Global Crossroad

My time volunteering in Bali was split between volunteering at a sea turtle conservation center and teaching English in a small village in east Bali. Volunteering and living in Bali is completely different from going on holiday in Bali. The Bali you see on social media filled with white sand beaches, vegan food, smiling white people, and luxury resorts is actually not the Bali that locals live in obviously. There's so much depth to the culture here and until you fully embrace it, you will not learn to appreciate all this amazing island has to offer. I love working with animals and working with the sea turtles at the conservation center was out of this world. We even got to see a mother turtle laying her eggs in the middle of the night several times and it was so incredible to see "nature" in action. Teaching in Karangasem changed everything I thought I knew about Bali. The students were lovely and loved having a foreigner in their classroom. I enjoyed it very much. I have taught English many times and in many different countries but I have to say teaching here in Bali was an experience of a lifetime - the teachers were incredible welcoming and gracious towards me and constantly invited me to see the village with them. My direct host made the experience happen smoothly and was there whenever I had any question - big or small. Would recommend this program to a well seasoned traveler and someone really able to get out of their comfort zone.

Several events in my personal life inspired my desire to volunteer. I searched online and several countries and organizations were in my mind and favorites. After I contacted several of them, I liked the communication, price and the conditions offered by Global Crossroad. I choose Sri Lanka because I have never been to that country and it looked really interesting and entertaining from the several photos, videos and documentaries I saw online. I applied through their online form and I was soon contacted. Everything was arranged quickly and my program started only after 2 weeks after I applied. I loved that!

I applied for the project offer for English teaching programs in Galle. I didn’t expect much from this city, although it is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the southwestern tip, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the administrative capital of Southern Province, Sri Lanka and is the district capital of Galle District. I arrived to this town with a bus and had the chance to enjoy many Sri Lanka landscapes.

My foster family was very welcoming and the stay was accommodating. I had my own room, bathroom and everything I need for reasonable stay. The project I applied and participated in was English teaching program. I worked with youths aged 2 and 6. My group were mostly boy and girls aged 4-5, but there were also little ones aged 2 and little older around 6.

The kids were incredible to me. I guess they are learned to respect authority and were eager to learn. Even though they had experienced some horrible life circumstances they were positive and wanted to learn. I really felt like a worthwhile and wonderful experience. Also I want to emphasize that the children are so full of warmth, so dynamic, and so loving! I felt a really strong connection to them and looked forward each day to seeing them again. Normally I’ve spend few hours in the school which was not that far away from the house. These kids filled me with positive energy. At the end it was sad saying goodbye to them. I hope I improved their learning speaking and writing skills.

Regarding the time I spent off, in the afternoon I usually explored the town and the Sri Lankan life and traditions. I want to thank my host family for helping me adjust and learn so much about their culture and traditions. The place was really friendly, interesting and safe. They were always warm and eager to talk about their life, their ideas, experiences and wanted to know a lot about my city and country.

I want to thank Global Crossroad for enabling me this amazing volunteering in Sri Lanka. At the end of the day, it was indeed a life changing experience. Something I truly needed at this point in my life. Thank you for enabling me this safe, risk free and highly enjoyable volunteering experience.

My trip to Peru was a trip of a lifetime. It was such an unforgettable and rewarding experience! I had the privilege to meet some amazing people, not only in the project, also some volunteers and stuff.
The local team was very welcoming. They were always happy and willing to help, they provided everything I needed.
My home stay was great! The host family was super friendly, and I could taste the best homemade Peruvian food during my stay.
I feel so lucky that I was part of a program that cares this much. I learned so much and I will hold all of my memories made there with me for the rest of my life.
Come with an open mind and heart and you will have a truly amazing experience.
Don’t be afraid to immerse yourself fully into every new experience. 😊