, but it’s a great way to integrate
yourself into the daily living of your hosts, by understanding first
hand how much trouble it takes to cook the extra side dishes
for your team’s lunch.
Cultural acclimatisation
No roadside food, however tempting it looks, unless you
actually see the entire process of cooking in front of you. And
eat where the locals eat – that’s usually a safe bet. And
accepting food from friendly villagers? Now, that’s another story
altogether.
72
 Accommodation -Water
Yes, there are urban legends such as the team which sent a
few cartons of mineral water by Fed Ex. Or the girl who fainted
from dehydration because the toilet was too far away and so
she didn’t drink water so that she wouldn’t need to go. So pay
attention.
#1 Mineral Water
You can be extra fastidious about it – buying only bottled water
that comes in a carton and not singly packed in order to avoid
repackaged water, double boiling your water, and even
brushing your teeth with this water instead of the tap. But you’ll
also waste a tremendous amount of plastic in the process.
However, in Cambodia and Laos you have the option of getting
20 gallon containers which are reusable.
73
#2 Purifying Tablets
You can also dissolve those purifying tablets each time you drink,
but take note – Puritabs needs a minimum amount of water, and
at least ½ an hour to dissolve. But even with the best of all
precautions, you can still fall ill due to travellers’ diarrhoea –
when you start drinking water which though clean, has a different
composition.
#3 Adapt
Drinking less than clean water is unavoidable, and if you want to
avoid it at all costs, it's possible (though troublesome), but in the
long run, it pays to build up your resistance to such germs. A
practical recommendation is simply to adapt. Start off with regular
mineral water. Then go for restaurant-served water. Try taking
small sips to see if your stomach likes it. If it doesn't agree, cut it
out altogether. Otherwise, take increasingly larger amounts of
water until comfortable.
Sharing water
Oh, and if you’re sharing water, don’t touch your lips to the mouth
of the bottle – it’s a quick way for germs to transmit between
people. A group in Bangalore once contracted stomach flu in this
way.
74
 Accommodation – Alcohol Accommodation – Smoking

The issue of girls smoking is a tricky one. While commonly

accepted in Singapore, in some rural communities, this can be
interpreted as a certain sort of “looseness”, and at the very
least invites some unkind comments.

The safer route then is for all smokers, guys and girls, to simply
practice smoking tactically. This may involve traveling a bit off-
site in order to indulge in a puff, or designating a ‘smokers’
room.

And at all times, smokers should be mindful of the health of

non-smokers in the group, who do suffer due to second-hand
Leaders may be asked to drink alcohol as part of hospitality.
smoke.
Do balance the risk of offending your host against the
possible negative impression of Singaporeans that may
result. In some village communities, alcohol has destroyed
What is true success in life?
entire families, and so if you reveal that you’re a drinker
(however casual or social), you may be viewed with suspicion It means winning in your
in the eyes of villagers. Avoid drinking in front of children. battle with yourself. –
Daisaku Ikeda
Stay sober on the plane, so that you’ll look fresh for the
customs officials. Oh, and there are some legitimate reasons
to reject a drink: 1) I’m under-aged, 2) I’m allergic, 3) It’s
against my religion

