TRAVEL INSURANCE
Please ensure you have travel insurance to cover injury, accident, sickness, hospital and medical expenses, missed flights, cancellation and loss or damage to your personal belongings.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Please note if your plans change, your volunteer fees are non-refundable; however, we are more than happy to change your start date. Please ensure you have travel insurance to cover cancellation.
SAFETY
Our highest priority is the safety of our volunteers, guests, and staff. Please respect each other and the other’s property. Any person causing severe harm or putting others at risk will be asked to leave the site with forfeiture of your volunteer fees. This includes drunk and disorderly behaviour.
Remember that the jungle has snakes, scorpions and various other potentially harmful hazards; whilst these are unlikely, these are not in our complete control. Most hazards can be avoided by taking precautions, such as closing bags when not in use (scorpions).
Visitors must also accept travel, nature, or act-of-God hazards.
ZERO DRUGS POLICY
Drug use in Indonesia is illegal and a jailable offence. For everyone’s safety, we are a drug-free program. Please note the use of drugs will result in the immediate termination of your volunteering placement and removal from the program with forfeiture of your volunteer fees.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL PEOPLE
We are responsible for the safety of volunteers and staff in our care. Please respect the local culture and staff. Relationships with staff and local people will not be tolerated during your volunteer placement, resulting in immediate termination and removal from your site with forfeiture of your volunteer fees.
VALUABLES
Volunteers are responsible for the safety of their valuables and personal items. Management will not be held accountable for the protection of volunteers’ valuables. If you are concerned, please bring a money belt for your money, passport and important documents. We provide a locker for each volunteer. Monkeys have removed everything from glasses to books!
WIFI AND INTERNET ACCESS
We have WiFi on site, but it is subject to our equipment being in optimal order, subject to weather and other factors. You can purchase a week’s internet access voucher for $13 US. Please use data-saver when watching videos and help us conserve data.
Alternatively, limited patchy mobile phone coverage is available on parts with the local mobile phone service. Data for Indonesian SIM cards can be purchased for your phone at affordable rates. We recommend volunteers buy a local SIM card with data on it when they arrive. Telkomsel is one of the better choices.
Otherwise, WiFi is available in the village at some guest house cafes. It is a 45-minute walk into the town or a 15-minute motorbike ride.
Accommodation
Accommodation – Shared dorm accommodation in a beautiful traditional building.
The accommodation is at our Hutan Subur Conservation project site near Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra. Bed and bedding/pillow are provided. Mosquitoes can occur, but Malaria is not known to be active in the area. You can take preventative Doxyclicine if desired. The accommodation is shared dormitory style, with a shared western bathroom (flushing toilet and cold-water shower). Dependent of the pressure in the water system, there is a gas hot water system, subject to availability.
Please note there is no mains electricity in the jungle on site; we have a generator that operates for 2 in the morning and 2 hours in the evening, battery power lasts for much of the day, and the modem runs most of the day.
Food & Beverages
Three meals per day will be provided for you whilst on this project. Breakfast is usually pancakes, omelette, eggs, rice/noodle dishes, or fresh fruit. Lunches and dinners are delicious and typically consist of noodles or rice with either chicken, fish, egg or vegetables. Tofu and Soybean dishes are also provided for vegetarians and vegans. Each meal is buffet-style. Complimentary tea, coffee, and water.
Soft drinks can be sourced on request. We also recommend getting local Lemons and limes at the market, with sugar or sweeter, at the Indomart for a refreshing drink.
Please note there is no refrigeration on-site or at any guest houses in the local area. All food is bought fresh daily to be cooked every day. This is standard practice in rural areas in Sumatra.
Water is also boiled on-site for your safety every day. Please do not drink water in the bathrooms.
What’s NOT included?
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees. An airport pickup isn’t included in the program fees either.
Flight Tickets
The nearest airport is Kuala Namu International Airport (KNO) in Kuala Namu. We can assist you in finding cheap flights to Indonesia.
Travel Insurance
Going abroad is an adventure, and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation, or theft/travel insurance for Indonesia provides security and is a plus.
Vaccines
If you intend to volunteer in Indonesia, seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Indonesia.
Duration
1 – 50 weeks
English