Program Reviews

Staying for three months at VP Bali was the best decision I could ever made. It was so much fun, I met a lot of people from all around the world, I got to travel around Bali, I made many friends, and I had an awesome time with the kids.
I loved VP Bali because you get to know all of the kids really well and you create a really nice bond with them and also you have enough time to travel around the island on the weekend.
The staff at VP Bali is great. They are the nicest and they really help you in whatever you need.
The kids were the best of all. They are the cutest and they really appreciate everything we do for them. It was really fun being their teacher. We played many games and did many activities. It was the best.
I will never forget my time here and all the memories and good friends I made. I would definitely come back someday.
Thank you VP Bali !!

Coming into the program, the 4 weeks I'd signed up for seemed like a huge amount of time, but trust me when I tell you, Bali almost runs on a different clock where time FLIES by. The only thing I would change about my experience is, that I would extend it.
The experience will not disappoint on any level. It's truly humbling and life-changing. Balinese people have a way of creating so much out of very little. Working with those children, along with being exposed to the Balinese culture will alter the way you perceive your own life and will raise your self-awareness greatly.
Signing up for such a foreign experience whilst intimidating at first is immensely rewarding at the end. The entire VP Bali team is so dedicated and passionate about this entity in a way that is inspirational!

Being 2 weeks volunteering at VP Bali has been an amazing experience! It’s fun, diverse and really rewarding. No previous experience in teaching nor in volunteering is needed as you are trained and helped from the start. It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the magic and uniqueness of the Balinese culture and environment, while contributing to the development of the younger generations of the country. The children are very warm, friendly and giving. VP Bali is very well organised and professional, totally immersed in and respectful of the local community. It’s a very enriching and constructive experience in so many ways!

I applied for the program to volunteer for two eeeks which is the minimum allowed period, you get addicted to the kids they are so loving and giving that you just want to give them more of what you know. It was such a lovely experience that I will never forget, Kim really thought of every aspect of this experience from living with a balienese family to having the program timings to perfectly fit with traveling and exploring in the mornings.
I would recommend it to everyone that is interested in different cultures, kids, teaching or traveling.
You do get really involved with the beautiful Balinese culture.
I’ll diffentlt miss the staff of vp Bali! Tutik, kitut and the helpers ❤️
Lastly I feel lucky to have met the boss “Kim” she’s quite inspirational.

I stayed with VP BALI for 3 weeks.
If you are looking for a Volunteer program to refresh your mind after leaving your career, I would say 3 weeks period is perfect. Also, VP Bali should be your first choice. You’ll have so much free time exploring the whole Bali Island yet still learn so much about Balinese culture through day to day life in the Balinese homestay and in the school.
If you have no experience in teaching before, it is absolutely fine. The previous volunteers and local staffs/helpers will advice you alot of tips and teaching ideas. The kids are very passionate about learning, try your best to make the class FUN! All in all, My time with VP Bali is precious, I am missing the kids so much while reviewing! I will only recommend VP Bali!

I spend 5 wonderful weeks in VP Bali during the summer 2018, and it was not enough. When I arrived in the homestay, I was quickly made to feel at home. I didn’t even see the time pass during my 5 weeks in Ubud. In the afternoon from Monday to Thursday I taught English lessons to a lot of adorable kids and it was so hard to left them. All the members of Vp Bali are so nice and we can see that it is a big family, they take care of each other. Even if you’re English is not very good, you can improve your accent everyday by talking with all the other volunteers. During my 5 weeks, I taught English but I learned a lot because kids are so touching and sensitive, they gave me so much love. Everyday you can see all the devotion of Kim (the founder of Vp Bali).
With my kids I played a lot of varied games in order to allow them to learn easier and faster. I think they understand better the information when we teach in a fun way and when we propose them different activities.
During the week ends, with other volunteers we had time to visit Bali, I can recommande you particularly the Nusa Islands or Uluwatu, in which you can see beautiful landscapes. The city of Ubud has a rich culture and you have always something to do, to visit. Moreover, the homestay is situated in the main road with a lot of restaurants and shops so you are never alone.
After having such an experience, this lesson will be imprinted on my heart.

