Boomers Abroad

Highlights

You will volunteer 5 days out of 7, taking 2 days off through the week or at a weekend. The project is flexible as to which days you take off, and more work is available if you want to get more involved. You will volunteer for around 4 hours a day, mainly in the afternoons as the children are at school in the mornings. In the morning you could also help with lessons with some of the children who have Down's Syndrome. You will need time to prepare your lessons in addition to this, but other than this the work is unscheduled and you can make the best use of your time by getting stuck in with some of your own ideas and projects! On Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 11.00 to 16.00 hrs there are disabled children who come to the center for therapy who need entertaining while they wait for their treatment. You can get involved with this by helping them to draw and color, this not only entertains them but it also helps increase their skills and works the muscles of their hands.

You will be teaching English through a variety of methods - formal learning using textbooks, conversation classes, games, songs and story-telling, trying to make learning as fun as possible. You may also find yourself helping with creative work to improve current skills and teaching new ones, assisting with outings and activities such as swimming and helping with computer skills.

Qualifications

This is an ideal project for anyone who loves children and wants to help. As you will also be volunteering with disabled children you should be sensitive to their needs and supportive of their progress. It's also important to remember that attitudes towards underprivileged and disabled children in Bali will differ to what you're used to at home.

Although you do not require any special skills or experience, the most important requirement is that you are creative and empathetic. Volunteers must be able to use their initiative, be motivated, flexible, patient, resourceful and imaginative and willing to join in a wide range of activities.

The center helps around 100 children who have family members that they live with, or children from poor families who are sponsored by the Foundation. There are 4 age groups at the center - 5,6, and 7 years old, 8,9, and 10 years old, 11, 12, and 13 years old and 14, 15 and 16 years old.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 1259.00 for 2 weeks, USD 300.00 for every week thereafter

Cost Include Description:

* Accommodation: Shared room in homestay on site or nearby
* Food: Breakfast
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Credit Available

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

The project is somewhat under resourced so you will need to use your initiative when planning activities with the children! If you'd like to make a donation then things like stickers, craft materials, stationary and books are always welcomed. A lot of these resources can be purchased when you get to Bali, which will have the added bonus of helping the local economy as well as saving space in your luggage! Books and magazines with English words, flash cards (maybe make your own?) and souvenirs from your home country (flags, postcards, traditional items etc) are a great way to introduce yourself to the people at the project and help them to learn about you and your culture. You may also like to come prepared with some favorite lesson plans and ideas for activities. Please remember that you will be acting as a role model and should therefore dress appropriately. You should not wear revealing clothes, or t-shirts with slogans that may cause offense. Please dress neatly and with respect for the local culture when in villages and when in the classrooms, by covering your shoulders and keeping skirts and shorts at least knee-length please. During your time off from the project your dress can be more casual, especially in tourist areas where Westerners and their fashions are more frequent visitors. Please note: there are the Galungan holidays from 06 July 2011 and 01 February 2012 in which holidays may last for a week to 10 days. Please note that this holiday is every 210 days and so will be at a different time each year and may affect your time at the project. Hari Nyepi is the Balinese New Year and occurs on the first new moon in March it is expected to next fall. On this day no one leaves the house, there are no lights allowed, no noise, no cars and no planes landing or taking off. This is so the Balinese can enter the New Year with prayer. This day happens around March or April each year so if you're traveling at this time please be prepared to observe this tradition.

Age Range

Minimum Age 20, Police check required

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participant. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays
• Group living

Participants Travel to Indonesia

Independently

i-to-i Volunteering's Mission Statement

i-to-i Volunteering provides unique opportunities for you to travel, work and volunteer abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 16 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations. With over 130 projects on 4 continents, across 22 countries you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching English, community development, conservation, home building, and working with animals.

Year Founded

1994