Some decisions appear simple from the outside, yet they hold quiet bravery at their core. For Anna and Kim, both twenty and both freshly graduated from high school in Germany, the choice to travel alone to Indonesia was exactly that. They did not follow the usual route taken by many of their classmates who travelled to America or Australia. They wanted something different. They wanted experience rather than comfort, purpose rather than predictability. They wanted to learn about the world by stepping directly into it.

They chose Bali.

Neither had travelled to Asia before. Neither spoke Indonesian. Neither knew anyone waiting for them on the island. Yet they booked their flights anyway. Both stated openly that they felt nervous. They knew that travelling abroad as young women carries its own set of worries. But they also felt a pull toward something larger than their fear. That moment of courage became the beginning of everything that followed.

Anna first learned about the Turtle program through the Students Go Abroad website, Bali Internships long term partner. Kim found the program through Volunteer World while researching volunteer opportunities that felt meaningful. Both wanted to work with animals. Both were drawn to the ocean. Both wanted to contribute rather than simply observe.

When they arrived, the first thing they felt was relief. The airport pick up was clear and warm. There was no moment of confusion or being left alone. The orientation helped them understand the project. Their accommodation felt safe. The staff they met on their first day welcomed them with a kind of sincerity that made the island feel less foreign and more familiar.

Their daily work at the turtle center quickly unfolded into something rich and varied. They fed the turtles. They prepared seaweed. They cleaned tanks. They learned to monitor nests. They assisted with rehabilitation. They participated in beach clean ups. They observed and supported turtle releases. And then came the tasks they never expected, such as snorkeling to collect seagrass for the turtles or joining night patrols to check the coastline for nesting females. The work was real and required commitment, yet it also offered a sense of purpose that both described as deeply fulfilling.

The learning happened in several layers. Anna discovered how astonishingly complex turtle biology is. She learned that turtles lay their first eggs only at the age of thirty, and she learned how many do not survive long enough to reach that stage. Kim was moved by the dedication of the staff who often come to the center even on their days off. She noticed how genuine their care is, how they celebrate every turtle that regains strength, and how they welcome volunteers into the rhythm of their work.

Both young women observed something important about Bali. People are warm. They are open. They are willing to help. And the pace of life, although sometimes chaotic especially on the roads, carries a calmness that allows room to breathe. They learned to navigate language barriers. They learned to rely on themselves. They learned to trust strangers who soon became friends. They learned that independence is not something you gain at once, but something that grows through small daily decisions.

Their time at the turtle program brought friendship as well. Volunteers tend to bond quickly when they share the same tasks and the same excitement of living abroad for the first time. Anna and Kim spoke about how those bonds formed naturally. They shared meals, stories, and the small victories of each working day. They shared their first snorkel trips and their first late night monitoring shifts. These were not simple acquaintances. These were friendships shaped by experience and responsibility, friendships they believe will last far beyond Bali.

Anna and Kim arrived as two young women searching for experience. They leave with deeper knowledge, new confidence, and friendships that will stay with them. What began with courage became a chapter that shaped them in ways they could not have predicted.

For anyone considering volunteering abroad, their story offers a clear reminder. You do not need to feel ready. You only need to begin.

If you are curious to take the same step, the application is open through our website. Let us help you start your own story.