Hi...I have been a lurker here for years and usually stop in before trips to Bali to see what's going on, so I thought I would finally add a post thanking many posters that have helped me over the years and to report on my recent winter vacation.
I spent 3 weeks in Bali - 2 weeks volunteering. Like many BTF readers I have been going to Bali for years and have seen first-hand the need for support in many rural and poor areas. My volunteer activities started simply as "taking an extra bag of clothes" to donate. Over the years I have met many like-minded people. This year, I returned to ALAS KASIH Orphanage. It has been mentioned here over the past few years as an out-of-the-way orphanage that doesn't get many visitors. Very true...We (a small group of family/friends) sponsor 6 kids there. It was 5 until I met Stefan on this past trip. Could I possibly say no? He newly "arrived" this summer from Sumba and can't speak Bahasa nor Balinese. In order to start school in July, he needs language, so through our small donation, he is 6 months at a private kindy where he can learn Bahasa and some other basic skills. I was back to visit the orphanage/him after he had started kindy and I have never seen a bigger smile and happier kid in my life! I managed to take 25 kids from the orphanage to the beach for an afternnon, take food stuffs, replace the pump on their well, and visit with our sponsored kids. Filo, of forum fame, and myself and a small group are trying to put together a project this year to build a new well for the orphanage. If anyone is interested in helping, please let us know.
The majority of my time was spent volunteering with the Helen Flavel Foundation in the Singaraja area. I have seen several reports on visits to sponsored children, so many people are aware of the group and the work they do. I spent 10 straight days there and have to honestly say I have never met a whole group of such amazing people! Dewi and Nyoman the couple who run the Learning Center, their two sons, and the group of uni students who work tirelessly as volunteers are all fantastic people. I taught in kindy, taught classes for elementary school and hunior high school students, worked with uni students who will become teachers and did a workshop for teachers from 20 area elementary schools. I also have 2 sponsored kids and after visiting and seeing first-hand their living conditions "in the mountains" we will build 2 houses for the 2 families over the next 2 years. The contrast between the incredibly beautiful landscape and rice terraces and the "houses" they live in is hard to put into words. As other Forumites have aptly stated - it was a humbling experience.
I have kind of "grown" into my volunteer activities and truly believe no small bit nor no start is too small. While I appreciate that the staff at the Learning Center kept thanking me, I have to say that I absolutely have to thank THEM for making this my best (of many) "vacations" in Bali yet!(Hi...Helen if you're reading this!)