Bali Volunteer Programs from $26/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

I wanted to travel out of my depth, on my own and as far away as possible... I wanted to escape my ordinary routine and day to day activities by stepping out of my comfort zone completely. I live in England and Bali has always been a mere dream however this year I decided to make it my reality.

Firstly, the IVHQ volunteer Facebook page gave me the platform to chat to other volunteers and before I had stepped foot out of my hometown, I had made friends for life. I planned to travel alone, however I made arrangements to fly with another IVHQ volunteer I met on the Facebook page who I ended up living with during my stay in Bali. So, my first tip to you... you should use social media to its advantage and be confident to talk to new people, it’s where my volunteering story began.

Bali welcomed me with open arms; from the minute I stepped off the plane (from a long 27 hour journey) I was greeted by my transport, on time too! When I arrived it was the middle of the night, therefore my journey from the airport into Ubud centre was dark and a little daunting. However, my driver spoke good English and he made me feel very safe.

Let’s talk about my accommodation. Now, I have known a fair few people that have volunteered with different programmes all over the world and I have to say I had build up an imagine in my mind of where I would be sleeping... let’s just say it wasn’t pleasant. Nevertheless, when I arrived at Tini House (my house name) in the middle of the night, jetlagged and hoping for the best, I was pleasantly surprised. My accommodation was absolutely stunning and bursting with Balinese culture. Mrs Tini, our house owner, was a lovely lady who made me feel welcome from the get go. She spoke about how she wanted to keep the volunteers safe in her local town and if we needed anything night and day she would be at hand. I did feel very much at home, I have to admit. I was sharing with 5 others in my bedroom but in total 18 in our house, which at first was daunting however after a couple late night chats in the front garden, quickly we became a family.

Tip: if you meet people in your house that you get on really well with and feel you would like to volunteer with them on your programme, don’t be scared to ask. I asked to teach with a friend that I lived with and the co-ordinators are more than happy to put people that get on well together, together in the classroom.

The orienteering week for me was absolutely fantastic. It gave you the opportunity to see the best of Bali. The rice fields, temples, traditional dancing and so much more. On reflection they gave you the opportunity to live like a local while getting to know your peer volunteers from all over the world. As a student art teacher at home... I personally loved getting involved with local Batik painting; we were even allowed to keep our design. (which made an amazing souvenir by the way.) This week was packed with energy and all the volunteers were buzzing, we were able to mingle in the cafes and meet local people that lived in Penestanan village. Its true what they say about the local people being friendly and accommodating, they are happy to help you with whatever you may need during your time volunteering.

Tip: If you are travelling from England, the exchange rate for British Pounds is higher than any other currency you are recommended to take. Get your money changed over there instead of prior to your trip, the ATM’s are really close by and easy to access money too. The closest ATM was located at the BINTANG MARKET, around a 20 minute walk from the village.

As I student teacher at home, teaching the kids at Sabatu school was a dream. It was challenging if I am going to be honest, the kids struggled with English speaking and the language barrier proved to be difficult at times however with help from the co-ordinators you soon feel comfortable being left alone with them. A quick tip; don’t plan a lesson each day to fill the full two hours you are teaching in the classroom, the kids get bored quickly after a long day at school so plan some games, prepare to have fun and don’t be scared to get involved, they love it! We played games such as; Simon Said, Duck Duck Goose and Heads up Thumbs Down.

The rice terrace house was accommodating to plan lessons with plenty of books, two computers and a photocopier, so don’t worry you aren’t left to your own devices. What I would say is don’t be afraid to get attached to the kids, you build a relationship with them that changes your life, they appreciate everything you give to them and in return they give back by making you smile. Leaving them is hard, for sure, but it makes you feel like your time volunteering has been worth it.

You are given the option with IVHQ to be in a school teaching or to teach kindergarten. I wanted to teach as this is my career prospect however with teaching comes restriction as you are travelling to the school and teaching from 1pm- 5pm, I didn’t mind this as I was there to teach however this factor caused issues with other volunteers wanting more spare time to see the island. Kindergarten starts very early in the morning and ends around 10.30am. If you are unsure, you can change programmes while you are there or you can do both during your time, even better!

