Wanted: Energy, Ambition and a Sense of Humor to Teach the Locals!

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When you first land in Sembalun, Lombok, Indonesia you willl find yourself grinning from ear to ear. Why? Because the villagers embrace you like you are a long lost relatives and, in return, you will have a hard time leaving your new family! Nestled up against the majestic volcano, Mt. Rinjani, Sembalun is a farming village where adventurous trekkers come from around the world to summit its famous peak.

That said, when global tourists pass through, it is imperative that the locals are able to chat with them in English. The tourists get a better sense of the community (instead of just cruising through) and it helps the villagers gain valuable insight into the world outside of Indonesia. Many people cannot afford to leave the village, so what they hear from tourists and volunteers about distant lands could be all the traveling they ever get the chance to do.

Our Community Development Center is pulsing with excitement. Housing English lessons, computer classes, a library, a carpenter workshop and a newly opened café, volunteers have poured in from all four corners of the globe, teaching eager students the basics of ABC s, 1,2,3 s and even some useful English slang!

Worried that you don't have a teaching certificate or know very little about computers? No worries! There are dozens of ways to help. You could spend entire afternoons teaching simple letters, numbers and words. You could lead a drawing class and help the students learn the English word for all the things they drew; you could strum the guitar with them, show the children how to brush their teeth or use soap for the first time. One thing you will never suffer from is boredom. The kids literally line up outside begging for someone to chat with them in English, share stories about their country or play Uno!

The adults in the village are also eager to learn. Teaching them how to handle money or negotiate prices will be invaluable as the tourist industry continues to increase. There are so many small ways to help, all you need to do is show up with loads of energy, a bit of imagination and the desire to give back - ceative thinking is all you need.

Seriously, we are not out to create English scholars. Instead we need to promote basic conversational and life skills so when tourists come, the villagers can answer questions and make the tourists feel comfortable and welcome.

We are also open to all sorts of new ideas, workshops, platforms, etc!