Global Leadership Adventures: Bali

Journey to the magical Indonesian island of Bali where you’ll experience its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, natural hot springs, deep river valleys, cool mountain trails, soaring volcanoes, green rice fields, and plunging waterfalls.

Immerse yourself in a land where spirituality and ecology blend together to create a unique and peaceful culture. During your experience you’ll volunteer with inspirational community organizations, explore off-the-beaten path places and enjoy the rich and vibrant local culture.

Community Service
Students will help refurbish a local non-government facility that is home to the disabled, many of whom are talented artists and craftspeople living and working together. There will also be an opportunity for students to teach English and computer skills at an educational training school.

Each student will do service projects with local organizations affecting change in the community. This will be your opportunity to interact with the local people and get a closer look at the culture and daily life of the Balinese. Service projects include teaching English and computer skills to Balinese youth, working at a local health clinic, or participating in environmental campaigns against plastic, etc.

Hands-on Learning
We will learn about the intersection of traditional spirituality and ecological sustainability and how that is expressed through the arts. We’ll do hands-on workshops on Balinese Gamelan music, Kecek dance, and mask-making and meet with community leaders to learn about issues facing the community. You’ll learn first-hand about life as a small scale farmer by working in the rice fields and spend time with peasant farmers’ families.

Bali is also uniquely suited to learn about leadership. Our leadership sessions are designed to enrich your capacity to create change in your own communities. We believe that the Balinese people embody leadership in their daily lives, and we will use this learning for our “living leadership” strategies and tools.

Adventure
The entire Bali journey will be an adventure. The Balinese culture is based on living harmoniously with the natural world, and you will get a “behind the scenes” tour while you trek through luscious rice paddies, visit remote temple sites, snorkel through the coral reef with dolphins, and raft down the river overlooking massive canyons. On weekends we will take time to explore this unique island and all of its breathtaking sites.

Lodging
We will be staying in Ubud, the cultural arts capital of Bali, and also the town featured in the book and movie Eat, Pray, Love. Ubud is renowned for the arts, especially mask makers, traditional healers, dance, music, and other craftsmen. This fascinating village has all the comforts of home, but has a distinct essence that draws people from all over the world to witness its serenity, beauty and power. The GLA Home Base in Bali is a traditional Balinese compound with a courtyard surrounded by individual rooms. Students will share a room with one or two other students. Food will consist of locally grown, organic cuisine such as fruits, vegetables, grains and meats.