Donate
The author of this blog has been receiving donations for almost fifteen years in support of the projects he has undertaken among the Senoi people. Many donations have come from family and friends, as well as some larger donors who have supported his documentation work. Being mostly self-sufficient on the local crops, without paying rent or much on travel*, he is able to direct the most part of funds to any given project. (*An average trip to town costs a minimum £100, for hotel, food and diesel, not including car repairs.)
Any donations will be extremely appreciated, as the Senoi are now forced to live in a state of total poverty, since 90% of the natural food sources have disappeared due to the destruction of the forest by logging companies. Sometimes villagers go several days with nothing at all to eat and they need to dig up wild yams which are not very filling. Their planted manioc and rice has been trampled on for the last six years ever since the elephant rescue people have been dropping off nuisance animals in the Senoi areas (they also drop off tigers and leopards!). Wild animals such as langurs have fled far from logging areas and even wild boars, once very populous, have disappeared (believed poisoned in 2022, after many were found dead), not to mention that fish in the river, once a steady food source, have nearly all gone due to sanding. Thus, the Senoi in Kelantan, who are traditionally hunter-gatherer people, seldom see any meat these days.
Basically, they have been facing an ecological disaster in their region since the year 2000, fueled by affluent countries importing mahogany for their mansions, and no one seems to care about them at all! Of course, the story goes that the Senoi are well taken care of, obtaining free housing (in some places) and healthcare (imposed on them), but in reality, the real needs are not met, which include the safe-guarding of their forest from rampant exploitation - which they have been able to live off for thousands of years. Now they have to buy rice and they struggle to find any money to do so, waiting for the bi-annual benefits of US$100-300 per family.
To make a donation, you can use the form below (the form loads straight from donorbox and this site does not collect any data from it). Alternatively, you can send through Wise (no transaction fee) - just add the email address (dpquinton -at- proton.me) to your contacts.
This funding came at a time when David had all but exhausted his own money on buying food for the Temiars who were mapping their ancestral lands. The funds (even though less than 50% reached him through his fund-raising ‘partner’) helped with food supplies, solar panels installed at three locations, and the rescue of David’s car which took a roll by itself over the edge of a forest track.
A small grant was given to help build a pre-school in Pincong village, enabling purchase of a chainsaw, food, workers’ pay and classroom tables.
These funds were crucial to the publication of David’s book, providing for solar power upgrades, as well as covering the book design and printing costs (without which the book may not yet have been published). The funds also helped with camera equipment to film the Temiars in the forest, as well as help with the recording of traditional oral folktales.
These generous funds helped primarily with food aid and mobility of villagers by enabling essential motorbike and car repairs, as well as the purchase of a new motorbike. Also much food aid was purchased and shared with the community. A rice mill was purchased but is still to be put to use!