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You’ll be matched with your personal volunteer travel expert who’ll guide you every step of the way.
Meet Your Travel Expert
Receive your welcome pack with everything you need: arrival info, contacts, visa and insurance help, packing tips, vaccines, language basics, and so much more.
Get Ready to Go!
Choose your dream project and apply for free—no commitment, just excitement!
Pick Your Destination & Apply
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Once your dates are confirmed, pay your program fee—choose to pay in full or in easy installments.
Secure Your Spot
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Want to support children and young adults with special needs in a meaningful and compassionate way? Our Special Needs Program in Ubud gives volunteers the chance to engage directly with individuals who benefit deeply from care, attention, and stimulation.
Based at a dedicated centre just outside Ubud, the program supports participants with a range of physical and developmental challenges. With limited resources and staffing, your presence helps provide the one-on-one time and emotional encouragement that makes all the difference.
This program offers compassionate volunteers the chance to assist at a local centre that provides essential care, therapy, and education to individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.
You’ll work closely with local staff to support daily activities, offering attention, encouragement, and one-on-one interaction that helps each participant grow in confidence and independence. The centre serves individuals with a range of needs—including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism—and your presence brings warmth and joy into their daily routines.
Key Activities:
Support with daily care routines and personalised attention
Assist local staff with movement exercises and simple physiotherapy
Lead games, music, crafts, and sensory play activities
Help individuals develop basic skills through structured and informal sessions
Encourage communication, confidence, and social interaction
Support the creation of learning aids and visual materials
Participate in group activities and help maintain a positive environment
This is a heart-led role requiring patience, empathy, and a willingness to engage fully. Whether you’re helping someone with mobility, guiding a craft activity, or simply sitting with a child during lunch, your care creates a ripple effect that empowers lives and strengthens the community.
By volunteering on our Special Needs Program in Ubud, Bali, you will:
Support children and young adults with a range of physical and cognitive disabilities
Provide one-on-one care, attention, and emotional encouragement
Assist in daily routines, therapy exercises, and creative activities
Help build communication, confidence, and social engagement
Work closely with local staff and become part of a compassionate care team
Contribute to an inclusive, nurturing environment where every individual feels seen
Experience deep cultural connection while living in the heart of Bali’s spiritual centre
Make a powerful, lasting difference through small, meaningful daily actions
What to Expect: A Day in the Life of a Special Needs Volunteer
Each day in Ubud brings opportunities for connection, compassion, and impact. You'll work closely with individuals who thrive on routine, care, and creative engagement—offering your support in a calm, structured environment just a few kilometres from Ubud's cultural centre.
Here’s what a typical day might look like:
7:30 AM – Morning Journey to the Centre
Travel from your homestay to the nearby support centre, either by foot or scooter. Take in the quiet early-morning energy of the rice fields and local villages along the way.8:00 AM – Morning Greeting & Settling In
Help welcome the children and young adults, assist with seating, and support morning routines. This is often a gentle time with music or sensory-based activities.9:00 AM – Daily Activities & Learning Sessions
Support staff with structured learning activities—this might include basic number games, art projects, storytime, or guided physical exercises to help with coordination and mobility.10:30 AM – Snack Break & Free Play
Assist with snack distribution and offer support during informal playtime. Volunteers often lead music, games, or calm social engagement depending on the needs of the group.11:30 AM – Group Activities or Individual Support
You may help facilitate a group game, assist with therapy routines, or provide one-on-one attention to individuals who need additional guidance.12:30 PM – End of Session & Return to Homestay
Help tidy the activity space and assist with farewells. Return to your homestay for lunch and a well-earned rest.Afternoons & Evenings
Your afternoons are generally free. Some volunteers use this time to plan the next day's activities or participate in cultural workshops like batik, wood carving, or yoga in nearby Ubud.Days Off
With two days off per week, you’ll have time to explore Bali’s heart—visit temples, trek to waterfalls, take a cooking class, or just enjoy a coffee overlooking the rice terraces.This is a peaceful, purpose-driven role where the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference.
Your Impact as a Volunteer
Supporting individuals with special needs is one of the most profound and personal ways you can contribute as a volunteer. Many of the children and young adults you’ll work with have limited access to dedicated care, therapy, or enrichment—and your presence brings much-needed attention, joy, and support into their lives.
Whether you're helping someone learn how to hold a crayon, encouraging a small breakthrough in communication, or simply sitting quietly with a child who needs comfort, your impact is both immediate and lasting.
You’ll also be giving strength to the local staff and families, whose daily efforts are uplifted by your energy, compassion, and consistency. By showing up each day with patience and empathy, you become part of a powerful community that believes every person—regardless of ability—deserves love, dignity, and opportunity.
This isn’t just volunteering—it’s life-changing connection, both for them and for you.
Your Home in Ubud, Bali
As a volunteer on the Special Needs Program, you'll stay in a peaceful homestay located just a short drive from the centre. Hosted by a warm and welcoming Balinese family, the accommodation offers a chance to fully immerse yourself in local life while enjoying the calm, natural beauty of Ubud’s outskirts.
Sleeping Arrangements
Shared rooms with single beds (typically 2–4 volunteers per room)
Mosquito nets and fans provided
Clean bedding and secure storage included
What’s Provided
Shared bathrooms with Western toilets and cold-water showers
Communal areas for dining, planning, and relaxing
Free Wi-Fi in common areas (suitable for light browsing)
Daily cleaning of shared spaces
Meals & Nutrition
You’ll enjoy three freshly prepared meals each day, made by your host family using local ingredients. Meals are typically vegetarian-friendly and include rice, vegetables, eggs, tofu, tempeh, and occasional chicken or fish. Special diets can be accommodated with notice.Meal times are relaxed, social, and often shared with other volunteers—offering the perfect moment to connect and reflect after a rewarding day.
