Most Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Bali from $295

Volunteering in Bali - Ubud with IVHQ changed my life. I know that sounds cliche, but it's so true. I never expected to fall completely in love with EVERYTHING around me - the people, the culture, the language, the landscape, even the weather! Making the decision to volunteer for six weeks on the Environmental Education project was one of the best decisions of my life. I feel I really made a difference in the community by teaching my students how to care for their environment (as well as teaching them English). We picked up trash and recycled it appropriately, planted flowers, learned about animal habitats and how to care for them, and learned about how to conserve electricity and water. I can't wait to go back!

A perfect program for those seeking to immerse themselves in a foreign culture while being surrounded of diverse kind of activities and environments. Bali is probably the number 1 spot for travelers visiting South East Asia and more often than not the preferred one, and there's a reason for that; the island holds multiple scenarios ranging from volcanoes, jungle to beautiful beaches -and it is big enough to get escape the touristic culture whenever you feel like to. The program itself is located in the "highlands" of Bali, in Ubud -the cultural capital of the island; volunteers can expect a green environment, local culture and lots of temples! the center, while touristic, is one of the few places that remains touristic and it is not the place where the program is hold. Concentrating efforts in helping those that haven't really benefit from external capital, the local agency distributes volunteers to relatively near places to Ubud (normally within 45min) and transport is provided. In construction specifically, volunteers meet at the general office -refer to the booklet- and then head to work from 1-5pm; you can expect hard team work and some breaks during the journey (beverages are provided). If the team exceeds 15 people it is most likely for the agency to distribute volunteers in two different projects to increase productivity, be aware of this and try to help where they need you the most. Both our teams were lucky as we were able to contribute in the end-process of 2 kindergartens, providing small communities a space that they did not have before -this was really rewarding for us.

Housing? fear not! the community in which the program is held is known as "Penestanang" and is just 5min away from Ubud, it is more authentic and provided with all the services you will need. Volunteers are distributed in around 5 or more Houses that lay close to each other, normally two floors high and separating men from women -yeah you can still gather, it's cool! Houses are safe and the cleaning staff shows up every day during the morning, be polite to them as they often don't speak English very well. Here, your main preoccupation should be how to get the bed with the best lightning and the best breeze, if not, make sure to get yourself a fan -there are plenty at the house. Be organized and make sure not to loose your stuff; with so many people coming and going the house feels up with old memories and it becomes easy to loose things and think that someone "stole" it from you -remember Bali practices Hinduism and stealing is bad karma.

In terms of activities there's a clear routine that volunteers in Penestenang follow and it goes like this; Mondays, Wednesdays is movie night -starts at 8pm and ends at 10pm at Kopi Desa, a place run by Made a genuine Local and where people often meet whenever they have free time -try the Nasi Goreng Ayam, a local dish! For boys, these are the days and time where Football will most likely find place, talk to Jeffrey! he is one of the organizers and makes sure to rent the football place -located just 8min away from the Cafeteria. Tuesdays and Thursdays is both Cupid and CP Launge night, Cupid an open bar-restaurant was built upon a river and it's the starting point of the night -head there around 8.30 pm, most of the volunteers will do so; expect live music and a great service provided by the local-owner Leo, a great guy that often performs live as well. Later on, and as Cupid prepares to close, volunteers head to Ubud center, to CP Launge. As one of the few places that offer night scene in Ubud, CP Launge is the perfect place to grab some drinks, play pool and dance to world-wide rhythms -bare in mind that Thursdays is a bit more busy than Tuesdays and that volunteers may often go only during this days but other travelers, expats etc will be there. Organize your mornings or afternoons as there is a lot to do next to Ubud, feel free to visit one of the many infinity pools, UNESCO rice terraces or waterfalls; use your weekends to travel to more remote places, go to a volcano, visit the beach, spent the night in a world class club -you pick the program.

