Teaching Volunteer Program in Bali - Ubud
Excited to teach in Bali - Ubud? International Volunteer HQ’s Teaching project places volunteers in after-school classes where they can gain experience as teachers while helping to improve English language education in the local community. Balinese students are keen to learn from fluent speakers of English as it leads to opportunities for further education and opens up job possibilities in Ubud’s thriving tourism industry.
Highlights:
- Programs start every Monday
- Affordable fees from CA$504 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Share important English language skills with students
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Explore Bali’s ancient temples, shrines and rice terraces
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Stay with other volunteers on the scenic outskirts of Ubud
Key information
This program is ideal for:
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Workers who can speak English well are in high demand in the booming tourism industry in Bali. Because of this, locals are keen to learn and value the opportunity to learn from and speak with a fluent or native speaker. The better their English skills, the more likely they are to get a better job and be able to support themselves and their families.
As a teaching volunteer you’ll be running after-school English classes for elementary students. You may teach with another volunteer or by yourself and get creative with your lesson planning. Using games, sport, music and art are great ways to engage children. There is an informal curriculum and examples of the work of past volunteers that you can use to help plan your lessons.
Day-to-day teaching volunteer work varies, but generally consists of:
- Teaching English to elementary school students
- Providing pronunciation and language guidance
- Lesson planning
- Setting up educational games and activities
Important dates to note for 2023:
- 13th to 17th of March 2023 - Midterm Exams: During this time, the standard volunteer work is not available. Volunteers instead participate in the Kindergarten project.
- 21st to 23rd March 2023: There will be no volunteer work available during this time, on Nyepi day all restaurants close and even the airport is officially closed and you may be required to stay at the volunteer accommodation.
- 15th to 26th May 2023 - School Examination: During this time, the standard volunteer work is not available. Volunteers instead participate in the Kindergarten project. Please note, this date may change due to Big Hindu Ceremony, however, the local team won’t know till closer to your start date.
- 31st July to 12th of August 2023: During this time, the standard volunteer work is not available. Volunteers instead participate in cleaning, repairs and renovation activities in local schools for approximately 4 hours a day and have the remainder of their time free to enjoy the festivities.
- 11th to 15th of September 2023 - Midterm Exams: During this time, the standard volunteer work is not available. Volunteers instead participate in the Kindergarten project.
- 4th to 8th of December 2023 - School Exams: During this time, the standard volunteer work is not available. Volunteers instead participate in the Kindergarten project.
Why do Teaching volunteering in Ubud with IVHQ?
When you volunteer to teach English in Bali - Ubud, you’ll be helping out the local community while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving access to education in Bali - Ubud
- Helping students learn English
- Getting experience teaching English
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining teaching abroad experience
- Immersing yourself fully in Balinese life
- Exploring Ubud’s rich culture and natural environment
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
- Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
- All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit
Recommended online TEFL course
We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.
Get TEFL certified online”A highlight for me was revising the material covered over the course of the teaching program and having them remember what I have taught them. That was definitely a sense of achievement when that happened. The biggest impact my volunteering trip had on me was to be grateful for what you have. Open your head and heart for new experiences. Get out of our comfort zone. The program allows you to learn a lot about yourself and your limits. I recommend it 100%!”
Aliya, Indian, 35
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Location
Set among lush rice paddies and ancient temples, IVHQ’s Ubud program will send you back in time. The 14 villages that make up the historical town of Ubud have streets lined with statues and ornate temples that ooze old-world charm. Ubud is also known for its artistic flair, with countless art galleries, artists’ workshops, craft shops and markets to explore.
Arrival and orientation
The Bali volunteer program orientation begins every Monday and volunteers need to arrive in Bali on the Sunday before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport (DPS). Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are in Bali prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Ubud or Denpasar on the day before your program orientation.
There are two options for orientation for the Bali - Ubud Program:
1-day Orientation:
The 1-day orientation begins on your selected start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program. You will have an introduction to the IVHQ Bali - Ubud Program and the local staff, Indonesian customs, rules, expectations, and safety. This will be followed by a project-specific meeting with the project preparation you’ll need to complete for the following day. Volunteers on the Turtle Conservation project choosing this option will need to arrive into Denpasar International Airport (DPS) on the Sunday before 1pm. As you will be transferred straight to Nusa Penida for your one-day orientation the following day.
5-day Introduction Week:
The second option is Introduction Week, hosted by our Bali team in Ubud. The Introduction Week begins on the morning of your chosen start date and runs for the first five days of your stay. It is an awesome way to kickstart your volunteer abroad experience and it covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Bali, plus you’ll learn more about the culture and get to tick off a must-do Bali experiences! The Introduction Week will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day
On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.
