Safety, housing and your experience in Bali: Everything you need to know

Explore all the essential details about your time in Bali, including where you’ll stay, safety measures, and what to expect during your volunteer placement. Get the full picture of your experience on the ground, plus insights from past participants to help you prepare for your journey.

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PROGRAM LOGISTICS

Your Home Away From Home: Suwandi Basecamp

During your program, you will stay at our Basecamp Homestay in Tulamben, Karangasem, a less-touristy area of Bali facing economic challenges, including limited access to education and low literacy rates.

The homestay fosters community, reflection, and fun, with amenities like air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, a rooftop deck, and a fully equipped kitchen. Cards, board games, and musical instruments are also available. A dedicated team of six staff members ensures delicious meals, cleanliness, and a comfortable stay.

Check out our basecamp tour below! 

Health and Safety

Suwandi Foundation, as a member of the Cornerstone Safety Group, is dedicated to ensuring participant safety and support. This partnership grants us access to over 80 years of expertise in international program design, along with services like 24/7 on-call medical directors and mental health advisors.
 
To further ensure the wellbeing of participants, every program is guided by at least one on site Volunteer Educator who is equipped with knowledge to help you adjust to cultural norms, handle logistics and guide and support the group. All staff are trained in emergency protocols and are prepared to address mental and physical health concerns.
 
Together, our collaborative team ensures the highest standards of safety and well-being.

Your Home Away From Home: Suwandi Basecamp

During the program, you’ll stay at our Basecamp Homestay in Tulamben, Karangasem, a less-touristy area of Bali facing economic challenges, including limited access to education and low literacy rates.

The homestay fosters community, reflection, and fun, with amenities like air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, a rooftop deck, and a fully equipped kitchen. Cards, board games, and musical instruments are also available. A dedicated team of six staff members ensures delicious meals, cleanliness, and a comfortable stay.

← Check out our basecamp tour! 

Health and Safety

Suwandi Foundation, as a member of the Cornerstone Safety Group, is dedicated to ensuring participant safety and support. This partnership grants us access to over 80 years of expertise in international program design, along with services like 24/7 on-call medical directors and mental health advisors.
 
To further ensure the wellbeing of participants, every program is guided by at least one on site Volunteer Educator who is equipped with knowledge to help you adjust to cultural norms, handle logistics and guide and support the group. All staff are trained in emergency protocols and are prepared to address mental and physical health concerns.
 
Together, our collaborative team ensures the highest standards of safety and well-being.
SERVICE + IMPACT 

Your Volunteer Position: Yayasan Loka Mawa Upadhi

A space where students can dream big.

Yayasan Loka Mawa Upadhi is a locally started and run Indonesian nonprofit with the mission of: assisting the local government in addressing social challenges, provide education to children, and preserve the cultural integrity of the community.

Our Pedagogy: Creating activity based, beyond the desk, explorative lessons.  

Our volunteer programs exist because the Tulamben community asked for help. Our team sits down and talks to the people we serve, and parents and students are requesting your support. They have seen how volunteers empower children to dream bigger and take control of their futures—and so have we. This is why being in the classroom is a key aspect of this program. Alongside a local teacher, you will teach 2 classes of 13-18 students from 1st – 12th grade. We encourage you to think big and bring your passions into the classroom to inspire students, and most importantly, have fun!

SERVICE + IMPACT 

Your Volunteer Position: Yayasan Loka Mawa Upadhi

A space where students can dream big.

Yayasan Loka Mawa Upadhi is a locally started and run Indonesian nonprofit with the mission of: assisting the local government in addressing social challenges, provide education to children, and preserve the cultural integrity of the community.

Our Pedagogy: Creating activity based, beyond the desk, explorative lessons.  

Our volunteer programs exist because the Tulamben community asked for help. Our team sits down and talks to the people we serve, and parents and students are requesting your support. They have seen how volunteers empower children to dream bigger and take control of their futures—and so have we. This is why being in the classroom is a key aspect of this program. Alongside a local teacher, you will teach 2 classes of 13-18 students from 1st – 12th grade. We encourage you to think big and bring your passions into the classroom to inspire students, and most importantly, have fun!

reviews

Stories From Previous Participants

Gain insight into our trips through the firsthand experiences of our participants.

