Heroes Bali Camp 2026: A Pause in the Work, A Return to Purpose
What is the Heroes Bali Camp?
Each year, Earth Company selects a cohort/class of up to 10 outstanding Asia-Pacific changemakers—known as Impact Heroes—to join the Lead-to-Regenerate Acceleration Program (L2R). The L2R is a 12-month program that provides members of the Impact Heroes Class of 2026 with a unique opportunity to hone their skills and knowledge, expand their network, access tailored resources, and receive mentorship to become regenerative leaders in their respective fields.
As part of the L2R, the Heroes Bali Camp invites each cohort to Earth Company’s home base in Bali for a deep, soul-centered gathering—a space to reflect, reconnect, and reignite their purpose as regenerative leaders.
Read more about our Impact Heroes Class of 2026 here.
1. Why the 'Heroes Bali Camp'?
Now in its fifth year, Heroes Bali Camp was designed around three core intentions:
- To offer changemakers a space to reflect on themselves and their journeys
- To strengthen connections and solidarity among changemakers
- To provide the practical knowledge, guidance, and resources needed to expand their impact
In the months leading up to the camp, the Heroes participated in online sessions and personalized needs assessments. These conversations laid the foundation for what would later unfold in Bali: a space where practical strategy met emotional clarity, and where regenerative leadership was understood not only as creating impact in the world, but also as cultivating one’s inner wellbeing.
Building on the online learning and prior assessments, Earth Company provided tailored mentoring sessions for each Hero, along with opportunities to connect with experts, mentors, and supporters from diverse backgrounds. At the same time, recognizing that many of the Heroes have experienced burnout while working on the frontlines of social change, the camp was intentionally designed as a space away from the pressures of everyday life — a place where they could pause, reflect on their wellbeing, and experience a sense of care, support, and restoration.
２. Program Highlights
DAY 1 – "Welcome, Heroes!"
Welcome Dinner
Nine Heroes from seven countries gathered at Mana Earthly Paradise in Bali. Even before the program officially began, conversations and connections were already unfolding naturally. Laughter echoed through Mana’s garden, filling the space with a warm and joyful atmosphere.
After touring the facilities, the Heroes joined the Earth Company team for a welcome dinner. As the evening went on and conversations became more lively, it turned into more than just a chance to talk about work — it was an opportunity to learn about each other’s personalities, backgrounds, and the journeys that brought them here.
DAY 2 – Opening Up
Life Story Sharing Session
On the second day, following the orientation, the Heroes took part in a life story sharing session using the “River of Life” method.
River of Life is a reflective exercise in which participants imagine their lives as a river, using drawings to trace the paths they have traveled. Through their illustrations, the Heroes shared the encounters, turning points, struggles, and lessons that shaped who they are today — and ultimately led them to the work they now do.
As each person spoke, moments of vulnerability and honesty filled the room. Both the storytellers and listeners were often moved to tears. Through sharing deeply personal experiences, the nine Heroes began to build a deeper sense of trust, understanding, and mutual support that transcended countries and fields of work.
Balinese Culture Introduction
In the afternoon, the Heroes joined a Balinese culture session led by I Putu Wiraguna from Five Pillar Experience. The session introduced the philosophy at the heart of Balinese culture — the deep interconnectedness between nature, people, and prayer.
The Heroes learned how to make canang, traditional Balinese Hindu offerings crafted from flowers and leaves, and later joined in a moment of prayer together.
More than simply a cultural experience, the session became an opportunity for reflection. By encountering the values embedded in everyday Balinese life, the Heroes were invited to think more deeply about the relationship between their own work, the land they live on, local culture, and the communities they serve.
DAY 3 – Mentoring / Organizational Development
Sharing Session by Elena Bonometti
Day three began with a sharing session on leader wellbeing led by Elena Bonometti — former Director of Tostan and CEO of The Wellbeing Project, an organization dedicated to researching and supporting the mental health of social entrepreneurs.
Drawing on both her professional expertise and personal experience, Elena spoke about the realities faced by leaders on the front lines of social change. She shared insights on how organizations can foster cultures that genuinely prioritize wellbeing — creating environments where people can continue their work sustainably without sacrificing their mental or physical health.
Mentoring Sessions
Following this, the Heroes joined individual mentoring sessions tailored to their specific needs, based on assessments conducted before the Camp.
The session covered various topics, including:
- Developing long-term fundraising and financial strategies to move beyond fragile, grant-dependent structures
- Building roadmaps for launching new social businesses that could generate sustainable earned income
- Strategic management and organizational development
- Marketing and communications strategies
The mentors included both Earth Company team members and external experts, such as nonprofit consultants, NGO leaders, and former business executives. Each Hero was carefully matched with mentors whose expertise aligned with their unique challenges, goals, and local contexts.
