In Reply to: That whole begging business...... posted by Paul on Sunday, 13. December 2009 at 10:41 Bali Time:
Hi, reluctant to add my little bit because of negative posters that seem to respond but having read so many replies to the original post, and it all seems positive, i will add my experiences. I have "set up" a small organisation, for want of a better word, for enabling "street kids"in kuta/Legian area to go to school if and when they and their family wants and supports this and I can find a sponsor when i return home (live in Vic).It is registered as Bali Smiles and website is still in development stage, This name is because when a "street kid" realises they are fair dinkum going to be able to go to school their smiles are so radiant it has been heartbreaking. On a number of occassions the well meaning tourists tells a kid they will pay for their schooling and for many and various reasons, it doesn't eventuate, and the kid is lefy disappointed and feelig forgotton about by their new found aussie friend.I am plugging away slowly and there are 6 kids now, with sponsors, off the street from selling the leather straps, all from Munti Gunung in Northern bALI and1 5 yr old girl from singaraja, staring in July, who would never be a "street kid" but the family can't afford her schooling. This girls sponsors money was originally given for one of these street kids but the parents did not support the child going to school - being mindful of what the family wants and respecting their decision is an important aspect i have learnt over time . A few of these sponsored kids were going to Michael and Putu's beach school at Legian which is the yayasan link another person posted on the forum. Many of these kids are cousins. The dad's usually cut the scrap leather they buy as offcuts from leather tailor shops and the mum's plait them. The kids sell them, money comes home, food & water is bought, rent paid, ceremony borrowings may be paid back, etc, etc. Truely if these kids don't bring home some money, the family often goes hungry.I haven't experienced "bosses" and anything organised as a scam, but yes the mums, dads, aunts, uncles or older siblings,etc are given the money and then it is shared around. 2 of the kids now going to school still sell, as they are very social, love talking to Aussies and want to do this. The mum tells them they must be back by 8pm, to finish homework and sleep, before they got sponsors they would be out till 3 or 4am selling. They are not forced by any boss. Obviously I can't vouch for all families but I do stay with these kids families in their village (that is a whole other story in itself that i have been priviliged enough to experience)and and also with 1 family in the room i pay the rent for at Kuta. many of the cute kids you see running around the streets are from this region. I guess what I want to say is that still please, please buy leather bracelets from these kids as they many of them live in such abject poverty in tenements in Gang lanes off Jalan Mataram, just 1 street parallel, behind JL. Legian. Have a wander here for a real eye opener on how the Balinese from villages live, while they stay in Kuta, and get some satay from Pak Toha, the best! The other thing i want to say is that if you go to the link for the Yayasan beach school you will see pictures and art work of street kids - 3 of these kids are from the extended family that are now going to SD Phrasanti Nylam school in Kuta. These kids all have parents and siblings, cousins, grandmothers in their village and there are homes to go to. Except for one instance of a family i know of, the parents are good, honest caring and loving parents. That is why i struggle with the term "street kids" although they do spend a lot of their time roaming the streets they do have a home to go to. Home being a concrete room, no mattress, communal squat toilets and is something we wouldn't keep chickens in!! I have had many talks with Michael and Putu about the street kid situation and their families- and knowing the families of many of these children, many of them are against their kids attending and forbid them to go their school. It is run on a Christian basis and as strict Hindus this concerns them and they don't like the "interference in their lives" as they see it the kids are encouraged to not tell their parents and Putu will collect them on her motorbike at a pre arranged spot. Michael does wonderful work and his heart is in the right place, but for these kids i feel it is important to be honest and upfront and respectful of the whole family. It is a subject i am passionate about, if anyone wants to chat, see pix of the kids or how village life really is in Munti gunung i am more than happy to correspond if i can work out how to leave my email open.I also try to assist with the health of these children. 3 kids had scabies when i was there in October and 50,000rp later for cream and antibiotics that has cleared up. I am currently organising for 1 of the mums to go to a clinic in Singaraja to have a goitre removed from her neck as she will die without this - leaving 4"street Kids" motherless. I'll stop now otherwise i will go on and on, but please keep helping these kids by buying leather bracelets, they don't beg as far as they are concerned, they see themselves as selling you something you might want, regards, Jan.