{"id":648204,"date":"2025-04-23T08:20:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T08:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=648204"},"modified":"2026-02-02T14:36:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T14:36:45","slug":"sustainability-stories-changing-lives-education-wonderland-jungle-hostel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/sustainability-stories-changing-lives-education-wonderland-jungle-hostel\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability Stories: changing lives through education at Wonderland Jungle Hostel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image: Wonderland Jungle Hostel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A social eco-hostel tucked in Koh Tao\u2019s hillside jungle paradise with a big heart and an even bigger mission? Yes please \ud83d\udc9a<\/p>\n

We sat down with one of founders of Wonderland Jungle Hostel<\/a>, Valeri Johnstone, who shared how they built a space where travellers and the local community could connect, learn, and grow together.<\/p>\n

Located on a hill but further away from the hustle and bustle of the centre of the island, Wonderland Jungle Hostel has stunning views over the lush jungle. A rooftop bar, air con and daily social activities \u2013 you couldn\u2019t have a better base to dive into the natural wonders of Koh Tao<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And wait, it gets even better \ud83c\udfdd\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Two humanitarians and a Buddhist open a hostel<\/h2>\n

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Valeri, her husband and a close friend \u2013 two humanitarians and a Buddhist \u2013 shared a dream about creating a space that functioned both as a hostel and a community centre.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had no idea if it would work,\u201d Valeri tells us. \u201cIt was during the uncertainty of COVID-19, but we knew we had to try.\u201d So, they took out a loan and poured everything into building Wonderland Jungle Hostel.<\/p>\n

\u2757Spoiler alert: it worked out. Wonderland Jungle Hostel just won the Community Superhero Award in this year\u2019s HOSCARs<\/a> because beyond being a hostel, they are an education hub and charitable organisation that has equipped over 300 students with essential skills.<\/p>\n

A place where education changes lives<\/h2>\n
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Image: Wonderland Jungle Hostel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From day one, Wonderland Jungle Hostel wasn\u2019t just about comfy beds and jungle views. It was designed as a base for education, cultural exchange, and community empowerment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re equally a hostel and an initiative for positive change,\u201d Valeri says. The hostel\u2019s communal space doubles as a classroom, where volunteers hold free English, computer, and arts classes for local children \ud83d\udcbb<\/p>\n

One of the most impactful projects is the dedicated dormitory for Indigenous students. Cherry Koe was a child when her family fled Myanmar and she started attending the hostel\u2019s free English classes. Then there\u2019s Vanisa, from Malaysia, who arrived never having seen a laptop before. Both girls come from rural areas where formal education was either extremely limited or non-existent.<\/p>\n