Local school and cultural experience in Kota Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia

Infos

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  Description

  Hello!
  
  My name is Erna, and I'm an English teacher at in Pangkalpinang, Indonesia.
  
  I'd love to share the story of how our school began welcoming international volunteers.
  
  Every year, my students study English from textbooks, but when they meet someone from another country, English suddenly becomes real. That moment changes everything.
  
  In 2017, we started welcoming international volunteers through cultural exchange programs such as YES-AFS and AMINEF. Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to pause our program, and for several years, we were unable to host volunteers.
  
  In 2026, after a long process involving immigration procedures, we finally welcomed our first Workaway volunteers, Charis and Alex. It was a joyful and unforgettable moment for our school.
  
  What touched me the most was not only having international guests in our classroom, but also watching my students' reactions. They were nervous, excited, and curious. Even with limited English, they tried their best to communicate, one word at a time.
  
  At the farewell event, many students asked if we could invite more volunteers in the future. One student said, "Now English feels real. It's not just something we learn from a textbook anymore."
  
  As an English teacher, that sentence meant everything to me.
  
  That is why I continue this program. I hope every student can realise that the world is much bigger than our island, and that learning English can open doors to friendships, new cultures, and opportunities they may never have imagined.
  
  This is part of Yayasan Tunas Karya, an educational foundation with 52 schools ranging from Kindergarten to Vocational High School.
  
  Our schools are located across the Bangka Belitung Islands and the Riau Islands, including Pangkalpinang, Sungailiat, Batam, Tanjung Pinang, and Tanjung Balai Karimun
  
  Although most volunteers begin their journey, there may also be opportunities to visit or support our other schools if both sides are interested.
  
  My dream is simple. Even after I retire one day, I hope my students will remember that English was the subject that opened their window to the world.
  
  We don't expect you to be a perfect teacher. We simply hope you'll become someone our students will never forget.
  
  If you're willing to share your language, your culture, and a little piece of your life with our students, we'd be happy to welcome you into our school and our family.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Enseignement

  Aide à la maison

  Accueil / tourisme

  Petits travaux d'entretien

  Aide informatique/internet
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Vidéographie

  

  Végétarien ou végan

  

  Films et télé

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Jardinage

  

  Art et design

  

  Écriture

  

  Danse

  

  Fitness

  

  Sports d'aventure

  

  Sports nautiques

  

  Sports d'équipe

  

  Voile / bateau

  

  Camping

  

  Nature

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Culture

  

  Photographie

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Langues

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Musique

  

  Plage

  

  Montagne

  

  Randonnée

  

  Cyclisme
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pangkalpinang is a small city with a big heart. Although it may not be as well known as Bali or Jakarta, it offers a unique opportunity to experience everyday life in Indonesia.
  
  Our community is a wonderful mix of Malay, Chinese-Indonesian, Javanese, Batak, Flores, and other cultures. Living here means experiencing different traditions, celebrations, languages, and ways of life, all within one welcoming community.
  
  As a volunteer, you'll discover much more than tourist attractions. You'll share meals with local people, experience school life from the inside, celebrate special events with students, and build genuine friendships with teachers and families.
  
  Food is also an important part of our culture. You'll have the chance to try a variety of Indonesian and local Bangka dishes, from comforting bowls of bakso and mie ayam to fresh seafood, tropical fruits, traditional desserts, and regional specialties.
  
  Outside school, you can explore beautiful white-sand beaches, waterfalls, local markets, fishing villages, and peaceful countryside. Weekends are a great opportunity to discover Bangka Island at your own pace.
  
  Most importantly, we hope you'll leave with more than just photos. We hope you'll leave with a deeper understanding of Indonesian culture, lifelong friendships, and memories that will stay with you long after your journey ends.

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  You don't need to be a professional teacher. What matters most is your enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to interact with our students.
  
  You may help us by:
  • Practising English conversation with students during and outside the classroom.
  • Assisting teachers with interactive classroom activities, games, and discussions.
  • Sharing your country's culture, traditions, festivals, food, music, or daily life through simple presentations.
  • Joining English Club, special events, or school celebrations.
  • Encouraging students to become more confident when speaking English.
  
  Most importantly, we hope you'll become a friend and an inspiration to our students. Sometimes, a simple conversation can make a lifelong difference.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Indonesian: Courant
  Javanese: Courant
  Anglais: Intermédiaire
  Allemand: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Of course, the language that can be learned is Indonesian, but some of our teachers and staff are able to use Javanese, Batak, Mandarin, and German as a beginner.
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  Hébergement

  When you stay with us, we hope you'll feel less like a guest and more like a member of our school family.
  
  You'll have your own comfortable private room with:
  
  • Air conditioning
  • Private bathroom
  • Western toilet
  • Desk
  • Wi-Fi
  
  Your room is located within the school area, so you'll become part of our daily school life while still enjoying your own private space to rest and recharge.
  
  For weekend, you can stay with my family.
  
  One of the best parts of the day is hearing students greet you with big smiles, cheerful, and enthusiastic, " Good morning"
  
  We provide three meals every day, including Indonesian, Chinese - Indonesian, and local Bangka dishes.
  
  Breakfast: nasi uduk, porridge, bread, cereal, fresh fruit Juice, and other local favorites
  
  Lunch: rice (nasi Padang), vegetables, chicken, beef, and other Indonesian dishes.
  
  Dinner: bakso, mie ayam, satay, grilled meat, and many delicious local foods.
  
  In your free time, you can explore white sandy beaches such as Pasir Padi and Parai Beach, visit waterfalls, hills, or simply enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery of Bangka Island.
  
  Weekends are usually free, so you'll have plenty of time to relax, explore Bangka Island, or simply enjoy local life. If you'd like, we'll be happy to recommend places to visit or help arrange short trips.
  
  Whether you stay for a few weeks or a few months, we hope you'll leave Indonesia with unforgettable memories, new friendships, and a place you'll always be welcome to visit again.

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  Autres infos...

  Note 1:
  With two days off, you can explore pangkalpinang, we are ready to company you and make you save with us.
  For transportation, in our place we have Grab and Gojek, and we can use our motorbike.
  
  Note 2:
  ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Please read the C6 Volunteer Visa requirements carefully before sending us a message. Unfortunately, we cannot accept volunteers arriving with a Visa on Arrival or Tourist Visa.
  
  To volunteer legally in Indonesia, you will need a C6 Volunteer Visa.
  
  Don't worry—I'll guide you through the entire application process step by step. I have already completed this process successfully with previous Workaway volunteers.
  
  For the visa application, you'll need:
  • A passport valid for at least 6 months.
  • A recent formal photo.
  • A scanned copy of your passport.
  • A bank statement from the last three months showing a minimum balance of approximately USD 2,000 (required by Indonesian immigration).
  • Your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
  • A phone number and email address.
  
  The visa fee is approximately IDR 2,000,000. You may either pay it yourself or transfer the amount to me, and I'll arrange the payment in Indonesia.
  
  I understand that the visa process may seem complicated at first, but I'll be happy to help you with every step until your visa is approved.
  
  The visa requirements are set by the Indonesian government, not by our school.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  because we live in the city, so internet access is sufficient for them to continue working

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Cat

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

Sécurité du site

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