Gap Year Programs in Rural Areas of Indonesia

Journey to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean where we immerse ourselves in the island lifestyles of Sumatra, Bali, and Fiji. Students will have the opportunity to assist in native mangrove and coral reef restoration, help restore age-old Bataknese houses in a Sumatran village, and gain insight into environmental sustainability and natural disaster relief. We also explore the unique challenges of local health care and dive deep into local island culture and tradition. Before you will have finished the semester, you will have gained your SCUBA certification and challenged yourself on the waves with several surf classes.

Spanning from Malaysia to Australia, with over 17,000 equatorial islands, Indonesia hosts the world's highest level of biodiversity and one of the richest cultural tapestries on Earth. Dragons Indonesia gap year semester begins in Yogyakarta on the island of Java. With our Program House as a base, students engage in arts, language, and topical discussions on themes of religious diversity, creative expression, and cultural and environmental conservation, all while living with carefully selected homestay families. From Java, we head east to the island of Flores where students live in the pastoral village of Langa. Here students stay with generous homestay families, learn about coffee production, hike spectacular dormant volcanoes, explore topics in spiritual plurality, and develop a deeper understanding of traditional farming. We then travel to the southeastern archipelago of Wakatobi, an extraordinary National Marine Park and home to the Bajau people (also known as “sea nomads”). We return to Yogyakarta to conclude this rugged, comprehensive course that introduces students to some of the most significant ecological, cultural, and geo-political conversations of our time.

Volunteer in Indonesia and explore this fascinating archipelago with its 17.500 islands, deep rainforests and heavenly beaches. The one island that surely comes into your mind: Bali. If you are looking for a mix of vibrant cities, untouched nature and working for a good cause, look no further! You love working with children and want to pass on your English skills? A teaching project is the perfect choice for you, and there are plenty from the metropole Jakarta to remote islands. Another aspect Indonesia is famous for? Orangutans! Volunteer at an orangutan sanctuary to protect them.