In Reply to: Orphanage Experiences posted by cheynewalk on Monday, 19. May 2008 at 14:34 Bali Time:
i live in bali. if you really want to know about what the orphanages do, heres a story for you:
they get kids in from the local area so it looks like there are more kids in the orphanage than there really are. this is so that they get more stuff. one of the staff i work with was at an orphanage one day when they heard one of the kids say to the other 'tell me when we get to the bit where we have to cry and look sad' (yes, the people i work with are indonesian).
many of the orphanages near the tourist areas are overwhelmed with goods from people visiting. there are stockpiles of schoolbooks and old toys (broken - why would you give anyone elses child a broken toy for heavens sake) that never get used.
places up in the north, for example, do not have any assistance from outsiders as they are too far away. a friend of mine does support a place near singaraja but she is apparently the only person to do so. she has bought tools, beds, roofing, installed a kitchen among many other things. the kids there do not go into a frenzy when the goods are opened - they sit there and wait for things to be handed to them.
i agree with cheneywalk and its about time someone had the balls to raise this ugly subject.
and, yes, i do my bit to help those in need in bali.