Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Bali Animal Welfare Association! BAWA is a small, non-profit organization whose people work hard every day to reduce suffering for Bali’s animals and give them a better future.
BAWA relies on daily volunteers (including weekends) to exercise and socialize the many animals who live in our Ubud area facilities. The hands-on help of volunteers prepares rescued animals for adoption.
The minimum commitment for BAWA volunteers is five dates in 4 - 8 hour shifts (does not have to be 5 days in a row). It takes several days to become accustomed to the routine, climate, and conditions, and the longer you stay, the more rewarding your experience will be.
Anyone coming into contact with animals in Bali should have anti-rabies vaccinations. Exceptions can be made on a limited basis.
Volunteering with animal welfare in developing countries can be physically challenging. You need to be in pretty good physical shape to withstand the nature of the work in a hot and humid environment; a strong stomach also helps.
Volunteers are encouraged to drink several liters of water daily and to bring a reusable bottle. Bali suffers significantly from the inability to recycle single-use plastic bottles (which are available everywhere). These bottles often wind up in waterways, getting washed out to sea, or burned which creates toxic smoke.
Volunteering can take an emotional toll as well, so you need to be prepared for this. If you love animals so much that you cannot bear to see them suffer, then being a BAWA volunteer may not be the right choice for you. But, if you love animals so much you want to help them through their suffering, then this is the right volunteer choice for you.
It is essential to remember that Indonesia is a developing country, and BAWA is a not-for-profit organization. As a small charity with limited resources and funding, we manage as best we can.
BAWA volunteers must love animals, be independent, hardworking, friendly, helpful, and flexible. It would be best if you also were open-minded, patient, and ready to go in and do what needs doing.
Your volunteer location will be determined based on the dates you will volunteer, your rabies vaccination status, and the existing volunteer schedule.
We greatly value your time, energy, and flexibility, and kindly ask that you please honor the day and time commitments you will make to volunteer.