Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in Bali
- Approx 14.3% of the population in Bali live below the poverty line
- Volunteering in this region creates employment opportunities for the local staff & helps invigorate the local economy.
- Many villages lack education and even access to clean water and electricity.
- Bali has been growing in environmental problems such as pollution and freshwater scarcity.
WHAT does cultural week involve?
- Become comfortable with your new surroundings and settle in before your project starts
- Explore the local areas- walking tours, cultural excursions, temple visits, cooking classes, language lessons & traditional dance shows
- Learn how to make a traditional flower offering
- Become immersed in local life by practicing your new language skills with the locals!
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Org & Charity with 35+ Years Experience
- 13 Projects to Choose From in Bali
- Social Experiences - Sharing with International Volunteers
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: CULTURAL ORIENTATION
LOCATION: LOVINA
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
Culture weeks are designed to help you ease into life a little bit easier, before the start of your program. It’s a fantastic way to meet some other volunteers and to learn about the way of life in your chosen destination. This can greatly help you integrate better on your volunteer journey.
You will be taught some of the local language, try cooking lessons with local cuisine, learn all about the culture and ‘do’s and don’ts’ and explore some of the beautiful local sights and surrounding areas. Lovina is in the Northern part of Bali and is generally much quieter than the busy resorts down South. Here, you can experience a real Balinese culture, and relaxed beach lifestyle.
You’ll have a go at making a traditional flower offering and offer your creation at one of the impressive Balinese Buddhist temples: Brahma Vihara Temple. At the temple, you will get the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Hindu-Buddhism style and pray for good luck! We also visit the holy hot springs.
Location
Lovina is situated right at the North end of Bali and is much less touristy than areas down South – which is the beauty of it! Life is relaxed here with less traffic, tourist, and uncrowded beaches. It is also close to other beauty spots, such as stunning natural waterfalls, hot springs, diving and dolphin tours. Lovina gives you a teste for wat ‘old Bali’ was like before tourism arrived and is great for those wanting a more authentic location to stay.
Aims for the Week:
- To become familiarised with the local surroundings and your new home for the next few weeks
- To explore some of the local sights and cultural heritage
- To learn more about the ‘do’s and dont’s’ and to learn the local language
*Please note
All participants for the Education, Teaching, Construction, and Turtle Conservation projects, regardless of the program duration, will now be required to apply for a C6B Social Cultural visa prior to arrival. As we cannot be the sponsor, the easiest way to get the C6B visa is to use an online agency.
Participants who have a Visa On Arrival or an E-Visa on Arrival will not be able to participate in these projects. Participants who only attend the culture, adventure, and yoga weeks will be accepted to join the programs with a Visa on Arrival.
Food & Accommodation
You will be accommodated in one of our centres in the village of Tukad Mungga. Located on the street leading to the beach, which is a 5 min walk away. Village life is quintessentially local and you will get a good chance to experience the typical Balinese life – roosters crowing and all!
Rooms are 4-6 people, single gender shared rooms, with a lockable safety box, wifi, air-conditioning, hot showers, and laundry facilities in the nearby area at an extra cost. There are many ATMs in Lovina centre which is about a 10 to 20-minute walk from the accommodation.
*Accommodation may be in our local centre or in close proximity, depending on availability and time of year.
Standard
Projects - Lovina
- English Teaching, Lovina
- Kindergarten Teaching, Lovina
- Cultural Orientation Week, Lovina
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1 Week - $460
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2 Weeks - $540
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3 Weeks - $710
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1 Month - $910
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2 Months - $1930
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3 Months - $2820
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ
If you want to gain a head start on your projects and feel comfortable in your new surroundings, before you begin, this week is a fantastic way to do just that! It gives you time to adjust before your project begins, to explore the local area and to learn more about the culture and customs. This can greatly help you to communicate with the locals on your projects.
- Accommodation
- 3 meals p/day & 2 p/day at weekends
- Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
- Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
- 1 day orientation
- Daily transportation to project
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.
A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Denpasar International Airport (DPS). You must arrive between 00:00 to 23:59 on Sunday.
If arriving outside the pickup times you can book a private transfer and any extra night’s accommodation for an additional fee.
Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).
From the international airport to the Ubud Penestanan accommodation, it takes 1-1.5 hours by road, and to the Pejeng accommodation it takes around 1.5-2 hours.
Monday
Village walking tour to the traditional market and the Centre of Lovina
Learning about the traditional Balinese culture
Tuesday
Native language lesson
Traditional flower offering class
Wednesday
Continuing the language class to learn more!
Learning to cook Balinese food
Thursday
Visit to the Brahma Vihara Buddhist temple
Visit to the Holy Hot spring
Friday
Project meeting to discuss about the work so far
Visit a local school in Lovina
The participants who engage in relaxation programs in the following week will have the afternoon free to explore Lovina on their own.
This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
*Schedule possible to change due to the project and community needs at the time. Volunteer flexibility and adaptability is important to a positive volunteering experience.
- Visit Tanah Lot temple – A famous Hindu temple perched on a rock formation on the coast of Bali.