The food at the canteen gave you a taste of Balinese culture. Each day was something different, some days you might like it, other days you might not but don’t expect western meals as this was not on our menu. It was nice to try new things and I certainly did, there is always something you can eat so don’t worry about that. But, if you prefer to eat out, there are local cafes in the village that have amazing local and western dishes for real cheap too. A walk into Ubud centre, which is filled with restaurants and always buzzing from morning until night, is around 30 minutes from the village and you can always find something you like to eat there.

I was lucky enough to meet fantastic people and make friends for life, we all shared a common interest and that was to explore the island. On weekends we visited Gili Air, Ulu Watu and Nusa Lembongan, along with doing activities such as; visiting the rice terraces, white water rafting, snorkelling, visiting food festivals and doing Mount Batur sunrise trek. You seriously can’t be robbed for the price you pay to do fantastic things in Bali that at home would cost you an arm and a leg. The memories that you make here are built into the weekends, there's nothing better than experiencing new things with a group of people who are there to have fun just as much as you are. Also, quick tip; get a massage in Penestanan, they are fantastic.

I loved every second of my time in Bali; you are able to experience the different ways of life to Bali by living away from the beach in an area packed with culture however the option to travel at the weekend is there for you too. I can honestly say you will be welcomed into the community by the locals with grace and appreciation for your kindness to volunteer which makes the experience worthwhile. So, finally I hope I have been as helpful as I could be to new volunteers, I hope you have a fantastic time in Bali or with any IVHQ volunteer programme and stay safe!

Jenny Anderson

Teaching healthcare classes in a district called Lovina for a week took me plenty of energy, but the experience was soooo rewarding that I didn't feel tired at all when I was back home! Probably it's what it meant by feeling pumped?!

The kids I was assigned to teach were second to third graders, who were all eager and humble to learn. It took me a bit of time to get used to their pattern, like they might be so excited during the class that they put off their shoes and ran around; and you could also from their tiny brown teeth that they had not been brushing them very properly. Well, I guess that's why they need better healthcare education (including the basic stuff like how to wash hands and shower) and that's what makes the volunteering extra meaningful. Another fun thing is that they only had limited proficiency in English - so we had to communicate in the very basic English, a bit of Bahasa Indonesian and a lot of body language. No worries though, through games and laughter, everybody's able to get along well very quickly. The most encouraging moment to me was that, after each class, kids would come to you one by one to thank you for the efforts made (by putting your hand gently to their foreheads).

As for the accommodation and meal, of course you can't expect to have 5-star services, but you can definitely feel the most original, exotic kind of lifestyle there, with the local staff there trying their best to ensure everything is clean and safe. The transit transport from airport to the hostel offered by IVHQ is also a plus to me!

Bali has always been a truly Asia country with its own unique practices and believes. As for me, Bali was the first country I have visited alone after 23 years. The first country that actually makes my journey smooth, makes me feel safe and builds my confidence. I never had any expectations from the beginning of the program as I did not know what was coming. But trust me! The moment the program started, I've gained numerous amount of friends from locals and foreigners. They treated me like a family and I did not feel any less than home. It was also a great opportunity to learn about their culture and country. During my 2 weeks of stay, I chose healthcare education. There were about 25 to 30 kids aged 6 to 12 years old in my class. Yes!! they can be really a pain in your butt but when comes to education, they are very much eager to learn. The respect and love, you receive from them is inevitable. I was left in tears on my last day when the kids came hugging and said goodbye. Even saying goodbye to the locals and other friends I've met was really hard and sad. I cannot express my feelings but I can surely say that it made a huge impact on my perspective towards life when I left Bali. Embrace the needs whenever you can. The smallest act of kindness is the road to victory. Dear future volunteers, have the least expectation and you'll have the best time of your life.
After returning from Bali, I reminisced all the moments I had in Bali and really looking forward for my next visit.
Thank you to everyone who was part of my journey.

