Carly from University of Glasgow, Scotland “I found working with all the different organisations to be the most valuable part of the experience. I loved the fact I got to learn lots of different things in such a short space of time. I also found it very beneficial for my future goals as I got to see the type of things which are involved with running a non-profit and got first-hand experience with some of the challenges faced. In addition I found living at the home stay and being immersed in the local culture to be both very valuable experiences. I also loved learning to ride a scooter! It has made me really want 1!” I felt I gained a lot of practical knowledge which will be useful for my future career goal of working in the non-profit sector or potentially running my own organisation. I also think that I will have lots of skills and new experiences to add to my CV which I didn’t have before which can only be of benefit to my future. To be honest I didn’t have a lot of preconceptions about Indonesia before coming. But after 6 weeks here I have completely fallen in love with Bali, its people and its culture. Possibly my only surprise was that despite the fact Bali is still developing and there is a lot of poverty, there were parts which seemed a lot more developed than I had anticipated. My time in Bali has made me want to explore other parts of Indonesia. However I know that Bali is quite a unique place and I am not entirely convinced that I will find any other parts of Indonesia which will match it. “
B.Sc. Zoology
Laurie from Amsterdam University College, Netherlands “Being an Environmental Policy and Economics undergraduate of Amsterdam University College, I found out about RACI’s initiatives in Indonesia when looking for an internship that would fit with my studies. I became very enthusiastic about RACIs seemingly interesting and diverse sustainable development related activities and when I actually became a RACI intern I learned that my enthusiasm was warranted. As a RACI intern I have had the opportunity to not only explore the natural beauty of Indonesia, and become acquainted with the rich culture of Indonesian communities, I have also had the great chance to contribute to Indonesia’s environmental awareness, conservation, and protection. While doing all of this I was able to learn how the knowledge I gained during my studies applies in practice. I, for example, learned to use frameworks for the implementation of local projects, and to manage emerging implications. I am convinced that the practical experience I gained with RACI allows me to I take my studies up to a new level, while I also expect it to be a valuable preparation for my future career. With RACI I have been able to work within an inspiring team of international interns with different backgrounds in the field of environmental studies. Together we have created a volunteer handbook for the Friends of the National Parks Foundation in Nusa Penida; we have held presentations to share knowledge with local communities; we have contributed to the development of Green Spirit Bali, an initiative that supports locally grown organic commodities, and empowers organic farmers in Sudaji; and we have worked on and contributed to Forest Conservation-, Reef Conservation and Restoration, and youth Empowerment projects in the remote Flores Timur. In all, RACI allowed me to gain a lifetime experience in only five enlightening, valuable, and most of all exciting weeks in Indonesia.”
B.Sc. Sustainability
Sean from Columbia University, USA “I was interested in continuing my use of Bahasa Indonesia while attaining useful experience over the summer. I found that my time here was non-stop, which gave me the opportunity to see new places, meet many new people, and work on several new projects. I was even given the opportunity to present to a group of villagers in Sudaji on Climate Change (In Bahasa Indonesia). Through my time with RACI, there are a number of new skills that I can add to my resume as well as numerous opportunities to see and experience places such as Sudaji, Nusa Penida, and Flores. RACI has brought together an extremely diverse group of individuals from many different countries and backgrounds. All of these people bring different perspectives and areas of expertise, but their drive towards improving the local environment, sustainability, and development of Bali and anywhere else they help out is unquestionable. This program allows interns to collaborate collectively with their peers as well as with established men and women in these fields. Also, the biggest strength of RACI is the amount of local participation that is in all of the projects. RACI believes in only doing the jobs that cannot be done easily without their help.”
M.S. Climatology & Society
Jennifer from University of California, USA “When I thought about Indonesia before all I thought about was Bali, the beach and surfing. I was so surprised to see how diverse just the tiny island of Bali is! From the people, to the economy, to the ecological environment- I never expected there to be so much! Also, after learning about Sulawesi and then seeing Nusa Penida, I know that there is so much I still don’t know about the huge country.”
M.A., Education
Timna from Innsbruck University, Austria “Participating on a great variety of different projects gave me the opportunity to gain experience in most of the fields of NGO-Management that are subject to my university studies. I also really appreciated getting introduced to the Balinese culture during orientation week. Concerning the daily routine, it was most helpful to have regular meetings where the progress of the projects could be discussed.”
Bachelor studies in Nonprofit, Social & Healthcare Management
Andrea from Ōrebro University, Sweden “I’ve learned a lot during this internship period, it’s been an absolutely great experience! If any of your future prospective interns have questions about interning with RACI, feel free to give them my contact info. I have only good things to say about RACI, you have a great approach towards sustainable development and some awesome project ideas. Keep on the good work!”
M.A. Sustainability
Josephine from University of Technology, Australia “The administration and logistical side to the internship were very interesting to me as they revealed the challenges of running a NGO. Ways for organization such as spreadsheets, meetings and direct interaction with the people involved in the projects were most valuable. In terms of business strategy it was useful to see the time maps, and clearly written objections as well as the necessary legal documents needed. It was also extremely enlightening to deal directly with such different business personalities and to be sensitive to their needs and wants. Overall I think I gained confidence that will assist me generally in the future. So thank you.”
B.A. Design & International Studies
Michael from Skidmore College, USA “Having the opportunity to see what it takes to run an NGO was one of the most valuable parts of my internship. Interning with RACI gave me a lot insight into how the NGO world works and gave me a good idea of what a career in the field would be like. Also, the opportunity to meet people working with other organizations in Bali was an incredibly valuable experience. I learned a lot about what it takes to work with a NGO. I learned about networking, marketing and communications. I learned about the importance of the way an organization represents itself and the tools with which an NGO can effectively do this.”
B.A. Integrative Biology
Jakob from Skidmore College, USA “Meeting people and organizations from many different backgrounds, culturally in terms of nationality, or personality in terms of general interests to their perspective projects has made me a very flexible worker and group thinker.I have learned a lot about logistics in running a non-profit organization as well as the steps and considerations of projects in an international setting. I have started to learn about how to manage people in different aspects of a project as well as how to stream line and make work initiatives efficient.”
B.A. Environmental Studies
