Volunteer in Healthcare Education in Ubud, Bali

I loved my experience in Bali Indonesia and booking through IVHQ! It was the best trip getting to meet people from all over the world and travel around Bali learning about the culture and trying so many new things. I worked on the Health Education project teaching students in local schools. It was so easy to book this two week trip and navigate the site to find a program that was right for me and connected to my major of dietetics/nutrition and find a location that I was excited about that had it all. I would definitely book through IVHQ again and I’m so excited to think about the next possible program I’ll go on or the new people I’ll meet in the future!

I think IVHQ set me up really well for my program and gave me all the resources I needed. From my experience volunteering in Bali, I gained a much deeper sense of cultural awareness, adaptability, and appreciation for the resilience and curiosity of the kids I worked with. Teaching health education in underserved schools taught me how powerful small contributions can be. Whether it was helping a child understand a basic hygiene practice or simply creating a safe and fun space for learning. I also developed confidence in communicating across language and cultural barriers, which strengthened both my teaching and interpersonal skills. For someone hesitant about joining this program, I would say that stepping outside of your comfort zone is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. It’s natural to feel unsure, but the relationships you build, the perspective you gain, and the positive impact you can make far outweigh the initial nerves. Go in with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and the understanding that you’ll get just as much out of the experience as you give.

Volunteering in Bali for the Healthcare education through IVHQ in overall makes my experience great. It was a transformative experience that combined meaningful service with cultural immersion for me. From contributing to community projects like teaching the basic healthcare education and cultural discovery through introduction week with soaking in Bali's stunning landscapes and vibrant traditions, every moment was deeply fulfilling for me. The journey highlighted the impact of collective effort, fostering personal growth and giving back where needed, gratitude, and a deeper connection to the world. It’s a highly recommended experience for those seeking purpose, seeking adventure, and seeking a meaningful way to explore the world.

This was first international volunteer. Since it was my first, i felt a bit nervous but i was having fun when i started engaging with local teams and coordinators who were very supportive and helpful. Working with students was one of the best thing happen. They were very innocent, active, respectful and learner. Giving back to the world what i have achieved/with me is best feeling ever. Thank you so much to all local teams, coordinators, and program manager for your precious support.

Having always been passionate about Health Education and community work, I am immensely grateful to IVHQ for giving me the opportunity to gain firsthand experience working with children from underprivileged communities. To physically interact, bond and understand the children was truly an eye-opening experience. I got the chance to put myself in their shoes and design catered lessons for them based on my understanding towards them. I am glad to be part of making a difference in terms of their long-term healthcare. For anyone hesitant to join the program, a step out of your comfort zone comes a long way in terms of what you gain.

Volunteering abroad was one of the best choices I made in my life and I am glad I did it with IVHQ. It was an invaluable and unforgettable experience to teach kids the importance of hygiene, health, diseases, and nutrition. I had the privilege of immersing myself in a new beautiful culture while being surrounded by young minds eager to learn and change. I made some lifelong friends along the way and informed children in the hopes that they will carry the importance of a healthy lifestyle with them throughout their lives. To any individual interested in volunteering abroad, I urge you to take the opportunity and make the most of it.

My highlight from the trip was when many of the kids at the school greeted me on the first day of my healthcare education project. They were all smiles, curious and welcoming. It was at that moment that I began to realize that my presence truly did have an impact on them, even if it was a small one. I was reminded of the impact that perspective had on one's quality of life. I encountered many people who didn't have much in terms of material things but whom exuded genuine joy anyways because of their gratitude for all of the possessions and people in their lives. Go for it! You will gain so much from volunteering abroad... new friends, new memories, a new appreciation for things in your life that you take for granted, etc., so don't let fear keep you from experiencing what very well could be some of the most memorable and meaningful moments of your life.

My favourite moment as a volunteer was teaching the kids new games from my country and seeing their excited faces at the start of every class. The biggest impact my volunteering trip had on me was gaining a new perspective on healthcare from being immersed in the culture of Bali and the reality of its people. I would say that if you are truly looking to make a difference, IVHQ Bali is the program to help you do that. The accommodations feel like a home away from home and the people of Bali are all so kind and positive. For me, this was a long distance to travel for volunteering, but I was immediately grateful for my decision after meeting the lovely staff and amazing volunteers in the program who I have all become my good friends.