“This opportunity is one you should not pass up and I have no doubt in my mind that if you go once you will return. Going to Bali and teaching English has changed my life and added such a wonderful passion for this community.”

Allison Coward

Intern, Social Impact Internship 2024

My time spent in Bali this summer was nothing short of incredible and so meaningful. Going to a place so far away from home to learn about a completely new culture and lifestyle really broadened my perspective immensely on how I see the world and live my daily life. Every person I have met in Bali has been beyond kind, generous, caring, and willing to share their wisdom and advice. 

At Yayasan LMU, I taught the Moonshine 1 & 2 classes and was accompanied by the local teacher I Luh and many Indonesian volunteers who attended a research program down the street. I so enjoyed making so many new connections and learning so much of the language from them. My class of kids were always so joyful to come to class to learn, even after already being in school all day before. Everyday they so kindly welcomed me and would continue to also teach me their own language.

While it may sound intimidating to teach English to students who speak a language you don’t know, the language difference does not pose a barrier to their learning. You just have to be willing to put in the effort to brainstorm how to communicate the message, whether that be through acting out, direct translation, games, etc.

Leaving this group of kids after teaching them for a month was so difficult for me, but I can leave knowing I will return to see and teach them again. 

This opportunity is one you should not pass up and I have no doubt in my mind that if you go once you will return. Going to Bali and teaching English has changed my life and added such a wonderful passion for this community.

“Everyday I had a new opportunity to immerse myself into the culture whether it was a cooking class, dance class, a Hindu lesson, or my personal favorite when we had traditional dinners.”

Brooke Harrington

Participant, Summer Service Learning Trip 2023

Having the opportunity to visit Bali and volunteer was truly an unforgettable experience. The first morning I woke up in Tulamben I was amazed by its beauty. I was greeted by the most welcoming people, it didn’t even feel like it was my first time there. Everyday I had a new opportunity to immerse myself into the culture whether it was a cooking class, dance class, a Hindu lesson, or my personal favorite when we had traditional dinners. With my time spent teaching at Yayasan LMU the students always had a smile on their face and were so happy and eager to learn. By the end of my two weeks I couldn’t believe it was over. Bali is such a special place and I hope to go back soon! 

See More Reviews on Go Overseas

Frequently Asked Questions

While the majority of our volunteers range between 18-30, we welcome people of all ages to join us in Bali. If you are a minor, we have policies and procedures in place that involve your guardian.

Our pricing is for fully-inclusive, planned trips. We encourage you to download our brochures to read through the full program cost breakdown. In short, the program cost goes directly to supporting the learning center we partner with, the administrative tasks associated with organizing your trip, the safety team and measures in place including insurance, and the direct costs of your trips such as the volunteering visa, accommodation, food, activities, transport, and on-the-ground staff. 

We would love to add you to our mailing list, so you can stay up to date as we roll out new programs moving forward. Sign up below! 

Please refer to the Health and Safety section above for details on our partnered safety organization, Cornerstone Safety Group. If you would like more information and specifics on what safety procedures are in place, please contact us!

Beyond personal savings, you can start your own fundraiser or apply for scholarships and grants to fund your trip. Additionally, our organization has scholarship opportunities that any participants can apply for! Please read more in the scholarships section above.

Every participant will complete a virtual orientation the week before they arrive in Bali. This includes a synchronous Zoom session to meet your cohort members and two asynchronous modules focused on English teacher training and intercultural competency training. This orientation is in place to provide participants with a basic understanding of concepts that will likely reappear during their time in Bali. Participants will also be required to utilize Duolingo to practice the Indonesian language. Beyond these components to the mandatory orientation, you may refer to your Welcome Packet for tips on how to prepare for your time in Bali including a packing list and recommended vaccination list.

You will join the growing network of previous participants who have been impacted by their time in Bali and be added to our newsletter list. We will also share resources and ideas on how to stay involved at home such as reflecting on your experiences, sharing those reflections, and holding fundraisers to make direct impacts on the communities you worked for. 

Engage with the community, listen to their needs, collaborate with local community members, and follow guidelines in place to promote ethical volunteering. During and after your trip, reflect on your experiences, share your gained knowledge with others, and continue your impact from home!

Of course! We encourage you to schedule a meeting with us, so we can best help you make an impact from afar! There are many ways you can help fundraise to transform the lives of children and community members in rural Bali.