Beyond Tourism: Danes Create New Opportunities for Bali’s Children
By Maria Xaver Dover | September 28, 2025
On a vibrant morning in a small Balinese village school, forty children eagerly gather in the schoolyard, waiting for a special event to begin. As international volunteers arrive, the atmosphere quickly transforms from quiet anticipation to joyous celebration. Children, teachers, and volunteers join together, dancing to lively music and sharing smiles and laughter that cut through the tropical heat. This scene marks the beginning of a promising new partnership between the village school and Educate Bali, an innovative initiative founded by Danish and Dutch friends aiming to broaden opportunities for Bali’s youth.
Educate Bali: A Vision Rooted in Denmark
Established just a year ago, Educate Bali is the fruit of conversations among two Danish and two Dutch partners who sought to give back to the Balinese community. While tourism dominates Bali’s economy, many rural families struggle to equip their children with the skills necessary to secure jobs within the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Danish entrepreneur Lukas Seerup Nielsen, who has made Bali his home for several years, reflects on the stark contrast between his native Denmark and his adopted island. “In Denmark, we grow up with a welfare system that guarantees equal access to education. Here, people are incredibly welcoming, but opportunities aren’t equal. From the beginning, it was important for us to create something that could truly make a difference,” he says.
Educate Bali distinguishes itself from other local initiatives by combining heartfelt commitment with strategic, sustainable planning. “Many projects here are passion-driven but lack long-term planning. With my business background, I understand that sustainability requires strategy,” notes Lukas.
Empowering Through Language
A key focus for Educate Bali is enhancing English language skills, providing a crucial gateway to employment in tourism-related industries. Currently, Balinese students receive an average of only 45 minutes of English lessons per week in the public system. Educate Bali seeks to extend this to at least two hours weekly, employing motivated local teachers who bring cultural understanding and consistency to the classroom.
One such teacher, Prihartini Utami, leads the teaching team with dedication and personal passion. “As a girl, I dreamed of speaking English. It changed my life, and now I want to pass that dream on. The children deserve to believe they can achieve more,” she shares. At the village school, she patiently supports children as they practice, nurturing their growing confidence one phrase at a time.
Building a Thriving Community
Educate Bali has blossomed from an educational endeavor into a vibrant community uniting locals, expatriates, and tourists. Danish volunteer Tobias Liljegren, who lives on Bali, describes his involvement: “I come here with resources many don’t. Helping the kids learn English gives them a tool to see the world differently.”
The weekly running club, gathering between a handful to 40 participants on Mondays and Wednesdays, blends exercise, socializing, and fundraising to support Educate Bali’s activities. Monthly volunteer events engage around 30 people, who spend weekends leading games, lessons, and workshops at partner schools. These occasions foster friendship across cultures and bring excitement and support to the children.
Frederikke Gadegaard, a volunteer from Denmark, appreciates the sense of community. “I value the break from everyday life and love seeing the children’s happiness when we play with them,” she says. Fellow volunteer Oscar Stald Rasmussen echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of giving back to a community so generous with its warmth to foreigners.
Sustainability Through Strategic Funding
Educate Bali’s longevity rests on a careful funding strategy. The initiative’s primary finance comes from rental incomes generated by villas developed by Lukas through a separate company. Additional resources flow from volunteer contributions, donations tied to the running club, and sporting events organized by Lukas.
To access broader support, a formal Danish partner association with a five-member board has been established, enabling applications for grants from Danish and European foundations. Recently, Educate Bali secured backing from CISU, Denmark’s largest civil society umbrella organization, to produce a short documentary highlighting the project. The team is actively pursuing partnerships with major organizations like LEGO to further expand their reach.
Emil Eldevig, a fundraising expert from Denmark currently living in Bali, is spearheading these efforts. “By establishing a Danish partner organization, we can apply for support across Denmark and Europe. It’s a technical step, but one that opens many doors,” he says.
Looking Ahead
Despite being a young initiative, Educate Bali’s ambitions are far-reaching. Each new school joining the network increases opportunities for more children to acquire English skills, confidence, and access to brighter futures. To date, the project has positively impacted over 500 children.
As the morning event draws to a close, the children’s cheerful voices rise in unison, “I am happy for today!” Some even express a wish for events like this every day. For the volunteers and organizers, those words represent the heart of Educate Bali’s mission—offering not just language education, but connection, hope, and empowerment.
In a world where tourism often shapes the destiny of Bali, initiatives like Educate Bali demonstrate that sustainable change begins beyond the typical tourist pathways, lighting the way for children to envision and realize new opportunities.
Educate Bali invites support and collaboration as it continues to grow its positive impact on the future of Bali’s children.
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