MAKE A DIFFERENCE - Digital Nomads Adventures

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

mahatma gandhi

There are many ways to contribute and on our journey we always look for fun activities to make a difference. We found some really awesome volunteering opportunities in each country we visited.

From releasing baby turtles in Bali, taking care of elephants in elephant sanctuaries of northern Thailand, beach clean ups in Malaysia, and teaching English in Laos to visiting nonprofit organization in Cambodia that trains rats to find mines and save lives…

we find these volunteering experiences to be some of the most rewarding and fun things to do and memories we cherish the most.

beach clean ups

Beach clean up is an awesome, fun & free way to do something for the environment. Joining an organized clean up group has many advantages: you get to meet like minded people who also care about the environment, it’s more fun, the bags, gloves and tongues are provided and the organization has a recycling system in place, so the trash you pick up won’t end up back in the nature.

TRASH HERO is a great organization doing weekly clean ups in South East Asia and Europe. There is no cost and no need to sign up. All you have to do is show up.

You can check the clean ups schedule with TRASH HERO in your area here.

sea turtles releasing in bali

There are many places in the world, where you can witness little sea turtles making their way into the big blue ocean. Participating in releasing the baby turtles in Bali has been one of the most epic volunteering things we ever did.

Many turtles come to lay eggs on the coast of Bali. The hatching season last from April to October each year. We have seen local people releasing the baby turtles at Canggu Beach, Seminyak Beach and Kuta Beach. To watch these little guys stumble clumsily through sand and take a ride from the wave is a very heart warming experience.

The non-profit organization BSTS (Bali Sea Turtle Society) releases them almost daily at Kuta Beach after 4pm. They save the vulnerable turtle eggs & protect them till they hatch. After the hatching, they let the turtles get stronger for a few days before releasing them into the sea, which raises their chance of survival. The night before we participated, 11 mama turtles came to lay eggs on Kuta Beach only, each of them laid more than a thousand eggs. BSTS releases more than 400 000 little turtles a year. It’s free to participate but donations are welcome. They announce the time of release on their FB page or you can check out their website for more info and donations here.

elephant sanctuaries in thailand

Elephants are majestic animals and we had a chance to spend an unforgettable day with them in ethical elephant sanctuary during our stay in northern Thailand near Chiang Mai.

Thailand is home to more than 3000 Asian elephants and although we would all like to see elephants in their natural, wild habitat, this isn’t always possible. Some elephants have been rescued from the logging industry, temples, circuses or from maltreatment in other forms of captivity, others are injured or orphaned. For many reasons it would be dangerous for them to return to the wild and this is where sanctuaries come in.

SAVE ELEPHANT FOUNDATION is a Thai non-profit organization that rescues, cares for and rehabilitates Thailand’s elephants. You can check out their website here, sponsor an elephant, or visit their sanctuary to support these beautiful creatures.

teach english in laos

During our time in Luang Prabang, Laos we volunteered to teach English at the local rice farm. We booked a rice planting experience with LIVING LAND FARM, and found out that they also teach local kids and teenagers English five times a week. Most of these kids come from rice farming families and their future of being a rice farmer is quite predestined. Many of them dreamed of working in tourism and hospitality to have a better life than their parents. Learning English gives them more choices in life. They were very shy at first but we ended up having lots of fun and it was one of the most wonderful and humbling experiences we had during our travels.

hero rats saving lives

While in Siem Reap, Cambodia, we visited the non-profit organization APOPO that saves lives by training rats to rid the world of landmines. There are still over 60 countries that have hidden landmines from wars that happened decades ago. These mines present a huge risk for children, farmers and local villagers, and still cause many deaths and injuries today. APOPO demines these countries thanks to trained HeroRATs.

The visit was very eye opening, fascinating and heart wrenching at once. We watched a live demonstration of a HeroRAT finding a mine, listened to our guide explaining how they train the rats, and educating us on the issue of landmines, watched the presentation and could even pet the little HeroRAT.

APOPO operates in South East Asia and Africa, and apart from demining they also plant trees and rid the world of tuberculosis. You can visit one of their centers for a guided tour, adopt a HeroRAT or donate to support demining or planting trees. Check out their website here.

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