In Reply to: Roll Call for 22nd Dec meet at Gracies posted by stich on Friday, 15. December 2006 at 16:58 Bali Time:
Wow! I didn't think my invitation would incite such a response, and I wrote that invite after 50 Bintangs!!!! Only joking.
That's ok Bloodyron, I don't blame you for being wary of me. All criticism whether good or bad is always welcome on the forum, other wise it wouldn't be a forum would it?.
I am actually surprised you didn't find me in the archives though. They did change my name from Stitch to Stich a while back, that's probably why.
I also don't blame you for thinking who is this guy doing BTF gatherings at the Dynasty, I have more than once probably run into you at sometime in Bali, I have lived here 15 years. I am indirectly involved with the East Bali Poverty Project, as our hotel supports that project. I MC Quiz nights twice a week at the Dynasty and the money we make those nights from the quiz go to that charity.
However although our hotel supports EBPP, everything we raise on a BTF gathering goes to Smudge's charity, some people bring clothes, some medicine, some donate. Same as you Smudge does great things and probably one of the nicest guys you would wish to meet in Bali, if ever there was a Santa Clause, Smudge would be him!!! Hahaha..sorry Smudge!
I am very honored to have been invited by the kids we support in East Bali on numerous times to visit them, the last was August 17th for their Independence day party.
I have never shared any of my experiences with anyone about one of my visits, but I think this may be a good time. I was asked by Jakarta Post to write something. Below is an account of my Indonesian Independence day journey.
Here's that Jakarta Post story for you.
‘Smiles and Tears in East Bali'
Every 17th August on Indonesia's Independence day the Children of Pengalusan and Cegi schools, who my hotel supports through the East Bali Poverty Project, join together with surrounding villages to stage their Independence day celebrations.
As we do every year, some of the hotel Management travels to East Bali to join the children for their celebrations.
We set off at 6am, just before sunrise to beat the traffic and headed towards Kintamani on a cool crisp clear day for the 2 hour journey North East.
Twenty minutes past Kintamani the asphalt road comes to an abrupt end, then it was into the four wheel drive jeep for another 25 minutes of rocky off road driving.
The scenery is stunning with the mighty Mount Agung dominating the landscape. The two hamlets lie almost at the foot of the great mountain and we arrived at Pengalusan, just before 8.00am, and before the opening of their celebrations.
The kids were all smartly turned out in their school uniforms, as they were the last time we came here to see them being given their regular iodine medication and a lecture on how those strange small capsules would benefit their health immensely.
This visit the atmosphere was jollier as the children began the day by gathering in orderly lines for the obligatory flag raising ceremony and national anthem.
After the government protocol the fun games began as the children moved to the make shift racetrack for sack races, three legged races and many more competitive activities.
The children had plenty of energy left for the highlight of the day, the cabaret followed by the award ceremonies on their makeshift stage they had spent the last three days building themselves.
The Cabaret began with colorful local dances by the younger children which was very moving to watch, but the tear came to the eye when the children began their cabarets. One group reenacted the impact of how less tourists to Bali, because of the recent events, effect them indirectly which really brought home the fact of how important our hotel donations are to them and how it has improved their lives. Powerful and emotional acting from such young children, only they weren't acting!
It reminded me of last year's cabaret they did that also made me cry, when three young children did an act in English (I was there representing the hotel, one of only three Westerners present out of the 600 attendees) a five year old child came on stage and said 'I can read and write because of you', a second child, a little older, then came up and said 'My Mum and Dad are healthy because of you', at that time we had tears in our eyes, then the third child came on stage and said 'I am alive because of you'. I found myself crying openly in front of 600 onlookers.
The finale of the day was the scholarships and awards presentations for the children who had excelled in both school terms and the day's sports events.
I am looking forward to attending their next year's event.
I run weekly with a madcap bunch called the Bali Hash House Harriers (a running club with a drinking problem, or a drinking club with a running problem). We organized a Red Dress run through Kuta, which involved everyone wearing something red, or even a red dress. Basically we did it for two reasons, one to raise money for charity and two, to raise awareness that there is poverty in Bali and not all Balinese are lucky to benefit from the Tourist dollar. We made around Rp.3 million for charity that day, not a lot you may think, but that will feed and medicine quite a lot of kids.
Even better news, my friend and myself were invited to be auctioneers at a charity fundraiser (organized by some of Bali's top hotels) last Friday in Seminyak, with some amazing prizes donated by those ‘five star hotels' and we raised US$10,000 for charity, so there are a lot of hotels doing great things.
Anyway, Bloodyron, you did ask for ‘my track record' so that's why I am rambling on a bit.
I apologize for that.
I think if anyone has any doubts about making a donation to any reputable Charity organization in Bali, then find out more about the way you can help and contact those amazing people who are dedicating their lives to eradicating poverty in Bali. People like Bloodyron who are passionate about what they do and how they feel, because they are the people who are making a difference.
I am looking forward to organizing or helping to organize some great fundraising events next year and will keep you all posted.
PS. Bloodyron, come over for an expensive beer on me and I would love to discuss any ideas you may have where I can help. Forumites, don't be hard on him!
I am looking forward to meeting some of you on the 23rd, for those I don't meet, I hope you have a great Festive Season and good luck for 2007.
Regards,
Stich (Steve)