The last day I had with the children I was teaching for six weeks was my best moment on the program. We had a special meal together, and I will never forget the children. Volunteering through IVHQ in Bali immensely changed my perspective on how most people live. Stepping out of your comfort zone only leads to growth. Instead of being a tourist in a destination, you can fully immerse yourself in the local culture by volunteering. The world needs more volunteers at the moment.

My favourite moment was when we were teaching the children about nutrition labels and brought some flavoured milk packets to the class for the children to look at the labels to identify the different vitamins present. The children really loved the treat and kept asking us for more. I think it was really interesting that they were so excited over something that I usually take for granted, such as packet milk. I think what was memorable about the experience was that as we also brought a bottle of cola to teach the children about sugar, some of the boys tried to sneak the bottle off the table or tried to tell us that they only wanted to help us throw it away. I think the playfulness and mischievousness of the students was really adorable and memorable. It changed my perspective on a lot of things, and made me much more grateful about what I currently have. One of the biggest shocks I had when I first went to the school is how badly furbished their classroom looked. While it had desks and chairs that seemed sufficiently comfortable for the students, the room was lit by a singular light bulb which made it difficult to read and write during rainstorms. However, what stood out to me was how the children seemed to make the most of whatever they had, such as an inflatable toy ball we brought that provided them with tons of entertainment during their break time, as they were willing to play with and share with other students from the different classes. It was wonderful seeing the children play together and made me rethink about what it means to be happy or what one truly needs material wise to be truly content. What I would say to someone still hesitant about volunteering abroad is that being hesitant is understandable and the fear of the unknown is really real. It would be unrealistic to not approach volunteering abroad with some form of apprehension or uncertainty, but I think that taking the first step really helps, especially to get yourself into the groove. Besides that, I think that the local team working with IVHQ will be able to provide the sufficient support for volunteering abroad, as long as one voices out his or her opinion. For example, the Green Lion Bali team were able to advise us on the materials we prepared and gave us suggestions on what we could incorporate into our lessons, which made the experience much more positive both for us and our target audience.

Meeting all these wonderful people of all ages, both local and from across the world was my favourite moment. Getting to delve into the culture and learn some of the language was also really rewarding. It improved my self-confidence through pushing me outside of my comfort zone and giving me the opportunity to prove to myself what I can do. It also broadened my understanding of the world and the beautiful cultures and people within it. My advice is just do it, you learn and grow so much and it's incredibly fun.

I volunteered in Bali - Ubud for the health care education program. This was an amazing trip and I LOVED working with all of the kiddos! Bali is absolutely beautiful and I highly recommend this destination. I enjoyed my experience with IVHQ. Where I stayed was fine, it was clean and the staff did everything they could to accommodate us. There were bunk beds and I was paired with 5 other people in the room. Food was awesome as well! All of the staff, volunteer coordinators, cooks, taxi drivers, etc. were absolutely amazing and made the experience organized and enjoyable! For the program itself, it seemed slightly unorganized at first because there weren't enough people for certain programs so they were having some people switch programs, but only if they wanted to. With that being said, my program, health care education was amazing. I did find that I was teaching children English and spending time with the kids rather than teaching them specifically about healthcare but I still really enjoyed it! I was able to teach them about washing their hands and how to live healthy! One more thing that people who are travelling with IVHQ should know is that you are required to have a one week orientation. The orientation is fun, you get to learn a lot about the country and culture that you are travelling in. However, it does take some time away from volunteering so make sure to plan for this while planning how long you will stay in your destination. Overall, I LOVED my experience in Bali and would recommend IVHQ to people who are wanting to volunteer abroad.

This was my first volunteering trip with IVHQ and I’m certain it will not be the last! Bali was my second home for two weeks and I have met my second family here! At first I was worried and anxious about leaving home far away and being in a foreign country all alone. But when I had put myself out of my comfort zone, I have the most amazing and eye-opening experience, meeting all the inspiring, supportive friends from all walks of life. Indulging in the Balinese culture, this volunteering trip has taught me to be more of a kind, humble and open-hearted person. The Balinese children also welcomed me and came to class everyday so eager to learn. It’s definitely a life changing experience!