Dropping a review a bit late but I volunteered at VP Bali back in June and stayed for a month. It was my first time traveling to Indonesia however I was able to adapt so quickly to their culture as Balinese people are simply the most welcoming, friendly and genuine people.
With VP Bali you get to experience living with a Balinese family that becomes your family and you will be in awe of their hospitality, respect and friendliness. This integration adds to the whole experience of living in Bali not as a tourist or stranger, but as a balinese, embracing their culture and the beauty of their country.
The kids at school are simply adorable, they have the best sense of humor, always so eager to learn but also to have fun. Teaching them gives you a great sense of satisfaction for being able to pass on your knowledge to others. You get so attached to them that it becomes really hard to leave. The staff at school are also the most amazing, they become your friends, and a strong bond is created with the whole community of VP Bali from the volunteers, to the staff to the kids and the family at the homestay, making the whole experience homogenous mixed with many nationalities. Kimberly, the founder of the program, is always present with you and is simply the coolest.
And on weekends (Fridays to Sundays), you get to explore Bali and its neighboring islands before going back to school on Monday :)
The fact that you are able to meet people from all over the world every week (as new volunteers arrive while others leave), and live all together in a new country, integrating in the culture and volunteering, is the most rewarding experience and I couldn't recommended enough!

If you are thinking on doing a volunteer abroad I can guarantee you that the best place to go is Vp Bali! since you teach students 2 hours per day from monday to thursday therefore you have the rest of the day to go see siting and the entire weekend to travel! the other volunteers are very friendly and you do make great and strong friendships. The children you get to teach are very warm and welcoming you will feel like home within minutes. Kimberly, who is the funder is an inspiring human being and always in a good mood.

I spent one month in the program and it definitely didn’t feel like enough, you should at least do 6 weeks if you can. You immediately feel at home thanks to the local staff and the family from the Homestay but also thanks to the other volunteers. Settling in was so easy and do not hesitate to ask Wayan for advice as he would always do his best to help you. . The location of the Homestay is perfect as it is in the center of Ubud with a lot of restaurants nearby and there is a laundry service so no need to worry about that.
The children are so sweet and precious, they really love to play but also have a strong will to learn. If you don’t have previous teaching experience that is totally not a problem as the program and your co-teacher will help you get right on track.
Another great pro is the free time you get on the morning or on the weekend, I really recommend you to travel around The Island or even visit the closer ones like Nusa as it is definitely worth it and wayan can help you with the travel arrangements.

I am in my last week of VP Bali, having joined the program 3 weeks ago - and even so, it is not long enough. If I could do my time again, I would have joined the program for 6 weeks at least, as I am not ready to leave Bali or the children that I teach!

The whole program, from pre-program information, to accommodation, to classes, is really well organised. Before arriving in Bali, you are given all the information you need regarding the program, what to bring, money, airport pick up and culture. Once arriving in Bali, you are picked up from the airport and taken to the homestay accommodation to meet the other volunteers and to see your room. You are then given all the information you need about teaching students English and what to expect during the orientations that taken place during your first couple of days. Whilst you are joining the programme to teach English, you also have a lot of free time - you have every morning free to explore the sights around and near to Ubud (such as temples, monkey forrest, waterfalls, Mount Batur, Bali swings and rice fields), and then you have Friday and the weekend to explore wider Bali (such as Gili, Nusa, Seminyak and Uluwatu) with your fellow volunteers.

As for the teaching English part of the program - I was nervous as I had never taught English abroad before and didn't know what to expect, however, Kimberly provides you will all the info you need, and the local staff are so helpful and are happy to answer and questions and help with translation. Teaching the kids is an extremely rewarding experience that I will never forget. They are so thankful that the volunteers spend their time teaching them and you develop such special bonds with your students. I am definitely not ready to leave as I will miss them all!

I would recommend anyone thinking about volunteering abroad to give VP Bali a go - it was a life changing experience, that I don't want to end!