REAL SOUTH EAST ASIA ENCOUNTER

As a childcare volunteer in Vietnam with PMGY, you will work to brighten up the lives of young children, making an important contribution to their daily lives. Our local team and volunteers work with a range of organisations in and around Hanoi. Our international volunteers provide vital support and care for children and young adults in NGO care centres, kindergartens and hospitals.

BACKGROUND TO THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM

As a childcare volunteer in Vietnam, you will be involved in one of two project types during your time on the program. Our volunteers support a range of facilities in and around Hanoi. Not only do participants work with childcare centres, but also facilities caring for young adults and children with disabilities.

As in most developing countries, disabled people in Vietnam do not receive the level of support they need. It is estimated that nearly seven million people in Vietnam are disabled (8% of the population). We support NGOs in Hanoi that provides vital assistance to these vulnerable groups. Volunteers on one of these programs work with local staff to complement their work and enhance the opportunities of both children and young adults that they help care for.

Volunteering with disabled people is a challenging but highly rewarding experience. These projects require you to use your creativity, emotional strength and resourcefulness to make a difference. Through your hard work, you will not only change their lives but yours as well. Although challenging, the project offers volunteers the opportunity to showcase their skills in supporting others.

In the childcare centres we also support, the aim of volunteer work in Vietnam is to provide daily support in caring for children. In addition, Vietnam childcare volunteers will work to nurture their English, confidence and communication skills. Roles may vary from teaching basic English to leading fun activities, and assisting with tasks such as mealtimes.

CHILDCARE VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

Phuc Tue Centre – Phuc Tue Centre was established in June 2001 and provides support to around 75 children and young adults. The students range from 2-30 years of age and suffer from a variety of physical and mental disabilities. These include the effects of Agent Orange, Autism, Down Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis. The centre aims to provide the children with the support needed to facilitate them to become as independent as possible. Therefore, it is hoped that in this way, the students will be able to integrate into mainstream society.

There are 4 classes at Phuc Tue and 12 teachers work at the centre. All of the teachers graduated from the Hanoi National University of Education. Volunteers assist the staff in their daily activities and sessions. These include early grade academic learning, life skills training and physical education/therapy. During the lessons, volunteers assist the teaching staff, often working one-on-one with individuals. The students really enjoy dancing and singing, so any type of musical activity is always popular. A few of the children can speak a little English which volunteers can work to enhance. As well as providing assistance in the classroom, Vietnam childcare volunteers can help to feed the children requiring special assistance during mealtimes.

Morning Star Centre (Sao Mai) – Founded in 1995, Morning Star centre is a subsidiary of the Vietnam Relief Association for Children with Disabilities. The centre has nearly 70 staff members caring for approximately 150 children ranging in age from 1-25 years. Morning Star’s mission is to provide opportunities for children and young adults with special needs. Local staff and volunteers work to ensure that individuals receive education and training. This aims to help them successfully play their part in the local community. The centre strives to provide assistance for those children suffering from developmental disabilities including Down’s Syndrome, Autism and Cerebral Palsy.

The children are grouped in smaller classes of around 12-13 children. On average, there are 2-3 teachers per class. The classes are tailored to the needs of the children. Volunteers can get involved in a range of activities from basic education, motor skill development, play therapy and physical education sessions.

Where possible, Morning Star strives to prepare the children to enter mainstream education. However, it is quite common for former pupils who have entered mainstream education to return to Morning Star. This is unfortunate because government schools are by no means equipped to welcome special needs students.

In addition to their traditional classes, each pupil will also participate in one-on-one occupational and/or speech therapy classes. Volunteers with relevant experience may have the opportunity to sit on in these sessions to provide further guidance to staff members. However, participants with the appropriate experience will not be able to run these sessions independently.

Morning Star offers some vocational and pre-vocational courses for teenagers before sending them to outside vocational schools. The courses help increase the student’s independence and confidence, and their abilities to get enrolled in professional training centres outside. Having recently set up a coffee shop within the centre, some of the students help out here. Through this scheme, the students receive valuable experience in working and interacting with the public. Many students have also been participating in cooking lessons, with the eventual to sell these masterpieces within the shop.

Friendship Village – This is a living, health, and educational centre for children and adults living with the effects of Agent Orange. The centre also provides healthcare to war veterans. Friendship Village was founded in 1992 by George Mizo. The American veteran wanted to help repair the damage caused by Agent Orange in the America-Vietnam War. The Friendship Village complex is primarily composed of: two living quarters, two classroom buildings and a health centre. There is also a vegetable garden, as much of the food is grown on-site.

The centre provides a home to 120 residents, aged from 4-26 years of age. The residents come from all over Vietnam and suffer from a range of disabilities. This can include Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, physical deformity, and severe mental disability.

Volunteers help out in a number of different ways. This can include collaborating with the teaching staff as to new ideas and techniques to help the residents. You can share ideas on how to structure lessons, provide an independent evaluation of the students, and work on updating profiles. If appropriately qualified, volunteer in Vietnam participants can also help in giving individual assistance to the students. Sometimes volunteers will also teach English to the staff, teachers and residents.

Please note that the minimum time commitment to join Friendship Village is 4 weeks. Volunteers on this project are advised to have experience working with people with physical and/or mental disabilities. This experience can be professional or obtained through education.

Khanh Tam Day Care Centre – This is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation. The project was established in 2006 for early detection and care of mentally impaired children. The centre cares for approximately 80-90 children, aged 1-12. Here, there are a total of 4 classes:

• Early Intervention – The target group is aged between 2-5 years. The program provides children with basic skills to develop (communication skills, playing with others and etc). Namely, this aims to help children integrate into society at an early age (kindergarten age).

• Primary/Elementary Program – The target group is aged between 6-12 years. The children in this class will learn how to read, write and calculate.

• School Function Program – The target group is aged between 6-12 years, with no ability to study standard primary school program.

• Living Skills Program – The target group is individuals between 10-16 years. These students have no ability to integrate into society or study a standard primary school program. Children will focus on learning living skills to help them prepare for when they grow up.

Volunteers will initially begin the project with an observational role. This will become more hands-on after generating a better understanding of the project and the individual abilities of the students. Vietnam childcare volunteers will start to provide a helping hand to run the class activities and lessons. In time, volunteers are encouraged to come up with and run their own ideas, bringing in new perspectives to the centre.

Please note that the minimum time commitment to join Khanh Tam Day Day Centre is 4 weeks.

The Centre for the Future of Autistic Kids – Known locally as ‘Lac Long Quan’, the centre was established in 2005. The founder of the centre was initially a psychiatrist working with parents of autistic children. The founder believed that there was a lack of support within the community. With this in mind, she decided to set up her own centre to care for these children. This would also help provide respite for the parents. Since the initial opening of the centre, the doors have been opened to a bigger cohort of children. This means that the centre can now provide care for those with Downs Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy too.

There are three floors to the centre, divided depending on the severity of each pupils’ disorder and age. The centre aims to provide support and education, enabling the pupils to eventually enter mainstream primary and/or high school. For those who may find this difficult, the centre continues to provide the support that instead promotes the development of vocational skills.

Volunteers on this project work with the younger pupils in two of the three classes. The role of a participant on the childcare volunteer program in Vietnam is largely dependent on project needs at the time and any relevant experience/qualifications. Roles may vary, from performing one-on-one or group activities that promote motor and sensory skills, to supporting the advanced students as they attend basic English and maths classes.

Volunteers with a background in physio- or occupational therapies may have an opportunity to work with the staff in this field. The staff really appreciate any guidance and feedback, so knowledge in these fields, although not essential, is invaluable.

Volunteers on this program are strongly advised to join the project for a minimum duration of 3-4 weeks.

Smile Kindergarten – This centre is home to children aged from 12 months to 6 years old. The kindergarten’s mission is to explore and develop children’s abilities. This is done through teaching art subjects, languages and various methods of communication. It also has different clubs in the school where the kids can nurture their talents and cater to their hobbies.

Generally, one class will hold 15-20 kids. The volunteers are expected to help the children improve their English through songs, dance and informal education. They should be creative in generating fun basic educational materials. Doing this allows the children to become more confident in their communication and mannerisms. This may include arranging drawing, painting and handicraft activities. There will also be a local teacher in the class to help the volunteers if needed.

Little Seeds Project – The Little Seeds Project is based at the National Hospital of Paediatrics in Hanoi. Aside from the medical treatment provided at the hospital, the children have very little social interaction. Quite a few of the children come from rural communities. Therefore, a family member, usually the child’s mother, will stay with their child 24/7 in the hospital. You can, therefore, imagine how stressful the whole experience is for not only the child but their family as well.

The time children spend at the hospital varies from a week to several months. We have therefore identified a placement where we can create regular activities and engagement for the children. The aim of this is to improve their psychological well-being. When hospitalised, the children face huge changes in their life and daily routine, which has numerous psychological effects. Infants, toddlers, school-aged children and teenagers all respond differently to illness in regards to their individual development.