75 76

Accommodation -Sanitation
Out of sight, out of mind. This is the typical Singaporean
attitude towards our faeces, which is fine when you have a
state-of-the-art waste treatment system. But in a rural
environment, it can end up polluting the surrounding
groundwater (and wells) or open water systems such as
rivers.
In some cases, waste disposal and sewage systems may
not be in place (such as in Sabah), and your team may be
required to construct them from scratch. As much as is
possible, do try to adapt to local systems. In any case, do
be sensitive to situations where the size of the team
impacts on the local infrastructure.
77
Toilet paper
Be scrupulous with the amount you use, and avoid plush 3-
ply varieties. You’re very likely to choke sewage systems
which have been working well for years, and cause the septic
tank to overflow. Nasty business, that. One way to avoid this
is to have a waste paper basket just next to the bowl, which
you can tie up and dispose of separately.
Ecological sanitation
Fortunately, there is a solution. Together, faeces and urine
mixed can be a lethal combination, full of bacteria-carrying
pathogens. But separate them from the start, and not only do
you eliminate the odours, but after a while, you also end up
with 2 different sets of fertilisers! The process is a little more
complicated than this space allows, so read more at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_sanitation
Food waste disposal
Separating your biodegradable rubbish from the rest is a
good solution. As is separating your wet waste (ie. leftovers)
from your dry waste. Even better if you know how to do
composting!
Sanitary pads
Some cultures have strict guidelines on how these should be
disposed (such as burning it instead of binning it), so do
check beforehand. 78
 Logistics – the airport
You’re just emerged from a cramped plane after 4 hours,
looking forward to seeing your host partner, and eager to get
out of the airport as fast as possible. But then you get stuck
at customs. The airport is the first major hurdle that the team
crosses together. And doing it well means that you’re starting
off on the right foot. So here are some tips to help you get
through it.
Singapore flag
Having this stitched on your shoulder makes things a little
more proper, but make sure you comply with regulations.
(http://www.sg/explore/symbols_flag_guideline.htm)
79
Count Your Bags
It seems simple enough. But overlooking it could mean disaster. To
make it even easier, tag your bags with a brightly coloured ribbons,
so that you can spot them from a mile away on the baggage
carousel.
Survival Luggage
Go through customs hoping for the best, but also fully expecting that
your backpack may go missing. Make sure that you’ll be able to
survive for a day with what’s in your carry-on.
Carry the right bag
Cardboard boxes set off alarm bells in the minds of customs officials
looking to charge taxes, and usually get inspected. To get your box
of teddy bears or exercise books across, use those semi-circular
travel bags given out for package tours. And spread out your
donations between different bags.
Let the guys
Yes, this is an age of gender equality, but when you step into a
patriarchal society, it helps to have your tallest (and friendliest) guy
participant to do the negotiations, regardless of whether the
expedition leader is female.
80

Logistics – Other Gear
Security
o Money belt – never let your passport out of your sight, or at
least, away from your body. If your chosen hostel doesn’t
provide a safe, or if your work site is too unsafe, consider
leaving them with your local embassy.
o ATM card – as long as it has the Cirrus or Plus logo on the
back, you can draw money from most overseas ATMs. Do
note however, that there is a small service charge.
o Small travelling locks – to secure belongings in your
lodging, especially if you’re staying in a dorm with other
travellers. Number locks do not work well, and small locks
can be pried open. So do invest in a solid lock. For overnight
train travel, an additional chain is necessary to prevent
people from whisking the entire bag away.
Blend in
o Local ethnic clothes – not just for your multi-racial Rasa
Sayang dances, wearing appropriate attire ensures that you
don’t attract the wrong sort of attention.
o Female clothing – girls should pay special care to the local
customs, which may frown upon the baring of knees or
shoulders. And don’t forget high-waisted pants, to avoid
inadvertent exposure when you bend down to do work.
81
Technology
o Polaroid camera – so you can leave behind some
memories for your host!
o Universal electrical plug adaptor & multiplugs – look for
these at your local hardware store or at Mustafa’s. Take
note of voltage conversion if necessary.
o Laptop – only if you’re a diehard flashpacker, or need to
edit movies on the go. One per team is more than enough.
o Flashlight with batteries – rechargeable is good. Tea light
candles are also useful in blackouts.
Creature comforts
o Sleeping bag – examine closely all mattresses that you
sleep on – they may be infested with bedbugs. A sleeping
bag is a good backup wherever you go.
o Family photos – because people love asking about where
you come from. Bring pictures of Singapore!
o Journals – it helps to be able to constantly reflect on your
experience.
o Lip gloss – don’t be macho about it. Cracked lips hurt.
82

