In Reply to: From Kintamani posted by danny on Monday, 2. August 2010 at 14:27 Bali Time:
I wish I could agree with you here but this is not always the case in bali!Have a lot to do with some wonderful aussies living and here in australia that are doing the best to help get the kids off the street and to move the beggers.Why?? not to make them suffer and starve but to outlaw the people making a profit off the children and beggers, over the years I have watched my balinese friends walk pass beggers and children and have asked why and they explain that they will only give food where possible not money as this ENCOURAGES the people putting the children and beggers there to continue this practise.The govenment has signs around in bali now asking for people not to give to them in a hope of changing their ideas that this is a great way to make money by leaving their homes and farms and take on another way of life.I know its very hard to walk past a child begging but buy them a drink and food they will let you know if they can take it safely hopefully out of the eyes of the people who put them on the street.When I left bali 2 months ago a young girl about 6 carrying a baby it was late at night came to my car at traffic lights my driver and friend handed over fruit he keeps in his car for this reason. He was very upset as this child was from his village her grandparents had put her on street where she sleeps for a week with the baby and then collects her at weeks end with her profits from running in and out of waiting cars at traffic lights.The bali street kids program is a fantastic program to become involved in and to learn from they have worked out you cant hand over money the children dont get it or just take these kids off the street as they are immediately put back on, but you can stop contributing to the scam that makes it worth while for them to be there! Bali street kids program raises money to feed,educate and deal with health problems so children may be looked after in some way.For people to say its okay to give them money as they will be whipped if they dont come back with some is ludicrious stop the cycle of profiterring off beggers and children and theres NO business for them to keep going.I have seen many beggers dropped off in Legian and picked up everyday ,Ive seen gangs of women in lanes counting huge amounts of money while the children play in filth nearby, Ive seen vans drop children off at lights in kuta its a business sadly!Yes there are some genuine beggers and children wanting money but my balinese friends will always give money to the musician,or singer roaming the streets or someone willing to help you as they feel giving money for some type work is respectful.We may never change this way of life but we can certainly curtail it by not making it profitable for the people using these people.