Learn palm sugar traditions and Osing culture in Banyuwangi, Indonesia

Details

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  Description

  Welcome to a sugar palm village on the slopes of Mount Ijen
  
  We are a community-based eco-education village in Desa Kluncing, Licin, Banyuwangi (East Java, Indonesia). We work together with a local organisation focused on conservation, community development and cultural programmes.
  
  Our village is built around the aren (sugar palm) tree. For generations, local farmers here have climbed aren palms to tap nira (palm sap) and cook it slowly into natural palm sugar. Today we are protecting that tradition while also restoring the forest: we run a seedling nursery, organise tree-planting activities, and welcome visitors through our eduwisata (educational tourism) programme.
  
  What we love about our place and why you'll love it too
  1. Green hills, cool mountain air and forest on the slopes of Ijen, one of Java's most famous volcanoes
  2. Real village life with the Osing people, the indigenous community of Banyuwangi, who have their own language, music and traditions
  3. The name "Simacan" comes from macan (tiger), a reminder of the wild forest this area once was
  4. Local flavours: fresh palm sugar, Kopi Uthek (our local coffee), klanceng (stingless bee) honey and traditional dishes like Sego Lemeng (rice cooked in banana leaf inside bamboo)
  5. Hands-on crafts such as batik and ecoprint
  
  Who you'll work with
  You'll be part of a small, friendly community: local aren farmers and nira tappers, palm-sugar makers, village guides, women's groups who make traditional snacks and crafts, and the team who coordinate our conservation and education programmes.
  We're looking for volunteers who want to learn, share their skills, and help us grow a sustainable village where nature, culture and community go hand in hand.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Light gardening

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism
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  Interests

  

  Gardening

  

  Charity work

  

  Sustainability

  

  Technology

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Farming

  

  Events & social

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Camping

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Cultural exchange
  Living with us means being part of village life, not just watching it. You'll share meals, work and stories with local families, farmers and the team.
  
  Connecting with the community
  Eat together with local families and try home-cooked Osing and Javanese food, including Sego Lemeng and fresh palm-sugar treats
  Enjoy evening chats over a cup of Kopi Uthek, our local coffee, which is often the best time to hear stories about the village and its legends
  
  Join daily village activities and gatherings, and get to know people through working side by side in the fields and forest
  If your stay coincides with village or Banyuwangi cultural events, you're welcome to join and experience local traditions
  
  What we can share with you
  Traditional knowledge of the aren palm: nira tapping, natural palm-sugar making and forest care
  
  Klanceng (stingless bee) honey keeping and seedling nursery skills
  
  Batik, ecoprint and traditional snack making
  Basic Indonesian and a few words of Osing, the local language of Banyuwangi
  
  The history and culture of the Osing people and life on the slopes of Mount Ijen
  
  What we hope to learn from you
  We'd love to learn about your culture, food and way of life. Your languages, ideas and skills, whether in storytelling, content creation, eco-tourism, sustainability or anything else, can help our village grow. Every volunteer leaves a little of their world with us, and takes a piece of Simacan home with them.

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  Help

  How you can help – a journey through aren village life
  
  Your stay with us follows a simple path, from learning about the village to giving back to it. You'll work side by side with local farmers and the team, and we'll share our skills with you while you share yours with us.
  
  1. Introduction and orientation
  We start by telling you our story: the history of Simacan, Osing culture, the work, and the challenges our village faces, from forest loss to keeping traditional knowledge alive. This helps you understand why every task matters.
  2. Nira tapping and palm-sugar making
  Join our farmers for nderes, the traditional way of tapping sap (nira) from aren palms. Then help cook the sap slowly over a wood fire until it turns into natural palm sugar.
  3. Tree planting, seedling nursery and honey
  Help us restore the forest by planting aren trees and caring for young seedlings in our nursery. You'll also learn how we keep klanceng (stingless bee) honey.
  4. Creating content
  Help us share our story with the world by making videos, testimonials, invitations and other content. Skills in filming, photography, editing or social media are very welcome, but a good eye and some creativity are enough.
  5. Community support, language practice and eduwisata
  
  Help out with daily community activities, practise English (or other languages) with villagers and local guides, and help us prepare our eduwisata programme for future visitors.
  Who we're looking for
  Curious, respectful people who enjoy nature, outdoor work and village life. You don't need any experience, just a willingness to learn, get your hands dirty and connect with the community.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Indonesian: Fluent
  Javanese: Intermediate
  English: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  Accommodation
  
  You'll have your own private room in a local villager's home, right within the area itself — this is the same village where you'll be working, so there's no daily travel needed. Village houses are simple, so you may still hear some sounds from outside. Earplugs can be useful if you're a light sleeper.
  
  The area sits high on the slopes of Mount Ijen, and it gets very cold, especially at night and early in the morning. We will provide blankets, but please bring warm clothes: a jacket, long trousers, socks and something warm to sleep in.
  
  For certain situations, we can also provide tents and bedding.
  A simple bathroom with a toilet is available. Please keep in mind that this is a rural village, not a hotel. Facilities are basic but clean, and our hosts will do their best to make you feel at home.
  
  Wi-Fi
  Wi-Fi is available in several places, mainly at the pendopo (our community gathering area) and at Tepi Hutan café.
  
  Food
  Three meals a day are provided. You'll eat together with your host family and local villagers, enjoying simple home-cooked Osing and Javanese food. Volunteers also get a discount at our café.
  
  We do not ask for any additional payment for volunteers.

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  What else ...

  Good to know before you come
  
  This is a remote village on the slopes of Mount Ijen, and the city is quite far away. Access to shops, ATMs and city facilities is limited, so please prepare what you need before you arrive. If you're looking for a quiet place close to nature, you'll love it here. If you need city life nearby, this may not be the right place for you.
  
  Your time off: Ijen Geopark and the Blue Fire
  We're close to Ijen Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark and home to the famous Kawah Ijen crater with its rare blue fire. On your days off, we can arrange an ojek (motorbike taxi) to take you there for a hike. The Blue Fire hike usually starts very early in the morning (before dawn), so bring warm clothes, good shoes and a headlamp.
  
  Please respect local life
  We're a traditional village with strong Osing culture. Please dress modestly in the village and be respectful of local customs. We'll gladly guide you along the way.

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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

  Digital nomads are welcome! Wi-Fi is available in several places, mainly at the pendopo (our community gathering area) and at Tepi Hutan café, which are good spots to work from. As we're a remote mountain village, the connection may be slower or less stable than in the city, so this place suits light remote work better than heavy video calls or large uploads. We're happy to arrange your volunteer schedule so you have time for your own work.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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