Medical - general
Check up
Don’t rely solely on the doctors who sign the declaration form to
prove that your participant is fit for the expedition. One doctor in
particular refused to prescribe a girl an inhaler, seeing that her
childhood asthma had long passed. Because of the chilly
weather during her expedition, she relapsed and nearly lost her
life, if not for the intervention of her teammates. So do find out
about your team’s medical history - there might be information
that they didn’t think important enough to declare.
Health records
On your team contact list, do list in addition each member’s
blood type, allergies and past medical conditions. The
usefulness of such information cannot be underestimated.
83
Immunisation
Typical injections to get are those for typhoid, cholera, Hep A and
tetanus, but do check with the Traveller’s Clinic at Tan Tock Seng
Hospital. Campus clinics and polyclinics are also good options.
Malaria
You have to start taking malaria pills 2 weeks in advance and
continue for 1 week after your expedition. They’re not foolproof
either, so do use your sprays and mosquito nets as well.
First aid training
There are several service providers in Singapore, including the
Red Cross and St John’s, but one of the better ones has been
Emergencies First Aid & Rescue. Not only are the courses lively,
but they’re also facilitated by a former paramedic.
Emergency Evacuation Plan
You should have your evacuation procedure planned out. There
are 2 parts to this: a route from your worksite to the nearest
hospital, plus a flowchart which details how information and action
will occur in the event of an emergency, along with important
numbers such as ISOS, MFA, your host partner and contacts in
Singapore. The condition of some rural hospitals can be atrocious.
You may save time getting to them, but you may not save lives.
Stick with ISOS-approved hospitals, and remember that for rural
locations you need latitude-longitude coordinates, as well as
information about airstrip or helicopter landing sites.
84
 First Aid Kits
Medical – first aid
Entire first aid kits, stocked with all the necessary items, can now be
bought at your neighbourhood pharmacy. But having all the equipment is
little use if you don’t have it around. So carry your first aid kit wherever
you go, because you never know when you might need it.

And if for some reason, the team needs to split up among different
worksites, then more kits are needed. Do make sure that the assigned
first aiders in the team are split up as well.

Kit Essentials
o Charcoal pills (activated carbon) are an essential item in here for
upset stomachs.
o Diarrhoea – oral rehydration salts are a quick solution. After all, they
Lost wealth may be replaced save the lives of babies in sub-Saharan Africa. To whip up a quick

by industry, lost knowledge by batch, mix 1 litre of water with 3 tablespoons of salt and 3
tablespoons of sugar.
study, lost health by
o Panadol & bandages are also quickly used up, as is medicated
temperance or medicine, but wound dressing.

lost time is gone forever. – o Larger-sized teams would do well to invest in a trauma kit, which
would include such things as a neck brace. Other useful items
Samuel Smiles
include a mouth tube to assist in CPR.
o Cover litter – a portable stretcher is always handy. If necessary, a
stretcher can be improvised with 2 poles and 2 guys’ shirts.
o Axe Brand Oil – in case you meet some nasty leeches. Or motion
sickness.
85 86
 Facilitation – the basics
Facilitation is much too broad a topic to cover in this guide.
In fact, it’s well deserving of a book of its own. And purists
will argue that facilitation isn’t something that can be
captured and penned down – it’s more like a life skill that
has to be practised over and over again. Which is not to
say that it can’t be learnt – it can. Just not in one week.
So where does one practise facilitation, since opportunities
have to be manufactured in the field? Why, in your
everyday situations, for a start. It is a life skill, after all.
87
What is Facilitation?
It’s a simple enough question, but this is something that you
can make an exercise out of, with some good old Socratic
reasoning:
“So. What do you guys think facilitation is about?”
(for our purposes, let’s just pluck a definition from
dictionary.com) “Well, it refers to the act of assisting or
making easier the progress or improvement of something.”
“Ok, that’s something to start with. How about in the
expedition context? What is it that we are trying to make
easier or improve?”
“Well, I suppose we’re trying to improve the learning journey
of our fellow participants.”
“The learning journey. And how does facilitation improve
that process?”
“We help the participants reflect on their experiences.”
And on it goes. This is an exercise with many possible
variations (you don’t have to stick to the above questions),
and no clearcut answers to refer to.
But by the end of the process, you should be able to arrive at
a satisfactory answer for just what facilitation is, and also get
in a bit of practise in facilitation itself.
88
 Facilitation vs. Training Distinction between Trainers and
Facilitators
Training involves moving from the known to the known. It is
Trainers Facilitators
focused by a set of specific outcomes or objectives
1. Give information and 1. Provide nurturance
established prior to the training. When designing and
skill
delivering training, a trainer determines clear outcomes and
2. Direct learning 2. Guide interaction
establishes a plan of action to introduce those outcomes with
3. Operate from specified 3. Operate from and
learners.
outcomes overarching goal and a
vision of possibilities
Facilitation involves moving from the known to the unknown.
4. Have an established 4. Have an undetermined
A facilitator begins with information regarding the situation or
timeframe timeframe
the problem and the participants; however, the outcome or
5. Plan the sequence to 5. Have a repertoire to draw
resolution is not set when the facilitator begins. The design
achieve the pre- from but no outcomes
and plan of action as well as the outcome emerge as the
determined plan
group works on the situation or problem.

