Responsible Volunteering - Bali Education and Community Development

  Indonesia

• Bali: 
Denpasar

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Description: People and Places has evolved from the recognition that many volunteer recruitment organisations are out of step with the needs of local communities and volunteers. Ours is a truly different approach - to specifically match volunteers and projects. Our starting point for every project is the local community - their needs and those of the project are paramount. Only with a comprehensive understanding and respect for the community and the project will people and places match volunteers to placements.

We are committed to ensuring that as much as possible of your hard earned money reaches your host country and is used for the benefit of local well being and knowledge. We are committed to ensuring that your placement is as rewarding as possible for you and the projects on which you work.

The local team is working together with a local organization and several village community groups to support education for local schools, and also for coastal communities who have no chance of gaining further skills through formal education.

The primary goals of the project are to provide skills that will enhance the villagers' prospects of maintaining economic self-sufficiency, and to increase their wider employment opportunities in Bali for the future.

The project also needs to develop a mentoring program for local teachers and field staff of local organizations, to assist them in improving their English communication and computing skills. The local communities would also welcome support in learning organizational and basic business skills, as part of a wider capacity-building effort.

Context
Sanur, in the southeastern part of Bali, is a quiet coastal area with some tourist development. The beaches and reefs in Sanur serve many users, including local fishing communities, hotels, cafes, and small vendors selling souvenirs. Unlike the well-known Kuta beach area down the coast, which serves the younger market, Sanur is a quieter area, popular with local and foreign tourists, especially those with families.

The Buleleng district in north Bali is known for its natural beauty, ancient culture and hospitable people. Along the north coast, in Lovina and Pemuteran, there are a few tourism developments, but the region remains largely undeveloped. The bulk of Bali's remaining natural forest is also in Buleleng district, in the Bali Barat National Park on the western tip of Bali. The Park was established in 1984, and is home to monkeys, deer and other wildlife. The area is fringed with coral reefs, which are home to an abundance of marine life, and are popular with dive tourists.

Some areas are blessed with fertile volcanic soils, but the north western part of the island experiences a lack of clean water during the dry season. Water shortages have led to reductions in harvests of basic food crops, on which the villagers depend for income and food.

Faced with increasingly difficult family economic conditions, many children do not have the chance to finish secondary school. In villages that do have schools, there is a chronic lack of qualified teachers, and educational resources are very limited. Improved educational opportunities and capacity-building would therefore significantly benefit these coastal communities economically in the long term.

Bali is one of the main sources of marine tropical fish for aquariums around the world. The project management team has been working to help coastal communities in managing the marine resources on which they depend. Specifically, this has included training fish collectors in 'best practices' in fish collection, handling, and transportation techniques.

Highlights: Living Conditions
While working in Sanur, volunteers will have a choice of basic but comfortable, clean Balinese-style homestays, with air conditioning and running hot water. When visiting the field sites in North Bali, volunteers will stay in basic homestays, or in the local organizations guesthouse. Neither of these options has air conditioning or running hot water, but fans are provided, and hot water can be made available on request. Volunteers will have their own rooms. Toilet/bathroom facilities are basic but clean, and are individual or shared.

Breakfast is usually provided in the homestay while living in Sanur. During the field trips, all meals will be included. Rice is the main staple, with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and some meat and fish, all simply cooked. Western food is available in most tourist areas.

If you plan to travel with a companion, please ask for shared room rates.

Qualifications: Experience required to do the following tasks:

1. Assistance for the local organisations and staff in the following areas:

* Skills training to enable staff to work with and teach the local communities more effectively
* Improving basic English language skills - helping the local staff to develop and practice their communication skills in English, both verbal and written
* Improving computer skills - at all levels from basic to advanced
assistance in development of organizational and basic business skills, including: problem-solving skills, presentation, negotiation, administration and organizational skills
* Developing simple value-added products - such as preserves, t-shirts, handicrafts - and associated presentation and marketing skills.

2. Assistance to the local Junior and High School teachers in the Buleleng area, including:

* Improving the teachers English teaching and developing informal English
* Improving teachers basic computing skills for the students and the community
Volunteers with experience in the following would be very welcome:

- Education and training with practical skills
- Teachers of English, at all levels
- Small business development
- Basic computer skills
- Clean water management

There is also a need for health care professionals and alternative technology experts.

Cost in US$: from USD 2715 for 4 weeks based on home stay

Your project donation will be used for the purchase of educational and training equipment for the community.

How your money is spent based on 4 weeks:

USD 1,508 - direct costs in Bali (airport transfers, accommodation, orientation, information packs)
USD 525- project management & supervision in Bali
USD 292 - project donation in Bali
USD 390- recruitment, matching & project development in UK

Costs are based on a conversion rate of 1 GBP = 1.94662 USD

Not included:flights, insurance, visa costs, personal expenses such as phone calls, medical expenses, etc.

Experience Required: yes

Typical Volunteer: * People and Places volunteers have professional or life skills they want to share with economically poor communities. * They are usually over 25 and have some life experience. * They want to be sure that they know that their placement will be worthwhile for them and the community in which they work. * They want to live and work within the community. * They want to be sure that they leave their knowledge behind and that as much as possible their hard earned money benefits the community. * They have a realistic understanding of how much they can achieve and also understand that they are likely to learn more than they teach. * They will be well prepared for their placement and respect the community they will be working with.

Age Range: typically over 25 years

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Indonesia Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

People and Places's Mission Statement: People and places was established to recruit and place skilled volunteers in local projects run by local people for the benefit of their communities and their environment. people and places is a (not-for-profit) company. All profits are covenanted for charitable purposes and used to serve the needs of the communities with whom we work. People and places serves the needs of local projects, by recruiting and placing skilled volunteers on their behalf. We have no political or religious affiliations. Our core values are mutual respect, service, partnership, transparency and sustainability . We believe that people who are willing and able to contribute their expertise, skills and time for the benefit of others, should be provided with quality volunteering opportunities and be well supported in their volunteering and know exactly where and how their money is used.

Year Founded: 2005