DAY 4 – Regeneration & Heroes Night
Regenerative Leadership and Organization Building
The morning of Day Four began with a session on Regenerative Leadership and Organization. The Heroes reflected not only on themselves as leaders, but also on the health and sustainability of their organizations. Together, they explored topics such as financial resilience, team structure, decision-making, daily operations, and how they communicate the impact of their work.
Using a reflective checklist, the Heroes discussed the shifts in mindset, structure, and practice needed for their organizations to grow into more regenerative and sustainable entities. The session encouraged them to think beyond short-term survival and consider how their organizations could continue to nurture both people and communities over the long term.
Visit to Bumi Sehat Clinic
In the afternoon, the Heroes visited Bumi Sehat Clinic in Ubud, a facility providing free mother-baby and general healthcare services to low-income communities, founded by Impact Hero 2026 Robin Lim.
After learning about Bumi Sehat’s holistic approach to community care — which extends far beyond maternity services — the Heroes toured the clinic and joined a Q&A session with Robin herself.
Standing in a place devoted to protecting the lives of mothers and newborns, the Heroes reflected on what it truly means to address the root causes of social challenges, and what it takes to sustain that commitment over many years. Robin’s words and presence offered a powerful reminder that social change is not only about programs and outcomes, but also about compassion, persistence, and deep care for human dignity.
Heroes Night 2026 at Mana Earthly Paradise
On the evening of Day Four, Mana Earthly Paradise came alive as guests gathered for a full-house Heroes Night 2026. All nine members of the Impact Heroes Class of 2026 took the stage, each delivering a presentation in a PechaKucha-style format: ten slides, twenty seconds each. Through their presentations, the Heroes shared their personal journeys, the social challenges they are working to address, and the reasons they continue their work despite the difficulties they face.
After the presentations, audience members gathered with the Heroes during the networking session, asking questions about their work and exploring possibilities for future collaboration. More than simply an event to introduce the Heroes’ activities, Heroes Night became an invitation for everyone in the room to reflect on their own role in creating change — and to ask themselves: What can I do, starting now?
DAY 5 – Reflection and Inner Journey
MindKindness Session
The final morning began with a MindKindness session led by mindfulness expert Dr. Home. MindKindness is a practice that encourages people to become aware of their inner state through breathing, reflection, and gentle self-awareness — helping them approach both themselves and the world with greater calm and compassion.
For leaders who dedicate so much of themselves to supporting others and their communities, the session became a rare opportunity to pause and acknowledge their own needs as well. It was a reminder that asking for help, resting, and caring for one’s own mind and body are not signs of weakness, but essential parts of sustaining meaningful work over the long term.
Final Reflection
After the MindKindness session, the group gathered for a final collective reflection to close the five-day camp.
One by one, the Heroes shared what the experience had given them — the insights they gained, the moments that stayed with them, and what their connections with one another had come to mean. What emerged from the conversation was not only the exchange of knowledge and skills, but something much deeper: the realization that they had chosen solidarity over competition, and that genuine bonds — almost like family — had formed across countries, cultures, and fields of work.
Many also spoke about an important truth they were reminded of throughout the camp: that sustaining their work for others also requires caring for themselves.
With both smiles and tears, the warm closing marked the end of the five days — and quietly revealed how nine individuals had become a community rooted in mutual support, trust, and shared purpose.
3. Voices from the Heroes
Here are some of the words shared by the Heroes as they reflected on their experience at Bali Camp.
4. Closing Reflections
At the heart of Heroes Bali Camp is a simple but deeply important intention: to create a space where leaders working tirelessly on the frontlines of social challenges can pause, reconnect with themselves, and care for their own minds and bodies.
Earth Company remains committed to responding to the unique needs of each Hero — providing support in areas such as fundraising, marketing, and strategic management; offering access to expert mentors; and fostering connections that transcend countries, cultures, and fields of work.
Later this year, as the first half of the Lead-to-Regenerate (L2R) Acceleration Program comes to a close, one of these nine leaders will be selected as the Impact Hero of the Year 2026. We hope you will look forward to the announcement. Until then, may their journeys continue to inspire us — and may we all continue choosing the path of regeneration, together.
This camp was made possible thanks to the continued support of everyone who believes in Earth Company’s mission. We are deeply grateful to all who helped bring this experience to life, and we warmly invite you to continue standing with us as we co-create a regenerative future.