Without the right stimulation and routine, long-term hospitalisation will result in a higher susceptibility to long-term psychological damage. The program aims to bring entertainment to the children and pay attention to specific needs that develop during long-term hospitalisation. Responsive activities will be strategically developed to support the various needs of the children. We aim to introduce a concept called ‘play therapy’.

From childhood to adulthood, play is fundamental in our lives. At a young age, we have not developed the abstract reasoning abilities and verbal skills to articulate our feelings. Kids, therefore, use toys as adults use words, playing to communicate in the same way we would have conversations.

Vietnam childcare volunteers will play and work with the children. The scheme provides them with the space to develop strategies, helping to cope with the difficulties they experience. During playtime, the children’s defences are reduced and it becomes natural for them to express their feelings. Play releases stress connects people to one another in a positive way, stimulates creativity and curiosity, and helps to regulate emotions.

Volunteers with children in Vietnam create an environment where the children can grow, play and learn with adults who are respectful and understanding of their needs. Furthermore, the sessions give family members a much-needed break. A mother may use this time to take a shower, buy groceries, or just take some time for herself. The mothers and families take great joy in seeing their child being happy and interacting with other kids. This opportunity for the families also helps relieve pressures, assisting them to cope with the situation as a whole.

The project generally takes place across mornings and afternoons. Three days a week, the project runs only in the morning. This means that volunteers will get two afternoons off a week as well. PMGY volunteers will work alongside local volunteers who will help with translation and general support. We expect volunteers to spend an additional 1-2 hours each day preparing activities for their sessions at the hospital. The number of children who turn up each day varies. This can depend on how the children are feeling and if they have any treatments scheduled for the afternoon.

The average group size is 5-10. The children can also vary on a daily basis given the nature of volunteering at a hospital. The children differ in age, so volunteers will need to prepare a range of activities. At the hospital, there is a small classroom where the sessions take place. Within the room, there are some limited resources available for you to use, such as board games and play-doh. Our Volunteer House also has resources you can take to the hospital. There are also plenty of places you can purchase additional materials should you require them.

Ruby Kindergarten – The centre was founded in 2013 and currently hosts up to 90 children. Spread over two floors, there are a total of 5 classes, split according to age group. Within each of these classes are between 10-15 children. There are three older classes and two younger classes.

Each day starts with stimulating exercises, helping to wake up the children (and volunteers!) in preparation for the day ahead. Volunteers then start with their designated older class for 1.5 hours. As a volunteer with children in Vietnam, you are encouraged to help lead activities that promote very basic English. After feeding time and a nap, class time starts up again. Volunteers spend the afternoon with one of the younger classes.

Volunteers with children in Vietnam are always accompanied by a Vietnamese teacher during their time at the project. However, it is important for volunteers to prepare activities for the classes in advance. This ensures that the time is used most productively. A member of the local team will be available to make suggestions and steer you in the right direction. The kindergarten has a whole host of resources you may wish to use. Additional items may be found in the Volunteer House.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL CHILDCARE DAY

Each of our Vietnam volunteer programs mentioned will have different expectations and roles for their international volunteers. In general, you can expect to provide daily hands-on care, interaction and attention for those who need it most. We try our best to outline expected roles under the specific ‘Project Placement Placements’ above. However, it must be noted that these roles can still vary.

Whilst each project location is different, as a childcare volunteer in Vietnam you will typically volunteer for around 4-6 hours per day. Volunteers are usually only expected to volunteer 4 days per week, however, Monday-Friday is possible. Project hours each day will vary depending on the location. Typically, volunteers will partake in the project from 9am-12pm and then 2-5pm, although this can vary.

Volunteers will usually travel by public bus to and from the project each day. This fee is included in the Program Fee. Volunteers will either be provided with a bus pass in-country or reimbursed their travel fares on a weekly basis. The bus station is around a 10 minute walk from the Volunteer House.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER TEACHING IN VIETNAM

Resources – On the childcare project in Vietnam, resources can be very limited. Volunteers are recommended to bring materials to the project each day to maximise their productivity and day to day involvement. It is therefore important for volunteers to prepare well in advance to get the most out of their childcare volunteering experience in Vietnam.

Project Availability – A childcare volunteer in Vietnam is advised to note that we support a range of childcare projects in and around Hanoi. This is in addition to the examples provided across this overview. Thus volunteers may be located at such placements not listed in the overview. This can be particularly true for our volunteer projects across the summertime, where we have higher numbers of volunteers. With great volunteer numbers, we are able to further our contribution to the community and also prevent overcrowding at current establishments. This is also in line with school holiday periods in Vietnam. During this period, there is more need and availability for community programs and summer classes through the day.

Please note that although we do our best to place volunteers at their chosen project, this is not always possible. This can be requested under the ‘Special Requirements’ section of your application. Vietnam childcare volunteers should expect to be placed at either a childcare centre or facility for individuals with special needs. Participants must note that it is possible that participants may work with young adults and/or children.

Weekends – Your project work in Vietnam runs from Monday-Friday and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Vietnam Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Vietnam. We offer the Ha Long Bay Trip along with the Sapa Trekking Trip with opportunities running every month.

As a volunteer teaching English in Vietnam with PMGY, you will work to encourage students to develop skills that will help them to achieve their future goals. Conversing with fluent, native English speakers greatly improves their language skills, essential for future employment. This project provides the perfect opportunity for international volunteers to teach English in Vietnam, putting their leadership skills into practice across schools and communities in Hanoi.

BACKGROUND TO THE TEACHING PROGRAM

Education is becoming an increasingly important issue in Vietnam. Traditionally, agriculture has provided jobs for the masses, but this sector’s growth has plummeted. Nowadays, international commercial trade governs the Vietnamese economy, especially in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This economic shift has created a greater demand for skilled labour and a workforce that is multilingual. In such circumstances, English is frequently the main language required.

In recent years, access to primary and secondary education has risen significantly, and schools have received increased levels of funding. Furthermore, there is a greater focus on physical, psychological, social and emotional growth, alongside general educational achievement. English language training was introduced into the national curriculum in 2010. This follows continued recognition from the government for the importance of the ability to speak English to young people.

PMGY support a range of educational establishments and classes, from government high schools, universities and education classes for the local community. The aim of our teachers in Vietnam is to create an environment to encourage students to practice their English and improve their confidence. We encourage volunteers in Vietnam participants to keep the lessons fun. Being creative to make the lessons interesting will encourage the students to engage and improve their confidence.

TEACHING VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

High Schools – The main school we support is Nguyen Tat Thanh (NTT) project. NTT is a secondary school (11-18 years of age), home to over 2,500 students. English language skills are of growing importance at the school. However, the local teachers tend to focus on teaching listening, reading and writing skills, rather than focussing on communication skills. This is often because this is an area they are limited in themselves.

NTT is fairly well-resourced, but the school cannot afford to hire enough native speaking English staff. Furthermore, with large class sizes, it is difficult for teachers to give students the individual attention they need. Therefore, English speaking volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the school’s ambition to improve the English of their students. There may also the chance to help with sports classes: badminton, basketball, football and volleyball are the main sports taught. If willing, as a volunteer teaching English in Vietnam, you can also spend time helping improve the English of the teaching staff. This helps bring about long development at the school.

Community & University Classes – Alongside our work with schools in Hanoi, our volunteers in Vietnam contribute to a number of community classes. These take place within the local community and nearby Universities. There are typically four different levels of classes per Community/University setting. Each class will attend two sessions per week. Every day, volunteers will engage in two classes: one morning, and one afternoon. The first hour of the lesson will typically focus on learning and understanding English vocabulary and phrases. The second hour tends to then concentrate on putting this into practice.

The community classes are attended by high school and university students wishing to improve their English. Unfortunately, these individuals cannot afford private tuition. Most of the students come from rural areas and move to the city to attend university. The aim of the classes is to create a fun and interactive environment for the class participants to practice their English. On average 5-20 people attend each class.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL TEACHING DAY

As a volunteer teaching English in Vietnam, you will be responsible for preparing and leading your own activities within the lessons. Depending on the volunteer project location you may be required to follow a curriculum. Communication with the local teachers and staff is therefore key, ensuring they can support with the lessons and activities you prepare.

As an English teacher on this Vietnam volunteer program, you must be proactive in taking lead around the topic. Our local team will be on hand to guide you as you plan your lessons. They will give you an idea of what former volunteers have taught and what students wish to learn. We will also give you ideas on what activities you can implement when teaching. To teach English in Vietnam, there is no requirement to have taught before. Where possible our local team aim to segment the group the students relative to their ability and level of English. This helps to improve the structure and productivity of the classes.

Whilst each project is different, the typical working hours to teach English in Vietnam are 8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday. In school settings, volunteers will be expected to teach up to four classes per day. Typically, two classes will be taught in the morning and the same in the afternoon. Each class lasts approximately 45 minutes, with a 10 minute break between two consecutive classes. Lunch is taken between the morning and afternoon sessions. With up to 50 children in one class, experience and confidence are great skills to have and develop. Volunteers must also be flexible, creative and having determination to succeed!