My time in Bali with IVHQ was just amazing. I spent 7 weeks volunteering in the kindergarten program in Ubud.
The first week is the orientation week and we did a lot of activities with the local staff like visiting temples and palaces in ubud, having a tour of the rice fields, cooking classes and an introduction to our volunteer projects.
In the kindergarten program we have to wake up really early because we start teaching at arround 8am. So we normally woke up at 7 and went to breakfeast and then at 7.30 a car would take us to our school/kindergarten.
Each class has between 15 and 30 students, mine had 27. And there are 2 and sometimes 3 volunteers per class. In the school there is always a local staff and the teacher is in the class to help you translate things to the kids.
The kids were amazing and super funny, always laughing and wanting to learn. We had to make it fun by singing songs and playing games for them to be interested and participate. The main thing is that you have to be creative and find fun ways to teach them some words and sentences and get them used to english. If you cant make it fun they will just lose interest and be bored.
We normally stop teaching at arround 11.30 and go back to the volunteer placement to have lunch. In the afternoon we have to prepare the class for the next day and for that we have a house with papers, pens, computers and printers, everything you need to prep a great and fun class.
There are a few volunteer houses all in the same street and a canteen where we all meet to have our meals. The food is great, some days you have more western food and in other days you have traditional balinese food wich is delicious. The accomodation is great, 6 people per room with a bathroom. I met volunteers for all around the world and made really good friends.
During your free time in week days we would normally go to ubud center where you can shop in the market (train your bargain skills) and go to really nice cafes and restaurants. In the weekends we travelled all around the island and also went to the gili islands and lembongan island wich are just a piece of paradise, visited amazing beaches, watterfalls and partied during the night.
The only advice i have for future volunteers is to have an open mind, have a lot of fun and enjoy your time because it will go so fast.

I have traveled overseas for volunteer work before. It was about 5 years ago, and I traveled to Uganda for 2 weeks of volunteer work. It was my first big trip going without friends or family but I was confident with the long flight because I would be meeting with 12 other volunteers the day of our flight from Newark airport. This time was different though. I was ready to venture and travel the world again.This time I would be doing the flight by myself and landing in a different country half way across the world. I was nervous, I was excited, and I was overwhelmed with empowerment that I was actually doing this. I would be in Bali for two weeks, volunteering to teach health education to 5th graders. The experience that I had during my stay was beyond what I had imagined. The overall love and culture of Bali is amazing. The first week of orientation we experienced so much of the culture, religion and beauty of Bali thanks to our Green Lion staff. We visited sacred and holy temples, learned about the importance of the religion and participated in a holy water tradition. We were able to learn the art of Batik painting and became mini artists for the day, painting our own. We learned about the Bali language and the history behind it so that we could interact with Ubud villagers. We walked through town, experienced a traditional Balinese dance, and did so much that we were all overwhelmed with gratitude and joy each day we returned to our volunteer house. I had the opportunity we live 15 other volunteers. Each girl with a story of her own and from a different part of the world. We created a bond that will last us a lifetime and we found a place we fell in love with that will be a part of us forever. I could not have asked for a better stay and experience in Bali and can not wait to return one day. So much gratitude and love for those who have made this kind of volunteering available.

As a woman in her mid 30's embarking on her first solo trip to go take a crack at the volunteer world out there....I was a nervous wreck! From the time I arrived in Bali and was greeted by my driver, I had an instant sense of relief. From that moment on, I had a team of young, yet very dedicated and organized Coordinators ensuring all went smoothly for myself and the 100+ other volunteers. Orientation week was packed with events to give you a sneak peak at the local culture. It was a great way to get to know all the new volunteers.
The volunteer week in the School was emotional and amazing all in one little package of fun. You are given free range to teach as you please while following a guideline/plan set out by all the previous volunteers and local teachers. The kids eagerness to learn, their love of life and simplicity was amazing to be a part of.
When we first arrived, the kids were able to count to 10, by the end of the week, they were counting to 15 on their own. Seeing their enthusiasm towards their progress throughout the week was so fulfilling.
The goodbye's were a little hard and promises to return were made!
Great job IVHQ! Keep on making a difference, one program at a time!

