The Training

Volunteers are given an intensive ten-day training course. This includes the acquisition of basic Indonesian language skills, training in teaching English as a second language (TESL), excursions, and a general introduction to Balinese life and culture.

Bahasa Indonesia is the lingua franca of the polyglot Indonesian archipelago. Based on Malay, it is a simple language whose rudiments can be easily mastered.

The director of the volunteer program, Jenny O’Donnell, has developed an English language course of proven effectiveness for use in Balinese schools. Our training emphasizes a hands-on and very active way of teaching, integrating songs and games into organized lessons.

Balinese village life is very different from that with which our volunteers are generally familiar. To teach effectively, volunteers must be welcomed and accepted into the community in which they will live. It is, therefore, vitally important to be culturally aware and sensitive to local customs in order to avoid saying and doing things that might inadvertently give offense or alienate the hosts.

Welcome party

On the evening of our new volunteer arrival we welcome them with a festive party. We invite local counterparts and their families, our staff members, neighbors, and friends. Desak and Ibu, two women who keep our volunteer house running, prepare delicious traditional Balinese food for the party. It is a warm and welcoming evening and serves as a chance for the volunteers to meet each other, the Volunteer Bali family, teachers, local figures, and our homestay family mothers and fathers.

Indonesian Language immersion course

This intensive introductory language course begins the first morning of training week. The volunteers elegantly attempt to grasp the beginning sounds and basic vocabulary of the Indonesian language. Our Language teacher, I Made Yudiana, makes this learning process fun and interactive, and it is a good thing as the course runs three hours a day every morning of training week! It is also helpful for the volunteers to be reminded early on how their students feel learning a new language

Rice field walk

Darta, a good friend of the program, leads the volunteers in an early morning excursion through the rice terraces of Ubud. Darta is extremely knowledgeable about all realms of Balinese culture and custom, and guides our volunteers through a thorough explanation of the complex irrigation systems (Subak) in Bali. These systems are complex in design, distribution, and symbolism. In fact it is this system that allows a large percent of Bali to be covered with breathtaking green seas of rice fields.

Payangan market trip

Once again Darta leads our volunteers through another complex system in Bali, the markets! He brings the volunteers to the Payangan morning market, not too far from Ubud. This market is a complexity of fresh fruits and vegetables, bright fabrics and textiles, fresh spicy Balinese street food, jamus or traditional medicinal drinks, animals, and crafts. The smells and sounds are delightfully overwhelming and the warm smiles of the locals going about their morning routine make one feel welcomed. By the end of the morning our volunteers are professional bargainers and have tried every green, pink, coconut and palm sugar fried sweet thing in Bali.

Balinese Traditional Healing

Our good friend, Bu Wayan, and her daughter, Tutik, run a wonderful shop for traditional medicines and healing organic foods. Bu Wayan is a Balinese healer who practices through means of massage, medicinal plants, traditional Balinese and Javanese remedies, and even has a bit of knowledge of Chinese medicine. During training week she prepares a meal for us made from all healing leaves and roots. She explains what each is and why it is good for our health. Bu Wayan also assists any of our volunteers with their ailments throughout the week, whether they are related to sickness, bodywork, nutrition, a slimmer body or more stamina she will whip up something green and effective.

NPO Chat

This is a time to chat with other NPO directors about working for non-profits in Bali. This allows our volunteers to have an understanding of politics around NPO work, expectations of working within local communities, cultural differences, working as part of a larger vision, and offers a chance to ask questions. This is vital, as this type of work is drastically different from what most of us are used to. It helps to build tolerance, flexibility, cultural sensitivity and patience.

Village Talk

Sudarta is one of our field coordinators for Desa Tajen, a placement site in Tabanan. He offers a wonderful lecture about Balinese cosmology and how every village layout reflects this. He discusses family compounds, village life, and what one can expect living in a village in Bali. This is a humorous and important briefing as it prepares our volunteers who will be joining village life for their upcoming experience. .

Performances and Ceremonies

During training week we urge our volunteers to venture out into Ubud to view one of many infamous Balinese performing arts. This could include Balinese dancing, Gamelan, shadow puppetry, or one of many other performances. Also, we are often invited to take part in one of hundreds of Hindu ceremonies going on locally. Examples of ceremonies we have attended in the past are Potong Gigi (tooth filing), Balinese weddings, Odalan (Temple anniversary ceremonies), full moon prayers, traditional temple dances, and more.