The university and community classes both follow a similar structure. Volunteers who teach English in Vietnam will lead two classes per day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each class will last 2 hours (4 hours total per day). In general, volunteers will be at the project from 9am-4pm each day, with an extended lunch break. Volunteers will teach 4 different classes each week. For all teaching projects, Fridays are not spent at the project and are instead used to prepare lessons for the following week.

Local transport to and from the project each day is included in your Program Fee. Most placements are located within a 1 hour commute of the Volunteer House. Volunteers will either be provided with a bus pass in-country or be reimbursed their travel fares on a weekly basis. The bus station is around a 10 minute walk from the Volunteer House.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER TEACHING IN VIETNAM

Experience – For the English Teaching program, teaching experience is not essential as the mere presence of a native English speaker is invaluable. As long as you are creative, determined and resourceful you can have a constructive impact on the development of the children’s education.

TEFL Course – We encourage volunteers to prepare as much as possible for their teaching program overseas. You can make the most out of your time by completing our convenient, inexpensive and international accredited 60 hour Online TEFL Course. The cost of this course is only 120 USD.

Resources – On the teach English in Vietnam project, resources can be very limited. Volunteers are recommended to bring materials to the project each day to maximise their productivity and day to day involvement. It is therefore important for volunteers to prepare well in advance to get the most out of their teaching English project experience.

Project Availability – When you participate in your volunteer work in Vietnam, your project location will be dictated based on the greatest need at the time. Where possible, the local team will place participants on their preferred project, when this has been noted within their application. However, this cannot be guaranteed in any case, and participants must be open to working in any location.

During June and July, most schools in Vietnam and universities will be on summer vacation. During this time, volunteers on Vietnam English teaching program will be placed within one of our community classes or a summer camp. Each summer camp lasts around 2 weeks within a relatively relaxed and casual setting. In these cases, there are usually three levels of students, with each level taught separately: Primary, Middle School and High School. Every group receives ten lessons, one each day over a period of two weeks (Monday to Friday).

Weekends – Your project work in Vietnam runs from Monday-Friday and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Vietnam Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Vietnam. We offer the Ha Long Bay Trip along with the Sapa Trekking Trip with opportunities running every month.

As a medical volunteer in Vietnam with PMGY, you are offered a fantastic opportunity to gain a first-hand insight into the Vietnamese health care system. On the medical volunteer in Vietnam program, you have the chance to learn from local staff within Vietnam’s leading paediatric hospital. If you are thinking of a career in healthcare, or you are studying a health-related subject at university, this program will offer you essential first-hand exposure to assist in your career development.

BACKGROUND TO THE MEDICAL PROGRAM

The health status of the Vietnamese has seen significant improvements across the last 30 years. This has largely mirrored the rapid economic development that followed economic and political reforms, launched in 1986. This has led to increased life expectancies at birth and decreased infant mortality rates. However, everything is not as rosy as it may seem.

Despite the aforementioned advances, the workforce in this field still remains insufficient to effectively meet the needs of the population. In 2015, on average across Vietnam, there were 8 physicians per 10,000 patients. However, during the same time period, there were 28 physicians per 10,000 in the UK. Similarly, there were 26 per 10,000 in the US. The statistic was also significantly lower compared to other countries across South East Asia. This has meant that in recent years, too many patients for medical facilities has been an increasing problem.

Medical volunteers in Vietnam with PMGY have the fantastic opportunity to gain volunteer experience and thus further their career goals. The various opportunities within the Vietnam health care setting expose participants to a variety of interesting cases, allowing medical volunteers in Vietnam to further both their background and experience in the field. Additionally, the program allows participants to explore the fascinating and exciting culture of this Southeast Asian treasure.

MEDICAL VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLE

VNCH – PMGY participants on the medical program in Vietnam will spend time within Vietnam National Children’s Hospital (VNCH). VNCH is Vietnam’s leading paediatric hospital, serving a population of 30 million people across central and northern Vietnam. The hospital was established in 1969 as the ‘Institute for the Protection of Children’s Health’. It adopted its present name in 1997. Currently, the hospital has 1,500 beds, organising services and making a positive impact for 1,500 inpatients and 3,000-4,000 outpatients a day.

VNCH collaborates with the pediatric department of the Medical University of Hanoi, training medical students, specialists, sub-specialists, general practitioners, and MD-PhDs. The VNCH also holds up to 25 training sessions per year for doctors and nurses from all over the country. These aim to provide greater knowledge of Vietnamese health care workers.

The hospital provides opportunities for volunteers in the following departments: Emergency department, ICU (Pediatric ICU, Surgical ICU, Cardiac ICU, Neonatal ICU), Oncology dept, Psychiatry department, Immunology – Allergy – Rheumatology, Neurology, Surgery.

As a medical volunteer in Vietnam with PMGY, you may have the chance to partake in some or all of the following:

• Extensive Learning Opportunities – Participate in bed-side interactive teaching sessions, ward rounds, ward classes and small group discussions. This provides an excellent opportunity to learn about patient care for Vietnamese people by interacting with patients.

• Take Your Knowledge One Step Further – Attend lectures/seminars/symposia (if organised in English).

• Engagement in Various Medical Settings – Visit clinics and units such as neurology, respiratory diseases, oncology, nephrology, endocrinology, haematology, cardiology, gastroenterology, surgery, neonatology, intensive care, emergency, infectious diseases, psychiatry. There can also be the opportunity to visit the blood bank and outpatient department.

• Watch Medicine in Practice – Observe surgeries at the surgical department and laboratory departments if their academic and experience background supports it.

• Work with Children – Play, learn and work with children in the Psychiatry department.

During your volunteer work in Vietnam, you may encounter examples of the following: health defects consequent of Agent Orange, tuberculosis, respiratory infection, malnutrition, and tropical disease.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL WORK DAY

In general, as a volunteer in Vietnam, you will be working alongside and learning from qualified staff at VNCH. Pre-medical students will up-hold an observational role only. As a medical student, you may get the opportunity to undertake some more basic hands-on involvement at your discretion. However, we can never encourage nor guarantee hands-on opportunities for the volunteer experience, as the decision ultimately lies with the medical staff.

Participants will usually travel by public bus to and from the project each day. This fee is included in the volunteer Program Fee. Volunteers will either be provided with a bus pass in-country or reimbursed their travel fares on a weekly basis. The bus station is around a 10 minute walk from the Volunteer House. It takes approximately 30-45 minutes to reach the hospital by bus.

Medical participants on the PMGY Vietnam volunteer project will typically attend VNCH between 9am-5pm on a Monday-Friday basis. Participants will have an extended lunch break to break up the day. This means that on average, volunteers will spend 4-6 hours on the project each day.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER AS A MEDICAL VOLUNTEER IN VIETNAM

Project Duration – There is a recommendation to join a PMGY medical volunteer project as a short term volunteer for between 2-4 weeks. However, up to 8 weeks is possible in Vietnam.

Hands-On Involvement – Your level of involvement at the medical volunteer projects is dictated by a range of factors. First of all your medical experience, but also the duration of program and willingness to get involved. The medical staff are accountable for you whilst you’re under their supervision. Ultimately, it is completely up to them if you are permitted and want to get involved in hands-on procedures.

Previous PMGY medical volunteer in Vietnam participants have been given the chance to administer IV injections, dress wounds etc. However, please note we can never guarantee or promote hands-on involvement regardless of medical experience or background.

Generally speaking those with little or no medical experience assume a largely observational role. If you are studying a medically related degree, then you should have more opportunity to undertake some more basic hands-on involvement. However, to reiterate we can never guarantee or endorse hands-on experience should you choose to get hands-on. Such a decision ultimately lies with the medical staff.

Trained Professionals – Please note this program is not suitable for trained professionals who are looking to practise overseas. This opportunity is only suitable for school leavers & medical students looking to go into the medical or nursing field and wish to learn about a healthcare system overseas.

Weekends – Your project work in Vietnam runs from Monday-Friday and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Vietnam Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Vietnam. We offer the Ha Long Bay Trip along with the Sapa Trekking Trip with opportunities running every month.

NGO volunteers in Vietnam work to help tackle issues, such as health and human rights, in and around Hanoi. As an NGO volunteer in Vietnam, you will utilise your skills within a very stimulating environment, helping to support an NGO in a developing country. This project provides the perfect opportunity for international volunteers to put leadership skills into practice and make a profound positive impact on the project.

BACKGROUND TO THE NGO PROGRAM

The number of local NGOs has risen significantly, addressing various issues. These include as supporting underprivileged communities, environmental conservation and children’s rights. However, due to a lack of funding and trained staff, these NGOs potential for advancement has been limited.

PMGY’s Vietnam NGO program is a fantastic way to get involved in development work within a more holistic environment. University students and graduates will find these placements to be an exciting way to gain work experience. The projects offer the chance for volunteers to learn about core economic, educational, environmental and social issues in the developing world. Working alongside NGO professionals is an amazing opportunity to develop your skillset, gain experience and learn more about the world.

