CHRIS HILL
June15,2025 ,luxuryvolunteertrips
Asparents,weoftenfindourselvesstrugglingtogetourteenagersto “unplug”andstepoutsidetheirscreens.Betweensocialmedia,games, andendlesstexting,itfeelslikeabattlejusttogetthemtoconnectwith theworldaroundthem.Butsometimes,allittakesistherightexperience ajourneythat’snotjustaboutsightseeingbutabouttrulyconnectingwith peopleandmakingatangibledifference
WhenwedecidedtotraveltoBaliwithHandsUpHolidays,wehadnoidea howtransformativeitwouldbe.Wewantedanadventurethatcombined luxurywithpurpose,sowechoseavolunteerprojectwherewecould makearealimpactonsomeone’slife Ourmission:tohelpbuilda disabled-accessiblebathroomforaparaplegicmanwholivedinarural villageinBali.Thistripwasn’tjustaboutexploringtheisland’sstunning beachesoritsiconictemples itwasabouthelpingsomeonegain independenceanddignity.
WhenwearrivedinBali,wewereimmediatelystruckbyitsbeauty:lush ricepaddies,dramaticcliffs,andvibrantculture.Westayedinaprivate villawithviewsoverthejungle,enjoyingluxuryatitsfinest.Butthereal experiencebeganwhenwemetMade,themanwewerehelping
Madehadbecomeparaplegicafterfallingfromapalmtreecollecting coconuts.Helivedinamodesthomewithhiswifeandchildren,andtheir dailylifewasfilledwithchallenges Oneofthebiggestobstacleshefaced wasthelackofaccessiblefacilities Thebathroomwassmall,cramped, andimpossibleforhimtousecomfortably.
TheHandsUpHolidaysteamarrangedforustoworkwithlocalbuilders andMade’sfamilytoconstructabathroomthatwouldprovidehimwith thespaceandaccessibilityheneeded.Overthenextfewdays,ourfamily workedalongsidetheteam,mixingcement,layingtiles,andbuilding rampsthatwouldallowMadetomovefreely
Atfirst,our13-year-oldsonwasunsure.Hewasn’tsurehowtohelp,or whattheprojectreallymeant ButwhenhesawMade’sfacelightupas wemadeprogressonthebathroom,everythingchanged Ithithimina waythatwehadn’texpected—thiswasn’tjustaboutconstruction;thiswas aboutgivingamanhisindependenceback.
Astheprojectnearedcompletion,oursonspentmoreandmoretime talkingwithMade,helpingtoinstallthefinaltouchesandensuring everythingwasdoneright.Bythetimewefinished,thebathroomwasnot onlyfullyaccessiblebutbeautifullydesigned,withashowerthatMade couldeasilyuseandarampthatleddirectlytothedoor
Itwasarewardingexperience,onethatdeeplyimpactedallofus.Wesaw ourson’sattitudechange Hebegantounderstandwhattrueempathy meant notjustthroughwords,butthroughaction Heaskedquestions aboutMade’slife,abouthischallengesandtriumphs,andstartedtosee thingsthroughadifferentlens,andlearnvaluablelessonsabout resilience.
Andperhapsthemostincredibletransformationwasthewayoursonput downhisphone.Forthefirsttimeinalongwhile,hewaspresent.He
wasn’tdistractedbynotificationsormessages.Instead,hewasengaged intheproject,talkingtothelocalworkers,andaskingabouttheculture andpeopleofBali Wecouldseehisconnectiontotheworldaroundhim deepeninawaywehadn’texpected.
Bytheendoftheweek,itwasn’tjustthebathroomthathadbeen transformed itwasourfamily Wehadbondedovertheshared experienceofdoingsomethingmeaningfultogether,andoursonhad gainedanewperspectiveontheworld.Helearnedthatasimpleactof servicecanchangelives,andthatempathycomesfromtruly understandingandhelpingothers
AsweleftBali,werealizedthatthetriphadgivenussomethingfarmore valuablethansouvenirsorInstagramphotos.Ithadgivenusarenewed senseofpurpose,gratitude,andconnection agiftthatwewouldcarry withusforyearstocome
AudreySzyszkowskitraveledtoBaliwithHandsUpHolidaysinJuly 2024