Please install the latest version of Adobe Flash®. Click here to download Flash now.
|
Education Sponsorship Program - Karangasem
Our charity runs an education sponsorship progamme for very poor children in Karangasem in the east of Bali. Generous individuals from all over Australia sponsor the childrens' educational needs on an annual basis and our charity provides the children with clothing, personal hygiene products and stationery on our twice yearly visits to Bali. The children enjoy a full day of fun activities at a party day where sponsors can attend and meet their sponsored child. For as little as $275.00 per year per child a sponsor can cover the cost of school and book fees, the purchase of a school uniform and shoes. The children correspond with their sponsors and sponsors are welcome to meet with their child in their school, home or village should they ever travel to Bali. Education is so important and our sponsorship programme offers a life changing opportunity for children who would otherwise not receive an education. It is a truly rewarding experience for all concerned.
As at January 2012 almost 500 children have already been sponsored through our program and we currently have 330 children attending school with the assistance of sponsors.
All of the children who have graduated from senior high school through our program have either obtained gainful employment or have/are studying at tertiary levels. We have two girls Dewi & Nengah who, with the assistance of their sponsors have recently graduated teachers college and are now both working. Indra Hadi has graduated No. 1 in IT/computing studies at university in Sulewasi and is now employed teaching in this field. Ketut Subadra has graduated his physics studies at university in Singaraja and is now a qualified physics teacher. Several of our children completed their high school studies at schools specializing in hospitality and they have gone on to gain employment at hotels, private villas and restaurants. We are very proud of all the children and very grateful for assistance of their wonderful sponsors back here in Australia.
Rumah Carolia - Karangasem
August 2011 saw the purchase of Rumah Carolia in Subagan, Amlapura. This was possible only through the amazing generosity of three business couples who donated the funds which allowed us to purchase the house and undertake renovations. The house will serve the following purposes:-
- As our office in Bali – Indri, our assistant to Bambang, our project co-ordinator, is now on site full time carrying out administrative duties
- As a clinic for medical & dental check ups of our children by Bali Kids 1 mobile clinic throughout the year – There has already been a clinic there since August.
- As a sewing centre for some exciting projects that are on the drawing board at present and which will benefit thousands of poor individuals in villages across Karangasem and indeed, eventually, all of our sponsored children. As a meeting point for sponsors, Bambang & children if required. There has already been some sewing going on with more planned. We have a couple of children interested in tailors courses and shortly we will be altering our sponsor children’s school uniforms as required which will save a lot of money.
- As accommodation for children in our program who live remote and have to walk between 10 & 30kms round trips to school each day – they will be accommodated through the week and sent home on weekends to be with their families. Next year (2012) will see the first of the children being accommodated during the week.
- As accommodation for children with extremely ill parent/s, children living at risk in their family home and those who become orphaned (we currently have several children affected by these issues)
- As an activity centre for children in our program on weekends – to catch up, socialise, play games etc
- As a learning centre for our children i.e. computing, English lessons, environmental lessons as in teaching the children to keep their villages and streets clean, not to throw litter away, look after their waterways etc – One project “Go Green Tauka 2011” has already been initiated by Bambang & Semadi in the village of Tauka with great success & enthusiasm by the children. The children spend time on Sundays picking up non-organic rubbish around their villages, cleaning their waterways, planting trees and flowers and promoting “free from plastics”. Hopefully this project will extend into many other areas including the main tourist centres in Amlapura City, Candi Dasa etc. If we can educate this generation then hopefully they will educate the next. Tauke is currently implementing a village/communal fish farm and we are hoping to use the village as a pilot to initiate a communal vegetable/fruit farm in the future. If we can get these operating here under Semadi’s expert supervision & iron out any problems then we are hopeful of extending this project into other villages also.
Project Seraya - Friends helping Friends - A Mitch Gillam Memorial
Mitch Gillam was 20 years old when he was tragically killed in Bali in December 2010. He was a talented sportsman, respected by young and old and had a caring sensitive interior. His greatest quality however was his loyalty to his friends and his love for his family. Mitch treasured his friends above everything. Those who walked alongside him walked taller, prouder and stronger. There was never a challenge that Mitch walked away from. He simply concentrated, calculated and then achieved. You can help honour Mitch's memory by being a part of his greatest challenge - Project Seraya.
2012 will see the initiation of a building project in Seraya whereby we will be renovating or repairing the poorest homes and building new homes where necessary. The charity, through donations will purchase the materials required and teams of tradespeople such as plumbers, carpenters, roofers etc will travel to Bali each year and volunteer their time to carry out the work alongside local villagers.
Our co-ordinator Bambang is currently and will continually be assessing homes and families in Karangasem Regency for entry into this project. Projects, depending on what work is actually required will range from $200-00 to $700-00. These projects offer a life changing opportunity for those who benefit from them, most importantly, an immediate improvement in their living conditions and ultimately their health.
