Guru Gede Budha Foundation

Professional Certificate in Applied Sustainable Development

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Plastic - especially single-use plastic - infiltrates every part of our lives and is contributing to climate change and the destruction of all of earth’s ecosystems. The plastic ‘solution’ that promises convenience, ease-of-use and purports to provide cheap packaging creates a permanent, complex, expensive and life-threatening problem for humans, animals and the environment, everywhere on the planet.

Your task: Help Bakas Village implement Bali Governor’s vision to eliminate plastic, and for Bakas Village to lead the way to a plastic-free future for the planet

Bakas Bersih (Clean Bakas), our project to work with Bakas Village community members to eliminate plastic, supports Bali’s Governor I Wayan Koster’s mission for Bali to clean up Bali and eliminate plastic. Bakas Village becoming plastic-free will set an example for the rest of Bali, Indonesia and the world, and outline a set of procedures for other villages to eliminate waste.

Our Program
Our program is a fully immersive exploration of ancient and current Balinese life. Our program dives deeply into the complex and inextricable relationship between environmental and social sustainability, and the damage caused by mass tourism, commercial exploitation, and “economic development” that ignores human and environmental welfare. Our program investigates and puts into action an understanding that protecting the planet starts with respect and consideration for all living things (including water, air, soil and the elements that enable and support life), and an understanding of ourselves and what we can and must do to ensure a future for others.

Participants learn about the culture and religion that created and continue to create the kind, gentle, community-focused paradise of Bali. Participants will get to know Balinese life rarely accessed by tourists, and will get to know hidden natural wonders, cultural treasures, and everyday routines rarely experienced by outsiders. Participants explore their own identities and assumptions as they dive deeply into the wisdom and expertise upon which Bali is built, and work with community members in Bakas Village to assert their identities through the products that they make, buy and use that eliminate the need for plastic.

Eliminating plastic is a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive, immersive project in community building and community management. Disciplines that are required and combined in this program:

Culture, religion and society
Environmental and social sustainability
Urban planning and design
Innovation and entrepreneurship
Public administration
Product development

By eliminating plastic, you will help identify and create:

Employment opportunities
Health and well-being outcomes for humans, animals and the planet
Cultural tourism opportunities

Program Duration: Minimum 1 semester (12-week) program; Maximum 6 semesters (2 years) The project to help Bakas Village become plastic-free has an initial 2-year timeline, and will involve:

community consultation,
listening to stories,
deep understanding of the lived experience of Tri Hita Karana philosophy of life,
local government discussions,
assessment of community needs,
the identification of existing and required alternatives to plastic, and
the generation of support to enable community members to provide alternatives to plastic.

Participants interested in participating in this project can apply for 1 semester or multiple semesters (each semester is 12 weeks).

Participants are able to extend their enrollment in the program after successfully completing their initial enrollment period.

Participants who successfully complete 3 semesters will receive a Professional Certificate in Applied Sustainability awarded by the local government of Bakas Village. Participants successfully completing 6 semesters will receive an Advanced Professional Certificate in Applied Sustainability issued by Bakas Village.

Program Highlights & Outcomes

Learn to speak Indonesian and Balinese
Meet with community members, local government leaders, religious leaders, children, academics, farmers and artisans to understand the historic and ongoing impact of colonization and the push to commercialize and Westernize as a result of resource extraction and mass tourism
Learn traditional skills under the instruction of master metalsmiths, weavers, cloth-makers, builders, artists, musicians, healers, and guides
Live in homestays with host families and participate in everyday life, including traditional rituals and religious ceremonies
Hike Bali’s highest peaks and secret trails
Swim with turtles and dolphins in Bali’s warm ocean, and be massaged by the pounding cascade of icy mountain-fed waterfalls
Plant rice and cook traditional specialties
Appreciate and respect a different way of living and interacting

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Program Summary
This program invites participants to facilitate a series of discussions with local administrative-, cultural- and religious leaders, community organizations, business owners, community members, first responders, and schools to understand Tri Hita Karana, Balinese philosophy, Balinese daily practices, and each person and organization’s everyday needs. Community discussions will take place at least once a week throughout the program.

