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In August 2008, our work took a new direction with the introduction of the “Education in the Village” project. Whilst we are happy to assist children’s education via sustainable, well run orphanages, we would by far, prefer to have children remain living at home whilst they study.
We selected one of the Dencarik village communities in North Western Bali to trial our project. We received good co-operation from community leaders and were able to enter the village and survey families requesting assistance. After an extensive investigation which included accessing some very remote homes, we selected 46 children who met the criteria to have their education expenses supported by BCF. We have been able to meet our goal of a 50:50 male to female ratio and are currently educating children in Primary school, Junior High School and Senior High School.
The family profiles vary but most of the families are landless farm labourers who work for a landlord, receive shelter and food but very little cash income. The mothers, either bead garments or make baskets to provide some funds for the household. The majority of parents have primary school level education. Many are functionally illiterate. Children of these families typically drop out after primary school or early into junior High school. The children with most ability then leave the village seeking a better living elsewhere. However as Bali becomes more sophisticated, prospects for uneducated workers are poor. We are hoping to arrest this pattern. By becoming involved at primary level we hope to offer a path for families who cannot afford senior education for their families.
We have taken a gentle approach with the parents hoping to gain their interest in their child’s education. At our New Years Day Lunch party (Jan 1 2009) hosted for children and parents, we saw that the parents enjoyed and were good at art. We already had a talented French artist, Victoria Renoux, running an art project at WA111. Victoria is a talented free spirit, fond of children and passionate about art. We had established her into a program which ran at WA III from October 2007 to March 2009. From January to March 2009, Victoria led a Sunday afternoon art class in the village hall. We provided art blocks, pencils, pastels etc for the 46 children in our program. Soon our Northern co-ordinator, Wayan, was requesting more art blocks and more materials and we were asking why? Victoria was bringing along a few senior art students from WA III each week, so there was plenty of help on hand for the ever increasing numbers of villagers joining in. It transpired that the Art in the Village Sunday afternoons were turning into a big hit in the district, with parents, siblings and friends all keen to be part of the fun. This gave us an opportunity to get to know the parents. Several had installed themselves as monitors, distributing and collecting materials each week, ensuring the art and materials were properly looked after and stored between classes. We were impressed. The Art in the Village Project culminated in a village day trip to Ganesha Art gallery at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jimbaran. Victoria’s art and that of some of the WA III students were on exhibition there for April 2009. The village children were astounded to see their friends’ art in this environment.
Emboldened by the success of Art in the Village, we established English in the Village. Starting March 2009, we employed Indah, a Balinese lecturer from Singaraja University who did her ESL Masters at Victoria University and learnt to ‘pull beers’ whilst working at a pub in Essendon. Indah is young and fresh and runs very fun classes. We arranged for students to receive three classes a week. That is three classes for primary students and three classes for Junior and Senior High School students. In Dencarik, we provide schooling for 46 students. However the English in the Village after school project has expanded to double that number with parents, siblings and children from nearby communities arriving to participate in the program. The local interest in Indah’s classes and the results she is getting are amazing.
At our first monthly review we heard primary children, with no previous English, singing and understanding their songs. The senior students (who study English at school but with little verbal practice) were translating aloud quite hard pieces. Their pronunciation was reasonable while Vicki and I helped out with some ‘mother tongue’ hints.
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New Year Party Day
“Art In The Village” Project
“ English in the Village” Project
Kids receiving new school shoes.
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Once again parents were part of the effort. A six year old boy, who couldn’t write, bought his dad along to write down the songs phonetically so they could practice them at home. Dad, who had not finished his own primary education, was so excited to be part of this and to be directly helping his child with school. This little boy is regularly winning the ‘chocolate’ prize which Indah awards weekly.
Parental involvement is critical because no matter how much we help with fees ultimately the children have to be fed and as they get older, this gets expensive. Committed parents will be prepared to make the sacrifice. For us it is crucial to keep the children in school until they graduate, otherwise much of the investment is wasted. We will continue to develop programs which involve and encourage parental participation.
Besides covering school fees and developing additional education opportunities generous donations have enabled us to assist with other things. Many of the children walk a long way down the mountain to school. In December we provided school shoes, AFL caps and AFL Polo sweaters to every child. Each project benefits from ongoing donations of clothing, footwear and personal hygiene items throughout the school year. Then at holiday time the emphasis turns from school activities to fun.
The children’s interaction has changed dramatically. They now greet us with smiles, handshakes and hellos. The love practicing their new English words and the budding artists are asking when they can do some more art. More importantly the older children are starting to discuss, very tentatively what they might like to do in future. Emboldened by the success of our first education in the village project we have expanded this program to include a new village in Northern Bali, commencing school year July 2009.
Little Stars and Corot Fun Day
Thank you to LITTLE STARS PRE SCHOOL SANUR Sanur who arranged a gift giving tree for the children of Corot Village. Arriving for their end of year party the children were very excited to see bright and beautifully wrapped presents and gift tags bearing there names.
A banquet party lunch was prepared and served by the mums of Corot.
Childrens Clothing Donations
Semester 2 Corot 2010
Thank you to ADJ Contracting Melbourne, Hugh & Rosie Pitts, Rod & Julitha Collins & Elizabeth Allen who donated funds toward the operating costs of our Village English Project. It is only through these donations we are able to provide this opportunity for the children. All donations to these classes are greatfully appreciated.
Scrabble
April 2010.
A very big thank you to Deb Symes and family who have purchased and collected 15 sets of scrabble and delivered the games to the Corot class. Indah had expressed a request for the games as an English teaching aid and all were thrilled to receive.
Agung, Marg and Vicki participated in a lesson of scrabble, Reading and singing at Lovina also interacting with the children. The class under they watchful eye of Indah- who is now training additional teachers due to commencement of EITV project at Alung Alung. The class was followed by a pool party and afternoon tea of fresh fruit.
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