Giving back in Bali, ideas?

Usually pack educational supplies clothing and directly gift
to kids and/or animals I want to help. Many scammers there
including some touted on the boards keep re-sell the majority
of gifting for "overhead". So Caveat Emptor for me.Sites liike
www.charitynavigator.com help me a lot currently I support
Doctors Without Borders(MSF),World Vision, Samaritans Purse.

Happy Travels!

I found these great games that I bring and give to schools. I am bringing some to Burma in a couple of weeks and will show the teacher how to use them and then leave them there. I dont know where you live, but these are Bingo games that I bought at an educational toy store (Kool and Child here). The cards have pictures of shirts/shoes/socks/book/pen etc etc on them. The other one I bring has numbers from one to 20. The teacher calls out the word and the kids must find the picture that goes with the word. I find that they really like it cos it is fun and helps them to learn English, if that is what they want to do.

I found when I volunteered to teach English in Asia last year that the teaching material the teachers had , alot of it was not that practical IMO. These games have words that (again IMO) they can use and the kids were very enthusiastic about them. Just an idea.

You might look at the Smile Foundation of Bali at http://www.senyumbali.org/

It's a wonderul non-profit organization that reaches out to children and even adults who have cleft palate and other facial deformties and gives them new lives! I've been personally involved in their activiites and they are one of the most thoroughtly vetted charities in Indonesia.

They ask that you bring gently used or even new items for sale in their resale shop where Balinese and even tourists shop for goods. All proceeds go to the cost of doctors and operations and patient expenses. Most of the major hotels donate their gently used linens, factories donate over-runs or old inventory, lots of people donate eyeglasses, childrens toys, household items etc but they always need new stock. Prices are very low so it's a favorite shoppoing point for local Balinese families. So instead of selling your old things at a garage sale you can load your empty suitcase.

I would really avoid giving directly to random children for a couple of reasons. One is - how would you feel if random tourists gave gifts to your young child? Or to your child's friend but not yours? Another - giving is good. Absolutely. But directly to kids can lead to the mentality that tourist = handout and that can lead to begging, which in the end benefits no one.
I'd find a village chief, teacher, elder, someone with authority - ask at your hotel perhaps - and buy locally what they need. That way you provide what's needed by them, not what you think they need, and it can be given to those who need it by someone local ratherr than a random passing through tourist. School supplies from teachers connect receiving them with school attendance. School supplies from random tourists connects receiving them with being in the vicinity of tourists and calling attention to yourself somehow, which is not at school or at home helping with chores.

I'd second senyum Bali. This is a wonderful organization. As a dog lover I'm also very fond of B.A.R.C.

I suspect that the Four Seasons has its own social responsibility program that you could tie into.

There is just so much need everywhere in Indonesia and no shortage of good-doing NGOs that will help you connect. You just have to pick your area of interest: environmental, education, health, womens issues, children, arts . . . There is just so much need.

Thank you everyone. There is a community program through the 4S although it is on the far north east coast and has to do with supporting local agrarian efforts and water reclamation. Wasn't planning on giving anything out personally to individuals.
kuluk -- I did see the Smile Foundation and that to me is such a great cause, anywhere around the world where doctors do that kind of work is so important. of course I wish there was something like Lori and Ponheary's PLF -- and that is what I was hoping for through the 4S. Someone gave me the name of the man who heads up that program so I think I'll reach out to him although again I think that's on a grander scale than what I envisioned.
Thanks again for all the thoughts!

You might be talking about the Muntigunung project headed by a swiss man who lives in Ubud. http://www.muntigunung.com/ It's a great program and they empower Balinese by helping them farm rosella and create other products. The rosella teas and sweets are sold in many retail outlets around Bali. They are not in need of donations or short-term volunteers per se but need more people to buy their products to keep the project as a viable village industry.

There is another foundation which sounds similar but is more focused on handing out donations which is (in my mind) less desirable than helping people earn a living.

