**NEW WEBSITE

Our new website is almost finished and thanks go to Board member Sally Broad for her innovative design and great photos. The website looks really good and is easy to navigate. Visit www.balichildrenfoundation.org. Have a look and let us know what you think. Please send any comments/suggestions/problems to Stephanie who is the Administrator for the site. Be sure to check out our Wish List if you are travelling to Bali and have some spare luggage capacity.

Year 12 Pass

One of our principal aims is to stem primary school drop-out in poor communities. This can be as much as 65%. In 2009 we had just two students who successfully passed year 12 examinations and 28 in 2012. The number of graduates continues to grow and, this year, 42 students sat the exams and all 42 have graduated. A fantastic achievement and BCF Board and supporters congratulate both students and teachers. Well done to all!

YPAC – Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat

The Bali Children Foundation often receives requests from other charities to help. Robert Epstone of Soleman and a member of Seminyak Rotary knew we had a wheelchair in our store and asked for it to be donated to the YPAC Denpasar orphanage – a home for 55 mentally and physically disabled children in Bali.

BALI KIDS DENTAL CLINIC

A new Dental Clinic, sponsored by Straumann – global leaders in implant, restorative and regenerative dentistry – and supported by Bali Children Foundation has been set up at Bali Kids and is now operational. A fully qualified dentist and an assistant have been really busy checking and treating the teeth of the disadvantaged children of Bali. An excellent outcome and we thank Straumann for their generous support. Our thanks also to the Go-Study students who raised funds for vital pieces of dental equipment.

Dr Agung and his technician treat a happy patient

Offices and Staff

The fit-out at our Project Office is complete, the BCF sign installed outside (you will not miss that!) and our project displays for the showroom are nearing completion.

With the majority of our projects in the north of Bali, the regular trips back and forth to southern Bali for supplies, meetings etc. was beginning to take its toll. We are now leasing an Office in Banjar where we will be able to train staff, hold meetings, store teaching materials and other items for the children ready for distribution. This office is currently being refurbished with occupancy expected later this month. Wayan will be able to reclaim the space in her house occupied by large volumes of BCF items!

Indonesian Australian Language Foundation

Our Teachers and Teacher Aides have received very little formal training by native English speakers until our Board member Mike Dolbey established the very successful SET Clubs (clubs for students and teachers to use and practice conversational English). Our 2013 goal is to improve their English Language. The first step was to establish their current English level according to the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Eight Teachers, Teacher Aides and Wayan travelled the long journey from Singaraja to Denpasar three times a week to attend the IALF course. The dedication to travel, after school, for a three hour English class three times a week, shows the commitment of our valued staff.

Congratulations to all for successfully passing the tests. Wayan was our top scorer!

We will investigate the possibility of IALF establishing an education centre in the North of Bali.

Creating Some Life Changes

Putu Dartika is a seventeen year old student sponsored by Lindsey Beer and his family. It came to our attention that Dartika’s sixteen year old sister, Karnadi, had suffered with a brain tumour and the operation and subsequent treatment left her blind and with partial hair loss.

Karnadi with her brother Dartika

The family lives in extreme poverty in a very mountainous and remote area. No toilet/bathroom, running water and no fencing despite the sheer drop near the house. Karnadi would spend all day weaving baskets to help support the family (100 baskets brought a pay of just $2.00)

Naomi Spriggs and Marg share funny stories with Karnadi

BCF Supporter Naomi Spriggs immediately stepped into action fundraising to help to improve both Karnadi and her family’s quality of life. With BCF’s support added to Naomi’s great fundraising result, Karnadi now attends keyboard lessons twice a week with a talented blind teacher, has a real white stick and music player. A toilet, bathroom and other improvements have been added to the home. Thank you Naomi and all the supporters of Karnadi and her family.

Our Star Engineering Student Wins a Scholarship

Congratulations to BCF University student Desak Nyoman Chandra Dewi for being awarded the Frans Seda English Language Scholarship at Charles Darwin University. Chandra will be attending a five week intensive English Language course held at the Navitas English Language College on the CDU campus.

Sally-Anne Hodgetts with GoStudy student, Marg Barry and Chandra

Results Speak for Themselves

The Graer family are wonderful supporters of the Bali Children Foundation and our Orphanage projects. Not only do they have two sponsored children at Widhya Asih III, they generously provided funds for the establishment of a basketball court and an outdoor stage.

Haley Graer recently visited her “Siblings” and saw, first hand, the added value that the Graer family has made to WA III. Pak Franki and the children show Haley the plaque acknowledging their Graer family's generous donation.

Haley with Pak Franki and children

Just 15 minutes’ drive from our Kerobokan Project Office, SOH is a very happy place with a warm and loving atmosphere. The Reverend Tommy and his wife Sandra established the Home in 2001 and four month’s later, Sandra suffered a major stroke. Although this left Sandra with physical disabilities, they have created a very strong and cheerful home for the children. This year there will be 62 resident children and 12 non-resident children between the ages of 3 to 12.

Surfers in Suit members and Haley Graer deliver rice and food supplies

Help Us Expand Our English In The Village Classes

The end of the Financial Year is nearly here for Australian residents and if you would like to reduce your tax liability for the 2012 – 2013 period, please consider donating to the Bali Children Foundation. Your donation will help us to expand our English in the Village programs to more disadvantaged children in remote areas of Bali by providing much needed learning materials and teachers.

Every dollar you donate will give children like these an education that will help to transform their lives. All Australian tax deductible donations are via the Lord Mayors Charitable Fund.