Based on what participants learn, we will work with community members to remember or devise alternatives. Participants will engage in hands-on skill-building with community experts to understand and help create alternatives to plastic. This process of working with local experts will also help identify what support communities need to scale up production of plastic-alternatives.

Each week, participants will also join a guided excursion that enables participants to understand and fully appreciate the beauty, gentleness, thoughtfulness, kindness and magic of Bali.

Example Weekly Schedule
Below is an example schedule for the semester. Programming is designed to introduce participants to alternative ways to make products so that plastic can be eliminated. Activities have also been selected to emphasize the beauty of Bali that needs to be protected from plastic waste and other environmental destruction.

Each day, the cohort will gather to discuss where we are with replacing plastic in Bakas Village, and set a priority and action list. Individuals or teams working specifically with one or more community members might continue to work with these people until their ideas are implemented. Cohort activities will adjust to accommodate work being done in the community to replace plastic.

Programming will also change if certain activities require specific dates to run, or because of the availability of guest speakers (e.g. a representative from Kannur in India, Rwanda, Kenya, or from the Regent’s office), or because of ceremonies.

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Program Leaders

Program sponsor: I Wayan Arsa (Pak Arsa)

Pak Wayan Arsa (Pak Arsa) is a local government leader, director of cultural activities, and award-winning provider of cultural tourism services in Bakas Village. He is an active member of regional community organizations and village development. Pak Arsa was a member of the Bakas Village Consultative Body (BPD) from 2012 to 2024. He currently holds the position of Head of the Bakas Village BPD and the Head of the Klungkung Regency BPD Forkom for the 2024-2032 period. Pak Arsa holds leadership positions in both administrative and cultural local and regional government bodies. From 2017-2021, Pak Arsa served as Head of the Bakas Tourism Village Pokdarwis. He currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the Bakas Tourism Village Management Agency (2021-2026). He is Secretary General of the Klungkung Regency Rafting Federation (2023-2027) and the Bakas Traditional Village Collection (2021-2026). Pak Arsa is committed to preserving and promoting Bali’s and Klungkung’s cultural heritage. He understands deeply the connection between culture, tradition, social justice and environmental conservation, and supports and participates in programs that focus on the intersection of these priorities. His success in these areas has earned him several awards, including the Sakinah Family Award from the Ministry of Religion of Bali Province (2019), a Certificate of Competence from the National Professional Certification Agency (2022), an Award from the Regent of Klungkung at the Balinese Language Speech Competition (2024), and the 2024 Bali Swacitta Nugraha Award from BRIDA Bali Province in the field of Tourism Technology.

Program lead: I Ketut Mudiada (Pak Mudi)

Pak Mudi was chairman of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Mountain Guide Association (APGI) from 2019 - 2022, and re-elected for the period from 2022 - 2025. Pak Mudi currently sits on the Board of the Secretariat of the APGI Bali. Pak Mudi is Chairman of the Mount Agung Tourist Guide Communication Forum, member of local council of Desa Duku, a priest and Balinese Healer. Pak Mudi has over 30 years of experience as a mountain guide. Pak Mudi introduces tourists to Bali's natural wonders as way of ensuring that tourists understand and respect Bali's natural environment as the provider of life in Bali. Pak Mudi sees this program, and the collaboration between tourists and locals, as a commitment to the preservation of Bali's nature and cultural heritage for generations to come.

Who should apply?

This program is for participants who:

Are open-minded, active listeners, and committed agents of change
Come with an interest in learning new things and immersing themselves in a new culture and way of doing things
Are willing to abandon Western ideas that continue to fail, and who
Understand the importance of local stakeholders and local knowledge in conceiving solutions

Spaces are limited (each semester, only 12 new students will be admitted to the program).

