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 working directly with Balinese medical students. Our participants are given a real and unique introduction to medicine!
What kind of teen typically participates in this program? What are the requirements to join?
We have teens join this program from all over the world! They are typically culturally curious teens who are excited about making new friends, stepping out of their comfort zone, expanding their horizons, and trying something new.
This program is only for students who are currently in 9th through 12th grade and approximately 14 to 18 years old. Students living outside of the USA are welcome to join!
What do students like most about the Bali: Healthcare Education & Medical Outreach trip?
Bali: Healthcare Education & Medical Outreach participants love that they are able to get off the beaten path and explore parts of Bali that are largely untouched by tourism. The opportunity to shadow and work directly with medical students is an exciting experience, as well as our public heath outreach project with the local elementary school.
Where do we stay?
Our hotels are chosen specifically in safe areas and are well suited to facilitating group supervision. We stay in centrally located accommodations, 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.
Do most travelers go on their own?
Yes! In fact, over 75% of students who travel with us choose to come independently. This encourages teens to step further outside their comfort zone and make new friends. We believe that one of the most rewarding and exciting elements of travel is the new friendships that form along the way. When we travel by ourselves, we are bound to make new friends from all over the country and even the world. The best part is, you can travel again with your new friends on another TFT program the next summer!
If you are thinking about joining a TFT program by yourself but you are feeling unsure, please let us know! We have plenty of references from solo travelers who had great experiences and would be happy to chat with you about it.
Can I bring a friend?
Absolutely! We ask that if you do come with a friend, you and your friend(s) maintain openness to meeting new people and sharing this special experience with the entire group.
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.
How do the optional group flights work?
Upon registration, you will be contacted by our International Logistics Team to discuss the program’s flight details. There is no requirement to take the group flight, but there are several advantages to doing so. The group flight is usually chaperoned by a TFT staff member, and it also offers an opportunity for the students to get to know one another prior to the start of the program. Parents are responsible for coordinating transport to the departure airport – however, the logistics team will send out instructions detailing the exact meeting spot and airport point person. For additional information about flights, visit our dedicated flight page.
Who leads the program?
Our staff is a cut above the rest! We seek out two main characteristics in our counselors – extensive knowledge of and experience in our destinations, and a passion for working with teens. Our staff’s backgrounds include living abroad and working in summer camps or other educational settings. Team members are proven leaders and role models, who connect easily with others and form genuine friendships with each student – all while bringing each destination to life.
We celebrate diversity! Our staff represents 49 different nationalities, speak a combined total of 21 languages, and visited 142 countries. Additionally, 80% of our staff lived or worked abroad in their lives. With so many unique experiences to share, you are sure to gain a global perspective.
Our average minimum ratios are one staff member to every seven participants. Each program has one Trip Director with several support staff, depending on the group size. Directors must be at least 25 years old within the calendar year and have prior experience working with TFT.
What are the safety qualifications for our staff?
Our staff members undergo a rigorous hiring process. They receive the same background check as school educators, an extensive training process to go over all safety precautions and protocols, and are required to be certified in CPR and First Aid. We exclusively hire responsible, multi-talented individuals who are safety-minded and are as passionate about teen travel as we are.
What is the average group size?
We pride ourselves on small group sizes to create a more authentic and personalized experience. Our group sizes fall between 13 and 24 students – the perfect size to facilitate new friendships without feeling lost in a crowd! We believe smaller groups eliminate the likelihood of cliques, and allows for a well-rounded, healthy group dynamic.
How does this program connect to other programs?
Our program dates are designed specifically so that participants can opt to combine trips throughout the summer. When connecting to another program, your counselor will escort you to the airport on the last day of the program and assist you in meeting your next group at your new destination.
What is the food like on this program?
In a word – delicious! At TFT, we believe food should be an integral part of the travel experience and always make an effort to eat at authentic establishments when we can. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a place than by sampling the local delicacies, and we encourage students to do so whenever possible! Just as we stay away from Americanized hotel chains, we try to avoid restaurants with menus that cater only to tourists because every good traveler knows the best food is found wherever the locals are eating!
Balinese cuisine is bursting full of flavor, aromatic smells and vivid color, with lots of attention paid to balance, detail and variety.
Of course, we are always willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
Do we ever get time to go off on our own?
Our staff and teens are nearly always together, but we do provide the opportunity to break up into smaller groups to allow for flexibility and customization within the itinerary.
We offer free time in defined safe areas – for example, shopping in a market or exploring a museum. During these times, students remain in groups of at least two and are given no more than an hour. Of course, the counselors remain nearby and available. Additionally, a lifeguard-certified counselor supervises the campers any time they are involved in water activities.
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.
Do I need any vaccinations for this program?
We recommend checking with your family doctor regarding vaccinations and medical advice for the destination you are visiting. For more information, please check the World Health Organization’s website. Upon registration, we provide a list of recommended vaccinations that can be discussed further with your doctor. For Specific questions pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.
What kind of visa do you need for this trip?
Any US citizen that enters Bali does not require a visa. Instead you will automatically receive a 30-day stay in the country.
When joining a TFT trip from outside of the US, please be sure to check your country’s specific visa requirements.
Do I need to speak the language?
No, our skilled staff members will help you get around and even teach you a few fun phrases!