Where do I start?! From my first day in Bali, everyone was so nice and helpful. The staff, and other volunteers were very welcoming. The staff at The Green Lion were always available for support with anything we needed, from random inquiries to emergency situations (not that we ever had to deal with any). I really enjoyed our introduction week, because they showed us around the area and then taught us how to do traditional Balinese things that I probably would not have had the opportunity to do if I were traveling around on my own. It was a great introduction to Bali. The placements were chosen very well, as they gave us the option to request teaching partners and age levels to work with. My program was teaching english, and although it was challenging at times, I really did enjoy it. The children were so excited to learn and if we hit a stump where they really did not understand us, we could ask a coordinator to help us to translate. This was my first trip on my own, and I was never really alone. Between my house mates and the other people in my group, there was always someone to do things with and plan excursions with. Although Bali is totally different from my home town, it was so cool to see how people in Bali live, and it was very eye-opening to see how different the schools are, in comparison to home.
As far as excursions, I was able to do so much in my time there, although I could have done much more if I had stayed longer. One weekend a bunch of us did a trip to Gili T island, which was gorgeous and had amazing sunsets. If you have ever seen sunset pictures with the swing in the ocean, this is on Gili T. The following weekend we climbed Mount Batur, which is an active volcano that people hike up to watch the sunset. For someone like me who is not too physically active, it was a challenge, but it was worth it once I got to the top. It really was an amazing experience. The volcano takes about two hours to climb up. The following day we went to the famous Tegenungan Waterfall, and toured around that area. Later on we visited the Elephant Safari Park & Lodge, which was also a great experience. I fell in love with the elephants instantly.
For my first solo trip, I'll admit it was a bit of a challenge because I did not know exactly what to expect, but I really did enjoy it. I also really enjoyed seeing the architecture in Bali and learning about the religious renditions.
As far as food - I enjoyed every meal that was served at the canteen. They always had a vegetarian/vegan option and they were very good with being cautious of allergies.
I would recommend this trip to others, without a doubt.

The two weeks volunteering was extremely fun and rewarding. I met so many nice people from all over the world. Ubud (volunteer location) was in a perfect location for travelling on the weekends. We went on sunrise hikes up volcanoes and scuba diving in the gili islands. Ubud itself is a great town with lots to do, in our spare time we chilled at the comfy homestay or explored the markets and surround areas. Bali is amazing, do not hesitate to go.

I recently returned from the IVHQ Bali trip and already wish that I could go back. I signed up alone, not knowing a single soul on the trip and managed to make great friends with the other volunteers. It is extremely common for volunteers to travel alone so if you cannot find someone to go with don't let that hold you back! The volunteers were super friendly and staff was very accommodating. The first night there were two lizards on the wall of our room and not knowing that they were completely harmless, we called Green Lion Staff to help get them out. Within 15 minutes two staff members arrived and helped us clear our room of the lizards. The lizards are harmless, just think of them as wall decorations, but they defiantly are around. The sleeping arrangements are spacious but very hot. My villa did not have a window but it had a fan, which helped tremendously! After you get used to the sweating it is not so bad, so by the last night it did not bother any of us but the first couple nights you might wish you brought an extra fan. The location of where the volunteers stay is about 2 kilometers away from Ubud center and it is a really nice walk. There is a lot to do on the weekends for volunteers, so do not worry about being bored, in fact I do not remember a single minute that I was. I felt safe the entire time I was in Ubud, granted I never wandered off by myself and always stuck with a buddy. Ubud center has a lot of shops and great places to eat. The program food itself is very good also. I was surprised with how accommodating the Green Lion Staff was to all food diets and allergies. Now onto the program itself; the orientation was very much enjoyable. The instructors are very kind and activities are fun. The only complaint I can think of is how hot it was during some of the sessions, but that is to expect when you are in a tropical destination. For my program I volunteered at a school about twenty minutes away and taught environmental education. It was by far my favorite part of my trip. Even though the kids spoke minimal English (which I was not informed of before) they were excited to learn about whatever was being taught. My partner and I brought stickers one day and the children’s faces just lit up. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. Some of the students have English-Bahasa dictionary to try to communicate with the volunteers better, it really was the sweetest thing.

