This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer in Bali through IVHQ, staying at the Green Lion House. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of amazing. The local team went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and supported, ensuring we had everything we needed both for our volunteer work and our time exploring Bali.

Teaching the local children was a truly rewarding experience. Their energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm made every day memorable, and I feel grateful to have been part of their learning journey. The program was well organized, allowing us to make a real impact while also immersing ourselves in the local culture.

The Green Lion House was a comfortable and friendly place to stay, with a warm community atmosphere that made it easy to connect with fellow volunteers from around the world.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to give back, gain teaching experience, and immerse themselves in a vibrant culture. It’s an experience that will stay with me forever

This summer I took part in IVHQ’s Turtle Conservation volunteer program for two weeks.

A friend of mine had joined the same project the year before and highly recommended it to me. After doing some research, I chose IVHQ because of the strong ethical values it promotes.

At first, I was quite scared about organizing such a long trip by myself, especially to a place so far and so different from home. But IVHQ provided all the steps needed to prepare for the experience, leaving nothing to chance. They gave me plenty of information about the location and alerted me about possible complications. I was also able to join several Q&A sessions to ask further questions. And thanks to the short training videos, I felt aware of how to behave responsibly once on site.

As a volunteer in Nusa Penida, I carried out various activities: feeding turtles, cleaning tanks, catching crabs, and cleaning beaches.

I won’t lie — it’s work that requires commitment, but that’s exactly what made me feel like I was truly contributing to the cause! Activities took place in the morning and afternoon, rotating among the different tasks, but it was also possible to take time off during the week to explore — and believe me, it’s worth it: the landscapes are breathtaking.

On the last day, we released the turtles who were ready to begin their life in the ocean. I’m not exaggerating when I say many of us were moved to tears. It was a priceless moment — something I never imagined I’d witness in my life. It truly warmed my heart.

My coordinator was always clear in giving instructions about the work and was also happy to offer advice on exploring the island, local traditions, and what to do during free time. Their kindness and enthusiasm made everything easier and more enriching.

Through this experience, I feel I not only supported an important environmental and animal cause, but also fully immersed myself in Indonesian culture. I discovered what life is really like on the other side of the world.

I came back with the awareness that it’s truly possible to make a difference — even in small ways — and that there are endless opportunities beyond our daily lives, if we’re willing to take a leap. Now I feel more aware of the world, and more eager than ever to be useful for global causes. I learned to face challenges and situations that I’d never encounter in my daily routine.

I recommend this experience to anyone looking for a real adventure and personal growth — someone ready to take on challenges and leave a positive mark.

I’m immensely grateful for this journey, which rekindled a spark within me and filled me with energy for life, even back home.

If I could, I would leave again tomorrow! Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart!

Affordable brilliant experience. Well supported by coordinator before we left. This was trip of a lifetime for my 16yr old son. He made friends from all over the world and learn new skills. After the first week he was able to show new volunteers the ropes. Plenty of free time and fun trips set up by the program. Food and accommodations nice - there was a pool! I would def recommend this organization to anyone and will be looking for a similar trip (with same organization) when my younger son finishes his GCSES.

When I first considered joining a volunteer program abroad, I wasn’t sure what to expect — but choosing the IVHQ Bali - Ubud program turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. The experience was both grounding and eye-opening. I had the opportunity to meet amazing people from different parts of the world, work with kind and curious students, and step out of my usual routine in the best way possible.

The Local Team was incredibly supportive and always available when needed. The structure of the program was clear, the orientation helped us feel prepared, and the cultural exchange was truly enriching. I loved every second of the classroom moments — from morning greetings to shared laughter during break time.

If you're someone who’s looking to make a meaningful impact, learn about another culture, and grow on a personal level, I can’t recommend this enough. It’s a program that gives as much as it takes — and then some.

After spending 4 weeks in the turtle conservation project in Lombok and reading mixed reviews I was able to make my own opinion on my experience. Working with the amazing local team was rewarding as I was able to learn about their culture and feel more confident on how to act around the island and above. I was placed in a great environment with volunteers from around the world that all were here to make an impact and discover a new culture which created a safe and comfortable space for everyone. In regards to the turtle project itself, the variety of tasks was small but it felt useful and impactful such as beach cleaning or fish cutting but also cleaning the turtle tanks and monitoring the hatchings. Lastly the small but effective introduction to the project and the species of turtles present at the conservation really helped us to understand our impact and how we can help in our daily life for the entire oceanic environment. I would recommend this volunteering experience to young adults looking to make an impact while feeling welcomed within other volunteers and local coordinators.

My experience with IVHQ couldnt have been better. The coordinators before my trip and during my trip went above and beyond with helping me to go to Bali, providing so much information and being on hand to email or call frequently. The coordinators made the experience so much more than what it says in the description, really leaving a mark on me and opening my eyes to volunteering again in the future. The adventure week included in the programme was an incredible way to see Bali and learn about the culture, and the 2 weeks with the turtles really taught me the importance of teamwork and selflessness when helping the environment.

The local team and the people I met made my experience beautiful. Our work, even on a little scale, was so important, I’m so glad to have been a part of this!!

I spent my days always in company, we worked for a short time almost every day, always together. The local team was always present, helpful and fun. The local people were always kind and the place was safe!!

I stayed 3 weeks, all very nice. I ate well, the environment was clean, hot water, comfortable beds, and everything was safe.

Such a unique and amazing experience, first solo travel and travelling internationally. So much support and embrace from not only the co-ordinators, staff, other volunteers but also the locals. When I was cleaning rubbish, A local came up to me named Tut and stopped his taxi service and for an hour there, he helped clean up rubbish in nusa penida and heard what the locals are going through and how was can help. One way is to voulnteer, highly reccomend!! Turtle conservation
Then to top it off with adventure week, what an absoutle blast.