Youth Livelihoods Facilitator
Coordinator | Samuel
Coordinator | Samuel
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Gain valuable teaching experience! You will be delivering a comprehensive Business curriculum to young adults between the age of 18 and 35.
Experience a new culture! Whilst volunteering on the Conservation Programme you will live in rural Sumatra and experience the diverse cultures and traditions native to Bukit Lawang!
Work with an truly international team! The team here at bukit lawang come from all around the world so you will meet a whole range exciting, passionate and driven educators from across the globe!
Explore the Sumatran Jungle! whilst working with the Bukit Lawang Trust you will have ample oportunity to go on weekend expeditions into the jungle to see Tigers, Orangutans, Elephants and Rhinos!
Make and Impact! Every volunteer that joins our programmes leaves behind a lasting and sustainable legacy with both the trust and the community whilst also joining our dedicated alumni team!
Help guide the youth in Bukit Lawang from idea generation all the way to establishing their own sustainable businesses whilst training the next generation of Rangers!
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
The Bukit Lawang Trust is a Non Government Organisation based in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra. The Trust building is a community centre which provides free education to people of all ages from both the local community and farther afield in Sumatra. As a volunteer on the Conservation programme you will be directly involved in the establishment of new and exciting youth led sustainable enterprises in the local community, helping to provide an alternative occupation for young people to Palm Oil plantation work.
The Youth Led Sustainable Enterprise Program or YSE program aims to establish new youth-led sustainable enterprises in Bukit Lawang and guide current business owners towards sustainable best practice in order to protect the severely endangered Leuser Ecosystem.
You will guide your 'entrepreneurs' through the process of establishing their dream job by covering the following key areas;
- Idea Generation
- Market Research
- Research Analysis
- Business Model Canvassing (BMC)
- Managing Finances & Budgeting (Cash Flow)
- Sustainability (Green Factor)
- Business Management
At the end of the programme volunteers will assist in the setting up and starting of these brand new sustainable micro enterprises, reducing poverty through livelihoods diversification and reducing the negative environmental impact through facilitating a workforce shift to sustainable jobs.
Typical day
Volunteering at the Trust is no gap year holiday, our volunteers typically work from 08:00 to 18:00 on week days, and occasionally on weekends for training events and action days. We maintain an ethos of hard work and selfless commitment and all of our volunteers are here to serve the local community. However, that doesn’t stop us having a life changing experience whilst we are at it! A typical day starts at 07:00 with breakfast. On Mondays we have a Hub meeting where all of the staff and volunteers come together to plan the week ahead. Following this, you will begin your sessions. If you are placed on the ESL program, you may be teaching or assisting in Kindergarten, which begins at 08:30 or you may be teaching English classes in the afternoon, which start at 14:00. For conservation volunteers on the Youth Ranger, or YSE program, you will be delivering sessions in the afternoons, so the morning is your planning and preparation time. Lunch is served at 13:00 each day. Weekends are your own, however occasionally, for example on events such as volunteer induction, phase review and volunteer debrief. You may also find that the Trust has arranged some incredible activities for your weekend (See section 6). On weekends when you are not walking with elephants trekking in the jungle or rafting down rivers you will have a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Sumatran culture and cuisine, with a range of guest houses, restaurants and even one bar Bukit Lawang has plenty to offer!
Free-time activities
You can go trekking from Bukit Lawang to Gunung Leuser National Park and see the famous Sumatran Orangutan. Most volunteers do a two day one night trek and usually are fortunate enough to see Orangutans.
In Bukit Lawang there is a river which runs through the village that people often go swimming in or relax and have a coffee or beer on the river.
There are multiple bars and guest houses with extremely friendly locals and live music on most nights.
Our volunteers often read, and relax on the hammock, go for walks, visit newly made friends in town, blog, study Indonesian, rent a bike and go for a ride in the countryside! Other places that may be of interest are below:
At the weekend there are innumerable places located nearby that are a must see!
Batu Katak - A quiet place on the river and near waterfalls.
Tangkahan - Has an elephant camp where visitors can bathe elephants in the river. We support bathing them, and the projects but we do not support riding the elephants and hope you will share that belief with us.
Batu Rongring - Beautiful for trekking.
Berestagi - For long weekends or traveling before or after volunteers can visit this lovely town in the mountains and go trekking. It is a bit colder here and that makes it a popular place among locals and tourists!
Lake Toba - A beautiful island (Samosir) in the middle of the lake is home to waterfalls, hot springs, beaches, and more.
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak English (intermediate level)
required
English, Business, Conservation at High School level
CV and Letter of Interest
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
There are no essential qualifications or experience for this programme however some experience teaching or instructing/ leading sessions is ideal, and any experience of business, is also extremely helpfull, though not required.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
from
08:00
- 18:00
What's Included
We encourage all applicants to fundraise their volunteer fees to help raise awareness of the Trusts important conservation and education work.
These fees cover the costs of accommodation food and transport throughout the placement, as well as bespoke training and support from our staff team. It also allows us to continue providing our volunteers with life changing cultural experiences such as Jungle Trekking, Walking with Elephants, Indonesian cooking lessons and a range of cultural workshops, all of which are built in to our placements!
Additionally your fundraising allows us to continue the vital conservation and education work we do here in North Sumatra!
The Trust provides transport from the airport to Bukit Lawang and the return journey at the end of the cycle. However, if you choose to continue travelling after your placement this transport is not included in your programme fees. We are located around four hours drive from the nearest international airport (Kuala Namu International Airport) in Medan.
Our volunteers on the Conservation Programme stay in one of two four rooms within the Trust however there are hammocks on the roof and many volunteers enjoy their weekends in one of the many outstanding guesthouses here in Bukit Lawang. The rooms are three beds to a room, spacious with WIFI and lockable doors. Each volunteer is given a key to their dorm, and the from door to the Trust.
Dorm Room
Breakfast and Lunch is included in your volunteer fees, and in the evenings, on weekdays we have a cooking rota where we each cook for the whole team and eat together! this usually includes some excellent "extra curricular activities!!" after dinner. On weekends most volunteers prefer to eat in the village or along the river at one of the guesthouses for dinner.
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Kuala Namu International Airport (KNO) in Kuala Namu. We assist you to find cheap flights to Indonesia.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Indonesia provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Indonesia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Indonesia.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
The available dates for 2022 are;
Orangutan Cycle: Friday 7th of January - Sunday 6th of March
Tiger Cycle: Friday 6th May - Sunday 3rd of July
Elephant Cycle: Friday 8th of July - Sunday 4th September
Leopard Cycle: Friday 9th of September - Sunday 6th of November
Rhino Cycle: Friday 11 November - Sunday 18th December
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
8 - 8 weeks
Program fees
8 weeks
(min. stay)
$1,920
8 weeks
(max. stay)
$1,920
Average fees
$241
/week
The organization charges its fees in GBP. The price table in USD is subject to currency fluctuation.
Bukit Lawang Trust
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Bukit Lawang Trust during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
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All program fees are charged directly by Bukit Lawang Trust.
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Youth Livelihoods Facilitator
Help guide the youth in Bukit Lawang from idea generation all the way to establishing their own sustainable businesses whilst training the next generation of Rangers!
$188/week
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