By: Indonesia Inquiry A Resource Portal for Indonesian Issues
There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities in Indonesia. Whatever your favorite cause (be it the environment, children, economic development, education, women’s issues, etc.), there’s a good chance of locating a matching group to support in the country. Interested individuals can formally volunteer via domestic and international non-profit organizations, religious institutions, educational entities, and private groups. Visas or special permissions are required depending on the length of stay, type of project, and persons involved.
Organizations might have a religious affiliation (directly or indirectly), which can have its pros and cons depending on government approval, community diversity, and individual preferences. Volunteers may be expected to pay for their own travel and living expenses, or they may volunteer and receive certain assistance in return (e.g., housing, food, and transportation stipends). The following groups are a small sampling of volunteer opportunities abroad. Please feel free to add Indonesia-specific suggestions in the comments section at the end of the post.
i-to-i International Projects: http://www.i-to-i.com/ This group provides a variety of volunteer vacations and work experiences including teaching English as a foreign language, community development, conservation, construction, and skills development.
Peace Corps: http://www.peacecorps.gov/ The Peace Corps offers an assortment of volunteering abroad opportunities including projects in Indonesia since 2010.
Various Listings of Volunteer Opportunities in Indonesia: http://www.volunteerabroad.com/Indonesia.cfm or http://www.goabroad.com/volunteer-abroad/search/indonesia/volunteer-abroad-1
Volunteers in Asia (VIA): http://www.viaprograms.org/programs_in_asia/indonesia/index.html or http://www.viaprograms.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59 Volunteers in Asia is an independent and entrepreneurial non-profit organization founded at Stanford University in 1963. VIA is dedicated to increasing understanding between the United States and Asia through public service and programs promoting cross-cultural education.
Volunteers for Peace: http://www.vfp.org/ International voluntary service since 1982… This organization offers affordable short-term volunteer opportunities abroad in 90+ countries including Indonesia.
VSO International: http://www.vsointernational.org/ Their work in Indonesia focuses on South Sulawesi and NTT. For more specific in-country information, see http://www.vsointernational.org/where-we-work/indonesia.asp .
Starfish Language Center is an amazing organization based in Ubud Bali that offers free English classes for local Balinese children, as well as paid private, group and conversation classes in English, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese for adult members of the local Balinese and expatriate community. Currently offered are also courses in Indonesian for tourists desiring a deeper connection with the people of Bali. Check out http://www.starfishubud.org/ for more info!
Also visit our Win+ section for more welfare projects. If you want to feature your organization or project on Latitudes.nu, write us an e-mail on info@latitudes.nu