- Explore Ubud – A cultural hub in the center of Bali known for its art galleries, museums, and traditional crafts.
- Try surfing at Kuta Beach – One of the most popular beaches in Bali with great waves for surfers of all levels.
- Visit the Tegallalang Rice Terraces – A beautiful and iconic rice terrace located in the Gianyar Regency.
- Go snorkeling or diving at Nusa Lembongan – A small island located southeast of Bali with crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life.
- Hike Mount Batur – An active volcano located in the north of Bali, offering stunning views from the summit.
- Watch a traditional Balinese dance performance – Bali is known for its unique and beautiful dance traditions.
- Relax at a beach club – Bali has many luxurious beach clubs with pools, restaurants, and stunning ocean views.
- Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary – A nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud where you can interact with hundreds of friendly monkeys.
- Dolphin watching in Lovina – Take a morning boat trip from Lovina Beach to spot dolphins swimming and playing in the ocean.
- Visit the Banjar Hot Springs – A natural hot spring located in Lovina where you can relax and soak in the warm mineral water.
- Take a cooking class – Learn how to prepare delicious Balinese dishes and immerse yourself in the local culinary culture.
- Visit the Munduk Waterfall – A picturesque waterfall located in the Munduk village surrounded by lush greenery and a great spot for hiking.
Minors traveling to Indonesia
Unaccompanied minors traveling to Indonesia are required to have a consent form from their parents/legal guardian in hand. The required documents may include a Consent form for minors and the birth certificate. Please check with the Airline before boarding the flight.
*PLEASE NOTE: All participants for the Education, Teaching, Construction, and Turtle Conservation projects, are required to apply for a C6B Social Cultural visa prior to arrival. Participants who have a Visa On Arrival or an E-Visa on Arrival will not be able to participate in these projects. Participants who only attend the culture, adventure, and yoga weeks will be accepted to join the programs with a Visa on Arrival. Going through an online agency is the easiest way to obtain the visa.
**Exceptions to the C6B visa
Participants can join any program with a Visa on Arrival (VOA) for the following program types:
- 1-week culture week, plus 1 to 3 week volunteer program
- 1-week volunteer program
However, it is important to highlight that participants using a VOA must put ‘tourism’ for reason of visit.
We still encourage volunteers to arrive with a C6B visa for all programs. Please note that obtaining and using a VOA is entirely the participant’s responsibility. We cannot be held accountable for any issues or concerns arising from this, as we are obligated to recommend the appropriate visa type for participants joining volunteering projects.
- For information on holidays and any programs affected, please see the following link: ID – Holidays – All Programs
Indonesia has to be one of the most interesting countries in the world for cultural learning for its diverse and sophisticated art forms, such as painting, sculpture, woodcarving, handicrafts, and performing arts. Indonesia has around 300 ethnic groups, each with cultural identities developed over centuries, and influenced by Indian, Arabic, Chinese, and European sources.
Millions of small farmers, farm workers and fishers are unable to tap into the opportunities offered by years of economic growth. They are often geographically isolated and lack access to basic infrastructure and support.
Bali is a Hindu Island, Balinese traditional cultures are still present, making the island charming and beautiful. Traditional Balinese clothing worn by women covers their shoulders and knees, especially, when they go to the temple and when they have a ceremony day.
IVI have a variety of programs designed to immerse volunteers into the local lifestyle in order to experience the unique culture, build life long relationships and benefit the people that need it the most.
Bali is situated just south of the equator. It has a hot and tropical climate year round.
The wet season is from November to March, and the dry season from April to October (although there may still be some showers) The rains usually only last for a few hours, so you will usually still get some sunshine during the day.
The rainy season brings about humidity and it is generally hot year round, from 20 to 30 degrees. Cooler temperatures can be found up North in the mountain regions.
Bali culture is incredible, rich in tradition and spirituality which focuses mainly on art and religion, with the two often expressed through each other. Many Balinese people are an artist of some kind and spend their leisure time working on hobbies and artwork that have been passed down through generations.
Many public areas, homes and paddy fields are decorated by detailed paintaings, intricate carvings, fine weaving, statues and various artworks. Life in Bali is very much communal and centered around local villages with the community institution or ‘Banjar’ responsible for many aspects of life. The Balinese have a word, “Niskala” which means that which cannot be sensed directly, but can only be felt within.
30 Years Non Profit Experience
IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.
Affordable Volunteer Travel
We’re not motivated by shareholder profits. Our fees are fully transparent to ensure maximum benefit where it is most needed.
Safe & Responsible Projects
All projects include a dedicated 24/7 in-country management team, operational & risk assessment & overseas support contact. All projects are personally inspected to ensure very high quality.
Work Experience & University Credits
We place thousands of Uni students and can assist you with course credits and in-field experience points. Many of our project coordinators are qualified practitioners in their respective fields allowing unique in-field supervision and Uni accreditation options
Check out this amazing blog with step by step info on how to raise funds for your overseas volunteer experience to help maximize your impact abroad. Guide to Fundraising
Weekends & Extra Tours