As a Vietnam NGO volunteer, you are needed to bring new energy and perspective to NGOs in and around Hanoi. Our volunteers help NGOs to continue to make a difference in Vietnamese society. Your role in this project will be dependent on the needs of the organisation and your experience. The opportunities are office-based and offer a great opportunity for university students and graduates to develop invaluable work experience. This program is a great way to gain insight and make an impact on social development on a more strategic level.

NGO VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

Vietnam NGO volunteers support a variety of establishments, and a list of examples can be found via the ‘NGO’ tab at the top of the page. Participants will be assigned to these depending on their skills, experience, interest, duration of the program, as well as project needs at the time. Projects that the NGOs are involved in will naturally come and go. Our team will try their hardest to match volunteers to a project best suiting their skill set. For this reason, it is important that this is well detailed within your application. You will be asked to send through a CV to a member of our PMGY team. This will help ensure that the NGO program assigned to you is the best fitting.

Below are some ideas of what you could be doing on an NGO project, making an impact on local communities:

• Content Writing – Each NGO we support has a website that is displayed in English. Volunteers with strong writing skills can review the current website content – proofreading and developing the content.

• Design – Volunteers with graphic design skills can help NGOs in promotional activities. This could be helping to design websites, leaflets or presentational material.

• English – The local staff really appreciate if volunteers can help improve their level of English.

• Finance – Volunteers with accounting and finance backgrounds can assist with bookkeeping and developing cash management systems.

• Fundraising – International volunteers have the communication skills to create and edit fundraising proposals and foster national and international alliances. Fundraising is the key to the future of NGOs. Whether it’s compiling a list of prospective donors and creating concept notes. In the past PMGY volunteers have been involved in creating fundraising proposals that have brought in five-figure dollar donations!

• Report Editing – The NGOs have to provide regular reports to their sponsors, partner NGOs and various committees. Typically, these reports need to be produced in Vietnamese and English. Volunteers can lend a hand in editing the reports produced in English.

• Research – University students/graduates have the analytical and research skills to design and support research drives and fieldwork.

• Social Media – NGOs we support are becoming aware of social media power and its ability to raise awareness and build support. Training the local staff about effectively using social media is a great way volunteers can add value.

• Website Support – For those with relevant skills, assistance can be provided through updating and improving the NGOs website. Better still creating or introducing new software/systems that improve the efficiency of the NGO.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL VOLUNTEER DAY

As an NGO volunteer in Vietnam, you will support and facilitate with NGOs in a developing community. This can be anything from content writing and generating reports to helping with fundraising and building finance. Your exact role is dependent on you as a person and your experience/skillset. Each volunteer is different and brings a unique set of skills to the placement. Volunteers work closely with the staff to help strengthen the operations of the organisation. You will find the NGOs open to ideas and willing to create a role to suit your interests.

The typical working hours for the NGO volunteer project are 9am-5pm with an extended lunch break. This means that on average, an NGO volunteer in Vietnam will spend between 5-7 hours working on the project per day. Volunteers will attend the project from Monday-Friday each week.

Participants on this PMGY Community Volunteer Project will usually travel by public bus to and from the project each day. This fee is included in the Program Fee. Volunteers will either be provided with a bus pass in-country or reimbursed their travel fares on a weekly basis. The bus station is around a 10 minute walk from the Volunteer House.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING IN VIETNAM

Project Availability – When you participate in your volunteer work in Vietnam, your project location will be dictated based on your experience and the greatest project need at that time. Where possible, the local team will place participants on their preferred project, when this has been noted within their application. However, this cannot be guaranteed in any case, and participants must be open to working in any location.

Requirements – Participants on this Vietnam volunteer program are advised to note the minimum age of most our of NGO projects is 20 years. In addition to this, the minimum time frame on the project tends to be 4 weeks. As an NGO volunteer in Vietnam, you should have completed a bachelor degree or be working within a relevant profession. Anyone outside these categories will usually be assigned to a project working directly with our local team. However, this again is dependent on a variety of factors and ultimately NGO placement is decided by our local team.

Volunteers joining us for a shorter time frame, or with limited experience, are advised to note that naturally, there is not as much opportunity for long term developments and input to be made. In such situations, the main purpose of the program instead is for insights, learnings and sharing of information. As an NGO volunteer in Vietnam, you will need to bring a laptop for this program.

Weekends – Your project work in Vietnam runs from Monday-Friday and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Vietnam Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Vietnam. We offer the Ha Long Bay Trip along with the Sapa Trekking Trip with opportunities running every month.

As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia with PMGY, you will educate and work with children between the ages of 4-7 years at a time before they begin formal schooling. International volunteers with children in Cambodia help to brighten up the lives of young children in Takeo Province. As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia organise educational activities and games that will positively promote stimulation and productiveness in young ones.

BACKGROUND TO THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM

The first few years of a child’s life are fundamentally important. This time is critical for forming the foundation that helps shape their future health, happiness and learning achievement. As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia, you will have the opportunity to think and act creatively. As a consequence, you have the chance to make a positive impact on the lives of young ones within the local community.

Tourism in Cambodia contributes a tremendous amount to the economy. This means those who are able to converse in English with foreigners have far more prospects than those who do not. Exposure to the English language at a young age helps initiate the development of this life-long skill of multilingualism. Engagement with native English speakers, therefore, provides a great starting point for this. Our PMGY childcare project in Cambodia helps local children develop skills that they will benefit from for the rest of their lives. This includes an introduction to the fundamentals of the English language, assistance with social integration and the development of motor skills.

Each day as a childcare volunteer in Cambodia is different and you will get out of the project what you put in. It is a good idea to join the project well prepared with lots of ideas for activities so that you can get stuck in as soon as possible. Volunteers with children in Cambodia will have the opportunity to think and act creatively. As a consequence, they make a positive impact on the lives of young ones within the local community.

CHILDCARE VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLE

Hope School – Our main program in Cambodia is based in Takeo Province, south of the country’s capital city, Phnom Penh. The kids attending the childcare program are from villages nearby. The childcare centre is located on the same campus as our team’s teaching English program for older children and teenagers. It is hoped that the younger children will continue their journey with our team in the future. The childcare project, therefore, aims to also help with this eventual transition and integration.

Our team’s community education program was established in 2010. The aim was to provide accessible English classes to children in underprivileged villages. The opportunity to learn and develop English is so low in this rural area that children are prepared to travel 7km each way for a one hour lesson each day. The school usually has over 250 children attending each day. The project has grown so much that in December 2018, our local team opened a new school in a nearby province. This new school in Ang Tasom has allowed our volunteers to extend the outreach of our team’s overall goal. We now work with an additional 130 kids to whom English is taught. Further growth in this project has allowed our childcare project to open up here, widening our impact within the community.

As a volunteer with children in Cambodia, you will be based within a classroom setting. This responsible volunteering project focuses on developing core English skills, promoting social interaction and routines from a young age. Our international volunteers will work to advocate all of these aspects through itineraries set by the local staff. For volunteer work in Cambodia, there is an office of resources and textbooks that you can use to assist you. A volunteer with children in Cambodia is encouraged to introduce creative and engaging ways to manage the class.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL CHILDCARE DAY

As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia, you will be required to prepare, deliver and lead activities and basic English lessons to support local children. Volunteers with children in Cambodia can expect to spend 3-4 hours on the project each day. The typical hours of work as a childcare volunteer in Cambodia are 1-4pm. Time on the Cambodia volunteer work will include various roles and tasks for the volunteers.

Days will usually begin with a lively and energetic first hour of songs, games and basic hygiene tasks like teeth brushing. After burning off any excess energy, approximately 1 hour will be dedicated to learning. This may include activities such as learning and recognising the alphabet, understanding phonics and the coaching of basic greetings. Combined, these tasks help to familiarise the children with this foreign language. Furthermore, it advances their learning ability for other subjects in the future. The day will usually end with various activities that focus on practising fine motor skills and dexterity, perhaps through arts and crafts or group games.

Volunteers and coordinators have also introduced a Fun Friday aspect to the program. For this, fellow volunteers can come together to organise entertaining activities for the children. Sometimes volunteers will organise and fund an afternoon trip outside of the program for the children. Volunteers usually contribute a small expense to facilitate this, but contributing and participating in Fun Fridays are by no means compulsory.

When you volunteer in Cambodia, you should spend time planning for each day. This will allow them to get the most out of their project time. This also provides focussed learning activities for the children. As a childcare volunteer in Cambodia, you will also have the opportunity to assist or lead an older class on our English Teaching project. However, this is optional and not a mandatory requirement of the program.

The project is located on the same grounds as the house for participants on our volunteering programs in Cambodia. Participants therefore only have a short walk to project each day. Free time can be used to prepare sessions, chill in the Volunteer House or explore the nearby villages.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN CAMBODIA

Accommodation Setup – Our Cambodia volunteer programs are based in a rural setting in Takeo Province, approximately two hours south of Phnom Penh. The accommodation is very basic, based in a remote location and in a dormitory-like form. There is a sense of community on the program, with volunteers responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of the living area. This includes completing morning chores. This can involve tasks such as gardening, cleaning and renovation work. Together, this contribution from volunteers helps to maintain a happy and clean living environment for everyone.