6. Are cognitive 6. Are intuitive

While learning may be a by-product of facilitation, it is not the
7. Use a priori design 7. Use an in media res
primary goal. Facilitators choose from among various
design
strategies and tools as the interaction evolves.
8. Move from known to 8. Move from unknown to
known known
The facilitator creates a nurturing environment for individuals
to achieve whatever they are comfortable working on in an
undefined timeframe. Source: The Zen of Facilitation, by Joellen P. Killion and
Lynn A. Simmons

89 90
 Facilitation – Basic
Actions
If you read this guide and forget everything (or if you’re in the
middle of a facilitation session and are feeling panicky), you
should at least try to recall this acronymn: ACTS. These are
the basic actions of a facilitator, as adapted from the EXSEL
Training Guide as provided by Singapore International
Foundation (circa 2003).

Acknowledge every one who speaks during a discussion.

Even if several people speak at once, make sure to
acknowledge each one. Also, respond to laughter or a groan
or a deep sigh – remember, 90% of communication is Facilitation as Conversation
nonverbal.
Facilitation at its heart, if you really think about it, is not that
artificial a process. To some extent, we do it everyday in our
Clarify what is being said and felt. Say, “Let me see if I
lives – through conversations, work/study situations.
understand what you are saying.”

The difference is that with facilitation, that you become very

Take it to the group as a means of generating discussion.
conscious of the process, you become involved with how the
Don’t be the answer person. Ask, “What do the others think
conversation is progressing.
about what was just said?”

You are also concerned that the conversation is a productive

Summarise what has been said. Offer statements like, “So
one, that it helps people to get somewhere, even though you
far it seems like we have been saying…”
may not know where that somewhere is at the start.

And once you learn these basic steps, then you’ll be better
91 able to improvise and try variations. 92
 Invisible facilitation

What has helped is the use of ‘invisible facilitation’. Sure, you

can have your out-and-out facilitation sessions every 3 nights
like Life Journey, but everything else can be structured as a
game to reflect on.

And facilitation doesn’t have to happen when everyone sits

down at night. It can happen in the middle of work, with a
choice word to a volunteer who seems frustrated.

Facilitation as Counselling Throw your ideas about format and jargon out the window –
facilitation at its heart is really about having a series of
meaningful conversations that enable a person to learn about
The perception persists among some that facilitation is a
themselves.
pseudonym for counselling. Mention the word facilitation, and
some will withdraw into their shells. Having to dredge their
But the best kind of facilitation is when you don’t even have to
inner emotions and trying to explain their motivations for
speak. =)
something they did earlier in the day is a tedious process.

But counselling is a part of facilitation that is undertaken in

dire situations, and usuallyon a 1-to-1 basis, not in a group.

Without any English-speaking social workers or full-time

school counsellors at hand, expedition facilitators are
sometimes called upon to perform this role. Effectiveness in
this role is a function of maturity and aptitude.
93 94
 3 useful attitudes
Attitude 1: Facilitators trust the group’s ability to find its
own direction and resolution
A facilitator believes that the group establishes its own purpose
and is capable of achieving its own outcome. The facilitator
assumes the group’s perspective rather than maintaining
his/her own. By listening to the group’s discussion and
particularly to the language used, the facilitator discovers both
the surface and underlying issues in the group.
Attitude 2: The facilitator has no preconceived notions
Facilitators believe that groups will generate their own best
solutions. Facilitators give up the need to be right and to heal,
convert, solve, or fix the group. Facilitators take a backseat to
the process and allow the group to drive itself.
a) Go slowly to go fast. In any situation, it is necessary to go
slowly to build relationships, a common knowledge base,
awareness of other viewpoints, and an understanding of one
another before any tasks can be accomplished.
b) Whenever the facilitator is unsure about what to do, he or
she should choose to do nothing. By not intervening, the group
is provided with an opportunity to determine its own next step.
95
Attitude 3: A sense of community creates a forum for
group work.
a) Model attitudes and behavior. Group members’ attitudes and
behaviours are strongly influenced by the facilitator’s attitudes
and behaviors.
b) Reveal their thinking. Facilitators further the development of
a community by revealing their observations about behaviours
within the group.
c) Foster independence. Providing opportunities for all group
members to be leaders, thus equalising their sense of power.
d) Stay in the here and now. The facilitator needs to stay in the
present in order to focus clearly on what is occurring in the
group.
e) Trust their intuition. Facilitators operate not so much from
knowledge of “how to” but more from “gut feelings.” Facilitators
develop a “seat-of-the-pants” feel for what is happening and
what needs to happen next.
Source: The Zen of Facilitation, by Joellen P. Killion and Lynn
A. Simmons
96
 I prefaced the bluntness of such a question by first relating
how I myself started on a YEP trip to Cambodia for the wrong
reasons. I also explained that it doesn’t matter what your
intentions are at the start, it’s how the process changes you
that’s more relevant.

