Program Overview
Discover how modern medicine and traditional healing methods work together as you lend a hand with community service healthcare projects in Bali, Indonesia. This program gives you a well-rounded view of the multi-faceted components of public health.
Meet with medical students to discuss the challenges of implementing public health awareness in developing communities and learn how to conduct a home health visit. Shadow local medical students and assist with checking blood pressure, recording data, managing supplies, and educating local families about preventative care.
Visit a midwife clinic founded by the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year. Support a project that offers free prenatal care, birthing services, and medical aid to anyone who needs it.
Make friends with Balinese youth while developing creative lesson plans that teach children about hygiene, exercise, and nutrition during our fun and interactive healthcare workshops.
Meet with a traditional healer and go on an herbal medicine walk through rice fields for a more in-depth look at holistic medicine. On this program, you will discover just how intertwined traditional healthcare is with today’s modern medicine. These experiences will help you develop an appreciation for the cultural awareness that is required for public health professionals in a developing country.
During this program, you will…
- Earn up to 30 hours of community service working with medical students at a primary care clinic and educating local children about public health
- Learn about holistic healthcare with a traditional healer
- Visit a midwife clinic founded by the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year dedicated to supporting families in need
- Relax with a bonfire under a sky filled with stars
- Learn about community health initiatives in rural areas and small villages
- Meet and converse with a Balinese prince and watch a cultural show at his palace
- Immerse yourself in a variety of Balinese arts, including wood carving, dancing, and Gamelan music
- Take a surf lesson in one of the most iconic surf destinations in the world
- Swim in a refreshing jungle waterfall
- Whitewater raft down a river
- Laugh your worries away with a fun and light-hearted yoga class
- Visit iconic temples and dive into Balinese culture
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM LOS ANGELES (LAX)
DAY 2: CROSS THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
DAYS 3-11: UBUD
Begin your adventure in Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali. We will dive into public health initiatives by meeting with local medical students. We will have the opportunity to work directly with these students during their residency at a primary care clinic. We will join them on their home health visits, and help with checking blood pressure, recording information, managing supplies, and educating families about preventative care. This is a truly unique opportunity to learn about the challenges medical professionals face when implementing public health in a developing community.
In addition to our hands-on projects, you will learn about holistic healthcare methods when you visit a midwife clinic, meet with a traditional healer, and go on an herbal medicine walk. It is a fascinating experience to discover all of the facets of healthcare and learn that there are a variety of approaches to health and wellness.
In addition to our public health project, Ubud has endless activities to enjoy. Laugh your worries away with your new friends during a fun and carefree laughing yoga class followed by a walk through picturesque rice fields. Participate in a workshop where you can try your hand at various Balinese arts, including dancing, Gamelan Music, and woodcarving. Receive an introduction to Balinese culture and explore Ubud’s beautiful temples and colorful markets. Visit the famous water temple and participate in a traditional ceremony. Tour the Royal Palace and dress in your finest for dinner with a real Balinese prince followed by an authentic show. This is a special opportunity not available to tourists!
DAYS 12-14: AMED
Amed is a hidden gem on the Northeast coast of Bali. The village sits directly on a bay with a black sand beach and a volcano on the horizon which creates the perfect backdrop for some breathtaking sunsets. We will help with a children’s health education workshop where we will teach local children important healthy habits! We will stay in beach bungalows and enjoy swimming and soaking up the sun. For those who are more adventurous you’ll even have the opportunity to try your hand at scuba diving in our optional beginner course! Catch a sunrise boat ride to admire the beauty of this region one last time before heading to Sanur!
DAYS 15-16: SANUR
After a stop for another refreshing swim in a waterfall hidden in the jungle, we will continue on to our final destination, Sanur. Sanur is a laid-back town with a beachfront boardwalk and plenty of places to explore. Learn to catch a wave and participate in one of Bali’s most iconic sports during a fun surf lesson and catch one last perfect sunset over the ocean while reflecting on the amazing time you just spent with your new friends exploring Bali.
DAY 17: RETURN FLIGHT TO THE USA
Photo Gallery
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is unique about the Bali: Healthcare Education & Medical Outreach trip?
Our Bali: Healthcare Education & Medical Outreach program visits an award winning midwifing clinic and our participants get to work directly with Balinese medical students. Our participants are given a real and unique introduction to medicine! They also love that they are able to get off the beaten path and explore parts of Bali that are largely untouched by tourism.
Our Bali: Healthcare Education & Medical Outreach program visits an award winning midwifing clinic and our participants get to work directly with Balinese medical students. Our participants are given a real and unique introduction to medicine! They also love that they are able to get off the beaten path and explore parts of Bali that are largely untouched by tourism.
Where do we stay on the Bali: Healthcare Education & Medical Outreach trip?
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Ubud we stay in a guesthouse that is traditional Balinese style and surrounded by lush gardens. In Amed we stay a short walk from the beach in a traditional Balinese guesthouse.
We also have the unique experience of staying at a beautiful eco-camp. During our stay at the eco-camp please keep in mind this will be “glamping.” You will have a comfortable bed in a shared teepee with a fan. There will be power outlets to charge your devices, but no wifi. This is a wonderful opportunity to disconnect from the outside world for a couple days!
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for the program.
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Ubud we stay in a guesthouse that is traditional Balinese style and surrounded by lush gardens. In Amed we stay a short walk from the beach in a traditional Balinese guesthouse.
We also have the unique experience of staying at a beautiful eco-camp. During our stay at the eco-camp please keep in mind this will be “glamping.” You will have a comfortable bed in a shared teepee with a fan. There will be power outlets to charge your devices, but no wifi. This is a wonderful opportunity to disconnect from the outside world for a couple days!
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for the program.
What is included?
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
What is the food like in Bali?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
Balinese cuisine is bursting full of flavor, aromatic smells and vivid color, with lots of attention paid to balance, detail and variety.
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
Balinese cuisine is bursting full of flavor, aromatic smells and vivid color, with lots of attention paid to balance, detail and variety.
Do I need to bring anything special for the community service portion of this program?
Due to the nature of our service being outdoors, please be sure to bring clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, waterproof shoes, and a hat. A sarong will be provided for you on day one of the program so you will have something to cover up with for temple visits and when we work at the school.
A more detailed packing list will be provided upon registration.
Due to the nature of our service being outdoors, please be sure to bring clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, waterproof shoes, and a hat. A sarong will be provided for you on day one of the program so you will have something to cover up with for temple visits and when we work at the school.
A more detailed packing list will be provided upon registration.