Resources – On the childcare project in Cambodia, resources can be very limited. Volunteers are recommended to bring materials to the project each day to maximise their productivity and day to day involvement. It is therefore important for volunteers to prepare well in advance to get the most out of their childcare volunteering experience in Cambodia.

Weekends – Your project work in Cambodia runs from Monday-Friday and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Cambodia Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend.

As a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia with PMGY, you will encourage students to develop a skill that will help them achieve their future goals. Conversing with fluent, native English speakers greatly improves their language skills, essential for future employment. This project, therefore, provides the perfect opportunity for a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia to put their leadership skills into practice and make a profound impact in a teaching position.

BACKGROUND TO THE TEACHING PROGRAM

The reign of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s devastated the education system in Cambodia. Since then, the Cambodian government has invested a lot of time and money into rebuilding its education system. However, change is slow and Cambodia still has one of the poorest literacy rates in Asia, especially amongst women. High dropout rates, lack of qualified teachers and classroom overcrowding are all significant factors that negatively impact the country’s education system.

Cambodia’s economy is shifting from that of traditional sustenance farming to an economy driven by industry and service. This economic change has further enhanced social inequality within the country. This follows the drive of less educated and economically poorer members of society into lower-paid jobs, that rarely offer career development. The demand for skilled labour calls for a greater need for children to develop English language proficiency. This is particularly true within the service sector, to keep up with Cambodia’s growing tourism industry.

For many children living in rural villages, learning English is seen as the only way to progress in life. This is since it helps individuals achieve better jobs in Cambodia. Individuals often desire to source jobs in accounting and hotel work, to bring an overall higher standard of living for themselves. As a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia, you will help to provide free English lessons to children from low-income families in the region. The children will still attend public school in the mornings. However, in the afternoon, they continue their education at our English education program. Our team’s project provides a key focus on English language development. During your time as a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia, it is important to maintain energy, enthusiasm and creativity. Many of the students will benefit from having someone who is fluent in the English language teaching them in Cambodia.

TEACHING VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLE

Hope School – As a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia, you will be based at a community education program, established by our local team in 2010. The aim of the school was to provide accessible English classes to children in underprivileged villages. The opportunity to learn and develop English is so low in this rural area that children are prepared to travel 7km each way for a one hour lesson each day. The school usually has over 250 children attending each day. The project has grown so much that in December 2018, our local team opened an extension of the school in a nearby province. This new set-up in Ang Tasom has allowed our volunteers to extend the outreach of our team’s overall goal. We now work with an additional 130 kids to whom English is taught.

Volunteers teaching English in Cambodia are required to prepare, deliver and lead lessons and learning activities for the children. Classes are divided based on ability and age range and the size can vary from 5-30 children. The children’s ages range from 7-18 years. Younger children tend to come at the start of the afternoon and the older children come late afternoon. There are ten classrooms in total across both school sites. You will usually be based at one of the school sites only during your time.

As a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia, you will teach a variety of different classes throughout the day. When each class finishes, the children from that lesson will return to their nearby village. Your next class with different students will then begin. Typically, volunteer work in Cambodia involves leading four classes per day. Participants may also choose to work one-on-one with students during their 1.5 hour break.

Teaching the same classes daily within the same time slots allows you to ingrain structure and build rapport with the children. Furthermore, this enables you to witness the development of the children, from the start of your program to its end. Even after the lessons, you will find a lot of the students stay at the school, to socialise and play games. Some pupils will undertake one-to-one tuition with volunteers.

As a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia, you are encouraged to make your lessons fun and engaging. This may include storytelling, singing songs and arts and crafts activities. There is plenty of outdoor space at the project. Here, volunteers can take the class out to enjoy some playtime at the end of a lesson. If you have a specific skill as a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia, you are welcome to teach this to students too. There is an office of resources and textbooks that you can use to assist you. A volunteer with children in Cambodia is encouraged to introduce creative and engaging ways to manage the class.

To successfully teach as a volunteer teaching in English in Cambodia, you should spend time planning for each day. This will allow you to get the most out of the project time and will provide focussed learning activity for the children. Ultimately, the more time spent planning, the easier classes will be to run. You can use the mornings before the project or your afternoon break as preparation time.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL TEACHING DAY

As a teaching volunteer in Cambodia, you are required to prepare, deliver and lead lessons for students in Cambodia. The typical working hours are 1pm-7:30pm Monday to Friday. Volunteers will usually teach 1 hour lessons across this period with a 1.5 hour break in between to rest. As a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia, you will also need to dedicate time to plan your lessons in advance.

The school that our team run in Cambodia is located in two regions. The village school is based on the same grounds as the Volunteer House. International volunteers here, therefore, have a short walk to the project. The second school is located a 15 minute tuk-tuk journey from the House. Free time can be used to prepare sessions, chill in the Volunteer House or explore the nearby villages.

Volunteers and coordinators have also introduced a Fun Friday aspect to the program. For this, fellow volunteers can come together to organise entertaining activities for the children. Sometimes volunteers will organise and fund an afternoon trip outside of the program for the children. Volunteers usually contribute a small expense to facilitate this, but contributing and participating in Fun Fridays are by no means compulsory.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER TEACHING IN CAMBODIA

Experience – For the English Teaching program, teaching experience is not essential as the mere presence of a native English speaker is invaluable. As long as you are creative, determined and resourceful you can have a constructive impact on the development of the children’s education.

TEFL Course – We encourage volunteers to prepare as much as possible for their teaching program overseas. You can make the most out of your time by completing our convenient, inexpensive and international accredited 60 hour Online TEFL Course. The cost of this course is only 120 USD.

Resources – On the teach English in Cambodia project, resources can be very limited. Volunteers are recommended to bring materials to the project each day to maximise their productivity and day to day involvement. It is therefore important for volunteers to prepare well in advance to get the most out of their teaching English project experience.

Most volunteers lead their own classes. However, if requested, our team can buddy you up with a more experienced, long term volunteer to start with. Note, however, that this will be dependent on volunteer numbers at the time.

Accommodation Setup – Our Cambodia volunteer programs are based in a rural setting in Takeo Province, approximately two hours south of Phnom Penh. The accommodation is very basic, based in a remote location and in a dormitory-like form. There is a sense of community on the program, with volunteers responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of the living area. This includes completing morning chores. This can involve tasks such as gardening, cleaning and renovation work. Together, this contribution from volunteers helps to maintain a happy and clean living environment for everyone.

Weekends – Your project work in Cambodia runs from Monday-Friday and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Cambodia Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend.

Want to share your time, energy and enthusiasm with children across the world? As a childcare volunteer in Bali, you can make a positive impact in the local community of Tabanan. From supporting daily care, organising crafts and creative activities, to teaching English through songs and music. You’ll have the opportunity to volunteer with children in Bali between 1-8 years old, giving them an amazing head start before they begin formal schooling.

BACKGROUND TO THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM

In Bali, it can be difficult to afford a high standard of care or education for their children, particularly for families in the relentless farming and fishing industries. Therefore as a childcare volunteer in Bali, you can support struggling families and childcare centres. By complementing the work of local staff members we can ensure that these children receive the attention and support that they deserve.

Increased tourism in Bali has meant that local people who are able to converse in English with foreigners have far more prospects than those that can’t. As a result, education at this level will allow them to improve their future and that of their families.

It has been suggested that pre-school years are the most important years of a child’s life and an ideal time for learning a foreign language. Above all, this makes time with international volunteers invaluable. Subsequently, as a childcare volunteer in Bali, you can focus on educating the children with very basic English skills. For example speaking and vocabulary, such as colours, shapes and animals.

CHILDCARE VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

Lotus Childcare – Lotus Childcare Centre was founded in 1996 by a Catholic church. Each day, the centre can receive up to 62 children and the care provided here is free of charge. With only 8 local staff members, the ratio of 1 adult to 8 children can sometimes be a handful to manage alone! Consequently, as a childcare volunteer in Bali, you can provide invaluable assistance to the quality of care that the facility can offer.

Children attending this centre range from the ages of 6 months to 8 years. In the morning, the facility cares for children up to the age of 4. During this time, your volunteer work in Bali will involve helping to run basic English lessons for the toddlers, in preparation for starting school in the future.

In the afternoon, children aged 5-8 visit the centre after school whilst their parents remain at work. Meanwhile, volunteers will usually lend a helping hand with the youngest of the children, aiding the staff with bath-time, and entertainment. There is however the opportunity on your Bali volunteer program to spend time with the older children, especially those who may need some additional help with their studies.

Bumblebee Childcare – Bumblebee Childcare Centre was also founded by a Catholic Church, hosting up to 80 children per day. Ages range from as young as 3 months to 7 years. In the morning, volunteers will run basic English classes for the children who are due to begin primary school within the next year or two.

