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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 volunteer as a Sustainability Assistant in Indonesia?
Our Travel Roots Sustainability Assistant program offers an inspiring way to get your hands dirty—literally—while helping create a more self-reliant, eco-conscious future for a wildlife rescue centre in Java.Working within a centre that feeds and cares for over 250 animals every day, your role is to help expand its organic farm, strengthen local food production systems, and enhance sustainable land practices that benefit both people and wildlife. The work you do here doesn’t just feed the animals—it strengthens community ties, protects the soil, and models how conservation and farming can work hand-in-hand.
Whether you’re helping with composting, planting, irrigation, or soil improvement, your efforts will directly reduce the environmental footprint of the centre while contributing to a more circular, resilient system of care.
This is an ideal placement for anyone passionate about food systems, permaculture, tropical agriculture, or sustainable development.
Key Activities
• Support organic farming: planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting produce
• Assist with soil restoration using natural composting and mulching techniques
• Help maintain and expand the on-site vegetable gardens and fruit orchards
• Learn and apply permaculture principles adapted to a tropical setting
• Contribute to erosion control and water system management
• Participate in group sustainability projects or construction of compost bins and irrigation channels
• Join education workshops or training sessions offered to staff and community
• Support the centre’s goal of growing more animal food locally to reduce costs and emissionsBy volunteering as a Sustainability Assistant, you will:
• Contribute to sustainable farming that feeds over 250 rescued animals
• Learn practical skills in organic agriculture, composting, and soil management
• Be part of a mission to reduce the centre’s reliance on external food sources
• Work hands-on with tropical crops and permaculture techniques
• Help reverse soil erosion and protect water resources in a rural jungle setting
• Join a passionate team creating eco-solutions for long-term conservation success
• Gain insight into circular systems that benefit wildlife, people, and the planet
• Immerse yourself in a slow-living lifestyle deeply connected to natureWhat to Expect: A Day in the Life of an Sustainability Assistant in Indonesia
Your days as a Sustainability Assistant are grounded—literally. Working outdoors, you’ll help cultivate a thriving organic farm that supports rescued wildlife and promotes eco-conscious living. Expect hard work, earthy hands, and a strong sense of purpose.
Example Day
07:00 – Morning Briefing at the Farm
Start your day with a quick catch-up with the farm team to assign tasks and review priorities—harvesting, compost turning, or irrigation checks.07:30 – Garden Work & Composting
Jump into planting, weeding, harvesting seasonal crops, or turning compost piles to improve soil structure and nutrient cycling.10:00 – Watering & Mulching
Tend to the crops with natural irrigation and mulching methods that reduce water usage and promote healthy plant growth.11:30 – Lunch Break (provided)
Enjoy a homecooked Indonesian meal in the shade or social area, with time to relax and refresh before the afternoon.13:00 – Erosion Control & Maintenance Projects
Support special sustainability projects like building erosion barriers, installing drip lines, or reinforcing farm paths with natural materials.15:30 – Free Time or Optional Team Projects
Wrap up with a final check of the day’s progress or join a cross-team initiative such as habitat planting or educational signage creation.16:00 – Downtime
Evenings are for you—relax on the viewing deck, enjoy a book, or explore the surrounding rice fields.Volunteers work 6 days per week, with Sundays off to explore, rest, or venture into town for a change of pace.
Your Impact as a Volunteer
As a Sustainability Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in transforming the way this wildlife centre operates—reducing reliance on external resources and building a more self-sufficient, eco-conscious system from the ground up.
Every compost pile you turn, every seed you plant, and every irrigation line you repair is a step toward long-term environmental resilience. Your work supports the health and wellbeing of over 250 rescued animals by helping provide fresh, locally grown food—minimising costs, emissions, and dependency on outside suppliers.
Beyond the centre, your contribution helps build a model for community-based sustainability in rural Indonesia. The skills and systems developed here are shared with neighbouring villages to encourage wider adoption of sustainable practices.
You’ll walk away with real-world knowledge in sustainable agriculture, soil conservation, and permaculture—transferable skills that you can apply to future conservation projects, environmental roles, or even your own green lifestyle back home.
This is your chance to be part of something regenerative—reviving land, supporting wildlife, and laying the foundation for a greener tomorrow.
Your Home in Java
Your home during the program is nestled within the grounds of the wildlife rescue centre itself, giving you full immersion in the natural rhythm of life at the sanctuary. Expect simple, rustic living in a peaceful rural setting surrounded by forest and rice fields.
You’ll stay in one of two wooden long-house dormitories—separated by gender—with private partitioned areas for each volunteer. Each section includes a single bed, cabinet, and basic privacy, offering just enough comfort to rest and recharge after a rewarding day of hands-on work.
Facilities Include:
• Traditional squat toilets and cold-water bucket showers (typical of Indonesian rural areas)
• A communal viewing deck with a stunning overlook of the surrounding rice paddies—perfect for relaxing, journaling, or socialising
• Daily cleaning and a laundry service to help you stay fresh and focused
• Home-cooked Indonesian and Sundanese-style lunches and dinners prepared by local women from the village
• Vegetarian, vegan, and other dietary preferences can be accommodated with prior notice
• Breakfast is self-catered—there’s space to store simple groceries or snacksLife here is grounded, meaningful, and authentic. The accommodation mirrors the spirit of the project: practical, eco-conscious, and deeply connected to the local way of life.