This was my first time volunteering abroad and I'm so glad that I got the chance to do it with IVHQ! I really loved it and I won't hesitate to go for it another time! IVHQ is a really great partner at your side throughout the whole experience: From the very first email I received from Chloe to the after-volunteering services I felt well taken care of.
Looking back, I find it important to share that the most important thing to do in order to have an outstanding volunteering experience was a proper planning before starting the program. Although most information mentioned in the interactive volunteering handbook provided by IVHQ is obvious to most of us, it was still very useful and reminded me of some things I might have forgotten to consider without reading it. Therefore, I can definitely recommend to go through it well a couple of weeks before leaving your home country.
In contrast, the best thing to do when actually being on the volunteering program is abandoning this kind of planning approach and rather engage in an more open and adventurous "let's just do it approach"! Although one might encounter several "uncomfortable" situations, I really enjoyed being outside of my usual comfort zone - teaching English to 4-years old kids was completely new to me and I had no idea how to manage it in the beginning! Thanks to being open and saying "yes" to things I usually would have said "no" to helped me to meet outstanding personalities and make unforgettable memories.
The life lesson that I took from this experience is not being afraid of possibly "uncomfortable" encounters anymore and integrating the respectful as well as peaceful Balinese lifestyle into my way of living.

First, a little bit about Bali: Bali will forever have my heart! It's cheap and safe, most people speak English, and it has amazing culture and nightlife, as well as every activity you could possibly want to do on a tropical island (snorkeling, waterfalls, surfing, volcanoes). Hands down my favorite place I visited in SE Asia.

Volunteering abroad, particularly with IVHQ, is a truly amazing experience. The program itself was affordable and well-organized, and my homestay was so cool! The compound I stayed in was absolutely beautiful, and my host family was really welcoming.

Another thing that makes this program so great is that it provides a built-in support and social network. Being able to lean on the local volunteer organization for assistance when necessary makes traveling internationally less daunting, and the program also provides a great way to make friends if you're traveling solo.

I loved being able to make a positive impact on the lives of others while also getting the chance to explore a new place and culture. Traveling around Bali on the weekends with the friends I made was probably my favorite part. I highly recommend Nusa Lembongan, Uluwatu, and Gili--truly heaven on earth!

I really enjoyed my program in Bali. The accommodation was clean, the food was great, and the staff were very helpful and kind. I heard some of the other houses, however had issues with cockroaches and bedbugs in their rooms, but I didn't have any of those in my house/room, so I'm very thankful for that.
I would suggest though, that everyone get a mosquito net for at night, because the occasional mosquito does get in, and at one point, one of my roommates woke up covered in bug bites because she didn't have a net.
My favorite memory was climbing to the top of Mount Batur, the volcano and watching the sunrise. It was so ethereal and tranquil, and there's nothing like it. It was also freezing cold and incredibly hard to go back down, but totally worth it.

On the first day of volunteering I was a bit overwhelmed by the craziness of the kindergarten students and their inability to comprehend what my fellow volunteer and I were trying to teach them. I became a bit scared that teaching them would be harder than I thought it would. But by the second day my worries completely vanished. We played games and used pictures and the whole experience became incredibly fulfilling. When it was time to say goodbye I had unexpectedly learned so much from all of the students and I of course didn't want to say goodbye.

Heading into my program I experienced a range of different emotions. I was overwhelmed with excitement, anticipation, but nervous about the experience which awaited me.

I've always had this overarching desire to travel, experience and help others. However, anxiety and fear had always stood in my way.

Fortunately I managed to convince my best friend to partake in this experience with me. And what an experience it was. I never expected to meet so many kind and compassionate people, and build such strong and relationships.

I was submerged into a totally different society and i learned about the cultural backgrounds of my fellow volunteers.

As we arrived at our volunteer house we really weren't sure what we had gotten ourselves into. We had set expectations. Do not set expectations. Expectations can often lead to disappointment if your experience doesn't turn out to be what you were expecting. This is a really significant piece of advice that I can give to any person not only considering volunteering, but in day to day life. It's about staying in the moment as often as you can. It was only my first day into the program and I had already had my first learning experience.

The next morning we met our orientation group and began our volunteer adventure. I had already made tons of new friends, which were soon to be life long friends. The orientation week was phenomenal.
Overall, my volunteering experience in Ubud, Bali was like nothing I had ever experienced. It was

I had gone into this experience stressing about the 'what ifs.' What if I don't make friends? What if I'm not good at my project? What if I don't have a good experience?