What an amazing experience. I don't even know where to start with my time spent in Bali. The wonderful local people who taught me about happiness and seizing each day; my students who were motivated and so kind; the breathtaking scenery; my friends I made from around the world who i volunteered and travelled with; the amazing, supporting IVHQ staff members. All this was made possible and so easy with IVHQ, and I would highly recommend any trips with them - especially to Bali. Upon arrival in Bali I was made so comfortable and this was maintained throughout my entire trip - I've never met such generous, kind, people. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience, and a life-changing one at that. I hope to one day be able to travel and volunteer with IVHQ again!

It was an unforgettable experience the staff were very kind and helpful. We really made a change in the lical community. The children are very eager to learn and practice every thing you teach them! It was also an amazing holiday, we traveled all the island in the weekends, there are beautiful beaches, waterfalls and many activities you always have something to do !

This was my first time volunteering abroad so I was quite nervous and did not know what to expect. After coming home from Bali, I am extremely thankful to IVHQ for giving me the opportunity to do this project and for their continuous support leading up to my trip to ensure that my travels would go smoothly. This was truly such a humbling and life changing experience that I will never forget! The moment I was greeted by the local organization in Bali and met the other volunteers, all my worries had faded away. It is amazing to see how quickly friendships and connections form between volunteers and the local people in such a short period of time. There is something magical about Bali- I have to say that people in Bali are the most genuine, loyal and humble people that I have ever met. Everyone smiles here and it is contagious! During the first week, the local program staff gave us an orientation of the Balinese culture. We visited a monkey forest, a holy water temple, a rice field, had a Batik painting class, went on a walking tour of Ubud with some free time to spend browsing through the markets, learned to cook some traditional Balinese food, saw a traditional Balinese dance (Kecak) and learned some basic Bahasa (language spoken in Bali). A great variety of activities and they were well organized and fun! Be prepared for lots of walking and moving around during this week :).Thank-you to the kitchen staff, I have now developed a new love for tempeh and peanut sauce! I came to Bali for the healthcare education project, hoping that a group of children would learn something new from me. In fact, they were the ones who had re-taught me the meaning of a very powerful gift: gratitude. It was remarkable to witness how excited and grateful these children were to receive basic stationery that I had given them for Christmas which we would think to be ordinary. I never would've thought that a group of children who I only got to know for a week would have such a big impact on me. If you are thinking of volunteering abroad but have some hesitations, I would definitely just take the dive and follow your dreams and everything else will fall in place. Not only was I able to learn about the Balinese culture and people, I learned so much about myself during these two weeks. Trust me, it will be rewarding in the end that you won't regret it!

Such an incredible program, met some of my now best friends through it. You will meet incredible people and there is so much to see and do around the accommodation. I am actually booking my second IVHQ trip now because I had such an amazing experience. You will be left with memories that last a lifetime and some tough goodbyes. You will never want to leave.

Words cannot describe my experience in Bali. If you're reading this because you are considering Bali, I say stop researching and GO! Here are some points as to why I loved my experience: 1. The people are so warm and welcoming 2. The scenery is unreal! 3. Green Lion is INCREDIBLE! 4. Orientation week was amazing! 5. The kids are eager to learn and play! Green Lion is the organization you will be working with. For the very short time I was there, they became my family. They went out of their way to help us in anything, and I mean anything! You can just tell how much they care for their volunteers. The accommodations were comfortable, washrooms were western. Orientation week is amazing! At first, I thought a week is kind of long, but at the end of the week I wanted to do it all over again. This is the time to learn and make new friends. During this time we walked through rice paddies, visited the monkey forest, learned the language, learned their cultural traditions, watched a cultural dance, visited a water temple, and learned how to cook. For the placement itself, you were partnered up and given a class. On a normal day my partner and I would make a lesson plan in the morning and go to placement in the afternoon. Being in the health care program was difficult at first because of the language barrier, but we quickly got over it through the help our coordinators. We played many games, did lots of colouring activities and shared lots of smiles. Instead of us teaching, I think we learned more from them. They taught us Bahasa (Indonesian) and how to appreciate the things we have. At the end of this trip I only had one regret, and that was not staying longer. The feeling of being there is so incredible that life back at home seems kind of boring. Therefore I did not say goodbye to Bali but more of a see you later type of thing. Terima Kasih (Thank-You) Bali for such an incredible adventure! - love Sarah (CAN)