From teaching kids how to recognize their body parts to playing soccer in the field with them, volunteering in Bali has been such a wonderful experience for me. Although I stayed for one week and was able to volunteer for a mere 2 days, these students have taught me the value of education. We Americans take our education system for granted while these kids have to open and close their own class rooms. They have no permanent teachers and yet they are so eager to learn. The distribution of enthusiasm for learning is so vast when comparing these Bali students to students of America which makes me really wonder who deserves to learn. I hope to return to my students someday.

The three weeks I spent in Bali were some of the best in my life. Green Lion were the on-the-ground coordinators of the volunteer projects after I booked through IVHQ. There were 12 volunteers in my house and we began proceedings with an introduction week to get us into Balinese life. This featured language, batik painting and cooking classes which intertwined visits to a local dance and the Ubud monkey forest which were fascinating. Our volunteer house bonded imminently and we were already at ease in each others' presence before the first evening was over. On the first weekend we spent three days away at Gili Trawangan; the most popular of the three Gili Islands. It was paradise. Snorkelling with giant turtles was certainly the higlight. We simply hired snorkelling equipment and made our way into the turquoise warm water and once we had ventured far enough, the sea became full of an array of turtles which was a once in a lifetime experience. After this, the following two weeks were teaching the exuberant children in the afternoons. The subjects I taught ranged from clothing to animals to directions. It was harder than I thought to grasp the childrens' attention however once I had understood the best way to teach, I found it very enjoyable.

All in all I would recommend this trip to anyone looking to blend having a positive impact with the local community and experiencing a fantastic holiday.

I have dedicated my holidays to traveling and volunteering, and the volunteer experience with IVHQ in Bali is the most unforgettable one. Volunteer wise, the program is so well developed and organized, that it provides helps that the local community would need. During the two-week staying, we helped renovated the classrooms of local primary school. The best part is that you work with people who share same interest with you and there is so much fun just spending time with all the volunteers and doing something meaningful. The vibe from other volunteers always cheers me up even we are working in a 30 degree room without air-conditioning. Experience wise, the coordinators and host families support us with whatever we might need and share their culture and belief with us. They have such magical smiles and warm hearts. The two weeks in Bali helped me to have a real understanding of Indonesian culture and gain a real local experience. Being local and being meaningful while volunteering and traveling, it is a great learn and give experience. I love Bali! And I am starting off a new journey to Africa in 15 days with IVHQ again!

I thoroughly enjoyed my 5 week program as it was filled with so many memorable experiences. The program offers an all inclusive package where you are taken out to see local events and taken care of since day 1.
Food is all supplied and transport to and fro anywhere is taken care of by the coordinators.
Very helpful and caring staff great to talk to. I would reccomend anyone interested in volunteering, especially in Bali, to take part of this affordable program. Very worthwhile!

I stayed in Bali for 4 weeks volunteering on the healthcare education program. To be honest, it was a little bit disorganized volunteer-wise, and the primary focus seems to be on kindergarten or english; but it still worked out. I was originally paired up with another volunteer who was also doing healthcare, but because there weren't enough volunteers for our classes we split up and taught our own lessons. I had a class of 5-9 grade 5's and they were an awesome bunch. You really get out of it whatever you put into it. Our school was ~45 minutes away from our volunteer house, but I didn't mind because every day the drive allowed you to notice more beauties of Bali. I came to Bali expecting just to volunteer. I was surprised by how much research the other volunteers did about the island, and so every weekend we'd go to new places in Bali... each one more jaw dropping than the next! Yoga is abundant and so are healthy foods, beautiful scenery, and happy & kind people. It was the most amazing experience of my life, and I highly recommend! (PS. I was 22 when I volunteered and most of the other volunteers were ~19-20 years old; not many were of other ages... I think we had one woman in our group who was ~60.)

