Want to help an Ashoka Fellow?

Ashoka Fellow Willie Smits is looking for ten young changemakers to help with the DeforestACTION project in Borneo. Will you be one of them?

Dr. Willie Smits is a rainforest innovator. He has worked tirelessly against deforestation, proposing policies and practices to rebuild native forest habitats and designing incentives to prevent ecological destruction. He has dedicated his career to the study, care, and rehabilitation of the forest and the creatures that live in and around it. Orangutan Outreach is working closely with Dr. Smits to support his work on this project.

Dr. Smits is looking for ten individuals between the ages of 18-35 to work with DeforestACTION for five months in Borneo. Winners of the competition will become project leaders working on forest restoration and protection. They will also take part in orangutan rescue and rehabilitation, set up monitoring systems for forest protection, participate in the documentary, and engage a global audience in matters of conservation and advocacy. You will also help to build the world's largest orangutan sanctuary (think: home tree from Avatar!).

Learn more about the opportunity by watching the video on the film's website. You can also check out this great news spotlight on the project here.

Interested applicants must upload a creative video showcasing their responses to the questions asked here.

Have questions? Let us know!