Volunteer and Teach English in Bali

IVHQ gave me the opportunity to make my dreams of traveling the world a reality. It gave me an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget. I can't start to explain the precious memories and extraordinary people I have met in my trip. It all feels surreal now to be back at home. I remember being hesitant to go on this trip when my best friend first propose the idea. I had never heard of Bali or IVHQ so right of the bat I did some research on both. IVHQ's website accessibility to basically all the information you need was wonderful. It made me feel safe and like I can trust the organization. The website was really inviting and extremely easy to navigate in, I could even chat with someone if I had any questions at any moment! This really pushed me to go on my trip because I felt fully informed and cautioned about any obstacle that might come my way. Once arriving in Bali the staff at Green Lion, a patterning organization was extremely friendly and helpful. They made understood what was expected of us as volunteers and what are duties are to be. They kept their doors open to talk on anything we felt bothered us whether it is while volunteering or in the homestay. What I loved the most about volunteering for IVHQ is the people I met from all over the world. Everyone seemed to be on the same page wanting to achieve the same goal. I taught English with a girl from Italy my second week volunteering and it was splendid. We got along on the first day and culture crashes did not seem to be an issue at all. We planned and taught diligently together and before you know it became good friends. Outings were also a plus, we had a good amount of free time and with everyone being around the same age had a great time together no matter where you came from. It was extremely easy to make friends with people and plan trips for the weekend, which was a favorite part of mine because we got to explore different areas in Bali. With all the fun and new experiences that come with traveling abroad it all comes down to the purpose of the trip. I love and am proud to say that an effort to make a positive contribution to the community of Bali was made and delivered. Not only in words but also in actions. It’s a blessing for me in itself to visit such a beautiful place and meet such friendly people. If I could change anything about my trip it would be to have stayed longer. You get so accustomed to the daily life that you'll be surprised when the last days start rolling around and you don’t want to leave. For that reason I know ill be back in Bali. So thank you IVHQ for opening my eyes to such a beautiful place and letting me be apart of a bigger project for the better. I am whole-heartedly beyond grateful for the wonderful experience you gave me the opportunity to have. Thank you

This is my first volunteer trip, and it has been a perfect start. Before traveling, my IVHQ program manage responded to each of my email quickly and answered my questions, which made me feel much less nervous about traveling abroad. As soon as I arrived in Bali, the local team greeted me with hospitality. Travelling as a volunteer is a great way to embrace the local culture. In the introduction week, we enjoyed a series of activities, including local dance, painting, cooking classes, visiting a famous Temple in beautiful Balinese clothing and so on. In the following week I taught in a local primary school. This provides me with a closer insight to the local culture and has triggered my careful thinking on region and way of life. IVHQ has made my trip to Bali unique, as I not only enjoyed the scenery, but felt like I was a part of the exotic Balinese culture as well. My accommodation was in a village in the artistic town of Ubud. At dawn, a walk around the village is just one of the best ways to feel the culture and interact with local people. The villagers are friendly and sincere. One evening a friend and I even joined a dance practice with local ladies. In Tuesday and Thursday evenings, there are free shuttles to Ubud center, so we did a lot of shopping and drinking on these evenings. The accommodation provides traditional Balinese food. Also, I love the wide range of fruits (dragon fruits especially!). The homestay, including bedrooms, shower rooms and toilets are well-cleaned. The staff there are nice and helpful. Besides their duties, they helped a lot with my weekend trip plans.

My recent volunteer trip to Bali was more than I expected. It was my first time volunteering overseas, I am 53 and I traveled by myself. I have traveled by myself before this trip but never internationally. I was a little anxious but the help and support along the way from the staff at IVHQ eased my worries. They were pretty quick at answering my questions. Once I arrived in Bali, except for one glitch in my pick up at the airport, the staff there was just as amazing and always willing to help and extremely friendly. Bali was an amazing place and I never felt unsafe. I would highly recommend the trip through IVHQ.