GLA Bali: Summer Programs for Teens

Really enjoyed this program!! Staff helped make the program turn into an immersion of both public health community service and having fun around Indonesia. Daily activities were held for the group which helped us make connections together as a group, and food was also good as well! Fit the program well as we normally ate Indonesian cuisine with occasional outside food. Other activities such as scuba diving and surfing were also very fun, and it was a wonderful experience that I would definitely recommend!

Over the summer of 2023, i had an amazing opportunity to go to bali. i was so scared at first, but everyone there was amazing espically the leaders. I had never experienced a differnt culture until then, and let me tell you it was a culture shock. I tried the differnt food, differnt religion they practice, differnt way they eat, differnt way they talk and interact. this was so interesting to me. including a culture shock we also had a lot ranging from herbal walks to going to the beaches there.

My daughter went to the program and absolutely loved it. She made many friends and it was a great way for her to learn to be independent as well as grow her mindset from other cultures around the word. They got to visit many different sites, explore Bali from a local and tourist perspective and tried Indonesian foods. The program had very modern housing which was great. There was A/C and individual beds with showers and western toilets. But there were also aspects of the program that kept the housing very traditional such as the temple that they got to utilize on the first day.

This past summer I was lucky enough to go on a summer program to Bali. I did the Bali Global Health Initiative, which was where I was able to dive into the health care system in Bali, have hands on learning where we got to go into local people's homes and take their basic health information, and teach children in local schools about hygiene, eating healthy, and exercising. Not only was it incredible to meet the locals and also learn more about health, but also all the people on the trip were so amazing, thoughtful, and engaged. The friends and connections I have made on my trip will continue to last with me for a long time. Lastly, I was able to become more independent and learn more about myself and who I am as a person. GLA creates such an amazing opportunity for students to not only find their passions, but also learn more about themselves, how they can become better people, and what they can contribute to the world. This trip has changed me for the better in so many ways, and I recommend this trip to anyone who wants to learn more about a very different culture, handle medical gear, and make life-long friendships.

My daughter, now 16, has traveled with GLA the past two summers. Her first trip was the Galapagos program, and she did Bali this past year. She does not have enough great things to say about her trips, and when she got home from the airport after her trips, she could not stop talking about them for hours. Even still she tries to bring her trips into conversation whenever possible. As a parent, I was originally worried about letting her go, even though we had done significant international travel as a family before. We went to an alumni open house event before her first trip, and that solidified my confidence in GLA. She was able to talk to a girl who had gone on trips before, and her parents were able to speak to me about their experience. While she was abroad, we got frequent updates on the program blog, and seeing her smiling face in pictures reassured me. In Bali particularly, she fell in love with the lifestyle and the new culture she experienced. She has never been the type to work with children, but after volunteering in the Balinese schools, she has completely changed. She is much more patient with others, and has a newfound appreciation for education. Cannot say enough great things about GLA and the amazing opportunities they offer. She has found a new passion for travel, and is currently signed up for a third summer with GLA.

I travelled to Bali this past summer, in 2017, with Global Leadership Adventures, and truly had the best time. I had been on their Galapagos program the summer before, so I was not super nervous about the transportation, but rather I was excited!! It was awesome to be able to chat with some of the kids before the program even started, during the close to 22 hours of flying we had to do. My group was rather large, at 39 students, but we all bonded quickly. My mentors were super cool, and it helped that they were relatively close in age to us, making it really easy to relate, and have fun with them. All of our immersive activities were so meaningful, and it was clear that people in Bali truly love their island. Some of my favorite memories from my trip include: spending a weekend at East Bali Immersion, going on 2 beginner scuba dives, spending 7 meaningful days with the schoolkids of SD2 Kaliasem, and our ridiculously fun evening activities. Although the humidity was thick, and the sun was strong, I still managed to spend most of my time outdoors, and soak up the Balinese lifestyle. I absolutely adored my time in Indonesia, and would do it all again if I had the chance. I have a newfound appreciation for my schooling privileges, and I am much more conscious about the lack of resources in other parts of the world after returning home. Forever wishing I could have just one more day in Bali with the most amazing people.

My experience on GLA Bali is one I will never forget. The travel time was long and tiring, but the trip made it worth my time. One of my most memorable moments was when we were residing at Ahmed beach. It was absolutely breathtaking. On the first day we arrived, Noah, Josè, and I decided to go on an adventure alongside a cliff at the end of the beach. It was around 7:00pm and the sun was setting. We climbed to the top and decide to turn back and return to the resort, but not before we took a long gaze at the sunset. It was just an amazing view and I will always remember this story because it was a special one.

While I was reading the other reviews to get some inspiration about what to say, I realized all of them had one major similarity, being that every GLA trip whether you go to Costa Rica or Bali (like me), you will have an unforgettable experience that will change your life. And for most that unforgettable experience helps to propel you to do incredible things for the people and cultures that populate the world.

I had the chance to work side by side with people who I still love and care about, teaching amazingly talented and inspirational children. I got to learn the culture of the Balinese people and prayed with them in Holy Temples. I walked around the city of Ubud and made conversation with random strangers on the street, not to mention the GORGEOUS views. I learned from everything around me, and I made long lasting relationships that I hope one day will bring me back.

This trip, just like every other GLA trip will alter your life and way of thinking about the world. If you're even slightly considering going on one, you should stop considering and go.