With heart and hands - volunteering at a Balinese school

The Balinese village of Sukawati is fascinating not only because of its surroundings and traditions, but also because of the openness of its people. During my last trip, I had the opportunity to get to know a very special side of the island: the local school system and children. For two weeks, I was able to teach as a volunteer at the public school SDS Saraswati Sukawati with around 300 kids and this experience touched me deeply.

I found this opportunity via the Workaway platform and contacted the school directly. Just a few days later, I had a WhatsApp message from my contact person called Juli, who explained all the details to me. When I finally arrived on my first day at school, I received a very warm welcome. The teachers, but above all the children, were so open and curious that I immediately felt at home. As soon as I arrived, I was thrown in at the deep end: One of the English teachers was missing, so suddenly I was standing alone in front of a class full of children who were looking at me expectantly. I was nervous at first, as I didn't know the teaching style or the language level of the kids but the children helped me with their enthusiasm and patience, and we quickly found a way to communicate. It was touching to see how they supported each other and tried out new words.

I taught English to several classes every day. With the younger ones, I learned colours and fruits through play, while the older ones worked on telling the time and personal pronouns. It was particularly nice to see their progress - even in such a short time. In addition to the lessons, the school day was full of little rituals: the communal lunch, where a prayer was said before the first bite, the games during the break (which we know from Squid Game) and even a short siesta where everyone lay on mats and rested for half an hour. Another fond memory is the dance class where I got an insight into Balinese culture.

I was surprised on the last day. The teacher Juli asked me to wait in the meeting room, and when she came to get me after a while and led me outside, all the students and teachers were standing there. They held a small farewell ceremony for me, presented me with a diploma and personalised letters that the children had made for me. Then the children rushed up to me and hugged me - a moment I will never forget.

These two weeks have shown me once again how much we can learn from each other. Language is not a barrier if you speak from the heart. The children were full of joy, curiosity and gratitude - and that's exactly what I took away from them. This experience will stay in my heart forever and I am infinitely grateful that I was able to be a part of their everyday school life.

Matur Suksma - Thank you very much!