After that, the remainder of our volunteer’s work in Bali will often be spent with the younger children aged 1-3 years. Volunteers will usually lend a hand during mealtimes, to encourage the fussy eaters and clean up the messy ones! In addition, assistance is also often required during bath times. However, help is appreciated in all aspects of the centre. As a result, each childcare volunteer in Bali may be asked to spend time with the older children, or even assist staff members in daily chores.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL CHILDCARE DAY

As a childcare volunteer in Bali, your main role will be sharing your time, enthusiasm and skills to help encourage and care for these children. By exposing them to the English language you are providing them with an early opportunity for social interaction and educational development.

You will be volunteering from Monday-Thursday, usually starting around 9am-12pm, with the afternoon session from 2pm-4pm. You will be transported to the project via minivan, which takes about 10 minutes.

The childcare program is a hugely rewarding experience and very enjoyable. As a volunteer in Bali, you are encouraged to structure the day to ensure you get the balance right between keeping it fun with play activities, whilst keeping it controlled and routined with some basic learning activities.

Above all, lesson planning is essential. Get creative with different enrichment activities to foster positive social development. You can use songs, music, puzzles, interactive props and educational resources to get the kids engaged. Local coordinators will be on hand to support you at the project as well.

Balinese children are an absolute joy to teach and work with, their enthusiasm for learning is guaranteed to make you smile! Working with this age group is not as structured as teaching older children. In other words, their language can be improved simply through play and interaction. As a result, just a few words or phrases will stand them in good stead for learning English in the future. If you volunteer with children in Bali, you’ll need to prepare activities for this accordingly.

We generally find that the more volunteers prepare for their day then the more they and the children get from the whole experience. Depending on the number of childcare volunteers in Bali at the time, the children will be divided into smaller class sizes. In addition, you will have local coordinators/teachers at the project to assist.

The most important thing is that you engage the children, get them excited about coming to kindergarten and learning new things. Your role is not limited to just teaching and volunteers are actively encouraged to get involved in other areas such as arts & crafts, physical education and helping local staff in their day-to-day role. What activities you choose when you volunteer in Bali is completely up to you.

You can find resources and inspiration at the office and there may be some materials and props available at the childcare centres. The local team also run weekly lesson planning sessions, providing volunteers with a fantastic opportunity to both share and discuss ideas, as well as plan for the upcoming week.

PMGY’s volunteer work in Bali focuses on making learning a fun and enjoyable experience so be creative, there are so many ways to educate these children in a way that will make a huge impact. Our childcare program is an empowering and rewarding one to really make a difference to those less fortunate. Balinese people are warm and friendly, you can expect the children you teach to welcome you into their community with open arms. They will be excited to get to know you!

Weekends – Your project work in Bali runs from Monday-Thursday and weekends are free (Friday-Sunday). You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Bali Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Bali. We offer the Gili Paradise Island Trip along with the Ubud Trip with opportunities running every month.

Volunteer teaching English in Bali to encourage students by developing skills and achieving their future goals. Conversing with fluent, native speakers greatly improves student’s English language skills, a tool essential for future employment. The ability to speak English has become essential as a language to learn for Balinese people to move forward in life. As a result, it enables them to have direct contact with tourists, enhancing the country’s recognition and visibility on a global stage.

BACKGROUND TO THE TEACHING PROGRAM

English is a key component in both the formal and informal industries that exist in Bali, as well as the communication mediums that underpin them. This ranges from the schools, offices and banks to the shops and restaurants that make up much of the booming tourist industry in Indonesia today. Bali is a destination that has become not only a hub for tourists from across the globe, with its beautiful scenery and traditional authenticity, but is also recognised as an ideal location to hold international conferences and seminars.

PMGY’s English teaching program gives volunteers the chance to really make a difference by opening up possibilities of developing English for local children in Tabanan. The explosion of tourism in Bali means the need to speak English has never been greater. Though English is taught in school by a local Balinese teacher, the opportunity to converse with a native, fluent English speaker is invaluable.

Balinese people are warm and friendly. You can expect the local community, the staff you work with and the children you teach to welcome you into their community with open arms. They will be excited to speak with you and hear all about your life! Your volunteer work in Bali can benefit your future prospects as much as it does the people you teach. You will come away with skills that are easily transferred into the workplace, such as leadership, time management and organisational skills.

TEACHING VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

Your schedule will be mixed when you volunteer to teach English in Bali. You’ll spend your time across the different projects where we provide free English lessons in Tabanan, with the main placement being at the Akasa Foundation. Moreover, the PMGY Bali volunteer program runs additional English teaching projects across the year. As a consequence, we can help to maximise the positive impact you have throughout the local community when you volunteer in Bali. These run on an ad-hoc basis and your timetable may be varied throughout the week. Here are some examples of where you could be teaching:

Akasa Foundation Program – Akasa Foundation is a Community Learning Centre, founded by Ketut in 2011. Until recent years, Ketut ran this within her family home. However, the centre now has a permanent location only a 5 minute walk from the Volunteer House. Having lived within the Tabanan community her whole life, Ketut had noticed a lack of opportunity for children from less well-off families to thrive within the educational system. Consequently, this drove her to set up the Foundation and to seek the help of international volunteers. As a volunteer teaching English in Bali, you can support the quality and diversity of the knowledge that could be shared with these children. First of all, a major goal of the centre is to provide basic education to preschoolers from low-income backgrounds, in preparation for primary education. Another goal is to offer additional learning for students already attending school.

Junior High School Summer Program – The PMGY Bali volunteer program offers Junior High School students, the opportunity to participate in a 12 week program during summer. These sessions are hosted 4 times a day to accommodate as many students as possible, aged between 13-15 years. Volunteers in Bali work together with the students through a 12 week structured course to fully prepare the students for senior high school. This course is designed by Akasa Foundation, thus volunteers are provided with a set itinerary and curriculum. However, when you teach English in Bali you are also welcome to introduce additional subjects. The course is mainly focused on improving the students’ conversation and grammar skills, as well as giving them a confidence boost and head start before they are off to senior high school. Subsequently, each student that completes the course gets a certificate at the end of the 12 week course to reward them for their hard work and dedication.

Senior High School After-School Program – As a volunteer teaching English in Bali, you can often team up with a local Senior High School. Above all, this gives volunteers a chance to interact with older and more advanced English students. Once a week, the high school hosts a free after school English club and as a PMGY volunteer in Bali you are invited to help students with their pronunciation and conversation skills. The students are typically aged between 16-17 years old. Most of the English that these students have learned comes from textbooks, with little opportunity to practice English in day to day conservation. As a result, this is a unique opportunity for students to interact with other English speakers. This is particularly important since Tabanan remains a traditional town, meaning inhabitants don’t often encounter English speakers in their daily lives. This project is open for volunteers to create their own activities and subjects, as there is no set curriculum.

Summer Village Program – From around late May to early July, during the school summer holidays, participants may be required to teach English in local farming villages. Lessons are hosted within community halls or schools. Volunteers will spend one morning per week in each of these locations. Consequently, this means volunteers will need to prepare lessons and activities accordingly. Most importantly, be ready to learn lots of names and faces in your time on the teaching program. The schools are located within a 20-30 minute drive away from the Volunteer House.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL TEACHING DAY

Your main role as a volunteer teaching English in Bali will be sharing your time, knowledge and skills to the local communities. Moreover, by boosting their confidence in spoken and conversational English you can help to maximise their potential. The projects run from Monday-Thursday, with class times varying from 8am-4pm. Your timings will be based on your individual schedule. You may have a 5 minute walk to your placement, or for further distances like the Summer Village Program, you will be transported by minivan.

When teaching English in Indonesia you may be leading the class alone, working in pairs, or part of a small group. Volunteers are usually scheduled to teach two or three classes per day. These factors depend on the current project need, availability and volunteer numbers. Timetables tend to be split between two of the placement locations for each volunteer across the week. The Akasa Foundation program tends to be the main teaching project.

The Akasa Foundation runs 3 classes: Kindergarten (3-4 years) and Beginners (5-7 years) classes are usually in the morning and Advanced (8-14 years) classes in the afternoon. Depending on the number of volunteers at one time, each volunteer in Bali may be required to teach each class.

It has been suggested that pre-school years are the most important years of a child’s life and an ideal time for learning a foreign language. This makes these Kindergarten classes invaluable, with a focus on educating the children with very basic English vocabulary, such as colours, shapes and animals. As a volunteer teaching English in Bali, you are required to be creative and very patient, although a local teacher will act as a guide. The difficulty of the content is taken up a level within the Beginner’s class, focusing on similar topics to Kindergarten, but introducing the basic concept of sentence formation.

PMGY’s advanced community classes aim to make the learning of English an enjoyable experience, especially after the children have had a long day at school already! Get creative and teach English through songs, art and sport. You will usually work with another volunteer and teach as a team.