My Trip as an International Volunteer: Bali

Departure

I have thought about this long time ago.
Being an international volunteer once or for many times, paying a visit alone to another country and experiencing another kind of lifestyle have always been one of my dreams.
Fortunately, now I have already arrived at the airport and after today, tomorrow will be the first day of my dream. The flight is at 2:15a.m on July 19th, 2015.
About three months ago, I registered to be an IVHQ volunteer formally and the program will last for three weeks.
Actually, I have been pay close attention to the organization for ages. And I just decided to go to Bali hesitantly, which cost me a long time. My previous plan and first choice is to go Nepal. It is a country with high happiness rate and I have been longing for visiting.
There is too much preparation to do for me, as someone who goes abroad alone for the first time. After all, it is not everyone in Bali(Indonesia) can speak English or Chinese. However, things still go smoothly.
My program is teaching and the reason for me to join in this may be the affinity and rapport with children. You may feel strange and unexpected because I am a big boy form what I look like. However, nobody can resist the temptation of the direction in one’s heart.
My desire and aspiration are simple, which is to deliver and convey my happiness to those children abroad. The most beautiful thing in the world may be the smile on the rosy cheeks of children. Three weeks, such a short period of time, international volunteers are never going to change the world. The only thing we can do is to teach and tell them what we know before, to deliver our happiness. In the meantime, we can broaden our horizon and experience the life in another country.
Three weeks in the future are mysterious, which is expected by me.

Arrival and the first week

The airflow that on the coming way is very strong and the plane was shaking up and down, which sometimes lead to passengers’ shriek. Beijing was raining heavily and my first flight was delayed almost two hours. When I was catching my second flight, I was running in the Kuala Lumpur airport and finally I made it. However, I made it, but my package didn’t, which was sent to the volunteer office by AirAisa.
The first time to see Bali is on the plane and I found that its’ outline was similar to the one I saw on the map before I came here. There are blue sea and sky. Sky and water merge at the horizon. The airport stands next to the sea. Those things are beauties beyond description. The waves were like chasing our plane when landing, which caused by the airflow. We landed successfully and left the airport then were picked up by local staff.
I sat on the seat where the driver sits in China because the driver in Bali sits on the right side. I was amazed by the scenery on the way form Denpasar to Ubud. The island has everything it should have: The azure sky with clouds, comfortable temperature and fresh air that is better thousands of times than Beijing. The streets are very narrow in Bali, which always cost traffic jams and makes it crowded. However I found it later that it seems like the drivers get used to it for a long time and they don’t get annoyed. Or, the comfort and a little laziness in the slow pace island have been rooted in the Balinese people’s heart. Speaking of drivers, I have to give commitment to the cute local drivers. Though they sometimes give us kind of high price to bargain, but most of them understand how to respect people and the always wait to go until passers-by cross the street. When we saw the drivers doing this, we always smile to show our gratitude. Also, there is few traffic light in Bali.
We lived in the local homestay because we were volunteers and this way of living made us better involved in the local culture. The following week was orientation week.
We paid a visit to Monkey forest, which made me thought about the monkeys in Emei Mountain in China. And the monkeys even rode on my shoulder once. Also we learnt how to do flower offering and get immersed in the local religion. Walking in the rice field was one of my wonderful experiences too and the rice field which can stretch to the horizon under blue sky and white clouds made me feel amazing. In addition, we enjoyed a cooking class and made yummy Balinese food together. Meanwhile we went to holy temple to get wet by the holy water and made a precious wish. Finally of course we cannot miss the language classes and we learnt basic Bahasa Indonesia.
The first week passed quickly and we gradually get used to the local culture, food, weather etc. and are immersed in the lazy slow pace and comfort atmosphere. We went to Kuta during the first weekend and experience this place’s noisy from the ostentatious area. Kuta and Seminyak are famous for their bars and stores, which gives vigor to Bali. However, Kuta is also known for ”Kuta Beach”. Plus, we went to Ayung River for rafting and it lasts for two and a half hours to finish. The canoe took us four people and travel between the gorges. The water was sometimes rapid and sometimes placid. The luckiest thing is to meet a nice tour guide who always made us laugh. We even taught him to sing the simple Chinese song and he made it! On Sunday we went to Nusa Dua and Jimbaran beach to enjoy sunshine. Lying on the beach chair for the whole afternoon, facing the sea, the airport is not far away which makes you can see the plane taking off and landing and people coming and going made me feel like dreaming. It feels life’s incredible that we saw waves hit the beach, ordered one drink near the beach and lied down under the shadow of the umbrella. The sunset time was coming with dinner, which is served by seafood. Life is so good.

