How to donate and help the Balinese during COVID

#wegotyoubali

Its no secret that COVID has greatly affected Bali with the loss of mass tourism devastating the local economy and leaving the majority of Balinese without work or with drastically reduced wages. Approx. 75% of the Bali population relies on tourism for a living so it has been an extremely trying time. The local government does provide food rations but they are very limited and extremely basic (like rice, eggs and two-minute noodles). Rations are delivered once a month but only last a few days and when food runs out, the future is uncertain until the next package arrives.

A little help during these times goes a long way so I thought would share the awesome charities that are helping all around Bali and providing the basics for those in need. The Balinese have such a strong sense of community and they are always there for each other but it gets to a point where they are suffering without any income. Many have gone back to their families in the village, far away from the tourist hotspots and doing what they can to help out locally because so many relied on jobs in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Our family has sponsored a child for many years through the Bali Children Foundation and will continue to do so. I originally wrote about the experience in this article. We love getting hand written letters from Kadek and receiving his school reports. We started sponsoring him when he was 8 years old, the same age as daughter at the time and now he is 12. Because his favourite sport is volleyball we recently we bought him a volleyball for his birthday. Recently Kadek’s father sent him a photo of Kadek with the volleyball too!

Since Covid, BCF have needed to expand their work into community food relief on a large scale. Over 2,000,000 meals have been delivered in Bali’s remote communities, including North Bali, Songan, Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan. With no change in overseas visitors expected any time soon, this need is expected to continue for many more months. Click here to contribute to the Funds Food Families food relief campaign.  Apart from donating to their food campaign, Bali Children Foundation are doing fantastic work providing an educational pathway for disadvantaged Balinese children.

Often these charities will partner with large hotels and restaurants to help cook and distribute food across communities, orphanages and other foundations affected by Covid-19. Some examples of these charities include:
Crisis Kitchen Bali – working with local communities and partners to get essential items to those most in need

SoleMen – delivering non perishable items to people in need across Bali.

Scholars of Sustenance – acting as a network distribution they will distribute purchased food at your the store of choice, drop it to a community fridge location and then rest assured it goes to the people who need it most.

A big shout out and thanks to friend’s of expat Kirsty from Sanur who provided this amazing list of Bali charities that we can safely donate to from abroad.