What can a visitor do that will give them something to take away? STEPHANIE BROOKES discovers a few of the many experiences the island can offer.
SOS ORPHANAGE — TABANAN
Before I visited the SOS Children’s Village Orphanage I was a little hesitant about what conditions I might discover and I wondered if this was going to be a positive or negative experience.
The SOS Children’s Village, Tabanan, is 30km from Denpasar and I had called in advance to make the appointment. When I told them I was coming with six people, they said the children would be very excited and they would put on a little concert for us.
The performance was dancing, singing and yoga. It was delightful. After the concert we were encouraged to mingle with the children, ask them questions, read stories to them and engage on a personal level.
I met Pinky, who loves to dance. She was excited to share some news with me. Before my visit a group of foreigners, who had watched the dance concert just as I had, went one step further after they left. They were very taken with the talent of the young Balinese dancers, who performed with such poise, grace and sincerity, albeit in T-shirt and shorts.
After the performance, they left money with the orphanage to buy fabric and organise a tailor to make up four Balinese gold-threaded traditional costumes. These are not cheap and very few Balinese own a costume. Most hire them when they dance at a temple or events such as weddings. They cost about $US80 ($104) each, which is out of the reach of an orphanage budget. Now Pinky and her friends have beautiful Balinese dance costumes and can perform more regularly at the local temple and important events.
I was impressed with this orphanage because it is run a different way to most. It consists of 12 family houses, where the children have a “house mother” and learn to live in a family-style setting, rather than a dormitory-style institution.
The orphanage welcomes visitors, including Westerners, as a way to link to the outside world. The children seize the opportunity to use and develop their English in these encounters. There is also a lot of value in learning about each other’s culture. We are just as interesting to them as they are to us. With the house mother system and a team of helpers supporting them, the overall feeling was one of family closeness and happiness.
The children in the orphanage are brought up according to the cultural traditions of the island. As well as a strong focus on Balinese dance, there is a focus on traditional music. Sports are encouraged as a way of building morale and teamwork. Some of the children have even received special training outside, in volleyball, soccer and athletics.
The smaller children are cared for at the SOS kindergarten, which is also open to children from the neighbourhood. A beautiful concept, which again steers away from the picture of orphanages some of us have.
When the children reach adolescence, they move to one of the SOS youth facilities in Denpasar where they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, these young people get excellent guidance and mentorship. They develop realistic perspectives for their future and are taught to embrace responsibility. What a surprising and rewarding visit it was.
VOLUNTEER TEACHING ENGLISH — UBUD
In a little village, about 10 minutes drive from Ubud, an English tutor volunteer program is well established and you can join an English class and assist the Balinese English teacher. I found my way to Pejeng village having contacted the teacher, Made, beforehand to set up a time.
This elementary school conducts English classes in the library twice a week. Made is hired by a local expat villa owner, who wanted to give back to the community. The motivation for this program was not only to help to children to
develop English language and other skills but also to train the teacher. Most of the volunteer helpers have a specialist qualification in teaching English as a foreign language.
The beauty in this exchange is that Made can learn different teaching styles. Made’s method of teaching has evolved over time and is interactive, child centered and fun — and guess what? The children learn very quickly. Classes are Saturdays and Sundays at 8.30am.
Why not try it out next time you visit Ubud and lend a hand — you will find it extremely rewarding. Motivation and enthusiasm rides high as these children choose to come in their own time, outside of school hours. The morning I arrived to assist, many of children were waiting patiently at the door and most had arrived one hour early.
TRAVELLING SPOON
The concept of Travelling Spoon is to put people in touch with locals and allow for a cultural exchange over dinner. This concept is based on the idea that food brings people together. It is growing and expanding worldwide, really changing the way people travel and allowing genuine contact with locals. What can be a more authentic way of getting to know Bali than being invited into a Balinese home? You get to learn about their way of cooking, their way of life and their unique family-compound living system.
It allows you the opportunity to ask questions about their traditions and form friendships. Every Travelling Spoon host is vetted beforehand, so you can be assured this is a quality experience, with all the “Western-style expectations” boxes ticked without losing cultural authenticity. The Travelling Spoon host family delivers not only an exquisite meal but also offers you the chance to join a cooking class and maybe learn grandma’s recipe. Also, if you wish, you can incorporate a market tour. This means you can experience the dinner from source to plate. Starting with picking out the fresh produce and spices from the market, you move to the kitchen bench and learn the cooking method. What a great way to enjoy a beautiful meal and beautiful connection.
Connecting with Balinese people through food, teaching or visiting an orphanage not only allows us to take something away but, more importantly, it allows us to give, which is richly rewarding as a traveller.
