The WhyFor quite some years I have managed to put off updating the WHY. The new web site was and is an opportunity for me to try and bring you all a little bit of the real Bali and the reasons I do what I do. I may skip around a bit and will continually add things as I remember some of the classic stories. CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FOR SOME BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF MY JOURNEY SO FAR THIS PAST YEAR....
The main reason for these writings is to show what I do now, some of which is putting you 'the giver' in direct contact with worth while and deserving and most of all above board ngos or charitable organizations in Bali depending on your passion, whether it be children, nutrition, animal husbandry, water catchment programs, environmental programs and education, education assistance, so so many wonderful causes.
All of these organizations I can personally recommend as I have worked first hand with or have personal knowledge of their programs. If you want to help a particular charity but are unsure of their dealings, I may be able to advise. If you have something to donate or any bright ideas, PLEASE contact me direct.
My love for Bali began over 20 years ago. Immediately upon the plane doors opening, the smell, it hit me and I loved it. It was an unusual feeling of being "home" at last. I have since met other "Bali regulars" who have experienced this same feeling. The following 3 years saw three more holidays to Bali with many strong friendships formed.
A Son was born and nine years went by. I realised Jed and I had never been overseas or even had a holiday together...Early 2004 we were off on our exciting Mum and Son adventure and mission to find my long lost Balinese friends who never left my thoughts, and to show Jed how to give back a little by taking all his old toys, clothes and games to an orphanage. The orphanage touched my heart so deeply, the huge smiles on the faces of those tiny children, PRICELESS. It is all they have to give to say thank you, they don't even realise they have nothing and little hope of ever having the opportunities we Westerners take for granted. To choose one would be impossible, to find a way to help them all seemed the only way. I left that orphanage in tears knowing I had to do something. How could one single mum help these kids?
While scouring the countryside for my dear friends I came across the most incredibly talented clans of artists painting some amazingly peaceful scenes and spectacular abstract pieces. This is something I'd not seen before, certainly not back in Oz. Six weeks later I was back in Bali buying my first range of art.....
h..Art of Bali was born....now I had a way to help those precious orphaned kids...
Our first exhibition in July 2004 showed huge interest in what we were doing and we have expanded to the great range of products now on offer, with new products added regularly.
I now spend a huge amount of time both here in Australia and Bali researching charities and organizations that go beyond just giving donations or money.
I began many years ago taking donations of clothing and toys to orphanages but have found over the years many of these children actually have parents who simply cannot afford to keep them. The orphanage boss has to beg sometimes for these poor parents to give up their precious children so they can be given medical attention and an education which is usually subsidized or free through the orphanage. This does however sometimes require the child to convert to another religion. Or sometimes even worse.
The children leave their family, village and extended family unit and lose their sense of where they belong. To the Balinese, family is everything and the men rarely move away from the family compound other than for work.
As the children are so far away from home and parents are so poor, they see their family maybe once or twice a year. This makes them vulnerable to all sorts of bad. Just giving them things wasn't helping where help was most needed. And so I began researching further and looking for small charities assisting with more self sustaining community projects in the poorest of areas where the children in the orphanages and children who beg at the traffic lights come from. I wanted not a charity who takes donations from well meaning people who do not realize so much of the money goes to administration costs or the like. NOT FOR ME, if i could stop even one child from ending up in the orphanages and able to stay with their family i would be happy.
I was recommended a man named, Smudge. The man is one of a kind. Because of Smudge I learned and saw the huge difference one person can make to many many people. It is with much thanks and gratitude to Smudge that I now know my life's path and true calling.
Yayasan Peduli Munti Gunung is run by English ex-pat Barrie Smith ISmudge) with much assistance from Made, a local Balinese girl who through poverty had to leave School at the age of twelve. After that time she is mostly self taught, she now interprets from Indonesian and Balinese to English looks after many sick adults and children arranging hospital treatment, as well as cooking, doing laundry and handing out medication as prescribed by the hospital. I will continue to support YPMG in any way I can.
Since then I have spread my wings and learned so very much. Mostly what not to do!
I continued my search for more a way to serve on a bigger level, I wanted to help find a way to keep the people in their villages where ever that might be and teach them how to make a better life for themselves instead of us continuing to "give things". In my mind this simply facilitated in keeping them begging and expecting us to continue to give. This is not serving the people, this is helping the people, helping them stay in the poverty cycle.
We are only different to the poor in Bali in one way, we have a western education. This is all we can share with them to help them help themselves. We cannot do it for them.
Helping one old lady and having her huge goiter removed is absolutely wonderful but how much funds and resources do we put into one elderly person who at the end of the process is in no way able to contribute to her community. Sounds harsh I know, but I am afraid this is reality. Another great one is when we westerners take boxes of biscuits, lollies, chips etc to the villages and kids and where do you think the rubbish and plastic goes people, ALL OVER THE PLACE. Might make us feel good but does not help them think for themselves or in fact help them at all. They simply will wait for the next handout.
The focus needs to be on the children and changing the way they think. Educating them on health issues, environmental issues and most of all guiding them back to or learning more of the Tri Hita Karana (ancient Balinese way of living). (I will explain more about Tri Hita Karana later). The kids will in turn teach the parents and elders, I have seen this first hand, amazing. Basic and it works. How could I get this across or find an organization working at grass roots level.
Then in February 2010 heaven sent me an Angel in the form of Ibu Viebeke Lengkong, Director of I'm an Angel network. www.imanangel.org the motto being,
"We do not give, we share, and with this strategy we empower the community to think and help themselves"
Now where do I begin? I had an instant repore with Viebeke, my Guru, and so much I have learned has come from Viebeke either directly or by her doing with me just as she does with her people, by giving me the tools for me to learn for myself.
This network of Angels is simply incredible and impacts approximately 20,000 of the poorest Balinese. Initially set up as a five year program, now in it's 10th year. You will hear much of Viebeke and I'm an Angel.
Better I leave it there for now. Each month or so I will post new blog entry to update on latest programs and journeys planned and made.
check out my links for some of the fantastic programs I can personally recommend.
I have spent over 10 years researching Balinese NGO’S, charities and learning about the many different ways we can help Bali for the long term,
not just put a bandaid.
My true work is to serve the people with the benefit of my education and associations and show them how they can bring themselves out of the poverty cycle.
We cannot help, ours is to serve.
This website and business are run solely for the purpose of providing one very small income so I can keep “giving back to Bali”, it is for this reason I have many regular and long term customers (friends). I truly thank you all for your continued support.
HOW CAN YOU HELP