Volunteering in Lombok: Waterbird Index

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The experience

Get ready to explore muddy terrain and make a real impact in the field. 🌿

📸 Help Document Waterbirds in Bagek Kembar, West Lombok!
Join Bale Nara Lombok’s mission to train local guides and catalog waterbird species in an area with no existing bird guide. Volunteers will help create a catalog, install signage at key habitats, and promote sustainable ecotourism—your name will be credited in the final publication!

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What you offer

28 hours of help per week

Photography: Take, edit and provide amazing photos.

Additional fee required

Amount: US$ 35 Per day

Fee pays for: Benefits for travelers, Materials for volunteer activities, and Donation to project

Description: The $35 daily fee covers your accommodation and meals. A scooter is also available for rent at the location. You'll be staying in a 3 x 6 m mini cabin near the project site.

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What you get

3 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Get free drinks or beverages.: Drink up! Get free and tasty drinks for yourself.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.

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Requirements

Beginner English or Beginner French

Between 18 and 35 years old

Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)

Be from outside Indonesia

European Union Passport

United States visa or citizenship

Travel insurance

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What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

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Program Details

Led by Bale Nara Lombok, this initiative documents waterbird species in the Bagek Kembar mangrove ecotourism area while training local guides in birdwatching and species ID.

As the first formal effort to create a bird catalog here, the program aims to publish a field guidebook and install educational signboards at key spots.

Volunteers will team up with locals to survey birds, capture photos, record data, and map habitats. All contributors will be credited in the final publication—helping lay the groundwork for sustainable ecotourism in West Lombok. 🦅🌿

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Activities & Shift

🐦 Daily Schedule

🌅 Early Morning (Optional | 5 AM – 7 AM)
Join local women to forage for oysters during low tide—a rich protein source you can ask them to cook for you.
🌿 Morning Shift (8 AM – 12 PM)
Take a guided birdwatching trek with local guides
Record sightings, behavior, and habitats
Photograph birds and document GPS coordinates for signage
📝 Midday (12 PM – 1 PM)
Head back to base or stay in the field
Input species data and research bird profiles
Help with community workshops or student sessions
🍽️ Lunch Break (1 PM – 3 PM)
Time to eat, relax, and recharge.
🔍 Afternoon Shift (3 PM – 5 PM)
Revisit selected sites for follow-up observation
Collaborate on bird catalog and signboard content
Join a feedback session with Bale Nara Lombok’s team
🌙 Night (Optional | 7 PM – 11 PM)
Join locals for a traditional night fishing experience—spear-fishing or crab hunting with “bubu” traps in the mangroves.

🌟 Additional Weekend Programs
🏖️ Join our weekend donation-based (pay as you wish) activities—both on-site and off-site! These include scuba diving, surfing, cooking classes, digital literacy sessions, and trips to waterfalls, Gili islands, and other tourism villages across Lombok.
🏍️ If you ride a scooter, feel free to join and meet us at the designated meeting point!

📝 Additional Notes
🌿 This remote, underdeveloped site is steadily growing into a hub for mangrove research. You’ll often meet university students camping—feel free to connect and help them practice English.
🗣️ Most locals don’t speak English, so use Google Translate to communicate.
🕌 As a Muslim-majority area, food and prayer ceremonies are common. If invited, it’s a meaningful cultural experience—just follow the ✅ DOs and ❌ DON’Ts.

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Rules

🕌 Cultural Guidelines for Volunteers in Lombok

Lombok is a culturally rich, predominantly Muslim island. Respecting local customs is essential for your safety and a positive experience. Follow these key DOs and DON’Ts:

✅ DOs
Dress modestly: Cover shoulders/knees; loose-fitting clothes are best.
Respect attire rules in homes, schools, mosques; women should avoid revealing outfits.
Cover tattoos and limit visible piercings.
Remove shoes before entering homes or prayer areas.
Mind prayer times; avoid loud noise near mosques.
Use your right hand for eating, giving, or receiving.
Ask permission before taking photos.
Engage respectfully with locals, use basic greetings, and eat local food.
Disclose your background truthfully. No criminal record is allowed.
Note: The program follows a “LGBTQ-Free” policy to align with local norms—public expressions are not accepted.

❌ DON’Ts
No short, tight, transparent, or revealing clothes.
Avoid offensive symbols or slogans.
No alcohol, drugs, or public affection in villages.
Don’t mock or criticize local customs.
No pork in Muslim homes.
Don’t interrupt religious practices or enter mosques without proper dress.
No bikinis on non-touristy beaches.
Don’t misrepresent your identity or background.
No smoking near children or families.

🌙 During Ramadan
Don’t eat, drink, or smoke in public during the day.
Avoid loud music or parties.
Dress modestly and be respectful if invited to iftar (breaking the fast).