As we enjoy the holidays during our December break from the Trailblazer Program, back in our home country Belgium, and look forward to the upcoming cohorts in Syros (January to March) and Kotor (April to June), we reflect on the last month of our incredible time we had in Bali. Another month where we made unforgettable memories and fantastic connections, and the girls had a great time finalizing all their projects with their classmates at school! Here’s a look at our November Trailblazer adventures in Sanur, Bali.

Catch up here if you missed our posts about the first and second months of our journey with the Trailblazer Program.

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Giving Back to the Community

The Trailblazers and educators Alexa and Laksmi, worked the entire cohort in Bali on a project to help some of the local business owners in Sanur, while also learning more about the environment and plastic waste issue in Bali.

In September and October, they interviewed the business owners to understand their needs, cleaned rivers with Sungai Watch, and thought about how to create items out of recycled plastic that could help a few of the local businesses.

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Their efforts came together during their last very interesting field trip to r-Plastic, a local recycling initiative. They create furniture and other items out of recycled bottle caps and flip-flops. With the designer, the teens saw their designs, such as cupboards, wall hooks, a logo sign, and an Instagram sign, come to life. First together with the designer on the computer and later being cut out of recycled plastic.

A week later, at the end of the cohort, they personally delivered these items to the business owners, who were delighted by the thoughtful gesture. A beautiful life experience for all teenagers.

As parents, we also had the opportunity to contribute to the local community through a water filter distribution initiative. Collaborating with Social Impakt, a social enterprise dedicated to improving access to clean drinking water in Indonesia, we donated water filters to a local community. These filters are designed to provide simple, eco-friendly solutions for clean water, positively impacting lives in remote and underserved areas. Again, a valuable experience for all.

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Our Weekend Adventures in Bali

In our last month, we took advantage of seeing even more of Bali and its natural wonders. Together with 3 other Trailblazer families, we explored Mount Batur and hiked on this active volcano during sunrise. We started very early in the morning, guided by torchlight, and reached the summit just in time to witness the sun painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The views were breathtaking, and the sense of accomplishment after the climb together with our Trailblazer friends was incredibly rewarding. We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing by Mount Batur Lake, enjoying the tranquil beauty of the area.

Another memorable weekend took us to the highlands of Munduk, known for its lush greenery and waterfalls. Again, with another Boundless Family, we stayed at the Munduk Moding Plantation, where the infinity pool offered jaw-dropping views of the surrounding forests and hills. During our stay, we also went on a challenging but rewarding 3-hour hike that took us through the jungle to see four magnificent waterfalls. Each waterfall was more beautiful than the last. This area is definitely a must-do when you are in Bali!

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Celebrations and Achievements at the End of the Cohort

By the end of November, our first Trailblazer cohort in Bali came to an end with a few fun and meaningful celebrations. The Farewell Party for the parents was held on the rooftop of a hotel in Sanur, giving us a last opportunity to come together as a group. The evening was filled with laughter, conversation, and looking back to the incredible experiences we’ve shared. Meanwhile, the kids had their own celebration at school, where they enjoyed pizza and a movie night, a fun and relaxing way to say goodbye to their classmates.

One of the most special moments, however, was the Learning Celebration held at school on the last day of the cohort. This event gave us a glimpse into the children’s growth and creativity during their time in Bali. Each class presented their projects, showcasing the unique skills and knowledge they had developed.

The Trailblazers shared their design project from r-Plastic, their origin story, infographics of their history lessons, and their Boundless project. Hanne made a recipe book filled with traditional Indonesian dishes, beautifully illustrated with her own digital drawings. Yuna, on the other hand, partnered with a classmate to create a babysitting website, a practical project designed to connect parents with Trailblazer kids for babysitting opportunities. And another group organized a talent show for the entire cohort. It was inspiring to see their entrepreneurial spirit in action!

The younger kids also stole the show with their projects focused on the ocean and its hidden wonders (as part of the Sustainable Development Goals of this cohort). Through colorful drawings, models, and stories, they shared what they had learned about marine life and the importance of protecting our oceans.

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Looking Ahead to Syros

These moments of celebration reminded us of how much everyone, kids and parents alike, grew and shared together during these 3 months. We are so excited that we are part of this journey and feel immense gratitude for the time spent in Bali. The friendships we’ve built, the lessons learned, and the memories created will stay with us forever.

And the best part is, the girls and us get to see all their classmates and their families back in Syros, Greece, where we’ll continue this incredible adventure with Boundless Life. We can’t wait to return to Syros after we enjoyed a Boundless Life cohort there 2 years ago and see what the next chapter of our Boundless Life adventure will bring our family.