BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY THROUGH EDUCATION

NEWSLETTER Vol. II July 2016

YKIP NEWSLETTER| VOL.II JULY 2016 2

.. were only a few activities that the children sponsored by YKIP enjoyed on their field trip to the Bali Cultural Centre on a one fine Sunday at the end of June.

The trip was sponsored by Heidi Circle, a long time donor of the foundation, who collected the fund required for the trip and helped the children further their education. The founder, Heidi, visited Bali to check on the children and passed on the love and messages from the other sponsors to the children.

It was a cloudy day when the children arrived at the Centre’s parking lot. Heidi and the YKIP staff were ready to greet them with a smile and in Heidi’s case, with anticipation as it had been at least a couple of years since she last saw them.

“They have changed a lot,” Heidi commented, seeing many of the children had grown into their teenage years. Despite that, the American artisan remembered each and every one of them – their names, dreams, families, passions… distance and time did not erase them from her mind.

The purpose of the trip was more than just for Heidi to catch up with the children, no matter how delightful it had been. It is also a part of Heidi’s fight to preserve the Balinese traditional values and cultures. By exposing the children to

the island’s culture, Heidi hopes to ignite the fire in them so that they will continue the traditions and keep the Balinese values alive.

Bali Cultural Centre packaged a perfect overview of the Balinese culture into a half-day trip. The group of children was welcome by an entourage of beautifully clad men and women carrying elaborate ceremonial items in a brief procession called ‘Parade Meped’.

From then on, things picked up quickly. The children were treated to several Balinese dances throughout the days, among which were the famous welcoming dance Sekar Jagad and the Balinese equivalent of the lion dance, Barong Lawang.

Though rain pelted the roof in the afternoon, the mood was never close to being overcast, especially not within the large, open-air hall where the children spent their time decorating masks. Each of them received a plain, black mask along with several cans of paints to express their imagination with. Heidi took a time to talk to the children as well as observed their work.

“There is usually one person who has the original idea and others follow them,” Heidi observed. “The children were taught to ‘copy’ but as they get older, I find that they become more confident

A One Fine Sunday with Heidi: Art, Love and Creativity

Mask painting, Balinese dances, pure coconut oil making demonstrations …

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in themselves and simply learn to have fun with their art.”

And that was what made Heidi happy all this time, many of the children had shown their own initiatives and creativity without being prompted.

After the mask-painting session and a quick lunch break, the fun continued. Everyone paid rapt attention to how coconut oil, an essential part of many Balinese delicacies and traditional medicine, is made. They were watching while the coconut milk was boiling and the oil above it was being taken slowly but surely to get what they usually see already collected in a bottle. It was harder to make than expected!

There was also a demonstration on how to make canang, Balinese offering for prayers, and rice pounding, a traditional process to separate the rice from its skin. The group passed by a row of beautifully crafted wayang, leather-based shadow puppets as well as a majestic barong lawang, the Balinese dragon dance costume, except instead of a dragon head, this one has a pig’s. The Centre’s staff was kind enough to give a brief demo on how it was used and soon the barong stalked slowly among the audience, its wooden pig mask’s snout snapping sternly at interval.

Alas, all good things must come to an end.

At the end of the tour, three of the YKIP alumni who already graduated and hold a job shared a little about their experience and some tips to the other children who are still studying. Sincerely, each of them imparted their wisdom, mainly about how education had changed their lives and that no matter how hard it would be, the students should not give up and pursue an education as high as they could to change the course of their future.

“I am so proud of them,” Heidi said, watching each of the children told their life story, a sentiment that she repeated in her own speech at the very end of the event.

“I am very proud of your accomplishment,” she said. “More than 76 children had been sponsored by Heidi Circle and 40 among which have graduated. It’s amazing how far we’ve come. I wish you all an incredible life!”

As an artist, Heidi’s love affair with Balinese art went back decades. It is one of her deepest wishes to see that the art will never lose its luster and will flourish in the future instead of being swallowed by time and disappear. She will not give up and will continue to teach her YKIP children about art with hope that it will be preserved through them.

Heidi and the YKIP children are already looking forward to the next trip they can go on together again!

***

Only six days after the culture trip to the Bali Cultural Centre, the KEMBALI students who are sponsored by Heidi Circle gathered again in Mas,

Ubud. This time they came to make greeting card for each of their sponsor.