One of the participants was honest enough to state that she

was initially in it for the shopping, but after hearing S’s
account of how the boy had to hide under the bed while his
prostitute mother worked, had a change of heart.

Another, who was new to volunteering, felt that she was a

spoiled brat, and was too materialistic. Perhaps the
expedition would change that.
Thought on a first session
Of course, these were comments were not indicative of the
“To me, the first session is very important in helping to gauge a
entire group, who had more predictable goals in mind:
group’s sentiments about an expedition, and more importantly,
broadening their horizons, seeing more of India culture and
to figure out whether they are in it for the right reasons.
food, an interest in working with the kids, adventure, and
going out of their comfort zone. There were also more
In lieu of actual interviews, which B did over the phone, I had
modest aims, such as just wanting to see the differences, or
just a simple question for them to sound out their expectations:
to be a friend.
“What do you hope to get out of this trip?”

I closed the session of sharing by just holding them to the

goals they had set out for themselves, and affirming that at
least they knew what they were going there for.”

97 98
 Facilitation – Human Tangle
Questions to ask in facilitation:

If each one of you was a problem in this issue we are facing,

what would you be?

How can we get all the different actors in this situation to co-
operate?

Was there a leader among you who emerged and directed the
Facilitation – Human Tangle
efforts?
How: All the participants stand in a tight circle facing each
other, then reach their right hand over to the opposite side of Who would this be in real life?
the circle and grasp another hand. Then you do the same with
the left hand, making sure that you don’t get the hand of the Who was the outsider here - was he/she passively watching, or
same person. Then they try to undo the human knot, without actively involved in untying the knot?
letting go of any hands!
Does such a person have the best perspective on the situation?
Points of note: if the group is composed of boys and girls,
even if they know each other, take caution as there is close
proximity and stepping under and over people. Skirts are an Complications: there are occasions where the knot cannot be
issue. The easy solution would be to simply create 2 circles. untied, no matter how the participants twist and turn. This is a
Gordian knot, symbolising issues in life that cannot be solved.
Variation: if the group is made of people who have done this
before, or if the knot has few people, make it more challenging
by simply asking them to close their eyes.
99 100
 I related this feature of the game to the British colonialists, who
with good intentions came to an India besieged with an array of
problems, but were forced to leave when the locals saw that
they could handle the problems on their own. M’s character
could have also represented the UN or even groups like us,
and so I facilitated on the question of whether us coming here
was a good or bad thing.

I also used to game to get the group thinking about the various
problems that India faces, asking them to imagine if each of
them in the knot were a problem, to say that what that problem
was.

Case Study – Human Tangle Another interesting feature was the 2 breakaway groups of 4
persons each, who somehow managed to disentangle

That night, I decided to play Human Tangle, in an effort to bring the themselves from the main group. In J’s case, he accidentally

larger Indian society into the picture, confined as we were to this unlinked his hands at the start, but joined them back later, but

microcosm of this shelter home. It was curious, the way it turned the loop had been created. And even though the 2 groups may

out. have at the beginning wanted to be part of the group,

consensus between themselves allowed them to break away.

At first, M didn’t want to play and sat it out, but eventually she
joined in, and tried to help the situation from outside. The Naturally, the question of breakaway groups led to the issue of

interesting thing was that half the group expressed later that they Pakistan and Bangladesh, and it gave them new insight into

didn’t really need her help; perhaps at the start when the problem how such a fracture could have occurred.

was really complicated, but as it went along, the knots simplified,

and her role became redundant.

101 102
 For example, the roots are the infrastructure or economic
aspects of a society, while the trunk is the meso-structure or
political aspects, and the leaves are the superstructure or
ideological aspects of a society.

