Getting more out of Sabah-The homestay programme

It was three weeks ago that a friend of mine was telling me about the homestay programmes.

As the term suggested it means “staying in someone’s home” the subject conjured isn’t about accommodating “bed and breakfast” usuals.

But rather offer travelers and holiday goers the twist of being one with the locals, these case first hand lives of the suburban Sabahans.

Before going any further let’s start with a bit of history; homestays programmes was introduced in Sabah since the early 1990s, either by economic development initiatives of government agencies or local tour and travel companies.

Although these topic wasn’t exactly as appealing as the re-location of the Kota Kinabalu bus terminal to Warisan Square, but it does has its own genre in indentifying the local customs.

Now there would be two parts that falls under the homestay programmes but first let me lay out each in the commonest term I possibly could; one is the building part and second a daily routine part, which is optional upon signing up.

Though both unique in their own style, the building part is perhaps most interesting, although I won’t allow myself getting in-depth for VBorneo Vmag on the two subjects but here is what I could tell you.
The builders programme is on a tit for tat basis, under the habitat4Humanity KK affiliate programme the programme offers builders and volunteers from around the world an opportunity to build homes for the needy, or should I say to the ones needing them.

In return the home owner must compensate that charitable effort by pushing it forward into building a new home for another, calculated in sweat hours. The verdict, overwhelming.

Volunteers from as far as South Korea, France and the USA travels all the way into these continent to share the expertise and human power all in the name of charity; including the added bonus, eco-tourism.

Now for the second part is a chance for the tourists to taste the daily lives of the families in suburb sabah.

Modus operandi is based by homestay providers and host families throughout the State.

Visitors get a unique (one of a kind) opportunity to experience the rich and hospitable cultures especially the exotic food a chance to really connect with local people apart from the views of bus windows.

And the homes built are not hotels, being a visitor also will mean that they will become a part of a family, which means they have to do housely and daily chores.

With these visitors can contribute directly to the rural economy and the people in need and providing the window to support community and conservation initiatives.

As suggested in the Responsible Travel Initiative.

In essence the Homestay Program was established to highlight and showcase this, and at the same time provide alternate and sustainable economic opportunities for people in rural and remote parts of Sabah.( Exceprts from http://www.sabah-homestay.org/)

For more info visit: http://www.sabah-homestay.org/

Written by: Jason Edgar Delos Santos