🌺 Bali & Lombok: Research Program – Cultural Governance

5.0

(1 review)1

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The experience

This program welcomes undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students to work with cultural researchers in Bali & Lombok, exploring how Indonesian socio-cultural traits shape sustainable tourism governance. Volunteers assist in “The Cultural Logic of Governance” project through field data collection, surveys, and cultural observation, while living with local families for immersive insights and contributing to culturally intelligent solutions.

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What you offer

18 hours of help per week

Social Work: Help with volunteer work in local projects and communities.

Additional fee required

Amount: US$ 50 Per day

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

Description: The average living cost in Bali and Lombok is about $100/day for budget travelers and $150/day for premium (you may verify this). I only ask $50/day to cover accommodation and meals, reducing your costs by 50% vs. budget and 67% vs. premium, while offering an authentic Indonesian lifestyle. Other expenses like personal needs, entrance tickets, tours, or packages remain your responsibility.

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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.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

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

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

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Requirements

Intermediate English or Intermediate 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

This program offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students to engage directly with cultural researchers in Bali and Lombok, Indonesia. Participants will explore the intricate ways in which Indonesian socio-cultural values influence the governance and development of sustainable tourism. By joining the research project, “The Cultural Logic of Governance,” volunteers will play an active role in advancing our understanding of local cultural dynamics and their impact on tourism management. Responsibilities include assisting with field data collection, distributing and analyzing questionnaires, and observing cultural practices in settings such as villages, tourism hubs, and community meetings.

Volunteers will live with local families, immersing themselves in the rhythms of daily Balinese and Sasak life. This experience provides a rare opportunity to witness firsthand how principles such as collectivism, hierarchical social structures, and conflict avoidance shape interpersonal interactions, decision-making processes, and community governance. Through this close engagement, participants will not only gain deep cultural insights but also contribute meaningfully to academic research aimed at developing culturally intelligent and sustainable approaches to tourism planning and governance.

By the end of the program, volunteers will emerge with a richer understanding of how culture informs governance, enhanced cross-cultural communication skills, and a tangible contribution to the development of sustainable tourism strategies that are both effective and culturally sensitive. This immersive experience is ideal for students interested in anthropology, sociology, tourism studies, and development research who wish to combine fieldwork with applied research.

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Activities & Shift

Daily Activities (flexible by project site):

08:00–09:00 – Breakfast & daily briefing with cultural researchers.
09:00–12:00 – Fieldwork (survey assistance, note-taking, observing community or tourism governance activities).
12:00–13:30 – Lunch with host family or research team.
13:30–16:00 – Supporting workshops, interviews, or literature/data reviews.
16:00–18:00 – Free time (journaling, academic reflection, cultural immersion such as gamelan lessons or temple visits).
Evening – Dinner & discussion with researchers or community leaders.

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Rules

Respect loca customs, religion, and ceremonial spaces.
Participation in orientation (culture & research ethics) is mandatory.
Be punctual and committed to research schedules.
Dress modestly in villages, temples, and cultural ceremonies.
Research findings or reflections must be shared ethically with the research team.
No drugs or alcohol in homestays or research settings.