In essence, the tree acts as a metaphor for a country - they can

elaborate on this in their drawing of a tree. Do birds nest in this
tree? Is it infested with bugs? How does it cross pollinate?

Some groups will take it a step further and use a different type
of tree, such as a coconut tree, mangrove tree, banyan tree, or
even a cactus, reflecting the cultural diversity of the locations
they are in.
Facilitation – Social Tree
And so, do encourage your participants not to draw a typical
This activity will help participants to appreciate the differences
tree as they learnt in kindergarten, but to draw a tree as it really
in socio-cultural-political structures of the host country and
is. The possibilities really are endless here, as long as they can
Singapore. You’ll need flip chart paper and coloured markers
explain it.
for this.

Begin by having the group name the main parts of a tree, ie.
roots, trunk, branches, leaves and fruits. Explain that each part
represents a system in the country they are in.

103 104

Facilitation – Glass Bottle
This is essentially a trust game. A small group forms a tight
circle around one of their members, who will have his/her eyes
closed and arms crossed over their shoulders/by their side.
This person then imagines that he/she is a glass bottle, with
feet together and knees aren’t locked or bent, just loose. They
can then ‘fall’ in any direction they wish.
People in the circle then have to buffer the person’s fall by
using both hands to bolster the shoulders, then slowly push
them back to their original position, so that they can fall in
another direction. For total strangers, this might require a circle
of 6-8 people in order for the person in the middle to feel
105 confident.
Safety precautions: Each person in the circle must adopt the
correct stance, which is to have both feet grounded, one in
front of the other, and both arms stretched forward with palms
open. Only when the circle says ‘Ready’ and the person in the
middle responds with ‘Ready’, does the game begin.
As an additional precaution, there can be 1 facilitator per group,
who walks around the circle or behind the weaker members, as
a second layer of protection.
Facilitation: After playing this game for a while, the person in
the middle might find the motion of being rocked back and forth
enjoyable. But there’s always the chance that someone might
be let go because of complacency.
The physical hurt might not be significant, but the real damage
is to the relationship. The person in the middle might find that
he/she is no longer able to trust those around him/her, and lose
confidence altogether. How do you build back such a trust that
has been damaged?
106
 This is often the case - when a group of people have to live
with each other 24/7 for a few weeks, they will naturally get to
know a lot about each other - and even some things that their
friends back in Singapore might not!

Life Journeys can be drawn in several ways - some people

use a linear approach, while others use a mindmap or even
radial structures. It may be filled with words, or just a few
basic symbols, which the person elaborates upon. It may
touch on major turning points in a person’s life, or the people
they have met.

Recognise that each presentation is unique and reflective of

that individual. It is important that the person sharing should
Facilitation – Life Journey not be interrupted until he/she has finished sharing.

Life Journey is a great opportunity to develop group trust, as And don’t force people to share - if they feel uncomfortable
well as to give individuals some insight on where their lives sharing, give them the option of sharing at another session
have taken them. instead. Giving the person time and space is crucial - when
they do share, it may help you to see them in a different light.
You’ll need large pieces of mahjong paper, lots of markers
and reflective music. Choose an area conducive for this
activity, such as a rooftop.

Begin the activity by sharing a personal story of your own,

and share with them how you have found Life Journeys or
expeditions beneficial.

107 108
 But the way in which she did it was quite unsettling, since she
would ask a particular person out of the blue to share about a
particular experience they had during the day. This was forced
self-disclosure, and could make a person clam up later on.

Although L and I both admired her initiative and drive, we were

both in a quandary about exactly how we should address it,
since confronting her about it might drive her in the opposite
direction. There was a lot of useful energy; it was just a matter
of channelling it.

My solution was to drop her a note. Our group had a message

nd
Case Study – The 2 facilitator board, where group members could address each other notes.
I left one unsigned that said, “A strength, when overused, can

Because she saw that I was being deliberately laissez-faire in become a weakness.”

my facilitation approach, she somehow became overzealous

about her involvement in the various programmes.

Her unplanned and awkward forays into ongoing lessons

often upset the programme ICs, and often sidetracked
lessons that were already doing quite well.

At one point, she even decided to take over the facilitator role
during a facilitation session. Ordinarily, I would not have
minded, since I believe strongly in initiative and
empowerment.

