Our visit to Lovina and Singaraja was to meet our sponsor child.
We were told by Sukadana and John from the foundation that they encourage visits so that we can truly understand how they live.
They encouraged us to take photos and to ask questions. The family have this explained to them and are happy.
We first visited the Learning Centre that has been set up and the children go there after school for extra learning. From Kindergarten through to Higher school.
It was much much better than we expected it to be and can see why the children would love to go there every day. The set up and the books and facilities (including computers and fans) were fabulous.
We took a large hard back illustrated book on Australia but discovered that we could have taken our story books and encyclopedias etc too. Very heavy to cart but if there is 2 or 3 of you then a few slipped into luggage shouldn't make a huge dent.We weren't sure if they could read our story books and rhymes but they can and they enjoy.
Stacey spent an hour at the learning centre after school with the kids and they all enjoyed even though they were all shy including Stacey.
From there we travelled with them to the school and I can't tell you just how exciting this was.
I took 2 more large Australian books to the school and 90 lollypops. Oh dear there were 120 children... No matter I slipped next door to the local warung cart and bought a whole box of chocolate wafers (for only 20 000rp) and they were soon handed out to each child that remained and also to the teachers... With some left I handed them to the workers at the school also that appeared to be building in the toilet area.
Sukadana and John said it was good to bring a treat to the children and in my excitement I can't remember his exact words but was something to the effect of them relaxing with you.
Before we handed them out to the class which had about 25 students in each, we did a quiz with them. We were to ask them questions and when they answered they received there prize. We asked them such things as name 5 fruits, name 5 animals etc and they answered and wrote on the board in English. And we were to say if it was correct etc. We loved this interaction with the children of Komang A's class as much as they did and pretty soon we had little heads from the whole school appearing from every nook and cranny.
Glenn took photos of the whole school and it wasn't easy to get them all together in the frame but he did it. What lovely shots.
We were very impressed with how professional the teachers dressed and looked and they enjoyed us being there, said we were special vip visitors.
From the school we all traveled to Komang A's parents warung. It used to be on the front of their house but wasn't getting enough business so they relocated them to the main road corner which made for a 2 kilometer walk I would think but they are busier.The father is an unskilled labourer and this is their only income.
We met with her parents and I bought up rice in banana leaves and drinks and was delighted that Komang herself made me the avocado and chocolate drink that I ordered. The mum had made us a gift of black rice in pretty little flower moulds, made with love I could tell and they were delicious.
We then traveled with Komang A and her father to the house.The mum had to work the warung.
My god was all we could think.......
Glenn took a look and then walked back outside stunned. We knew it would be bad but not this bad. They slept on a bit of rag and bamboo mat on the floor.
We couldn't have this and immediately asked Sukadana how much 2 mattresses were.
The price for 2 beds (1 for the 3 girls to share) and (1 for mum and dad to share) with the 2 mattress, 2 bed frames and bed heads, 4 pillows and 2 bolsters was 1.3 million rp or about $177 Aust. For the lot.
We were going back home to no money for 2 weeks as we don't get holiday pay but we could never have left Lovina without them having a bed and in 2 weeks time when our regular pay is coming then we pick back up and pay off the almighty credit card ...they can't and we were so thrilled to be able to help.
To us now, Bali is not about just going to have a holiday, it has taken a new turn with having this family to help and we will never again go for the soul reasons that we have before.
The father was so skinny and with not many teeth and looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders and when he knew he was gong to have a bed for the first time in his life and some food for a month he must have shaken Glenns arm for an hour straight. He was so lovely.
We took him back to the warung and then we took Komang A to the local Singaraja markets and put in an order for rice and spices and onions and coffee,toothpaste,soap and supplies and this will last the family a month. This means that any profit on their little warung hopefully will be 100% for that time.
This cost us 350 000rp and you can buy more but we were buying the beds and we wanted to buy some more things for Komang.
She had never owned a traditional outfit before and so when the school has a ceremony ....and every 25 days there is one for a full moon, the children wear their Kabaya/sarong etc. Komang has never been able to and has just changed her top.
We bought her an outfit and some sparkly shoes to go with it. Sukadana said that for once she would fit in with the classmates and this was a dream for her. It cost us 140 000rp.