Suggested age range: 18-80 (accommodation will be based on age and requirements) Physical abilities: This program involves high levels of physical activity. For those with physical needs, please contact us to discuss how we can accommodate your needs

In line with the Governor’s laws with respect to foreigners’ behaviour in Bali, participants in our program will not be allowed to use disposable plastic (including Aqua or soft drink bottles) at any time. Part of the program will involve seeking and making alternatives to goods packaged in disposable, single-use plastic.

Program participants will be required to comply with all of Bali’s laws that regulate foreigners’ behaviour:

Respect sacred sites and symbols – This includes temples, religious statues (pratima), and other holy places. Visitors should observe and honor Balinese customs, traditions, and cultural practices, especially during ceremonies.
Dress appropriately – When visiting temples, tourist attractions, or public spaces, tourists are expected to wear modest and respectful clothing.
Behave respectfully – Whether at religious sites, restaurants, shopping areas, or public roads, tourists must maintain polite and considerate behavior.
Pay the tourist levy – A mandatory tourist fee must be paid electronically via https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id/ before or during their stay.
Use licensed tour guides – When exploring cultural or natural sites, tourists must be accompanied by certified guides who understand local traditions and natural conditions.
Exchange currency at authorized money changers – Transactions should only be conducted at licensed exchange services with official QR codes from Bank Indonesia.
Follow traffic laws – Tourists driving in Bali must:
- Have a valid international or national driver’s license
- Wear a helmet when riding a motorbike
- Follow traffic signs and not overload vehicles
- Avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Use legal transportation – Only licensed car rentals or transport services should be used.
Stay at licensed accommodations – Visitors must book hotels, villas, or homestays that comply with Bali’s legal accommodation standards.

Enter sacred temple areas (Utamaning Mandala & Madyaning Mandala) unless they are worshippers wearing traditional Balinese attire. Menstruating women are also prohibited from entering these areas.
Climb sacred trees or monuments – This includes taking inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites.
Litter or pollute Bali’s environment – Throwing waste in lakes, rivers, or the ocean is strictly prohibited.
Use single-use plastics – Plastic bags, Styrofoam, plastic straws, and plastic-packaged drinks are banned.
Engage in aggressive or disrespectful behavior – This includes swearing, causing disturbances, or being rude to locals, officials, or fellow tourists. Sharing hate speech or misinformation on social media is also prohibited.
Work or run a business without proper permits – Tourists are not allowed to conduct business or work in Bali unless they hold official documentation from Indonesian authorities.
Participate in illegal activities – This includes trading drugs, endangered animals, sacred artifacts, or any prohibited goods.

Governor Koster said: “Bali is a beautiful, sacred island, and we expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them.”

In learning to understand and value the community-centred living that makes Bali the magical, kind haven that it is, our participants are required to live in registered homestays. We will organize accommodation with registered providers in areas that are conveniently located to our programming and associated activity and amenities.

Certificate Outcomes

Participants’ success will be identified in the Bakas Village’s path towards eliminating plastic. Certificate completion will also be assessed based on a series of individual and group assignments, and on cohort assessments of each participant’s contribution towards the overall goal. Successful participants will receive:

A statement or certificate of completion awarded by the Guru Gede Budha Foundation based on the length of enrollment (1-6 semesters)
A letter from Bakas Village acknowledging the participant’s role in helping Bakas Village eliminate plastic

Certificate holders will be able to find work in (among other things):

Public administration where consultation is required
Sustainability and environmental management
Creating and supporting sustainable tourism offerings
Sustainable product development

University Credits/ Additional Accreditation

Cohort Semester Start Dates

Costs

Tuition
Shared accommodation
All meals during the program
Program-related expeditions
Visa

Flights
Insurance (health and travel)
Incidentals (laundry, snacks, personal items outside of programmed activity

Tuition assistance:

Early bird discounts (10% off)

How to Apply

gurugedebudha@dharmada.org

Full name
Date of birth
Nationality
Statement of Interest (SOI)

Apply now