The second and the third week

The second and third week are teaching weeks. Actually the students are called to be back home on the first Monday because there are something wrong with the school and the arrangement. We understood later that the English class in the afternoon is optional for the students and in the meantime their teachers are always changed, which because the English teachers are formed by volunteers like us.
I worked with two another volunteers in the first week and we taught Grade Five. When we arrived at the school and took our first step into the school, we actually felt nervous subconsciously. The children’s curiosity and our nervousness are mingled together at that time. They almost follow us with our eyes as we walked into the classroom. At first, they sat silently and straightly and we introduced ourselves in English briefly. Then we started to teach some of the things we prepared before. However, though we had thought about the English level of the kids are not so high, we still felt hard to discipline and teach the class. They barely can understand what we talked about. It is kids’ nature to be free and it is hard to avoid that they were running everywhere and clamoring for games. To be honest, it is kind of a mess at the first day and we were thinking positively to change the situation.
Later we tried our best to teach them words by drawing, which made them maximize their creativity and imagination. I remember one kid who can draw very well and it is not easy at his age. Also we led them to play games and tried our best to deliver our happiness.
We went to Lembongam Island on the second weekend and we headed to the Sanur harbor in the morning of Saturday. We found a hotel that is not far away from the beach and sea. All the people are in a lazy and relaxing style during travelling. We didn’t join in any activities and programs the whole day and just stayed in the hotel to enjoy the tranquility.
I was transferred to teach Grade Six in the third week because of the changes in the number of volunteers. I found it easier and happier to teach in this week mainly might because the Grade Six kids are more mature and I feel more experienced compared with last week. Time flies, and everyone cherish every last minute we spent together.
Maybe we left little knowledge in kids’ heart but we hope them stay happy forever.
Maybe this is one of our most valuable experiences in life, but for them, we were just passing volunteers and we hope them have more chances to visit the world.
Also we hope them keep their smiling faces, which is gifts from god.
I hope this passage can commemorate my IVHQ international volunteer experience.

The whole process and people you met are the real significance where the travel lies. I have been to several countries these years, due to the volunteer work, Balinese is the culture that I have touched most. The factors of religion and caste system influence this area a lot, maybe that why most of Balinese people are kind and friendly. However, the economy in the country is limited by its technology and education, I was always wondering where the government spend the money in, cause their educational conditions are so poor and roads in rural area are inconvenient. When I was teaching English in the primary school, it was hard to communicate to the children (in grade 4) for they could barely speak basic English, even they do have English text books, they don't have a completed system in learning English, just volunteers coming there to teach and then leave. So it's important to know what they have learnt before start teaching, and if their English remains in greeting and simple words, it will be better to translate the new words in Bahasa and ask local people (coordinator) for help. What's more, some blackboards are in really poor condition and it's hard to write down or for students to read. I recommend you who may has interested in teaching in Bali to choose the period at least for three weeks (including the orientation week if you have) that you can know what and how to teach little by little.
Students there would be crazy about stickers so prepare some before you come for you can't find them in Bali, and make sure they understand the reward principles. Review is quite necessary in teaching and correct pronunciation again and again. I also did the kindergarten program in Bali, the it was totally different from teaching, because children in the kindergarten know nothing about English and not that much in that mother tongue, what we can do is do the coloring with them and sing a song. Perhaps what you can bring them would be less then you expected but it would be worth trying and you can meet some really nice people during the trip.
Some tips:
1. Bring enough medicine
2. You wouldn't have place to hang up a mosquito net
3. Drink clean water and avoid street food
4. Indonesia may shut down the airport because of the volcano and earthquake happens a lot, so check the news and don't forget to tell your family about the news.
5. Read the booklet before departure!