Weekdays
While volunteer schedules depend on the particular projects and placements, a typical day might look like this:
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer house |
| 9:00 AM | Volunteers spend 1 to 2 hours planning for their projects. |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Volunteers head to their placements. |
| 5:00 PM | Work at the project usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their accommodation, go sightseeing, or do some shopping. |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner at the volunteer house. |
Weekends
Whether you’re into arts and crafts, ancient history, exploring nature or after an adrenaline rush, there’s plenty to satisfy you in and around Ubud. You can fill your weekends with statues, museums and temples, hiking to the summit of Mt Batur, seeing waterfalls, snorkeling, white-water rafting, art galleries, shopping at markets or visiting small farms and rice paddies.
Ubud’s central location also makes it easy to get to other places in Bali like the capital city of Denpasar and the glorious beaches and villages that line the southern coast - all less than an hour away by taxi.
Accommodation and WiFi
You’ll be staying in volunteer houses, located about 15 minutes’ drive from central Ubud. Set in small villages, it’s a great place to see typical Balinese life.
Living conditions are comfortable and all volunteer houses have fans in the bedrooms. Volunteers can expect to share a dormitory-style room with three to seven other volunteers. These bedrooms are separated by gender. The bathroom is shared with a hot water shower and western toilets.
WiFi is available at the volunteer accommodation and there are great internet cafes in Ubud if you would like to access a higher speed connection.
Meals
Volunteers are served mainly Balinese style dishes and should expect light vegetarian meals like:
- Rice, fresh vegetables and occasionally tempeh/tofu
- Nasi goreng (fried rice and vegetables - often considered as the national dish)
- Mie goreng (fried noodles and vegetables)
- Gado gado (mixed vegetables with a satay sauce)
Western meals may be served during the week. Breakfast can include fresh fruit, toast, and eggs. Tea, coffee, and toast will be available throughout the day. Purified drinking water is also available in the volunteer house; we do not recommend that you drink the tap water.
On weekdays you’ll get three meals a day, but during the weekend only breakfast and dinner are provided. If volunteers wish to eat out in Ubud, there are a large number of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.
If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply so that we can make arrangements for you. However, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home and need to be as flexible as possible. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | CA$504 Equivalent to CA$72/day |
| 2 weeks | CA$759 Equivalent to CA$54/day |
| 3 weeks | CA$1014 Equivalent to CA$48/day |
| 4 weeks | CA$1276 Equivalent to CA$46/day |
| 5 weeks | CA$1525 Equivalent to CA$44/day |
| 6 weeks | CA$1745 Equivalent to CA$42/day |
| 8 weeks | CA$2178 Equivalent to CA$39/day |
| 10 weeks | CA$2611 Equivalent to CA$37/day |
| 12 weeks | CA$3044 Equivalent to CA$36/day |
- Accommodation
- Meals
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of CA$419 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in CAD.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Bali - Ubud generally find US$80-100 per week to be sufficient for expenses.
Recommended activities and tour add-ons
We believe that no volunteer adventure would be complete without experiencing the natural and cultural wonders of your host country. That’s why we offer an exciting Introduction Week to IVHQ volunteers in Bali as an affordable add-on.
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| DAY 1 | Introduction to the IVHQ Bali - Ubud Program and the local staff, Indonesian customs, rules and expectations, safety and a Ubud walking tour (2 - 3 hours). This will be followed by a welcome dinner and Balinese dance show |
| DAY 2 | Bahasa Language lesson and a Batik painting class |
| DAY 3 | Indonesian cooking class and Bahasa Language lesson |
| DAY 4 | Local village walk through the countryside and nearby rice fields, Garba Cave and an Indonesian flower making class (flower offerings are a daily ritual in Bali) |
| DAY 5 | An introduction to your project which will help you prepare for your placement on Monday. Followed by a Temple visit to “Pura Tirta Empul”, the Holy Water Temple where you can enjoy a swim in the Holy Water |
*Turtle Conservation volunteers who join this week will go to Nusa Penida on Sunday to start their project and volunteers in Ubud will prepare for the start of their projects the following week.
The introduction week has an additional cost of US$358 which includes all orientation activities, meals, and accommodation.
Please note the introduction week is not included as part of your program duration. So if you want this to be part of the total amount of weeks you spend on the program, please let us know.
How to book IVHQ’s recommended add-ons:
Ready to join? Please see the add-on options in your MyIVHQ checklist or email your IVHQ Program Manager and they will add this to your file.
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Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Protecting against COVID-19:
Volunteers tested for COVID-19 upon arrival
Health & safety information provided during orientation
Strict disinfecting standards for programs & accomodation
Greater physical distance between volunteers
Essential country information
| Capital | Denpasar |
| Population | 4.22 million |
| Languages | Bahasa Indonesia |
| Currency | Indonesia Rupiah (IDR) |
| Time zone | UTC+08:00 |
Weather and climate
Bali has a tropical climate with year-round warm weather and an average temperature of 30°C (86°F). High humidity can be expected during the wet season from October to April. The dry season is between the months of May and September and has the lowest humidity.
