Social & Community Development Internships in Bali
Social & Community Development internships support diverse community groups in Bali. Such organizations may have unique missions or focus areas but at their heart, they are all dedicated to improving the quality of life for others. Such efforts may be related to education, health services and psycho-social support. Interns support with the creation of impact by lending assistance to ongoing projects and capacity building programs.
Internship Highlights:
- Gain an understanding of how organizations support and advocate for vulnerable people.
- Develop cross cultural relationship-building skills and enhance your cultural intelligence.
- Develop practical NGO experience for career development.
- Experience the natural and cultural attractions of Bali.
Type of host organizations:
- Community groups
- Charities
- NGO’s
- Missionary organizations
Internship details
Social & Community Development internships are excellent learning opportunities for college students looking to gain practical experience with NGO organizations. Gain insight into how Social & Community Development institutions implement support networks and resources related to education, health services and psycho-social support.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation provided. Click here to check out remote Psychology & Social Work internships, which you can undertake from home.
There are a broad range of placements available within this field. Some organizations operate internationally, with branches based in Bali. Others are local, operating only within their immediate community. If you have a preference for organizations focused on either education, health services, or psycho-social support, please advise in advance. We do our utmost to accommodate preferences, subject to availability.
Note that some Social & Community Development internship placements have a religious affiliation (Hindu or Christian). Internship placements are customized and your feedback will be taken into consideration. To receive your placement (once you have confirmed your participation), you’ll be asked to provide a copy of your resume and a cover letter. Please advise in advance if you do not wish to be placed with an organization that has a religious affiliation.
Interns should come with an open-mind, prepared to enhance their cultural intelligence. There is excellent opportunity to gain insight into both the challenges and rewards of this sector. Such real-world experience is vital if you’re interested in international development, community support, social work, or other fields dedicated to the alleviation of inequality.
Internship activities will vary, depending on the priorities of your host organization and project requirements at the time. General duties can include tasks such as:
- Produce content both on and offline to raise awareness and support.
- Help with fundraising projects, including proposals to international governments and companies.
- Assist children with educational programs, workshops or games that build confidence and self-esteem.
- Contribute to event organization and planning for capacity building projects and workshops.
- Support activities for children, which may include lessons related to drama, education support, English language schools, cooking, dance, and physical education.
- Assist with skill development programs that focus on vocational skills.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.
Typical Schedule
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Approximately Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Career Benefits
Social & Community Development interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Contributing to the provision of vocational training.
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Assisting with after school programs or other educational activities.
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Planning and designing community events, according to organizational priorities.
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Development of outreach strategies for seeking grants, funding, and other support.
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Promoting exposure and impact through marketing campaigns.
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Providing administrative support to foundations and community groups.
Professional development opportunities:
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Develop cross-cultural relationship building skills.
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Learn about the challenges facing disadvantaged communities and individuals in Bali.
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Build better confidence and independence, working within diverse professional teams.
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Bali photo gallery
What recent interns said about their experience
I am extremely grateful to my coworkers and supervisors, I believe they truly made my experience all that more meaningful. We were all able to build a beautiful relationship both inside and outside the office and it made it easier to collaborate on projects, share new ideas, ask tough questions, etc. This internship contributed to both my personal and professional development in the sense that as it was an experiential learning experience I was able to gain a worldwide perspective through the work I was doing.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic credit available for all internships
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$499 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$499 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
---|---|
4 weeks | $1,964 Equivalent to $70 /day |
5 weeks | $2,594 Equivalent to $74 /day |
6 weeks | $2,614 Equivalent to $62 /day |
8 weeks | $2,834 Equivalent to $50 /day |
10 weeks | $3,834 Equivalent to $54 /day |
12 weeks | $3,884 Equivalent to $46 /day |
16 weeks | $4,674 Equivalent to $41 /day |
20 weeks | $5,764 Equivalent to $41 /day |
24 weeks | $6,604 Equivalent to $39 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- All meals
- All in-country transportation
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit of $499 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
- It is important to note that internships in Bali do not include meals and interns should budget to cover this Independently.
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 70 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Activities and tourism
During the weekend, interns have spare time to relax and enjoy the surrounding area and attractions. Some of our favorite things to do include:
- Check out Ubud’s “arts and crafts” hub with countless galleries, artists’ workshops, shops and markets to explore.
- Tegalalang and Jatiluwih Rice Terraces - tours can be combined with trips to spice and coffee plantations where you can taste the famous Coffee Luwak (Kopi Luwak).
- Sunrise tour of Mount Batur or Mount Agung - Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is an active volcano and can be easily climbed (up to 1,700 meters ) in under two hours. For the more adventurous, Bali’s highest peak, Gunung Agung (3,142 meters), can be conquered in around 6 hours.
- Explore Nusa Lembongan Island - just a short speed boat ride away from the mainland. The waters around the island are a marine protected area and offer world class diving.
- Visit the shores of Lake Bratan, where the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple stands - a major water temple. The temple is an hour drive from Lovina and is a great day trip, combined with Git Git waterfall.
- Visit Lombok, two hours by speedboat from Bali. Lombok is well known for the beautiful Gili Islands. Laze the day away on the white sandy beaches of Gili Meno!
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Bali begin every Monday and interns may choose to spend a minimum of 8 weeks, up to a maximum of 24 weeks. (Exceptions to start date availability may occur when start dates are closed due to public holiday disruptions or if the program has already reached capacity). Please note that interns are advised not to book any flights until they have first registered to confirm participation.
