Indonesia, a Southeast Asian nation made up of thousands of volcanic islands, is home to hundreds of ethnic groups speaking many different languages. It is known for its beaches, volcanoes and jungles sheltering elephants, tigers and Komodo dragons. On the island of Java lies Indonesia’s vibrant, sprawling capital, Jakarta, and the city of Yogyakarta, known for gamelan music and traditional puppetry.
ABOUT BALI
Dubbed the Island of the Gods, Bali is one of the more than 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago. Due to its location off the coast from the mainland and unique culture and religion from the rest of the country, Bali is often treated as a destination of its own, “if you’ve only been to Bali, you’ve never been to Indonesia”. With its pristine beaches, its unspoilt waters ideal for surfing and diving, its lush mountains, its never-ending rice terrace and volcanic hillsides, its spiritually-infused culture and more, Bali has quickly become a must-visit and it often makes its way on everyone’s bucket list.
Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, though exceptions to this age requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. Successful volunteers are hardworking, flexible, and open to truly immersing themselves in the culture. Keep in mind that all countries have different visa restrictions for varying types of passports.
World Endeavors volunteers in Bali choose from projects in the following areas:
Volunteers interested in Childcare Assistance can participate in the following project:
Kindergarten Program in Ubud
We work in over 15 kindergartens in Ubud and its surrounding villages. Moreover, we have our own kindergarten for 4-5 year olds, who can attend it for free. The kids are right at the start of their school careers and the chance to start learning English since such an early age will prove invaluable for them further on.
Like in kindergartens throughout the world, the teaching is informal as the children will want to play with you more than to be ‘taught’. However, simply by getting them enthused about coming to school, giving them some very basic English phrases such as simple greetings, you may well have sown the seeds of a lifelong learning habit.
The children will all be excited to see you and exceptionally welcoming, partly due to the natural and genuine friendliness of the Balinese, but also due to the fact that you will be one of the few foreigners they have met!
Volunteers interested in Community Development can participate in the following project:
Construction and Renovation in Ubud
In this program, you would be participating in laying bricks, doing carpentry, painting, laying tiles and landscaping/gardening. A local coordinator will provide guidance and training alongside local families.
Through participating in this social project, you will make a difference to the local community by helping in improving their living conditions. You would be in an artistic and relaxed environment where you are in charge of renovating and creating drawings and paintings in several kindergartens and primary schools around Ubud. This activity is fun and it would support your creativity during the process.
For all programs, it is imperative to remember that any money raised to help your project when you arrive in Bali will be very well received. Often it is hard for the participants to take too many supplies due to limitations on baggage weight but remember that Bali has some very developed shopping centers where supplies can be bought once you have arrived in the country. This is our recommended and preferred way to contribute to the program. Not only does it mean you do not have to cart the supplies on the plane with you, it means any money you spend will be invested back into the Bali economy.
Keep in mind that the program aims to support the local communities and therefore can tasks can change depending on what is most necessary/helpful.
Volunteers interested in Environment Conservation can participate in the following project:
Environment Education Program in Ubud
Bali is well known for its astonishing beauty and greenery. Unfortunately, due to rapid development and the rise in tourism, the local surroundings of Bali have experienced many negative consequences. Plastic water bottles and plastic food wrappers are of great concern and you will often see people simply throwing these on the ground, as food in Bali were traditionally wrapped in biodegradable banana leaves. The relationship between humans and the environment is an important part of the Balinese culture and the aim of this project is to instill environmental education in the children at a young age, imparting your message in a fun and dynamic manner. The emphasis is on “hands on” techniques – getting the children out and about in nature and working together. Participants spend two hours each morning planning their campaign and go to schools in Ubud area in the afternoon.
Our environmental education program focuses on primary schools in Bali. Whilst education is the starting point, we encourage students to work together and do their part, emphasizing that every little effort counts.
The relationship between humans and the environment is an intrinsic part of the Balinese culture and the Balinese are known to respect and treat their environment well long before it became fashionable in the West. One example of this is the Tumpek Uduh day which is a ceremony conducted across Bali for large trees especially fruit bearers and the coconut palm in particular. This is done in order to:
- show gratitude to the trees for their usefulness to humans and the environment.
- recognize their importance to the livelihood of the Balinese.
- pray for continuance in the central role they play in providing a balance between both humans and their environment.
Volunteers interested in Health Education can participate in the following project:
Healthcare Education Program in Ubud
Our healthcare education initiative is in its infancy and requires the skills of both established medical and healthcare professionals and those who are interested in teaching basic first-aid and personal hygiene. This need for having project participants on either end of the medical spectrum arises due to the great extremes in hygiene and health practices. Apart from needing qualified professionals in order to conduct health camps and dental checkups, we also need participants who can educate people in the areas of basic first-aid and personal hygiene such as washing hands, brushing teeth and general cleanliness. This works towards the prevention of many avoidable health problems and easily communicable diseases.
If you are interested in education and simple hygiene techniques, you are welcome to join the newly established Healthcare Education project. Medical professionals who can offer guidance on the project’s development would be immensely valuable, however, it is not imperative that participants have a medical background to join. As a participant of this project, you can support to run healthcare campaigns in local schools around Ubud, actively teach the importance of basic hygiene – emphasize brushing teeth correctly, washing hands and general body cleanliness. Many of the daily routines that we carry out without thinking are not common practices with the children you will meet, but starting simple education early can go a long way for immediate and future healthcare. If you have a medical background, check-up clinics for local children and adults can be organized with your help.
