Volunteering in Kertasari: Teach Language

Highlights

  • Teach English in a seaside village and inspire kids through outdoor, nature-based learning.
  • Live and volunteer in Kertasari, a peaceful West Sumbawa village surrounded by surf spots and seaweed farms.
  • Support beach clean-ups, mangrove planting, and environmental education.
  • Stay with a host family, enjoy local meals, and explore island culture off the beaten path.
  • Participate in eco-activities like surfing, turtle visits, and community-led cooking classes.
  • Help build a long-term Nature School program rooted in sustainability and language access.

About the program

This volunteer opportunity invites passionate educators, travelers, and nature lovers to lead informal English sessions in the coastal village of Kertasari, West Sumbawa. You’ll teach kids in a beachside Nature School, using creative and play-based methods to build language confidence.

The program combines environmental education with language learning, encouraging children to engage with both their land and the wider world. Volunteers collaborate with local teachers and families, building a deeper connection through shared daily life.

Beyond the classroom, you’ll join efforts to preserve the coastline, through mangrove planting, beach clean-ups, and visits to sustainable seaweed farms. Whether you’re teaching under a tree or helping a child pick up plastic from the tide, your contribution builds a future where education and ecology go hand-in-hand.

Typical day

  • Morning: Teach English outdoors, assist local teachers, and prepare playful, nature-based lessons.
  • Midday: Enjoy lunch with your host family or by the sea, journal, or rest.
  • Afternoon: Join youth for environmental storytelling, clean-ups, and field trips to local farms.
  • Evening: Watch the sunset, share stories over dinner, or practice conversational English with local youth.

Especially suitable

  • Volunteers with teaching or youth engagement experience.
  • Nature lovers passionate about sustainability, conservation, and community.
  • Adventurous travelers looking for off-grid island immersion.
  • Flexible and creative individuals who enjoy informal learning and open-air classrooms.

Requirements

  • Intermediate English or fluent French.
  • Age 18–45; solo volunteers only.
  • Valid travel insurance and passport from outside Indonesia (EU/US preferred).
  • Respect for and willingness to adapt to Muslim customs and modest village life.

Free-time activities

  • Surf at the beach in front of your homestay.
  • Join cooking classes with local mothers.
  • Take photo walks through seaweed farms and eco-villages.
  • Explore hidden waterfalls, turtle beaches, and Mantar hill viewpoints by scooter.
  • Enjoy weekend nature trips or informal cultural exchanges with the community.

Volunteers will travel independently to Kertasari in West Sumbawa. Local hosts will arrange your welcome, provide orientation on your role, and help integrate you into village life.

Available year-round. A stay of at least 1 week is recommended for meaningful impact and deeper immersion.

  • Private room in local homestay.
  • Daily breakfast and access to free beverages.
  • Certificate of completion.
  • Basic internet access for remote work and communication.
  • Scooter rental available (optional).
  • Flights and Transportation: Volunteers cover their travel to Lombok and local transportation to West Sumbawa (including airport transfers and scooter rental)
  • Travel Insurance: Must be arranged by each volunteer
  • Visa and Vaccination Fees: All immigration and health-related costs are the participant’s responsibility
  • Personal Expenses: Includes souvenirs, snacks, and extra meals
  • Accommodation: Extra lodging outside scheduled program dates is not included
  • Medical Expenses: Volunteers must cover their own health costs
  • Recreation and Tours: Activities like surfing or scuba diving are not included but may be arranged independently
  • Lost or Damaged Equipment: Volunteers are liable for their own gear and any loaned materials
  • Scooter Rental: Available but not covered in the program fee
  • Incidental Expenses: Any unlisted costs or personal purchases

Registration

Program Fees

$70$280

Learn More