Balinese artists help children to be happy

Balinese artists help children to be happy

By Murdani Usman

MOUNT AGUNG, Karang Asem, East Bali (JP): Bali is synonymous
with tourism, culture and attractions. The most famous tourist
destination in the country is also dubbed as one of Indonesia's
richest provinces.

But who would realize that only 100 kilometers east of the
province's capital Denpasar, people in the three isolated
villages of Pengalusan, Cegi and Bunga live below the poverty
line?

Water, asphalt roads and electricity are not seen here, while
inadequate health, sanitation and infrastructure have left
villagers forgotten by time and progress.

Located 1,300 meters above sea level between Mount Agung and
Mount Abang, near the Besakih Mother Temple, these three villages
are almost deprived of any development projects by the provincial
administration.

The children here are too poor to enjoy the supposedly happy
childhoods experienced by others across the "paradise" island.
Life has always been hard and unfair for them.

Government surveys indicate that these villagers suffer from
acute iodine deficiency -- the key nutrient for healthy brain and
physical development. Many adults are weak and sick, and most
children are malnourished.

The sad situation has prompted local artists, painters,
architects, photographers, filmmakers and others to offer their
assistance.

Last weekend, these unfortunate villagers -- especially
children -- tasted a little piece of happiness when they
participated in various artistic activities at the two-day
Arttention Camp organized by the Matamera Communications.

Hundreds of bare-footed children, aged between seven and 12
years old, gathered excitedly in the camp. They sat cross-legged
under the shady trees holding pencils, crayons and drawing paper,
and tried to capture the environment surrounding them.

Their little hands moved elegantly across their paper,
painting mountains, trees, birds, animals and many other things.
All their paintings expressed their personality and love for
their natural environment.

The charity activity was held to commemorate Matamera's 10th
anniversary. The children's works, as well as the artists', will
be displayed in a special exhibition in Denpasar in December.

Income from the exhibition will be donated to the Ekoturin
Foundation, which has carried out poverty eradication programs in
these three villages and other neighboring hamlets since l998.

Through the East Bali Poverty Project, the foundation is
trying to implement sustainable improvements for underprivileged
people.

The project has included an integrated education project,
health improvements, and social and economic development.

"Our strategy is to work with the community to solve their
problems, build on their aspirations to develop attainable goals
and empower them toward self-reliance," said David J. Booth, the
foundation's founder and vice chairman.

Since the project began in August l999, 23 goats have been
given to 11 poor farmers and the first integrated education
project for 35 illiterate children in one of the most remote
villages has been conducted.

Around 210 previously illiterate and malnourished children,
between the ages of six and 15, from four different hamlets, have
now attended the Ekoturin school, where the curriculum is
adjusted to their needs.

The project also covers nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, good
health practices, organic farming, environmental education,
social sciences, arts and crafts.

A nutritious meal is provided after each class -- comprising
of a glass of milk and a multivitamin/mineral tablet -- provide
by nutritionist Indraguna Pinatih.

The project has resulted in some health improvements,
especially relating to the provision of iodine supplements to
over 3,000 women and children.

Children's health records show significant progress with less
than one percent of them getting sick, as compared to the 40 to
60 sick children at the outset of the education projects.

There are so many more projects to be implemented here to
improve the life of our impoverished brothers and sisters. More
assistance is needed to realize those projects and help make
their dreams come true.