Introduction
Bukit Lawang Trust (BLT) is an education and conservation charity based in a rural area of North Sumatra, Indonesia. The local economy is predominantly reliant on palm oil monoculture. BLT’s mission is to support sustainable development of the local community away from this through a range of educational programmes, including Kindergarten (TK), English as a Foreign Language (EFL), Youth Ranger (YR), Sustainable Business Programme (SBP), and Eco-farming. The Trust also attracts international volunteers due to its conservation focus and its proximity to the Gunung Leuser Rainforest, home to rare species such as the Sumatran orangutan and the Rafflesia flower.
The BLT placement appealed to me as an opportunity to work in a multicultural team, gain experience abroad and apply my knowledge of sustainability in a practical, community-focused setting. I hoped to better understand my own working style and explore potential career paths. In addition to achieving this, I developed valuable professional and personal skills and built lasting connections within the BLT team.
Self-management and development
Before moving to Sumatra, I had no knowledge of Indonesian language or culture. I knew that I would be working with an international team and living in a rural area, so I decided to start learning independently using Duolingo. My aim was to learn core vocabulary, like colours, numbers, food and pronouns, and develop a basic grasp of sentence structures so I could communicate at a basic level to start to build relationships and ease into the new environment.
Starting in the summer, I practised regularly and continued throughout my placement. I was curious and determined, and when I didn’t understand a prefix or phrase, I asked my friends at the Trust. This combination of independent learning and informal guidance helped me develop useful language patterns and confidence over time.
Learning Indonesian made me feel more prepared and connected. It also deepened my interest in how language reflects culture.
Managing tasks
Leading the kindergarten (TK) lessons was the first big responsibility I truly owned during my placement, and it became a turning point for me. Initially, I joined as a supporting teacher, watching the Educational Manager (EM) and helping where I could. Later, I began co-leading before taking full responsibility for planning, resourcing and leading the lessons. What started as assisting with games quickly grew into managing entire sessions, briefing supporting staff, and learning to adapt to the unpredictable energy of the kindergarten class.
What I learnt most was the value of flexibility. Sometimes small changes, like swapping a game or switching languages, made a big difference. By the end, I found myself entertained by those unpredictable moments, and that shift in mindset built my confidence and encouraged me to take more responsibilities within BLT.
Working relationships
As lead volunteer, I took responsibility for welcoming newcomers and ensuring they felt comfortable, in what would be their home for the next two months. I organised hub socials and informal activities, helping the team to connect outside of work. Building rapport meant that when challenges arose, I could approach people in the right way, using the tone and style they responded to. I also adapted my communication style so that non-native English speakers could understand instructions clearly, avoiding idioms and simplifying complex ideas. Over time, this approach led to more direct and effective collaboration across the whole team.
One of the most meaningful experiences of cultural exchange was during Ramadan, when I chose to fast for a week alongside my Indonesian colleagues. I was invited to share breaking the fast, join in celebrations and was trusted to ask questions about their traditions. This experience deepened my connection with the local community, allowing me to participate in what felt like the most vibrant expression of Indonesian culture during my time there. I remained careful not to overstep, seeking guidance to ensure my involvement was welcomed and respectful.
Applying initiative
Although I had used the finance system before, I took the initiative to request direct contact with the finance manager in Jersey to reduce the risk of errors. I learned the system through research and trial runs and after a few initial mistakes, arranged a call with her to clarify processes. Over four months, I uploaded all of 2023’s receipts and started on 2024’s. I also suggested reusing shredded receipts for the students’ recycling projects, reducing waste as part of BLT’s sustainability initiatives.
Reflection and lessons learned
Looking back on my placement year, I can see a clear progression in both my abilities and confidence. I entered the volunteer role eagerly but slightly unsure of my capacity to operate in such a diverse and challenging environment. One of the most prominent areas of growth for me has been self-efficacy and confidence. Leading volunteers and coordinating activities demonstrated my ability to take the initiative. Independently managing tasks such as fire drills or the micro-grant scheme showed I could make decisions with tangible impacts.
My leadership skills developed extensively working in BLT. Managing a constantly changing team of volunteers from diverse cultural, religious and age backgrounds required adaptability, patience and clear communication. I learned to adjust my approach depending on the individual, whether it be collaborating with experienced international colleagues or coordinating with Indonesian staff.
Participating in Ramadan traditions allowed me to engage with local customs and strengthen trust within the team. Whether I was leading lessons, coordinating activities or mentoring volunteers, I quickly learned the importance of communicating expectations clearly while adjusting my approach to suit different audiences.
Conclusion
I have realised how much I loved completing this placement year and how much I have learnt through numerous experiences, each pushing me in ways I could not have predicted. Somewhere along the way, I stopped second-guessing whether I could do things and started trusting myself to seek out challenges and figure them out. That shift in self-efficacy has been one of my biggest developments.
On a personal level, this year has been equally transformative. Living and working in a multicultural environment not only deepened my appreciation for diversity but also gave me lasting friendships and a strong sense of connection to the community. I particularly valued the moments where I could combine my sustainability knowledge with local knowledge to create purposeful outcomes, whether in community education or sustainable business.
This experience has also shaped my career ambitions. I am now more certain that I want to work in roles where collaboration between different cultures is central and where sustainable practices are embedded into everyday decision-making. The lessons I have learned at Bukit Lawang Trust will guide both my professional approach and my personal outlook for years to come.