We then bought her some new black school shoes and 2 pairs of socks 37 000rp.
An umbrella so she wont get wet when walking to school 15 000rp.
A pack of panties (3 pair for 10 000rp)
Some pretty lilac and white rubber thongs 15 000rp.
The people at the markets here have been told about us sponsor families coming in to buy supplies and they agreed to give any of us that come special prices. Works for them and the families and for us.
On our way back to the warung from the markets we bought komang her very first iceream if I hadn't thought it to be too rude, I would have taken a photo of the delight on her little face as she was eating it. What a treasured moment.
We were to all enjoy lunch at a little warung and for the 7 of us(including our driver)for food and drinks the total was 50 000rp
We gave mum a bag of clothes (may be a bit small for her, I wish I had seen a photo to give me an idea) and a bag of bras and a pair of aussie thongs and dad a bag of clothes...he has said that he would like a shirt....we were thankfull that we had given him a bag full. We also gave him a pair of aussie thongs.
We gave the 3 girls a bag of clothes each...some new (thanks Burti for your asistance) and a few little toys and they clung to them like they were never letting go.
We put Komang A's in a special princess backpack with a few other treats like hair brush and clips etc seeing as she was our actual sponsor child.
We didn't want to over do it for fear of upsetting the neighbours etc but Sukadana said the neigbours were very happy that we were helping them. We gave their kiddies pencils and I am sure any outfit too big or small will be shared. We also bought from their warungs as they all seemed to have them.
I wish I had realized that the things really needed were sheets and pillowcases and towels and plastic plates and cups etc. Basics that they just don't have or have enough of.
Their house was a box and the bathroom to match. Next trip we will bring more of these items.
Glenn said next trip now will be December if we can save enough but we have come home to having to replace our hot water system so who knows but it's our goal.
Sukadana told us to come at 9am the next morning on our way back to Legian to see the new beds as they would be there.
The 3 of us couldn't sleep with the excitement.
We went to the beach and purchased 2 double woven throws to take for the beds to keep clean. They can lay on them or under them up to them but a solution to sheets quickly.
Next morning as we traveled past the warung it was empty (we were told there would just be John and the dad at the home) hmmmmmm.
When we arrived they were all there waiting. Sukadana,John,mum,dad,grandmother (and as she looks after the 2 littlies I slipped her 50 000rp and what a smile)the 3 children and all the neighbours.
When we walked in and saw the 2 beds we almost cried with joy. How smart they looked and how proud they were.
We were told that the fathers health will now improve as he is up off the floor and he and the mum will now get private time together.
The three girls eyes were nearly popping at their great grand sparkly bed.
They couldn't stop thanking us and we couldn't stop smiling we were so excited for them.
This memory will forever remain with us.
All the kids were dressed in clothes we had taken them and Sukadana said that after we had gone the previous day they had excitedly emptied all the bags.
The middle girl (6 years) had Komangs new lilac thongs on and when I asked where hers were I was told she had none. A quick trip down to the neighbours warung and I bought her some. Now everyone had their thongs and as mum had new aussie ones she gave her old ones to nenek (granny) as she was barefoot and had none.
One last thing that I noticed was that the middle girls hair was full of lice. I could not imaging how awful she must have felt with itching etc and I ran to 3 warungs looking for what I had read on the forum as pink bottle but couldn't see it and they couldn't understand what I wanted.
We waved goodbye as we drove off but all I could think of was somehow getting some hair lice shampoo to them and quick. I figured I could email Helen and ask her what to do but then I thought hangon.....our driver is from Lovina and will have to come back.
A quick stop at an apotik in Legian had me buying 3 bottles and our driver happily delivered back to Sukadana. I am told that the girls have received thankfully.
This JBR has gone on too long so I will do my shopping in a final installment but I wanted everyone to know how wonderful the Helen Flavel foundation is and what all the staff do and if anyone can afford $120 a year to sponsor or to sponsor Rotary or whatever foundation...this is such a help.
The visits with Sukadana to the school and family home etc are also very necessary for us to see what is needed and whilst this takes unpaid time for them to do the end result in our case anyway was giving what we could see was needed.
The feeling on all sides is overwhelming and I will end by saying that our future trips to Bali will now be even more satisfying.