Volunteer with us

Gain invaluable experience, connect with nature, and build a new future.

Help build a future for yourself, the forest, and Sumatra

The Ibu Bumi Orangutan organisation has the mission of protecting the rainforest through sustainable economic development, education and wildlife protection programs. To achieve our goals, we have several activities on the ground in collaboration with the rangers from Gunung Leuser NP and USU (University of North Sumatra).

We offer the opportunity to learn in the field and share knowledge, engage with the local community, and develop a range of valuable skills.

This type of volunteering is aimed at people of all ages and families who are 100% able to adapt to work and life in the field.

We are looking for individuals who:

  • Are passionate

  • Have a sense of adventure

  • Are interested in wildlife and nature conservation

  • Have skills to share

  • Are resourceful and resilient

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Our Volunteer Program

Our volunteer program gives you a chance to experience both the forests around Gunung Leuser National Park and life at a critical rescue centre off the east coast of Sumatra. The activities listed are a guide to what you could be doing; however, this will also depend on the time of year you are joining us and the needs of the organisation at that time.

Part 1: Wildlife Monitoring Program (Batu Katak)

Part 2: South Sumatra – Pulau Bangka Rescue Centre Program - Alobi Foundation

At the end of your volunteer term, you will receive a certificate of attendance, which can be a valuable addition to your resume. If you wish to extend your stay, you must inform our organisation.

We greatly appreciate your altruism and trust in us to provide this unique experience. Your support helps make our work possible.

  • Part 1: Wildlife Monitoring Program (Batu Katak)

    Ideal for those looking to contribute to vital monitoring and research on the iconic apes of Sumatra: Sumatran Orangutans, White-handed Gibbons, and Siamangs.

    During your time at Batu Katak, you will be part of daily monitoring of these apes. Your tasks can include finding and counting orangutan nests, documenting Ficus trees and the local ape population. Also, you will learn about monitoring White-handed gibbons and Siamang through vocalisations.

    The program in Batu Katak also gives you the opportunity to discover and learn about other primates, birds, fauna and flora, with the opportunity to see one of the largest flowers in the world (amorphophalus titanum).

    During your time with us you will sleep in our guesthouse and conduct monitoring activities from early morning until evening, where you will have with you a specialist guide and porter.

  • Part 2: South Sumatra – Pulau Bangka Rescue Centre Program - Alobi Foundation

    Part 2: South Sumatra – Pulau Bangka Rescue Centre Program

    Ibu Bumi Orangutan NGO, in partnership with Alobi foundation, have created a volunteering program to support the rescue centre at Bangkat Island. In addition to a range of engaging activities, volunteers have the opportunity to visit some incredible locations and conduct animal observation activities in their natural habitat. Here, you will learn about Slow Loris and Tarsius conservation, participate in rescues, help with daily tasks alongside the rescue centre team and also learn about conflict and wildlife trade.


    Volunteer activities include:

    • Zookeeper assistance, animal care, feeding and release

    • Ecotourism activities

Itinerary

We will pick up you at Medan airport and bring you to Batu Katak on the first day. After settling in, from day 2 until day 5 you will be out in the forest. All data collected during the day will be uploaded and processed to computer in the evenings for our data collection, helping us to protect the habitat and the wildlife in our forest, as well as helping managing ecotourism development for the community.

After your time with us, on day 6, we will bring you to the airport to pick up the flight to Jakarta. From there, you must change flight to go back to Pulau Belitung.

Day 6 or 7 depends on the flight schedule and when you arrive on the island. The team at Alobi, our local partners, will pick up you and bring to the rescue centre.

Here, you will learn about Slow Loris and Tarsius conservation, participate in rescues, help with daily tasks alongside the rescue centre team and also learn about conflict and wildlife trade.

Depending on the activities scheduled, it is possible that you can also be part of the release or other activities.

 

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MENTAWAI COMMUNITY & CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Living, Learning & Contributing with the Mentawai Community

Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

Location: The Interior of Siberut, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia

Program Purpose

The Mentawai Community & Conservation Volunteer Program offers international volunteers the opportunity to live alongside the Mentawai community in the interior of Siberut, experience their traditional way of life, and gain a deeper understanding of their culture and relationship with the forest.

The program combines community engagement, cultural exchange, environmental awareness, and wildlife conservation, while encouraging respectful and meaningful interaction between volunteers and the local community.

Volunteer Activities

During the program, volunteers may participate in activities such as:

- Staying and interacting with Mentawai families in the interior.

- Participating in daily activities and helping the local community.

- Learning about traditional knowledge of the forest, plants, and natural resources.

- Taking part in environmental and forest-cleaning activities.

- Supporting local wildlife protection and conservation initiatives.

- Participating in educational and cultural activities with local children.

- Documenting Mentawai culture, traditions, and daily life with the permission of the community.

- Learning about traditional food, crafts, customs, and everyday life.

- Trekking through the forest together with local community members.

- Sharing knowledge, skills, and experiences that may provide meaningful benefits to the community.

Our Approach

The program is based on respect, cultural sensitivity, community participation, and responsible volunteering. Volunteers are not simply visitors—they are encouraged to learn from the community, participate respectfully, and contribute in ways that are appropriate and welcomed by local people.

The goal is to create a meaningful exchange between international volunteers and the Mentawai community while supporting the protection of culture, forests, wildlife, and traditional knowledge.

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gunung leuser volunteer
Group of hikers crossing a shallow river in a lush green forest.
A group of men sitting on blue plastic chairs in a room, some are listening attentively and one is using a smartphone, with a few snacks and beverages on the floor in front of them.
Group of hikers on trail in a wooded forest, smiling and taking a selfie.
elephant monitoring
sumatra volunteer
A group of people, including children and adults, sitting around on a plastic sheet outdoors under a tree, having a picnic or gathering in a rural area. Children are engaging with toys and other small items, while adults converse and relax.
Monitoring Tarsius in the rescue program from Ibu Bumi Orangutan at Pulau Bangka
A woman sitting on a fallen tree trunk in a dense forest, wearing rubber boots, a black jacket with an Indonesian flag patch, a baseball cap, and a backpack, looking at her phone.
Three people standing under a large rock formation in a jungle, holding up a heavy rock above their heads, surrounded by greenery and rocks.
A group of children and two adults in a wooden room, holding up their colorful drawings of a bear. The children are of various ages and are barefoot, standing on a patterned rug. The adults are smiling, each holding a drawing, and some children are l
A group of five people, including women and men of different ages, standing and sitting in front of a rustic wooden house in a lush green jungle environment, smiling at the camera.
A man and five children sit on a colorful patterned rug inside a wooden room. The man is helping a young boy with a craft project. The children are engaged in coloring or cutting papers, with some looking at their artwork. The room has wooden walls,
Person wearing black jacket, green boots, and dark hair bending down to examine a fallen bamboo stalk on a forest floor covered with leaves and small plants.