109 110

Case Study – Gender divide
I’m conscious of how in every team, that the leader and
facilitator should be of different genders, in order that teams
members will be able to relate to at least one of them.
In this case, since I’m the one who relates better to girls than
L, and so I’m making a conscious effort to talk to them more.
This need to engage the girls is all the more necessary since,
while the guys in this team don’t have any politics among
themselves, the girls have been quietly sniping away at each
other, resulting in a fair bit of cliquish behaviour among them.
111
This is most clearly seen in their sleeping arrangements, which
also reflect their friendships prior to the trip.
Classmates occupy one corner, while the cousins occupy the
other. Close friends are together, in the corner closest to the
balcony. S & J, who have rather similar personalities, occupy
the last corner.
That leaves us with W, who sleeps in the middle (and who
happens to get along with everyone), and J, who flits about
from clique to clique.
(I’m fine with the clique-ness, really. It’s good to know that the
girls have a ready support network in each other, that they
each have someone they can confide in.)
This arrangement alters halfway, when S becomes the target of
a particularly vicious snipe about her religiousness.
To hear how some of the girls made fun of S behind her back,
I’m not surprised that she eventually decides to sleep
downstairs in the guys room, where there is less politics.
112
 I did it not so much to actually get them to speak up, but more
so to make the group conscious about whom among them
has been pulling their weight. And hopefully, prod them into
action.

In closing, I try to heal the wound I opened by suggesting that

this could all be just a perception on the part of some people,
and that just because someone was out of sight, didn’t mean
that they weren’t involved in another task.

Case Study – Work distribution

Work load distribution became an issue today, especially since
it seemed that some people people were slacking off in the
rooms while others were busy teaching.

And so during the sharing session, I tried to provoke the group

today by asking people who’ve been complaining about others
to speak out. (This is the part where we hear crickets.)

113 114
 Documentation & Media
There have been incidents where the presence of a Singapore
team working on an issue got reported on by the media, and
created rifts between embassies from both sides. If your team
gets into a nasty accident, that might get reported too.
To avoid such unpleasantness, steer clear of anything that has
political implications, and make sure that the message is clear
that you are working in conjunction with a local host partner, so
that it doesn’t seem like you’re pushing your own agenda.
And have the lines of communication crystal clear. All media
enquiries should be directed to a designated spokesperson,
who is usually the leader. Or even better, have a press release
that you can distribute upon request!
115
Photography
The tendency is for nearly all of your teammates to whip
out their digital cameras at the first sight of a photogenic
beggar on the street. But this practice labels the team as
cash cows, and can be a distraction at the project site.
Instead, assign one person to be the photographer for the
entire team, and save the paparazzi behaviour for R&R.
Videography
The usual advice applies to video cameras as you would
if you were filming in Singapore, with the exception that
you should buy a separate microphone and a sturdy
tripod.
Journals
This is different from the journals that are used for
reflections, but is necessary to record the day-to-day
happenings of the expeditions, to serve as an official
record of your itinerary.
Audio recordings
All too often neglected, do collect spoken quotes, ambient
sound, and music recordings, which are all useful at the
editing stage for a video, or simply to reminisce.
116
 The Return - Closing The Return - Rest & Relaxation

This is possibly the most important session you’ll have. Your

team may have completed the expedition in one piece, but that
last night in your accommodation is your best opportunity to have
everyone in the same room for one last time, before everyone
goes their separate ways.

Here are some of the things you’ll need to do:

1) Settle all accounts and receipts.

2) Make sure that all documentation is consolidated, such as
photos and videos.
3) Reflection session - pen in their journals.
4) Debriefing - summarise what went well, what went not so well.
5) Mediation - resolve all outstanding personal conflicts between
team members, or forever hold their peace.
6) Reveal secrets, such as if you’ve been playing the Angel and
Mortal pen pal game.
7) Facilitation - conclude what each’s person’s learning points
were, and how they can work on them when they return to
Singapore.
8) R&R - plan for the upcoming extension trip, if any.
9) Plan - discuss how the team is going to continue to contribute
to either a local or overseas community upon their return.
10) Acknowledge - thank everyone for your participation in the
expedition, acknowledging their contributions individually if
possible.
117
The R&R period is when everyone gets a chance to let
their hair down – along with their guard. For all the
precautions you might have taken to ensure a safe
expedition period, there is a tendency for expedition
leaders to assume that their responsibilities are over.
But common sense still applies, especially since the
group may have splintered into smaller groups for their
individual journeys. Risk assessment may go out the
window. Short of following along, why not just give them
this guidebook?
118
 The Return - Giving Back Acknowledgments