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Thursday night before the Monday start date. Interns are asked to arrive on Thursday, to allow sufficient time to rest, recover from jetlag, and become oriented before beginning the internship on Monday. We ask interns to please arrive prior to 4pm, if this is possible. It’s more pleasant to settle into your accommodation before it gets dark (which is usually about 6-7pm).
The last night of accommodation that is covered by the Program Fee is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns to depart on Saturday morning. Extra nights of accommodation can be pre-arranged upon request and paid for separately.
The typical port of entry into the program is the Ngurah Rai International Airport (the airport code is DPS). Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation, to settle in and rest.
The following day, the procedure will be explained for the next steps, concerning your internship orientation and introductory period. The internship orientation typically takes place on the Friday (after the Thursday arrival). It covers important details for the internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more.
If you are planning to spend time independently in Bali prior to your internship start date, and will not require an airport pick up, we can arrange an alternative pick up from another location within the Denpasar and Kuta area.
If you arrive earlier or depart later, you will be expected to pay for extra nights of accommodation. Extra nights are paid for directly to our team in Bali. Please communicate your need for extra nights in advance.
Visa Requirements
Please note that all nationalities are required to obtain a visa in advance, in order to intern in Bali. You will be guided through the visa application process by our team, once you have confirmed your participation for your chosen internship. However, you should be prepared to submit required documentation for the visa for this process.
Requirements included, but may not be limited to, valid passport information, travel insurance, return airline tickets, and bank statements to verify financial means.
If your passport is nearing expiry within less than 12 months, you should ensure you have it renewed in advance. For this visa process, your passport will need to have at least 12 months validity remaining, after your intended departure date from Indonesia, at the end of the internship.
Please do not purchase flights for this internship, until you have first confirmed your participation and been guided through the placement and visa process accordingly.
A Visa Agent will apply for your Visa on your behalf. For a Visa Agent Sponsorship and a stay up to 60 days (8 weeks = 56 days), the initial visa cost is approximately US$425. For internships longer than 60 days (8 weeks), each visa extension (for an additional 60 days) costs approximately US$300. Visas cannot be extended more than 2 times. The cost of the visa is not included in your internship program fee, so this must be budgeted for independently. The Visa is expected to be received via email within 10 working days (from the date of submission of the visa application). Visa applications are not processed on weekends and Indonesian public holidays. Once obtained, the visa document needs to be brought with you to Indonesia.
Note that last-minute visa application requests may require an additional fee of US$200, to cover expedited visa processing. The applicant is solely responsible for covering such costs. (The cost of all visa application fees are subject to change).
Accommodation and WiFi
All interns in Bali are conveniently accommodated in the desirable touristic areas of the island. This may include the southern beach resort areas of Seminyak and Canggu, or the artistic and cultural epicenter of Ubud. Specific accommodation arrangements are made, taking into consideration the location of assigned internship placements, to ensure that any commute time for interns is as minimal as convenient as possible. The internship accommodation is designed to offer proximity to the various amenities of Bali, such as shopping, cafes, restaurants, wellness studios, tourism operators, and more. Taxi services may also be utilised within these central areas.
The accommodation typically features shared living facilities. However, interns can expect to have their own bedroom and bathroom for privacy. Kitchenettes are not common but if they are provided, they are quite basic, featuring just a bench, refrigerator and/or stove. Most people eat out, which is very affordable, opposed to the cost of purchasing ingredients to prepare home-cooked meals. Accommodation includes WiFi but the speed can sometimes be slow (compared to what you might be used to at home). The cost of electricity is also included with the accommodation.
While some placements may be within walking distance, due to the layout of Bali’s urban and residential areas, it is normal to expect a commute to and from the internship placement. The average commute time (between accommodation and the internship placement) is approximately 20 minutes and should not be more than 45 minutes (depending on traffic). Interns should expect to budget approximately US$40 per month for transportation to and from the internship placement. Additional guidance on transportation and getting around will be provided by the local team in Bali, during your initial orientation and introductory period.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we work with more than one apartment, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. However, you can expect a similar standard and similar amenities, to what is shown here.
Meals
It is important to note that internships in Bali do not include meals. The accommodation is unlikely to provide kitchenette facilities. Rather than purchasing ingredients to prepare home-cooked meals, it is more common to eat out (which can be very economical). Of course, there are plenty of supermarkets to shop from if one desires to stock up on some basic items.
Meals in Bali are very affordable when purchased from local establishments. Hearty, healthy meals can cost as little as US$2-3 (although you should prepare to pay more for dining within cafes or restaurants that are targeted toward tourists). Interns are recommended to avoid street food and eat hot cooked food. Staying hydrated is a must and bottled water should be consumed only (not tap water).
Balinese cuisine typically features rice in every meal. This may be accompanied by vegetables and meat or seafood. As Bali is predominantly Hindu, beef is rarely consumed. Common spices and seasonings may include galangal, ginger, shallots, garlic, turmeric, and lime.
We recommend that interns chat with their colleagues for tips on recommended eateries in their area. Locals will be proud to make recommendations and share their favorite places with you. Sharing a meal with others is a great way to connect and learn about a different culture, while also being one of the most rewarding (and delicious) aspects of international travel!
Essential country information
Capital | Denpasar |
Population | 4.22 million |
Languages | Bahasa Indonesia |
Currency | Indonesia Rupiah (IDR) |
Time zone | UTC+08:00 |
Weather and climate:
Bali has a tropical climate with year round warm weather and an average temperature of 86°F (30°C). High humidity can be expected during the wet season, from October through April. The dry season is between the months of May - September and has the lowest humidity. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 75°F (24°C) to to 89°F (32°C) and is rarely below 71°F (21°C).