History
Founded in 2001, our local conservation partner is a non-profit organisation based in West Java that has grown into one of Indonesia’s most established wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres. Originally created to assist in the care of confiscated animals from the illegal wildlife trade, the centre now operates as a multi-faceted conservation hub.
With facilities that support everything from wildlife rescue and conservation breeding to sustainable farming and environmental education, the centre has become a lifeline for hundreds of animals across Java. It currently cares for over 250 animals—including sun bears, gibbons, hornbills, orangutans, crocodiles, and other critically endangered species.
Many arrive in poor condition, having suffered from neglect, injury, or trauma. With veterinary care, enrichment, and expert rehabilitation, the centre helps these animals recover and—whenever possible—return to the wild.
Mission & Vision
The centre’s mission is to protect Indonesia’s native species while restoring ecosystems and promoting coexistence between people and wildlife. Their work is built on five foundational pillars: animal welfare, rehabilitation, sustainable living, education, and species conservation.
Animals that can no longer be released are given a permanent, safe sanctuary that mimics their natural environment as closely as possible. Beyond the centre’s rescue work, they also lead public education initiatives and community engagement programs to raise awareness and foster a future generation of wildlife protectors.
Through hands-on conservation, innovation, and compassion, the centre strives to create a sustainable future for both animals and people—where biodiversity is celebrated, protected, and given a chance to thrive.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Program Fee
Duration Fee (EUR per week)
1–6 weeks €163
6+ weeks €147
3+ months €131
5+ months €115
Visa Support: Assistance with visa processing is provided to ensure a smooth and stress-free arrival. Visa fees are separate and subject to your length of stay and nationality.
What’s Included
✔️ Accommodation in gender-separated longhouse dorms with private partitioned areas
✔️ Two freshly prepared Indonesian meals per day (lunch & dinner)
✔️ Drinking water, tea, coffee, and basic kitchen supplies
✔️ Laundry service and weekly transport to Sukabumi town for shopping
✔️ Access to a communal viewing deck and peaceful rural surroundings✔️ Visa Support
✔️ All cleaning, upkeep, and facility maintenance
✔️ Certificate of completion at the end of your placement
✔️ Welcome pack full of useful program and travel information
✔️ Full support before, during, and after your journey
✔️ 100% Cancellation Money-Back Guarantee
✔️ So much moreYour Investment in Sustainability & Your Future
Your program fee helps sustain this crucial conservation site, funding farm infrastructure, water system improvements, and food production for rescued wildlife. But the return goes far beyond that.
This is an investment in your own understanding of sustainability—practical, hands-on knowledge in organic farming, food systems, and eco-living. Whether you’re pursuing a career in conservation or want to live more sustainably, this is where learning meets purpose.
Where You’ll Be – The Lush Hills of West Java
Tucked away in the rural heartland of West Java, the rescue centre is nestled near the town of Sukabumi—about a 5-hour drive south of Jakarta. Surrounded by dense forest, rice paddies, and traditional villages, this off-the-beaten-path destination offers a truly immersive Indonesian experience.
You’ll wake up to birdsong, fall asleep to the hum of the jungle, and spend your days working in the open air. Despite the remote feel, you’ll be part of a vibrant community of local keepers, conservationists, and volunteers from around the world. The setting is quiet, authentic, and purpose-driven—perfect for anyone seeking meaning in nature.
The centre’s location also makes it ideal for cultural exploration. Whether it’s visiting local markets, sharing meals with villagers, or learning Sundanese customs, your experience extends well beyond animal care.
Indonesia – Diversity, Culture, and Conservation
Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet—home to ancient rainforests, volcanic landscapes, and more endemic species than almost anywhere else. But with this richness comes responsibility. Deforestation, habitat loss, and illegal wildlife trade have placed tremendous pressure on ecosystems here.
Java, the world’s most populous island, is a land of contrasts: vibrant cities and quiet villages, ancient traditions and modern struggles. It’s where conservation is most urgently needed—and most meaningful.
As a volunteer, you’ll step into a role that’s more than supportive—you become part of a growing movement to protect what remains and rebuild what’s been lost.
When you are not looking after the wildlife, you can explore a variety of activities that showcase the region's natural beauty and cultural heritage:
Waterfall Visits: Discover and swim in nearby natural waterfalls, some reaching heights of up to 100 meters.
Caving Adventures: Embark on guided tours of local caves, including a 1,500-meter-long cave suitable for vertical caving.
Tea Plantation Walks: Enjoy guided walks through the scenic tea plantations typical of West Java.
Bird Watching: Engage in birding activities to observe the diverse avian species in the area.
Local Cooking Lessons: Participate in cooking classes to learn traditional Javanese recipes.
Night Walks: Join guided night walks to experience the nocturnal wildlife and sounds of the jungle.
Cultural Excursions: Visit nearby towns such as Sukabumi for shopping and cultural experiences.
These activities provide a well-rounded experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local environment and culture during your volunteer stay.
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