Program Reviews

I have participated in teaching ESL with The Suwandi Foundation for two summers now. Every time it has been a delight. Filled with more connection, empowerment, and community than I could have imagined prior. Through this foundation, I align with their emphasis on building relationships, boosting confidence, and enhancing English skills. I would highly recommend this program to those who have a holistic view of developing lesson plans for students, are eager to explore, are open to new ideas/practices, are looking to join a community, and are looking forward to learning from your students.

Volunteering for Suwandi Foundation at Yayasan was life changing to say the least. It was a very well run program by Lily and Kaitlynn who are extremely passionate individuals that truly care for the community they serve for and for the volunteers they host. The Balinese culture is very special and this trip is a great way to immerse yourself and learn from the locals. Everyone was so kind, the kiddos are so cute, and the relationships you make while on the trip are lasting. I will 100% be coming back!

I have done this program twice and absolutely love it! It’s a perfect mix of learning about the local culture, volunteering, and fun activities! The accommodations are beautiful and the staff, both local and other, are so supportive. Two hours a day are spent at the school teaching English to the students, and outside of teaching hours they have different fun and educational activities as well as free time to explore. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone who wants to do an internship, work with kids, or learn about a different culture.

This is the best summer internship/overseas program I've been on so far. Not only do the founders of Suwandi foundation, Lily and Kaitlyn, deeply care and know about the local community, we also get to meet amazing community leaders in Tulamben and collaborate with them on building a future for the kids. There are many different actors whom you will get to meet on a daily basis: interns with expertise in all areas, volunteers who are eager to learn, accomplished teachers, and fellow local students with whom you will build a long lasting relationship with. Because it's a relatively small organization, you get to see how NGOs are built and maintained from the grassroots level. Everyone is always down to have open conversations about income inequality, the local tourism industry, Balinese Hinduism, the logistics of operating nonprofits, and much more. What's more, your opinion always matters. At the end of the day, you are not only teaching English, but also providing the program with your own input and along the way, becoming a more culturally adequate leader with global perspectives. I think it helps to know that many volunteers return to Yayasan LMU (the learning center) for its amazing people and to engage with the community long-term, which I hope to do one day as well.

As a grad school student looking for a summer position, I was so lucky to find this Suwandi Foundation internship! Not only did I get to experience 5 weeks living in Bali, but I was also able to learn about its unique culture, connect to the local population in Tulamben, and gain non-profit work experience 😊. The staff was so kind and made it a fun and supportive work environment. On top of that, I got to meet amazing staff members and kids while helping at the learning center. I loved it and wish I could have stayed longer!

This was an amazing program dedicated to ensuring that volunteers were being ethical and responsible. There was a huge focus on learning Balinese culture and traditions, being respectful to locals, and always being encouraged to ask questions. I felt like I was able to learn a lot about both Balinese culture and teaching English abroad. The local staff at the homestay and at the after school learning center were both extremely nice and helpful. I was working with a local teacher to develop lesson plans and make sure that I was being an effective teacher in the classroom. I would definitely highly recommend this program to anyone considering teaching in Bali!