This guidebook has been peer edited with members of

Expedition SG, a community of Singaporeans with an
interest in international volunteerism. It could not have been
possible without the valuable input of the following
individuals:

Willy Ong
Chan Ming Wei
Oscar Ng
Farheen Mukri
Tham Chien Ping
In Raleigh Society, this is known as the 4th challenge - giving Cynthia Chang
back to your community. It’s far too easy to give it your all for 3 Jacqueline Tan
weeks - then go ahead with the rest of your life as if nothing Louis Ho
happened. Poh Chien Sheng
Tan Hang Chong
If real life change has happened in the course of this trip, then Tan Tee Tee
it’s important that you, as the leader, seize upon that
momentum and get your team members plugged into some Thanks also go out to Andrew Lee and Jeremy Ong, for
kind of community service when they return. their kind permission for the use of their photos.

Preferably, this would be related to the project that you were
working on during the expedition, but interests can vary widely.
Check out www.thechoiceinitiative.org/issues.htm for some
useful links to local organisations.
119
Although The Choice Initiative has taken all reasonable
care in preparing this guide, we make no warranty about
the accuracy or completeness of its content and, to the
maximum extent permitted, disclaim all liability arising from
its use.
120
 Volunteer-sending Organisations Name Website
ONE S'pore http://www.onesingapore.org/?page_id=
Name Website
73
AIESEC S'pore
Operation Hope http://www.ohf.org.sg
Asian Journeys http://www.asianjourneys.org/?page_id=9
Foundation
Blessings in a www.blessingsinabag.com
Radion International http://www.radion-international.org/
Bag
Raleigh Society (S'pore) http://www.raleigh.org.sg/
Books to Read http://bookstoread.org.sg/
Reach Family Service http://www.reachfsc.com/youth.html
Boys Brigade http://www.bb.org.sg/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetr
Centre
S'pore ee&func=view&rid=7390
Realize Lives www.realizelives. Org
Campus Impact http://www.campus-impact.com/Events.htm
Riverkids Project http://www.riverkidsproject.org/dynamic/v
Caring for www.caringforcambodia.org
olunteer/
Cambodia
Room to Read http://www.roomtoread.org/involvement/c
Children At-Risk http://www.care.sg/web/html/
hapters.html
Empowerment
Southeast Asian Service http://www.sealnetonline.org/projects
Chakra www.chakrians.com
Leadership Network
Citycare http://www.citycare.org.sg/
S'pore International http://www.sif.org.sg/en/announcements/
Connect http://connectcorners.org/
Foundation be-a-volunteer-overseas
Corners
S'pore Scout http://www.scout.org.sg/
Generation Acts http://www.gen-acts.org/index-2-
Association
Club Int'l Actspeditions.html
Tomorrow’s Hope http://www.acct-
Girls Brigade http://www.gb.org.sg/
sg.org/html/tomorrow_s_hope.html
S'pore
TOUCH Community http://www.tcs.com.sg/service/st_comms
iGrow http://igrow.sg/
Services International vcsintl/01.php
Jeevan www.jeevanfrontiers.org
Vision Network http://www.visionnetwork.org/
Frontiers
YMCA http://www.ymca.org.sg/Web/main.aspx?
Mercy Relief http://www.mercyrelief.org/
ID=24647774-5658-4900-a140-
Mercy Teams http://www.mercyteams.net/singapore.html
c2ad718a1ceb
International
Youth Challenge http://www.youthchallenge.org.sg/

121 122
 Acknowledgements

The Guerilla Guide to Youth Expeditions is a collaboration

by The Choice Initiative, a not-for-profit youth society
inspired by a life-changing Youth Expedition Project to
India, and and the Expedition SG network.
The world is empty if one thinks of
Copyright & Contributions only mountains, rivers, and cities; but
This document is protected under the Creative Commons to know someone here and there
Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported Licence. Visit
who thinks and feel with us, and who,
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ for details.
In return, we only request that its users contribute their though distant, is close to us in spirit;
relevant expedition experiences in order to make this this makes the earth for us an
document even more comprehensive. For contributions, e-
inhabitable garden. - Johnann
mail theflyinguniversity@yahoo.com.sg
Wolfgang von Goethe
123