We expect there to be at least 60-100 children across these classes at this program each day, aged from 3 to lower teens. We generally find that the more volunteers prepare for their day then the more they and the children get from the whole experience. Depending on the number of volunteers at the time, will depend on how we segment the group into smaller class sizes if applicable. We will have local coordinators/teachers at the project to assist.

In all cases, Balinese children are eager to learn, this thirst for knowledge can sometimes turn into extreme excitement so it is important to be able to control the class to maintain focus. This is an empowering and rewarding project which really makes a difference to those less fortunate in providing free English education to the children of Tabanan. Inspire through your methods and give these children the confidence to converse with tourists. This, in turn, will improve their future and that of their families.

The presence of an English speaker really benefits the children’s pronunciation and can also help empower local teachers who may be looking for additional assistance with their own education. As a volunteer teaching English in Bali, we encourage you to make lessons as engaging and interactive as possible by being creative and proactive in your preparation.

 
Use fun educational games like interactive word searches or Hangman, or a bit of class competition in Hot Seat or team quizzes. Games, songs, art, sport and music are all great tools. The presence of volunteers gives the children an insight into different cultures; a global perspective they greatly benefit from. Use your creativity and knowledge to help these eager young minds reach their true potential.

What you teach when you volunteer in Bali is completely up to you, though there may be a topic or curriculum materials that you can follow if you need some inspiration and guidance, from a general syllabus or past volunteer examples. We have a library of resources on-site for volunteers to use and the children are provided with exercise books and learning books to help facilitate their learning. The local team also run weekly lesson planning sessions, providing volunteers with a fantastic opportunity to both share and discuss ideas, as well as plan for the upcoming week.

With the heat and high temperatures that exist during your Bali volunteer program, shorter sessions split throughout the day are seen as beneficial all round. In addition, this allows for volunteer energy levels to remain high with positive intensity in each morning and afternoon session. As a volunteer teaching English in Bali, you are encouraged to use the lunch break in between to relax, refresh or plan future activities to maximise time at the project.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER TEACHING CHILDREN IN BALI

Experience – For the English Teaching program, teaching experience is not essential as the mere presence of a native English speaker is invaluable. As long as you are creative, determined and resourceful you can have a constructive impact on the development of the children’s education.

TEFL Course – We encourage volunteers to prepare as much as possible for their teaching program overseas. You can make the most out of your time by completing our convenient, inexpensive and international accredited 60 hour Online TEFL Course. The cost of this course is only 120 USD.

Resources – On the teach English in Bali project, resources can be very limited. Volunteers are recommended to bring materials to the project each day to maximise their productivity and day to day involvement. It is therefore important for volunteers to prepare well in advance to get the most out of their teaching English project experience.

Weekends – Your project work in Bali runs from Monday-Thursday and weekends are free (Friday-Sunday). You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Bali Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Bali. We offer the Gili Paradise Island Trip along with the Ubud Trip with opportunities running every month.

Every PMGY medical volunteer in Bali is offered a fantastic opportunity to gain experience and insight into the Indonesian healthcare system. This program allows you to learn from local staff in a hospital setting, get involved in community projects, as well as experiencing more traditional medical practices involving herbal remedies, cultural beliefs, meditation and holistic healing.

BACKGROUND TO THE MEDICAL PROGRAM

The healthcare of Indonesia must be prefaced by the physical layout of the country, consisting of more than 17,000 islands, which house 260 million people. This makes it the fourth most populous country in the world and the 14th largest country by landmass. The population offers a wide diversity of cultural, social and economic backgrounds.

Indonesia’s previous healthcare system consisted of mostly private care for the wealthy or for those in severe poverty, leaving the majority to fall in between without proper medical provisions. Subsequently, in 2016 Indonesia adopted a national healthcare system, which has now called for new methods of care. Previously, citizens were left for so long without any ability to have affordable medical assistance.

Bali is the home of PMGY in Indonesia. This land is one that still revolves very much around culture and religion. Even though healthcare has developed tremendously over the last decade, Balinese people are still deeply rooted in their customs and religious beliefs; especially regarding health. As a result, joining as a medical volunteer in Bali will open your eyes to the traditional beliefs of healing along with the evolving care of Western medicine within this region.

Our Bali medical program is a learning experience for healthcare, nursing and medical students looking to pursue a career in medicine. Working in a hospital as a volunteer in Bali is a great opportunity to get close up clinical exposure and learn about healthcare systems in developing countries. In addition, as a medical volunteer in Bali, you will witness a variety of cases. This offers a fantastic contrast to what you might find in your local hospital.

MEDICAL VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

The Bali volunteer program is based mainly at a government hospital. In addition, there are opportunities to learn about more traditional beliefs and practices in Indonesia on the medical program, as well as community outreach projects.

Tabanan General Hospital – Bali medical volunteers will be placed at Rumah Sakit Umum Tabanan, which is a local government hospital situated in the middle of Bali. This facility consults nearly 500 patients each day, providing a range of opportunities for volunteers that join this medical experience program. For example, the departments at this hospital include: Paediatrics, Pre and Post-surgery, High Care Unit, Maternity, Intensive Cardio Care Unit and Intensive Care Unit.

Please be aware that while you are on this Bali volunteer program you will be placed in a specific department for a set duration of time and/or on a specific rota. The departments you are placed within will be arranged either to cater to your interests or decided by the hospital at the time, dependent on what and who is available. Across your time on the medical program, you will have the opportunity to spend time across a large number of the departments that the hospital is home to. You will receive your timetable from the local team during your orientation period.

In addition, participants on the medical program may have the opportunity to get involved in some of our community outreach programs on an ad-hoc basis. There may also be a chance to learn more about herbal remedies and traditional treatments. Some of these examples include:

Holistic Healer – The local team will be able to arrange a seminar with a local healer. This will better explain how culture plays a key role in the care of each patient and how medical professionals apply care to cater to these beliefs. The seminar will be lead by a guru, focusing on meditation and holistic healing. The guru will explain how everything is connected in the body, natural healing practices and the benefits of this over more modern medicine.

Local Birth Clinic – Participants who volunteer in Bali will usually get the chance to visit a holistic birth clinic in Ubud. You can learn about how their beliefs, concepts and daily activities may differ from Western medicine. During your visit, you can observe how the midwives use different techniques and holistic methods for babies and mothers, including monitoring health. If you’re lucky you may be able to experience the miracle of birth!

Elderly Community Projects – There may also be the opportunity for a medical volunteer in Bali to provide help at local elderly community projects, working in elderly homes and village campaigns. Across Indonesia, it’s very common for members of the older generation to live with their oldest child, making elderly homes quite rare in Bali. Unfortunately, it is only those who have no family at all or are unable to afford a home, who end up in an elderly care facility. Furthermore, these elderly homes receive no input or support from other services and organisations. This makes the contribution of supporting local elderly communities invaluable from a volunteer in Bali. Other elder members of the local community will join for regular health checks at the village campaigns too, set up in community houses.

Depending on how many participants are able to help on the Bali volunteer program, there might be up to 50 elderly members attending. As a medical volunteer in Bali, you may get the chance to monitor cholesterol levels, blood pressure, glucose levels, respiratory rate and body temperature. This is also a great way to interact with the elderly and help with their social interaction in general to improve their overall well-being.

Charity for Stroke Victims – On an ad-hoc basis, PMGY Bali medical participants could have the opportunity to work alongside a local charity for stroke victims. The patients that this charity work with unfortunately cannot afford rehabilitation services through specialised therapists and centres. Additionally, these patients live in rural areas and have no access to physiotherapy and check-ups. Therefore, the charity offers basic services, free of charge, that focus on stimulating their rehabilitation process.

Our international volunteers work together with the charity’s physiotherapist to help with treatment, activity and massage therapy of one local patient in particular. Volunteers might also get the chance to perform basic health checks on the patient by checking and recording vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature and respiratory rates. Please note that this opportunity is usually available less frequently.

Please note that the main focus of PMGY Bali’s medical program continues to be at the General Hospital in Tabanan and these additional projects are subject to availability and the volunteer’s previous experience.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL WORK DAY

As a medical volunteer in Bali, your main role will be observing the different departments at the General Hospital in Tabanan, learning about and experiencing the Indonesian healthcare system, procedures and culture.

The medical project takes place from Monday-Thursday. Your schedule and transport will depend on the current opportunities available when you volunteer in Bali. For instance, the hospital placement generally runs from 7.30-10am, which is a 5 minute minivan ride. The birth clinic is visited in the afternoon for 2-3 hours, which is 45 minutes away by private car. The community projects run from 2-4pm, which are 5 minutes away by minivan.

As you are expanding your knowledge of the medical field, please note that those you are interacting with may also be interested in communicating with you to build their confidence and spoken English language skills. As Tabanan is a very traditional area of Bali, you will find the local staff are not as confident or accomplished in conversing in English as perhaps other people are across Bali.

The hospital itself will not provide information or training to volunteers, therefore participants will have to be dynamic and creative when interacting with the staff when asking questions, so use your free time to learn through the junior doctors. Showcase which departments you want to prioritise your time with and be proactive in learning about the general day to day goings-on at the hospital.

