Indonesia

Volunteer in Indonesia's vast archipelago
Call us on 0207 097 4705 between 8am and 3pm to speak with the team.

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A vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is a land of contrasts—fiery volcanoes and peaceful seas, crowded cities and distant plantations, modern high-rises and crumbling temples, Komodo dragons and countless tropical birds, young people on scooters wearing brightly-colored sarongs and batik shirts. More than 300 ethnic groups and cultures, with dozens of languages, different social and cultural backgrounds with European, Middle Eastern, and Asian influences make up the unique society of Indonesia.

People in Indonesia enjoy to socialize in big groups. Sports are popular in Indonesia, especially soccer, badminton and pencak silat (a traditional form of martial arts). Want to build and fly kites? This is the place to do it!

The team at AFS Indonesia are looking forward to discussing the programmes with you and can be reached on 0207 097 4705 between 8am and 3pm.

Alternatively enquire now and we’ll call you back.

A photo posted by Coralie gisel (@cocoinindo) on

Host Family & Community

Expect to attend regular gatherings with extended family. Elders are highly respected and make sure you consult your host parents before making any major decisions. Being a member of the greater community is also important and Indonesians tend to feel indebted to their community, their mosque or their professional organization. Communication styles in Indonesia tend to be indirect. In fact, there are twelve different ways of saying “no” in the Bahasa Indonesian language.

Community Service

You will be volunteering at a community service project which runs from Monday to Friday. You will have the weekend off. The working hours typically occur from 8 AM – 4 PM, although certain projects may start earlier or later. Go Global Indonesia offers various community service programs, from environmental conservation, community empowerment, youth development, and cultural preservation. During your free time, you can explore the local sights and experience traditional arts and culture!

A photo posted by Coralie gisel (@cocoinindo) on

Language

Although there are more than 583 ethnic-languages and dialects used daily in the country, the official language is Bahasa Indonesia. Having a basic knowledge of English will help. Go Global Indonesia offers language lessons and will send language study materials prior to the program.

Food

Indonesian cuisine combines indigenous techniques and ingredients with influences from India (curries), the Middle East (kebabs), China (stir-frying) and Europe, including products brought by Spanish and Portuguese traders before the Dutch colonized the islands. Cooking varies widely by region so food can be very spicy or sweet. Fish, coconut and chilies served with rice is a staple. The main meal in Indonesia is usually lunch or dinner and communal cooking with designated roles and hierarchies at the table are common.

Indonesian vibes🍒

A photo posted by @tantan_tantan123 on Nov

Let AFS guide your intercultural adventure

Go abroad with AFS to discover who you really are, make new lifetime friendships and immerse yourself in a fascinating intercultural experience.
The Global Competence Certificate

The Global Competence Certificate (GCC) program will support your intercultural learning experience. This state-of-the-art program prepares you to successfully navigate new cultural environments—during your experience and long after you finish the program. Online intercultural learning modules combined with in-person sessions help you develop practical and global skills, knowledge and attitudes that employers need and mission-driven organizations believe will help achieve their social impact goals. You will receive your certification upon completion of the training program.

Explore the Programs Available in Indonesia