Jenskar: I see why you are are confused about the Muntigunung project and the Four Seasons. (or 4S as you call them). Some of the products are indeed sold at the Four Seasons but they are just one of the several retail outlets.

kuluk -- I think I've confused the thread, as I started out saying I wanted to put something in my bags. The organization that Four Seasons is working with is this http://www.zukunft-fuer-kinder.ch/en/where_we_act/situation_muntigunung/ which I believe is headed by a Swiss man
and yes, is dedicated to developing sustainable income initiatives. Is this the one you are thinking of?
I think the resort has been involved with them since the 90's but would certainly not be their only source for goods or aid
We all bring our own distinct skills to any aid situation -- mine has always been through the arts and for children, and I've been doing projects with NGO's since the 90's myself, off and on
My thinking was to bring something and do a drawing project with children -- which in the scheme of things may not seem like a huge contribution but, as an adult who was changed forever by one art teacher to alter the course of my own life -- I'm rather committed to the transformative power of personal interactions
And yes - teaching a person to fish always trumps just giving them a fish -- I can definitely agree with that
Let me know if that's the organization you were thinking of ...

Jen: With all due respect and good intentions, yes I do know Daniel the Swiss man and I don't know if you read my earlier posts or not which discuss the Muntigunung project. But that is besides the point.

If your focus is art for children that would go to another direction. You could do something with the children's library at Pondok Pekak, which is behind the football field in central Ubud. It was founded by a late friend, Laurie, and they are carrying on but need lots of support. You could bring lots of gently used childrens books for their children's library, and possibly set up a few art classes, if you are going to be in town long enough.
Rotary Club Bali Ubud Sunset http://www.rotarybaliubudsunset.org/ has a subcommittee working with them if you have any problems contacting the library. Rotary is also working on HIV in children, as well as numerous other projects you might be interested in. You and anyone else are welcome to come to any of the regularly scheduled meetings at the wonderful Maya Hotel, Ubud. Socializing from 5:30 to 6 and meeting from 6 to 7 pm. cost is rp 60,000 for light snacks and beverage. Send an email through the website to RSVP. It's a very friendly and fun group and they do wonderful things. There are several Rotary clubs in Bali but this is the best one!

Habitat for Humanity has a build in Bali from Jan 20 – Feb 3 near Git Git. I think these dates are during part of your trip. While you most likely can’t join the team to just work for a day or two (but it is certainly worth asking), I know they can always use tools like hammers, saws, levels, carpenter’s pencils, paint brushes, work gloves (need lots of those) and other materials. Work gloves, pencils and levels fit easily into a suitcase. (These are things the local carpenters and bricklayers who work with the volunteers love to have as well. ) You can also make a cash donation via the website. (From my own wish list having been on several builds, someone stopping by at 5 pm with really cold beer would be a dream come true….)

If you are interested, I would write to the team leader, Marilyn Emmert at mbemmert@ligtel.com, and see what she might recommend.

Info about the build can be found at
http://www.habitat.org/cd/gv/trip_desc.aspx?type=1&code=GV12369

kuluk and Cicerone -- thank you both -- kuluk -- I had not read anything you wrote prior to this thread about the Muntigunung project but I'll go searching. I had been working in a bit of a vacuum as my emails to Bali were going into our driver's spam folder for a few weeks, I just learned. I may have my drawing project in hand but this sounds like a good option too -- so thank you very much!

I did actually know about the HforH build -- saw that when we were planning this trip and a former colleague's daughter did one last year -- I assumed they would not let someone just drop in and I'm not much of a builder -- home renovation projects usually end with me in tears and a call to a contractor.

I've done some googling -- there's a tribute FB page for your friend, kuluk, and quite a bit of information about her work

this trip is not going to be long enough, I can tell. Funny how when you're planning here, taking off two weeks sounds like so much to your colleagues, but it's really no time at all once you factor in the flights ...

I'm confused.

Just how much time were you planning to 'give back' to Bali? What is your 'drawing project'?

dogperson:

http://theplf.org/wp/2009/04/art-class/ just before Lori moved to Cambodia and started the guest house

I think the biggest mistake a lot of people make when they travel is thinking that if they don't have a week or more to volunteer, there's no point in doing anything at all -- I'd love to have the time lcuy just wrote about spending in Siem Reap last fall.