Sustainable Living
Ubud is known for its eco-conscious lifestyle, and you’ll be encouraged to live simply—minimising waste, conserving water, and respecting local customs. This slow-paced, intentional lifestyle complements the heart-centred nature of your volunteer work.History
This grassroots, community-led initiative was founded by local Balinese people in response to the educational and developmental gaps faced by children in rural areas of the island. With limited access to structured early learning, many young children in coastal villages were entering school without foundational skills, making it harder for them to succeed later in life.
Over time, the project expanded across four regions—Tianyar, Seraya, Ubud, and Tabanan—creating multiple volunteer-led programs that provide support in areas like English language, music, arts, and physical education. The early childhood centre in Tianyar now welcomes volunteers from around the world to bring extra energy, attention, and joy to the lives of young children during their most formative years.
Mission & Vision
The mission is to offer inclusive educational support to underserved children across Bali—fostering learning, confidence, and creativity from an early age. With a strong belief in community-based impact, the project empowers local families by delivering meaningful opportunities through volunteer-driven support.
The vision is a Bali where every child, no matter where they’re born, can learn in a safe, stimulating environment—guided by local values, supported by global friendships. Through long-term partnerships and cultural exchange, the program creates lasting change that extends far beyond the classroom.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Program Fees
Duration Fee (EUR) Approx. Daily Equivalent
1 week €347 €50/day
2 weeks €430 €31/day
3 weeks €482 €23/day
4 weeks €646 €23/day
5 weeks €786 €23/day
6 weeks €924 €22/day
7 weeks €1,062 €22/day
8 weeks €1,201 €21/day
Extra weeks €139 €20/day
Payment Terms
Program fees are due 30 days before your start date.
If applying within 30 days of arrival, full payment is due within 48 hours of confirmation.
What’s Included
✅ Shared homestay accommodation with local host family
✅ Three traditional Balinese meals per day✅ Placement in a special needs care centre with full local support
✅ Full orientation and ongoing in-country support
✅ Guided project introduction and materials
✅ Certificate of completion and volunteer reference
✅ Airport pickup and village transport on arrival
✅ Full support before, during, and after your placement
✅ 100% Cancellation Money-Back Guarantee
✅ So much moreYour Investment in Compassion & Growth
Your program fee directly supports the centre and local care team—funding essential equipment, therapy materials, and access to services for children and families with limited means.
At the same time, you're investing in your own journey. Through this program, you’ll gain deeper empathy, resilience, and perspective—qualities that stay with you long after your time in Bali. Whether you're considering a career in care or simply drawn to making a difference, this is an experience of shared humanity that will shape how you see the world.
Where You’ll Be: Ubud, Central Bali
Located in the heart of Bali’s lush highlands, Ubud is known as the island’s cultural and spiritual centre. Surrounded by rice terraces, rivers, and ancient temples, it offers a peaceful and inspiring environment for meaningful volunteer work.
Your volunteer base is just outside the main town, giving you easy access to Ubud’s cafés, markets, and yoga studios while still enjoying the quiet calm of village life. Mornings often begin with birdsong and incense in the air, while evenings bring cool breezes and the sounds of distant gamelan music.
You’ll be staying close to the centre where you volunteer, making it easy to balance work and rest while staying immersed in the rhythm of daily Balinese life.
Bali – More Than a Destination
Bali is often called the “Island of the Gods,” and for good reason. Beyond its postcard-perfect beaches lies a deeply spiritual culture rooted in ritual, family, and harmony with nature. Everywhere you go, you’ll find offerings at doorsteps, warm smiles from locals, and a sense of connection that’s hard to describe but easy to feel.
Ubud is especially known for its artistic communities, healing traditions, and eco-conscious lifestyle. Whether you're walking through a rice field, attending a temple ceremony, or sharing a meal with your host family, you’ll experience Bali not as a tourist—but as a welcomed guest.
Ubud is the perfect base for exploring Bali’s vibrant culture and breathtaking natural beauty. Whether you're looking to relax, adventure, or dive deeper into Balinese life, there's always something inspiring to do in your free time.
Top Free Time Activities in and around Ubud:
Explore the Sacred Monkey Forest – Wander through ancient temple ruins and jungle pathways in the company of playful long-tailed macaques.
Yoga & Wellness Classes – Take part in world-renowned yoga sessions, meditation, and healing workshops across Ubud’s many peaceful studios.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces – Hike through the iconic layered rice paddies and enjoy stunning sunrise views.
Balinese Cooking Classes – Learn to prepare traditional dishes like nasi goreng, gado-gado, and satay using fresh local ingredients.
Tirta Empul Water Temple – Visit this sacred purification site and witness age-old rituals in a serene, spiritual setting.
Visit Local Markets – Shop for handcrafted souvenirs, organic treats, and colourful sarongs at Ubud’s buzzing traditional market.
Campuhan Ridge Walk – A gentle hike offering peaceful views of rolling hills, jungle canopies, and riverside cafés.
Weekend Trips to Mount Batur – Join a sunrise hike to this active volcano and soak in hot springs after the climb.
Volunteer-led Cultural Nights – Enjoy group dinners, traditional music, or dance performances with your host family and fellow volunteers.
Ubud offers a rare balance—vibrant yet calm, rich in tradition yet full of opportunity for personal growth. Every moment outside the classroom is a chance to explore, reflect, and reconnect—with nature, with people, and with yourself.
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