Guest Blog by Suzan
Is Bali your next holiday destination? Maybe you are longing for paradise, but wouldn’t it also be interesting to do something special during your vacation? Our guest-blogger Suzan volunteered in Bali, Indonesia recently and wrote heartwarming blog about it!
My trip to Bali, Indonesia
I would like to tell you about the voluntary work I did in Bali, Indonesia. When I searched to book a vacation for this year, I didn’t know where to go. I preferred the sun and to just get away from everything. I needed something to look forward to.
When I was traveling through South East Asia back in 2014, I discovered Bawa in Bali. This is an oganization which takes care of animals in need on the island. I figured this was

BAWA (Bali Animal Welfare Association)
‘BAWA works to save, protect en improve the lives of all animals in Bali and beyond’. The non-profit organization exists because of donations and mainly volunteers.
The services BAWA provides are:
- 24/7 hotline
- Bali’s only free 24/7 animal ambulance service
- Animal rehabilitation
- Free sterilization & vaccination programs
- Daily Street feeding
- Foster and adoption programs
- Education in schools & communities
- Advocacy for better animal welfare
There are many locations in Bali where BAWA is actively working. When I contacted BAWA, they asked me if I would volunteer at the ‘Pengosekkan Puppy House’ in Ubud. Of

Pengosekkan Puppy House
The puppy house is located in the South of Ubud, not too far from the well known Monkey Forest.
This location is one

Your job as a volunteer is to give the dogs love and attention and get some of them ready for adoption. Some of them needed extra attention with medication, therapy or getting used to the sound of motorcycles or humans. Some dogs are used to humans and they like to get petted or a good rub on their belly. Other dogs are shy or even
I had an amazing time and it really got to me. You get so attached to the dogs so quickly. Here are some photo’s of my time there:


Free volunteering
A lot of organizations ask for a fee when you want to volunteer. BAWA doesn’t! You can help without paying money. You have to arrange your own accommodation and food. I stayed at a nice Guest House called Dewa Put Guest House. It was a few minutes from the location. There are a few places nearby where you can get food. You can get water in the puppy house
There are locals who work in day and night shifts, so there is always someone there. A few times a week a vet stops by. When I came, there were two other volunteers. One of them stayed for three weeks, and the other one stayed for one week like me.

How to help
There are many ways to help the organization BAWA like buying their merchandise, jewelry, giving donations or come and volunteer. On their
Hope you will enjoy Bali in this special way like I did!
xxx Suzan