Beyond Tourism: Danish Initiative Creates New Educational Opportunities for Bali’s Children
On a warm September morning in a small Balinese village, the usual hum of school life was replaced by laughter, music, and joyful dancing. Forty children gathered in the schoolyard, eagerly awaiting the arrival of international volunteers. Some greeted the visitors with enthusiastic hugs and high fives, while others, more reserved, watched with curiosity. This vibrant scene marked the beginning of a new partnership between the village school and Educate Bali, a Danish-founded initiative dedicated to expanding educational opportunities beyond traditional tourism-focused pathways.
A Vision Rooted in Denmark
Educate Bali was established just a year ago by a group of friends—two Danes and two Dutch partners—who shared a deep desire to contribute meaningfully to the Balinese community. The island’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism, yet many families in rural areas face challenges accessing the skills needed for employment in this sector.
Danish entrepreneur Lukas Seerup Nielsen, a long-term Bali resident, recalls the stark contrast between his homeland and Bali: “In Denmark, we grow up with a welfare system guaranteeing equal access to schooling. Here, while people are incredibly welcoming, opportunities are not evenly distributed. From the beginning, it was important for us to create something that could make a real difference.”
Setting Educate Bali apart from other grassroots initiatives is its foundation in strategic sustainability rather than short-term goodwill. “Many projects here operate from the heart but lack long-term planning,” explains Nielsen. “My background in business taught me that sustainability requires strategy.”
Empowering Through Language
Central to Educate Bali’s approach is enhancing English language skills—a critical gateway to tourism-related employment. Currently, Balinese public school students receive on average only 45 minutes of English instruction per week. Educate Bali aims to increase this to at least two hours with motivated, locally recruited teachers.
Prihartini Utami, the leader of Educate Bali’s teaching team, shares a personal motivation: “As a girl, I dreamed of speaking English. I admired those who could communicate with foreigners—it changed my life when I did. Now, I want to pass that dream on. The children deserve to believe they can achieve more.”
In the village classroom, Prihartini patiently works with students, repeating phrases and encouraging confidence. This personalized attention helps children gain not only language skills but also self-esteem—tools essential for their future careers in Bali’s hospitality and tourism industries.
A Growing, Inclusive Community
Educate Bali is much more than an education project; it has evolved into a community connecting locals, expatriates, and tourists alike. Volunteers, many from Denmark, regularly gather to lead lessons, games, and workshops at partner schools. The project’s weekly running club, meeting every Monday and Wednesday, brings together from a handful to 40 participants, serving both as exercise and social engagement.
Danish volunteer Tobias Liljegren reflects, “I have different financial means than most people here. Being part of this project is my way of giving back. Helping children learn English is like giving them a tool to see the world differently.”
Other volunteers like Frederikke Gadegaard and Oscar Stald Rasmussen emphasize the significance of mutual exchange and gratitude—recognizing that the local Balinese community generously shares its culture and warmth with foreigners, and highlighting the importance of returning that generosity through support and empowerment.
Sustainable Funding and Strategic Growth
Maintaining Educate Bali’s momentum requires diverse and strategic funding. The initiative benefits significantly from rental income generated by villas developed by Nielsen’s other business ventures. Additional revenues come from volunteer contributions, donations connected to the running club, and larger sporting events organized by the team.
In Denmark, a formal partner association has been established with a five-member Danish board, enabling access to grants from Danish and European foundations. Recently, Educate Bali received support from CISU, Denmark’s largest civil society umbrella organization, to produce a documentary showcasing their work. The organization is actively seeking larger partners, including notable corporations such as LEGO.
Emil Eldevig, a Dane with NGO fundraising experience, currently leads efforts to secure further financial support: “Setting up the Danish partner organization, though a technical step, opens many funding doors in Europe and Denmark.”
Looking Ahead: Building Brighter Futures for Bali’s Youth
Despite being a young endeavor, Educate Bali has already made a tangible impact, reaching more than 500 children across its growing network of three partner schools. Each new school joining the initiative expands the possibilities for local children to gain not only English skills but also confidence and hope for the future.
“At the end of the day, hearing children say, ‘I am happy for today!’ and wishing these special learning experiences could happen every day, is profoundly gratifying,” says Lukas Seerup Nielsen.
For the children of Bali’s rural schools, the transformative power of education extends far beyond textbooks. Through the fusion of play, community, and language learning, Educate Bali is nurturing a new generation poised to seize opportunities beyond the traditional confines of tourism—and in doing so, crafting a hopeful path toward brighter futures.
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