Teach English and Experience Jungle Life with Our Family in Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, Indonesia

Details

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  Description

  Hello! My name is Putra and I live in Bukit Lawang, right beside the tropical jungle, home to the Sumatran orangutans and many other incredible animals. I’m the founder of Sumatra Family Trekking, a community-based trekking company that I’ve run for over 20 years together with a wonderful team of 12 local guides, porters, and cooks. We’re passionate about protecting the rainforest and sharing its magic with visitors from around the world.
  
  Together with my wife Maya (who is an amazing cook!) and our children, we run 2 small guesthouses, one in Bukit Lawang town, Guesthouse, and one in the jungle, Ecotourism Bukit Lawang Bungalow. We love meeting travellers and sharing our culture, stories, and deep connection to the jungle. Our goal is to promote sustainable tourism and environmental education that benefits the local community and protects the rainforest for future generations.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  Hospitality/Tourism
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  Interests

  

  Events & social

  

  Sustainability

  

  Culture

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  History

  

  Music

  

  Plant care

  

  Gardening

  

  Animals

  

  Camping

  

  Nature

  

  Dancing

  

  Water sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  In exchange, you will stay with us at our guesthouse, enjoy the meals cooked by the greatest chef in Bukit Lawang (my wife) , immerse yourself in local culture and have the chance to explore the jungle and meet the wildlife. I would love to share with you everything I know about the jungle and why its special to us here in Bukit Lawang. This village is rich in culture for you to experience: outside our guesthouse you can play with the local children in the river - there are markets and live music each week - Indoneisan food to try - cooking and wood carving classes - if you're lucky I can take you to a traditional Indonesian wedding!

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  Help

  We’re looking for Workawayers who want to make a real impact in our community while experiencing authentic jungle life.
  
  Your main role will be to support English teaching at a local school — around three times per week for one hour per session (or more if you’d like!). Many local children and young people are eager to learn English, as it opens up opportunities for them to work in tourism or conservation and to share their culture with visitors. By helping improve their language skills, you’ll be directly contributing to their future prospects and to the sustainable growth of our village.
  
  English classes take place at a nearby local school in the village. Transport to and from the school is arranged for you — the small return cost of 50,000 IDR helps cover the local driver’s fuel and time.
  
  In addition, we invite you to join a jungle trek during your stay. This is a vital part of understanding our conservation work — you’ll learn about the unique jungle ecosystem, the threats it faces (such as palm oil plantations), and how local communities are working to protect it.
  
  Note: Jungle treks are run by our licensed local guides and help support their livelihoods. There is a standard contribution fee for these treks, the same as for regular guests.
  
  Alongside English teaching and learning about conservation through trekking, there are other meaningful ways volunteers can support our community and the environment. We have recently started a tree-planting project to help restore damaged areas of the jungle, improve soil health, and support wildlife habitats. Volunteers are welcome to get involved — planting young trees, caring for seedlings, and helping us track their progress over time.
  
  There may also be opportunities to assist with light road cleaning and maintenance in the village, or to help around the guesthouse during busy times. These small contributions help keep our surroundings clean, support eco-tourism, and strengthen our community efforts.
  
  This is a meaningful exchange — you’ll teach, learn, and become part of a wider effort to protect one of the world’s most precious environments.
  
  Maximum stay: 2 weeks

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Indonesian: Fluent
  English: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  My English is good but I would like to improve it if possible. I am happy to teach you some Indonesian if you would like!
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  Accommodation

  You will have your own room in our guesthouse, with an ensuite, fan and mosquito net.
  
  Accommodation and breakfast will be free of charge - other food and drinks will cost but nice and cheap!

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  What else ...

  Our home is surrounded by lush jungle and the peaceful Bohorok River — a serene, remote retreat that’s perfect for anyone wanting to slow down, connect with nature, and contribute to something meaningful.
  
  We’re also happy to help you plan the next part of your adventure in Sumatra! Whether you’re travelling onward to Medan, Berastagi, Lake Toba, or exploring further afield, we can help arrange reliable local transport and share travel tips to make your journey easy and enjoyable.
  
  You’ll leave with new friends, jungle stories, and the satisfaction of knowing you’ve supported both people and nature.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

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