About

Pesantren (or Pondok Pesantren) are Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia with a long-standing tradition. The pesantren education system originated from traditional Javanese dormitories where students gathered to study religious philosophies. Over the centuries, pesantren have played a major role in Indonesian society and continue to shape the character and values of young people.

Central to pesantren life are core values such as sincerity, simplicity, individual autonomy, solidarity, and self-control. Students live separately from their families, which fosters a strong personal commitment to their faith and creates close bonds with their teachers. Most pesantren provide dormitory accommodation at low or no cost, making this form of education accessible to many Indonesian families.

Pesantren education typically includes three main components: traditional religious education, vocational skills training, and character development.

Volunteer activities

Main volunteer activities include:

• Formal and non-formal English conversation sessions

• Interactive learning activities with students

• Educational exchanges that support mutual understanding of Islam and diverse cultures

Location

These projects are located in Java Island

Accommodation

The accommodation and food will be provided by host project. The volunteer will stay at local host family or dormitory (to be confirmed). Facilities are simple and Indonesian style.

Volunteer Tasks

• Facilitating intercultural activities through games, music, presentations, discussions, and other creative formats

• Supporting local teachers in delivering engaging, student-centered lessons

• Co-planning and co-leading classroom activities together with local teachers

• Sharing volunteers’ own cultures through games, music, dance, storytelling, and other interactive methods

• Encouraging students to actively use English through fun, non-formal learning activities with volunteers

Volunteer Requirements

• Appearance: facial piercings, visible tattoos, and no conventional hairstyle (no brightly colored hair or dreadlocks) please contact the host organization.

• Personal qualities: Open-minded, tolerant, creative, flexible, patient, respectful of local customs and rules, willing to share, and genuinely motivated to work with adolescents and young people. Volunteers should feel confident and be prepared to accept basic living conditions at the project site.

• Legal and safety requirements: Volunteers must not have been found guilty of a criminal offence

• Dietary requirements: Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate strict vegan diets at this time. vegetarians are welcome.