Volunteer Opportunities in Indonesia

Indonesia is the land of countless white-sand beaches, numerous volcanoes, and pristine rainforests. Volunteer work in Indonesia usually takes place in remote areas, which takes visitors to these stunning landscapes. Volunteers also get to interact with local communities and experience the unique melting pot of Asian cultures and cuisines. There is a variety of volunteer projects available in Indonesia. Nature conservation projects are often based in the rainforests of Borneo. Gili Air, a beautiful Indonesian island with white-sand beaches, is the setting for several marine conservation projects. Volunteers can also choose to visit the beautiful tropical island of Bali to conduct after-school programs with children and support other educational initiatives.

Indonesia is a wet tropical country that experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoons. People who want to avoid the rainy season need to travel between April and October. The temperature during these months can sometimes touch 30 degrees Celsius, but the weather generally remains dry. The Indonesian monsoon season is from November to March when heavy rainfall makes travelling very tricky.

It is important to note that foreigners with regular tourist visas are not permitted to take part in volunteering activities in Indonesia. Volunteers need to apply for a social cultural visa, which is valid for 60 days and can later be extended to 180 days. Apart from the usual documents such as passport and visa application form, visitors who apply for this visa need to get sponsor-letters and sponsor-IDs from their respective nonprofit organizations based in Indonesia.  Local people residing in major touristy areas such as Bali often face no trouble communicating in English since it is taught as a second language in schools. Food and living cost in Indonesia are generally inexpensive. For reference, a single meal at a budget restaurant costs roughly about $1.84.