Volunteering in Kertasari: Teach English

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The experience

🌿 Teach English by the sea in Kertasari, West Sumbawa! Lead weekend lessons with local kids, plant mangroves, clean beaches, visit seaweed farmers, and surf waves outside your door. Stay at a homestay, scooter to class, and live in sync with village life. It’s eco-volunteering with heart, where language, nature, and purpose come together.

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What you offer

16 hours of help per week

Teaching Languages: Teaching a language to the host, guests, or local communities.

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 breakfast. A scooter is also available for rent at the location. You'll be staying with a host family 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.

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

Intermediate English or Fluent French

Between 18 and 45 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

Imagine trading classrooms for coastlines. In the peaceful village of Kertasari, West Sumbawa, you'll teach English to local children in an open-air Nature School just steps from the sea.

This volunteer program blends environmental action with language exchange. You'll guide weekend learning sessions under trees, support local teachers, and eventually help bring English into nearby junior schools.

Beyond teaching, you'll join activities that deepen your connection to the land and its people:

🌱 Plant mangroves
🌊 Join beach clean-ups with the kids
🪸 Visit seaweed farmers using harvests for eco-packaging
🐟 Explore tidal ponds and coastal life
🏄‍♂️ Learn to surf right in front of your homestay
🐢 Visit turtle nesting beaches or fly above Mantar hill

Your home will be Ocean Fresh Homestay, where you’ll share meals, stories, and daily life with the community.

This is more than a teaching role, it’s a chance to grow alongside a village that welcomes your voice and values your presence.

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Activities & Shift

📚 Daily Schedule
🌞 Morning Shift (8 AM – 12 PM)
Teach weekend English classes at the open-air Nature School
Assist the local teacher with creative, play-based lessons
Organize outdoor games and environmental storytelling
Help prepare lessons for nearby junior schools
🍽️ Lunch Break (12 PM – 2 PM)
Enjoy a local meal at your homestay or by the beach
Relax, journal, or chat with other volunteers
🌿 Afternoon Shift (2 PM – 5 PM)
Join kids for beach clean-ups and nature walks
Visit seaweed farms or mangrove nurseries
Prepare learning materials or visual aids for future classes
Optional: help local youth practice conversational English
🌅 Evening (Flexible)
Watch the sunset at Kertasari beach
Share stories over dinner with your host family
Join informal English practice or cultural exchanges

🌟 Additional Weekend Programs
🌊 Surf sessions right outside your homestay
🐢 Turtle nesting visits (seasonal)
🍳 Cooking workshops with local mothers
📸 Photo walks or visits to seaweed packaging cooperatives
🏍️ Scooter rides to hidden beaches or Mantar hill viewpoints

📝 Additional Notes
🌿 This remote, underdeveloped site is steadily growing into a hub for ecotourism. You’ll often meet foreigners visiting the waterfall.
🗣️ Most locals speak English.
🕌 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 Kertasari, West Sumbawa

Kertasari, West Sumbawa 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).