The children’s greeting card is a good way for the children to always stay connected with their sponsors abroad. We understand that sending an email might be the easiest way to communicate but sending the children’s message using their own handwriting on beautiful handmade cards bring the children’s heart closer to their sponsors. It also teaches the children to understand that manner matters and to always appreciate others who have done good things for them.

At the end of the day, thirty-eight greeting cards were ready for Heidi to be brought back with her to U.S. and delivered to each sponsor. Each card was decorated with a child’s beautiful ear-to-ear smile and love.

And at last, Heidi took the opportunity to express her pride and happiness over the children’s accomplishment, “Thanks to each of you for getting such good marks this year. All of your sponsors are so proud of you because you have managed to get such good grades and you have stayed in school. Keep up your good work ‘till the end! In my experience, sometimes it can take a while to have your dream come true, but if you keep pursuing it, it almost always does.” What a

remarkable closing.

Our sincere thank you to Heidi Hornberger and all sponsors in her circle for their continued support in providing education for these children.

Paper, Scissor and

Wholehearted Love Words

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“Using sport as a tool, to help our youth becomes successful in life!” - Many people believe that sports will be a great medium to teach your children about life lesson. It is not only about being competitive or reaching the podium winner, but beyond that, it can allow the children to learn about life during the participation in the sport.

When they play sports, they will be able to learn that if they want to achieve something, they need to take a hard work. Moreover, by doing sports, children will also learn about setting goals and determining how to reach them.

And that is what we tried to do with the KEMBALI students on 22nd of June. Together with the children from Sari Hati Foundation, Yayasan Peduli Kemanusiaan (YPK), and Green School, nine students of the KEMBALI Program were involved in a healthy and fun soccer game at Green School, Bali. This soccer game was supported by Karen Kaplan, one of YKIP’s generous donors, who initiated this event and took along his son, Coach Josh, to teach the children at field. Coach Josh was very spirited and managed to exhilarate all of the people on the field by his teaching skills.

He first coached the children about the very basic skill of soccer and then gave opportunity to the children to practice the skills they had been taught. Coach Josh also reassured the children not to be afraid of making mistakes and just kept trying. This kind of encouragement had made the children, boys and girls, felt a lot more of enthusiastic during the day! And we hope that it will give encouragement in their daily life too!

What a great day! Thank you Coach Josh and Karen for the delightful Wednesday’s afternoon at Green School! And thank you for the jersey and balls! The children love it!

More Than Just A Ball and

Two Goals

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Bali Family Law Conference

Every year Susan and Peter, along with their friends from the Bali Family Law Conference, come to Bali to hold a conference called “Law on the Lounge”. This year the conference took place on June 4th -5th, 2016 at Conrad Bali, Nusa Dua.

The Bali Family Law Conference has been sponsoring students for eight years via YKIP and since 2013, in memory of their dear friend and ardent supporter of their conference, Her Honour Justice Carolyn Martin, the Bali Family Law Conference have sponsored thirteen girls. Up to date, nine girls have graduated from senior high school and one of them continues her studies to a nursing academy in Denpasar, still with support from the Bali Family Law.

Bringing A Better Future Closer

“Are you nervous?” asked one of YKIP officers to Indah, a 17-year-old girl who has just graduated from high school in May 2016. Indah looked to the officer and her lips widen into a smile but she did not say anything. She shook her head weakly, trying to look reassured. She might be so nervous at that time and her neck was too stiff

to be moved. People who stood around Indah probably thought that she was extremely calm as a person who would give a speech in a room full of foreign delegates of the Law on the Lounge Conference. Imagine yourself walking into a room full of strangers, all eyes are on you, and you have to speak for the first time to the audience with a language foreign to you, including its words organization and pronunciation. Any butterflies in your stomach, probably multiply before you begin!

But Indah’s determination to deliver her thank you message directly to the people who have helped her graduated from high school conquered her fear to give her first speech in English. She spoke English far from perfect that day but her intention to thank everyone in the room was unblemished. We all in that room could feel her heart pounding so strong reflected through her voice when she said, “I cannot say thank you enough to my sponsors who have helped me completed my 12-year education and brought a better future closer to me… I promise that I will work hard and help my family get out from the poverty…”, and everyone in the conference room who listened attentively to every word she spoke gave her a big applause for her courage and achievement. Congratulation, Indah! You did it!

TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

From March to September 2016, many volunteers dedicated their time to help YKIP.

The compassion they have shown to the people we serve is an inspiration for us all. We've noticed how you treat everyone with respect and kindness, no matter what the situation is.

We just want you to know that your work hasn't gone unnoticed.

Thank you for all that you do.

Individuals:

I Kadek Wirya I Ketut Dharma I Nengah Landra I Nyoman Puja I Wayan Artana I Wayan Citradana Ni Luh Putu Adi

Swandani

Mitrais:

A A Gede Indra Kusuma Budi Hardiyanto

Nugroho Christine Novanti Bayu Devira Nanda Kushwara Edward Octavianus P. Eric Chrisna Hesty Noviana I.B Verry Hendrawan

Manuaba I Made Dwi Suwardiana I Putu Arya Kusuma

Wijaya Kadek Juliana Parwanta Pitri Yosi Leowardi

YKIP is extremely grateful for all of the support that the Inspirasia Foundation and Mitrais have given so we are able to deliver educational

assistance to disadvantaged children.

The Inspirasia Foundation is a philanthropy portfolio making investments in health & education projects with a high potential for growth, helping some of the most marginalized social groups in India, Indonesia, and Thailand, including the disabled, poor young women, and unschooled children. We believe in the power of “What IF.”

The Inspirasia Foundation, establish-ed as the Annika Linden Foundation in 2003, was formed as a positive response to the tragic 2002 Bali terror bombing in Kuta, and as a memorial to the spirit of the more than 200 innocent victims of that bomb, among them young Annika Linden. Today, the Inspirasia Foundation supports 13 partners across Asia, including in Bali.

2016 sees Mitrais entering its 14th year of involvement in supporting YKIP activities. Mitrais’ involvement started in 2002 when Mitrais’ staff were involved in the Bali Bombings relief action, their support has continued through today and includes the provision of office space, accounting, IT, and internet support, as well as other volunteer services. Senior Mitrais employees are on the YKIP management board, cementing an already close bond between the two organizations.

Please visit www.mitrais.com for further information.

UPCOMING EVENT: KIDS GATHERING 2016

Keramas Park, Gianyar - Bali 9th July 2016

How to Donate

Account Name: Yayasan Kemanusiaan Ibu Pertiwi

IDR Account No: 0556.01.000245.30.4

USD Account No: 0556.02.000009.30.6

Bank Name: PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. Cabang Kuta

Branch: Kuta

Branch Code: 0556

Address: Jalan Dewi Sri No. 99X, Kuta, Badung - Bali

Swift Code: BRINIDJA

YKIP’s Bank Account

Please do not send cash or

cheques. Sponsors outside of

Indonesia should transfer

funds into our USD account.

Please kindly assist us with

the bank charges and advise

your bank to “send full

amount”.

About Your Donation: Any donation will be verified against the bank. A receipt will be issued based on the amount we received as stated in our

bank account or PayPal account. A PayPal donation can be processed by visiting our website www.ykip.org

and then referring to the PayPal rate Education Cost listed for each program.

Thank you very much for your contribution.

For those of you who may be reading our newsletter for the first time, the name of our organization, Yayasan Kemanusiaan Ibu Pertiwi (YKIP) translates from the Indonesian language to mean the Humanitarian Foundation for Mother Earth. It is a non-profit organization with the mission to “Break the cycle of poverty in Bali through education”. YKIP was founded in response to the Bali Bomb blast of October 2002, and our efforts are intended to be a living tribute to the victims.

May we ask you to also forward this e-mail newsletter to your family members, friends and business associates who may be interested in supporting the work of Yayasan Kemanusiaan Ibu Pertiwi? Thank you for your continuing interest and support and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have queries or suggestions regarding the contents of this newsletter. If you would prefer not to receive a copy of this newsletter in the future, please let us know at the e-mail address below.

Until the next Newsletter in October 2016.

Our kindest regards,

The YKIP Management Team Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, Gg. Mina Utama No.1, Suwung

Denpasar – 80223, Bali, Indonesia Phone: +62 361 937 8047

www.ykip.org | info@ykip.org