The local staff at the hospital will also be intrigued in understanding the care provided in your healthcare education system, so be encouraged to communicate around this where possible. While the Balinese people are welcoming you into their place of work please be open to their beliefs and culture as they will be open to yours.

In addition, the hospital staff often welcome PMGY medical volunteers to participate in any weekly staff meetings as and when they occur. Examples of things discussed in these meetings include talking about the logistics of the hospital and care-plans for individual departments.

The community outreach programs can offer opportunities for participants to perform basic hands-on tasks, such as taking vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, temperatures and respiratory rates. The other elements to your placement can teach you more about how Indonesian culture and beliefs shape medicine, including holistic healing, herbal remedies and more traditional treatments to compare and contrast to your experience in the hospital.

As the role is purely observational and feedback has suggested the project can be quite stagnant at times due to a language barrier, we recommend that applicants sign up for no more than 2 weeks on the Bali volunteer program. In our experience, whilst you will gain medical insight and knowledge at the hospital, after a while, most people are eager for greater exposure and engagement, which this project can be limited in providing. In such situations, volunteers may be able to split or extend their time working with children across our community community childcare and English teaching programs in local schools.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER AS A MEDICAL VOLUNTEER IN BALI

Alternative Opportunities – For volunteers who are looking for maximum exposure, opportunities or perhaps a more interactive nature to the program, we would strongly advise considering an alternate medical placement than the volunteer work in Bali. Volunteer work in India is generally seen as our strongest medical program due to the exposure our participants get and the range of projects involved. Ghana and Tanzania volunteer programs are also popular where participants can get involved in a number of high impact projects.

Univeristy Students Only – Volunteers are advised to note that the hospital will not permit applicants who are not studying medicine, healthcare sciences or nursing at university. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to this rule.

Hands-On Involvement – Your level of involvement at the medical volunteer projects is dictated by a range of factors. First of all your medical experience, but also the duration of program and willingness to get involved. The medical staff are accountable for you whilst you’re under their supervision. Ultimately, it is completely up to them if you are permitted and want to get involved in hands-on procedures.

Previous PMGY medical volunteer in Bali participants have been given the chance to administer IV injections, dress wounds etc. However, please note we can never guarantee or promote hands-on involvement regardless of medical experience or background.

Generally speaking those with little or no medical experience assume a largely observational role. If you are studying a medically related degree, then you should have more opportunity to undertake some more basic hands-on involvement. However, to reiterate we can never guarantee or endorse hands-on experience should you choose to get hands-on. Such a decision ultimately lies with the medical staff.

Trained Professionals – Please note this program is not suitable for trained professionals who are looking to practise overseas. This opportunity is only suitable for medical students looking to go into the medical or nursing field and wish to learn about a healthcare system overseas.

Weekends – Your project work in Bali runs from Monday-Thursday and weekends are free (Friday-Sunday). You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Bali Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Bali. We offer the Gili Paradise Island Trip along with the Ubud Trip with opportunities running every month.

Bali wildlife rescue volunteers help to care for a variety of different species of animals, who may be endangered, poached or displaced from their natural habitat. Help with rehabilitation, enrichment and improving the wellbeing of each animal at the wildlife rescue centre. Get involved in additional opportunities to focus on environmental sustainability, plastic pollution and increasing awareness in the local communities.

BACKGROUND TO THE WILDLIFE PROGRAM

Indonesia is home to hundreds of different species of animals, many of which find themselves dispersed by deforestation whilst the country expands it’s exporting of goods like palm oil and rubber. As a result, there are now seven centres in the whole of the country that rehabilitate and release endangered animals into their native habitat in the wild. PMGY Bali wildlife rescue volunteers will gain great insight and opportunity to join in on the care of these animals at the wildlife rescue centre.

Within the centre, you will find a range of animals that were victims of poachers and traffickers. The primates and birds looked after have usually been rescued from markets, private homes and businesses where they were kept as pets or for entertainment purposes. This is a huge problem in Indonesia, displacing wild animals from their natural habitats and separating them from their families. Most importantly, these animals need extra care, attention and enrichment in order to improve their wellbeing and daily lives.

As a volunteer in Bali you can give endangered animals daily support and enrich their lives. On the wildlife volunteer program, you can also get involved in additional opportunities to support the wildlife and environment in Bali. For instance tackling environmental issues via mangrove restoration.

WILDLIFE VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

Wildlife Rescue Centre – Our Bali wildlife rescue volunteers can get involved in work across a number of different projects. The wildlife rescue centre will be your main placement, caring for the displaced, injured and rescued animals who currently reside there. The focus here is on the daily care, wellbeing and rehabilitation of many different species, with the goal to release them back into the wild if they are healthy and equipped with the necessary skills to survive.

There are currently over 40 endangered primates and bird species living at the centre. For example, you may see Javan Lutung, Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque, Grey-Headed Fish Eagle, Southern Cassowary, Palm Cockatoo and more. The Program Fee involved helps provide upkeep and care for these beautiful creatures.

In addition to the wildlife rescue centre, your volunteer in Bali experience may involve several of our other wildlife and conservation projects:

Beach Cleans – Did you know a plastic straw takes one minute to manufacture, will be used for ten, before being disregarded and taking hundreds of years to decompose? Millions of plastic straws are found on the beaches of Bali every year and they are just one of the many items that are littered and washed ashore on this island and across national parks every single day.

Plastic pollution is becoming a huge problem worldwide and our Bali wildlife rescue volunteers aim to fight the battle against this environmental catastrophe. Our team promotes this by hosting regular beach cleans with our international volunteers and the local community. Every day, our volunteers visit local beaches to collect disregarded items, before correctly disposing and recycling these. In addition, we also work with local people to create an even bigger impact, by educating them about environmental conservation and recycling. Above all, education and awareness is a crucial factor in encouraging a sustainable lifestyle to tackle this global issue.

Mangrove Conservation – Bali wildlife rescue volunteers also sometimes work with local villages to restore existing mangroves, which have been affected by climate change and littering. Our conservation volunteers work directly with the villages to help them plant mangrove plants and educate the villagers about restoring ecosystems and environmental conservation. As a result, the knowledge will pass on from generation to generation. This is another important way to raise awareness and support sustainable development across the world during your Bali volunteer program.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL WORK DAY

As a wildlife volunteer in Bali, your main project will be based at the wildlife rescue centre, which is 5 minutes away by minivan. The daily shifts run from 8-10.30am and 2-4pm. While on the project you will work alongside the animal keeper and other staff members who have years of experience interacting with animals.

The beach cleans are about 20 minutes away by minivan, usually from 8-10am or 3-5pm. If your volunteer work in Bali includes the mangrove restoration, you will be transported by private car as it’s about an hour away, normally between 7-11.30am.

In general, Bali wildlife rescue volunteers are expected to work for around 3-5 hours per day from Monday-Thursday. The activities you will get involved in during your time on the volunteer in Bali projects include:

Feeding – These animals are fed based on the species and time of year. For instance, the crocodiles are fed two times a week with things like chicken or duck, while monkeys are fed daily with fruits. You will be able to cut and prepare meals based on the species you are working with and learn about the types of food that are best.

Enrichment – Many of these animals are endangered and have come from the loss of their native habitat or poor treatment in the black market. Their displacement often leaves these animals irritable and at times depressed, causing them to have poor eating habits or behaviour. Your time interacting with them and coaching them on things such as eating, foraging, play or social interaction with other animals is imperative. Over time these animals may just learn to trust you and in turn, you could find one of those pretty Parakeets on your forearm.

Enclosure Cleaning – These enclosures are made for each animal based on the feedback of the veterinarian during the first assessment. You may find the enclosures to be small, but some animals who are irritable find it more comfortable to be in smaller spaces. Over time the enclosures will be expanded and eventually they will be released back into the wild. The crocodiles tend to need the brush cleared back to keep them from being confined to one area, so an example of this upkeep would be cutting the brush back, while the staff keep the crocodile occupied. In the bird enclosures, the branches and chains may need to be replaced and cleaned as they begin to rot. If you are comfortable they will let you clean and make repairs in the enclosure with these beauties flying all around you!

Maintenance – The rescue centre is a great place, but with limited funding it could do with some tender loving care. Volunteers will be asked to help with creating a better atmosphere for the animals by clearing up the grounds. While you are doing a bit of upkeep this can include fixing the hinges on enclosure doors, relining the fencing, adding new gating on the enclosure, repairing the habitats or cleaning the grounds of rubbish and weeds.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING WITH WILDLIFE IN BALI

Individual Project Availability – The European summer months (June-August) is our peak time for volunteer work in Bali. As a consequence, volunteers may be allocated to alternative placements (outside the project examples above) during their time on the program in this period.

Weekends – Your project work in Bali runs from Monday-Thursday and weekends are free (Friday-Sunday). You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Bali Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Bali. We offer the Gili Paradise Island Trip along with the Ubud Trip with opportunities running every month.