Bali - Environmental Education Program

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 was 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 the 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.

The teaching plan will be confirmed again every Friday.

On the Monday of your first week, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule
Welcome participants and provide an introduction to the program.
Acknowledge program documents and rules, including house rules, code of conduct, and do’s and don’ts.
Introduce participants to Balinese culture.
Provide project information, assign tasks and activities, and discuss project preparation.

Monday
On Monday, which would be the first day of your project, you will have your breakfast and prepare for the activities that you expect to do with the children. These preparations would include numerous ways and activities through which you expect to educate the children on protecting the environment. After having lunch, you will then leave for the local school where you can commence the activities you have prepared for the day. Upon your arrival from the school after the activities, you can then share your experiences and feedback regarding the program with us. You would end your day by having a delicious dinner at the Center.

Tuesday to Friday
From Tuesday to Friday, you will start your day with breakfast and then design the activities to be carried out each day. Once you decide on the activities which you will have to carry out on a respective day, you can leave for the school after having lunch. At the school, you will engage with the enthusiastic kids in carrying out the activities you prepared. Once you complete the activities of the day, you can then return to the Center to relax.

Evenings & Weekends
During the evenings the volunteers are generally free, and there are no program activities scheduled unless otherwise mentioned. Weekends are always free.

The activities available during the evening are:
Movie Night: Every Wednesday at 19:30.
Bonfire Night: Thursday after the Special Dinner (on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month).
Balinese Ceremony: On village ceremony days, when there is a village ceremony. If participants wish to join, they will need to wear a Sarong and Selandang to cover their waist

***This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.***

This program can also include a Culture Week which is highly recommended but not mandatory - just inform your travel advisor if you wish to include it. Indonesia is one of the most interesting countries in the world for cultural learning and experiences, which means that this week is packed full of exciting adventures, cultural excursions and interactions.

During the Culture Week you will be participating in various activities to get you acquainted with the Balinese culture. You will study the Balinese language, and explore Ubud including the famous Monkey Street as well as the beautiful surrounding areas. Bali is renowned for its diverse and sophisticated art forms, such as painting, sculpture, wood carving, handicrafts and performing arts, so we'll have you challenge your artistic and creative side with traditional Batik painting. Another fun thing to try out is a 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. We take a short spiritual tour around this famous temple, bathe in holy waters and pray for good luck. Evenings during the Culture Week and the weekend after are free unless otherwise mentioned.

During the following public and school holiday periods the Healthcare Education Project is closed, but alternative activities such as cleaning and renovation work will be available.

2025
05 & 10 September
17-28 November
24-25 December

2026
01 January
09-13 March
18-20 March
17 August
30 October
04 November

School Holidays 2025
23 June - 29 July (School Holiday for Primary School)
06-10 October (Midterm Test for Primary School)
01-05 December (School Examination)
22 December 2025 - 02 January 2026 (School Holiday)

School Holidays 2026
18-23 May (School Examination)
29 June - 10 July (School Holiday for Primary School)
12-16 October (Midterm Test for Primary School)
30 November - 04 December (School Examination)
21 December 2026 - 02 January 2027 (School Holiday)

* One of the most important ceremonies for Balinese people, Galungan and Kuningan Hindu ceremony will take place between 17 November until 28 November 2025 and 15 June until 26 June 2026. During this time we have arranged cleaning and renovation activities at a local school for approximately 4-5 hours a day including repairing broken tables, chairs, doors, windows and other classroom items. The aim is to help create a better atmosphere for the students to learn.

** Day of Silence (Nyepi) is a Hindu ceremony reserved for self-reflection. This takes place from 06:00 on 19 March until 06:00 on 20 March 2026. On Nyepi Day, the project as well as the airport, shops and businesses are closed, and everyone must stay at home. The day before Nyepi you will take part in the preparations and the day after there is a ceremony in the morning. If participants will arrive to Bali on 19 March, we recommend them to arrive before 15:00 or after 23:00 because everywhere on the island, there will be Ogoh Ogoh parades and ceremonies from 15:00-23:00. There will be heavy traffic and closed roads.

Ceremonies
Besides public holidays, there are several Balinese religious culture events, known as 'ceremonies'. Please respect both the Balinese people and your coordinators during these village events that can take place at any time and are always beyond the volunteer organisation's control. There have been instances where volunteers have traveled to their program in the morning only to find out that the project is closed for the day due to a ceremony being held in that village. This is because everyone in the village is expected to attend. We would greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation during these Balinese cultural events, and ask you to follow your coordinator's instructions in the event of one occurring on your program.

a) Please note that the volunteer organisation is not notified every time a ceremony is about to be held. Unfortunately there is no calendar for ceremonies we can refer to beforehand, also each village is slightly different.
b) The volunteer organisation always confirms that there are normal activities prior to sending you to your project, but there have been cases where volunteers were still turned away at the last minute.
c) Your coordinators will redirect you to another program if there is a ceremony at your program venue.
d) Please avoid arguing or raising your voice. Confrontation will not change the situation as the project staff are not in control of these events. Your coordinator will do their best to place you in another program that is available.

Social Visa C6B
Minimum age of 18
Basic level of competency in English
Original Police clearance certificate upon signup - issued no more than 6 months before arrival
Passport copy required upon signup
Copy of Travel & medical insurance on arrival
Agree to house center rules and rules of conduct (sign on arrival)

The following are further necessary in order for both the participants, local staff and everyone involved to have meaningful, enjoyable and safe community programs.
- Have a genuine interest and passion for making change in the benefits of environmental conservation.
- Participants should be physically fit and able to work in hot and humid conditions, as well as on uneven terrain.
- Excellent time management and self-organizing and strong desire to take on new challenges and learn as much as possible.
- Recommended vaccinations often include hepatitis A, hepatitis B typhoid, tetanus, Japanese Encephalitis and polio.

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.