🌺 Bali & Lombok: Research Program – Cultural Governance
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.
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$ 75
Per day
Fee pays for:
Benefits for travelers, Materials for volunteer activities, and Donation to project
Description:
Your $75/day contribution includes a private furnished room, three daily meals, scooter, and all program materials.
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
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
What's not included
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
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.
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.
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.