If you would like to be a part of this lasting memorial to Mitch by financially adopting a project or by volunteering your time to help build please contact us.
Co-operatives Programme - Karangasem
The aim of this programme is to give poor families in Karangasem the opportunity of a share in a small business where, for equal share of work they receive equal share of profits generated. We establish a variety of co-ops in accordance with the need/culture of each particular village. For example, flower gardens, baking industry, pig and goat farms etc. Most co-ops are set up with multiple families depending on the nature of the co-op and the anticipated profit. It is hoped in time that the families will be able to support themselves. This gives them the opportunity to do something for themselves and build confidence and self esteem within their communities.
In April 2008 and December 2008 rounds one & two of our co-operatives were initiated with great success! We currently have 49 co-ops involving 100 families. One of our proudest projects is that we have established a band for a group of visually impaired individuals by purchasing many instruments from drums, guitars etc to the sound effects system & microphones etc. They have called themselves "The Blind Band" and they jam at Bambangs' house every week. They play at our sponsors dinners and in music competitions and expos in Karangasem.
In September 2010 we established round three in our co-ops program. Another 15 families now have their own individual pig farms. We have also set up a computer school which is managed by one of our former sponsor children. It is hoped that the facility will be able to service computers at hotels, restaurants etc in Karangasem, provide training to their staff and also operate as a training facility for other children in our program who have an interest in computing as a career. Children in our program will also have the opportunity to attend free classes designed to teach them basic computing and English skills.
Kuta Beach Day - Kuta
We treat approximately 180 children and their carers from various orphanages across Bali to an activity day on Kuta Beach every 6 months. Two or three orphanages are chosen each party day by our valued colleague Yayuk. We are trying to progressively work through all of the orphanages in Bali so all the children get the opportunity at some stage to experience a fun day at the beach. We arrange the transportation, supply lunch, drinks, ice creams etc, hire boogie boards and play a variety of games with the children throughout the day. The day is entirely for the children to enjoy - many go for walks along the beach, others lay under the trees and rest and some want to talk and just enjoy the company of others. The children usually sing and/or dance for us and other tourists walking by. Some of these children travel a 5 hour round trip for their day at the beach and they always tell us that it's the best day of their lives.
Shining Hearts - Denpasar
This is a wonderful facility set up by our colleague Yayuk Kanti to assist disadvantaged and/or orphaned children. The centre is located in Denpasar and offers the children the opportunity to learn computing, English, basic hygiene and life skills whilst playing games, reading books from the library and interacting with other children. The centre also teachers the children's young mothers (in many cases already widows) skills such as cooking, sewing, computing & English so they can improve their opportunities to gain employment and help themselves. We assist the centre by supplying furniture, books, art materials, first aid equipment and other items from their wish list.
We also direct teachers and other people interested in providing activities for the children.
Bali Kids 1 Clinic - Mengwi
Bali kids run a mobile clinic that monitors the health of children in orphanages across Bali and provides free medical attention. Up to 14 children can be accommodated in their clinic under the care of a house mother and 3 carers who work on a 24 hour roster. Children are transported to specialist appointments, recuperate in the clinic after surgery and doctors make house calls if required. We supply the clinic with clothing and "wish list" medical supplies and also direct individuals, including doctors and nurses to the clinic, if they express an interest in providing assistance.
Yayasan Bumi Sehat - UBUD
Bumi Sehat is a baby clinic in Ubud providing free pre-natal and post-natal care to women in poor villages who cannot afford the services of a doctor or hospital for treatment. The clinic has a very high success rate in relation to deliveries for mothers and babies. Because they offer a free service Robin and her staff are called upon to perform general nursing i.e. stitching, dressing wounds, splinting broken bones etc. We supply the clinic with medicines, baby formula, linen and clothing for small children. We also direct nursing staff who are interested in visiting and volunteering their time to them. In late 2009 we began moving some 200 first aid kits (which were kindly donated to us) to Bali for use by Robin and her staff to train young men & women at a newly created youth centre in Ubud.
Scholarship Fund
This fund has been set up to assist students who have completed their senior high school through our education programme. The fund will assist with school fees and living expenses for study at tertiary level. The fund will also assist very poor young adults who demonstrate the prowess to successfully run a small business of their own by allocating funds for training, purchasing tools of trade, office machinery etc.
Physically Challenged Individuals
We collect walking aids and wheelchairs which are kindly donated by hospitals, nursing homes and retirement villages. These aids are destined for individuals in Bali who suffer with physical disabilities through accidents, strokes, polio, cerebral palsy etc, and who have no hope of gaining any independence without the use of these aids.
|