Volunteers interested in Teaching can participate in the following project:
Teaching English Program in Ubud
With Bali’s rapidly expanding tourism industry, the demand for local English speakers has never been greater. Children may have the opportunity to learn English at school, however this is usually taught by a local Balinese teacher and thus the children never really get to practice their conversational skills or hear native English speakers. Balinese children are extremely eager to learn and are an absolute joy to teach. On this project, you will be spending about one to two hours each morning preparing lessons and around three hours in the afternoon teaching at a local elementary or high school. It is entirely up to you what you decide to teach, however there is a general syllabus for you to follow and examples of what previous participants have taught for you to continue with.
The aim of this project is to show students that learning English is fun and you are always encouraged to be creative with your methods of teaching – through games, songs, art, sport and music. If you are new to teaching, you may wish to team up with other fellow participants, as two to three teachers in the classroom often works well with regard to confidence building and gaining greater control of the class whose enthusiasm often spills over into great excitement! Your role is to encourage and inspire, but most importantly for teachers and students alike to enjoy the experience.
Volunteers interested in Wildlife Conservation can participate in the following projects:
Turtle Conservation and Rehabilitation
The Turtle Conservation project is located on the charming island of Nusa Penida, which is a 45 minute speedboat ride from mainland Bali. The project is in its early stage and you will work alongside a local team and help protect the endangered sea turtles of Indonesia. You will contribute to conserve the turtles by working at our turtle conservation center. Depending on the time of the year since turtles do not nest all year round, you may be identifying turtle species, collecting eggs, monitoring nests or seeing hatchlings get safely to sea.
You must be prepared for a more basic standard of living on the island, with fewer shops and attractions available (bearing in mind the beach is practically at your doorstep)!
The Turtle Conservation project is an additional $145 per week.
Get ready for an action packed week full of exciting adventures, cultural excursions, and making friends from all around the world!
Indonesia is one of the most interesting countries in the world for cultural learning and experiences. Bali is renowned for its diverse and sophisticated art forms, such as painting, sculpture, woodcarving, handicrafts, and performing arts. Bali boasts one of the most diverse and innovative performing arts cultures in the world, with performances at thousands of temple festivals, private ceremonies and public shows. Culture Week is packed full of exciting adventures, cultural excursions and interactions. It includes language lessons, visits to various temples around Bali, a walking tour of Ubud and the famous Monkey street, local art and cooking classes, traditional dance shows and flower arranging classes.
During Culture Week, you will be participating in various activities and will get acquainted with the Balinese culture, studying the Balinese language and exploring Ubud and its beautiful surrounding areas. You will see a traditional Balinese dance show, challenge your artistic and creative side through traditional Batik Painting, and also test your skills as a chef at a traditional Balinese cooking class. Finally, you will make a traditional flower offering and offer your creation at one of the most impressive Balinese temples: The Holy Tirta Empul Temple. At this temple, you will also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Holy Water and pray for good luck.
Culture Week highlights:
- Walking tour of the popular Monkey Street and Ubud market and traditional Balinese dance show
- Classes on Balinese culture, language, Batik painting, Balinese flower offering and traditional cooking
- Village walking tour through the beautiful hills to see an artisan village and the rice terraces
- Spiritual tour visiting the famous temple "Pura Tirta Empul" - the holy water temple where Balinese Hindus go for ritual purification
Volunteers stay in a shared volunteer house and stay in shared rooms by gender. Three meals a day on weekdays (two on weekends) are included during your stay. Indonesian food is tasty and diverse and you can expect to experience a myriad of flavors and meals during your stay. Typical dishes included Mie Goreng (fried noodles and vegetables), Nasi Goreng (fried rice and vegetables) or Gado Gado (mixed vegetables with a satay sauce). For those who do not eat meat, Indonesian cooking uses a lot of tofu and tempeh (soybeans), some western dishes would also be available.
The World Endeavors Volunteer in Indonesia program is flexible in duration, and can be tailored to last between 1 to 12 weeks. Admissions are rolling, and World Endeavors volunteers can choose when they would like to start their program. Due to holidays, traditional vacation schedules, and seasonal work availability, there might be better times than others to volunteer at a specific location or in a specific project.
When you are ready to start planning your volunteer trip to Indonesia, contact us. Our experienced advisors will help you sort through any timing considerations unique to your destination or your volunteer project.
Please wait until after you are accepted into the program and you have received the confirmed arrival and departure dates before you book your flight.
| Program Name | First Week | Each Additional Week |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer In Indonesia | $2,085 | $300 |
INCLUDED FEATURES
- Program Advisor: dedicated, experienced, and accessible for one-on-one guidance
- Local Onsite Coordinator with 24/7 availability; pre and post arrival orientation
- Visa guidance and support
- Comprehensive travel medical insurance
- Travel Protection with 24/7 Emergency Travel Assistance
- Re-entry Support
- Airport reception
- Shared, single gender dorm style rooms
- 3 meals per weekday and 2 meals per weekend provided
OTHER BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS
- Round-trip transportation to Indonesia
- Visa expenses
- Optional trips and excursions
Congratulations on your decision to embark on a life-changing experience abroad! We look forward to working with you to make your trip a memorable, meaningful one. We can accommodate applications received 4 weeks prior to the intended start date up to a year in advance. If your intended start date is less than 4 weeks away, contact World Endeavors for more information.
