Foundation gives poor women, children a chance in life

Grace Segran, Contributor, Denpasar, Bali

Touched by the poverty and paltry living conditions of people in the remote areas of Bali, Jeannine Marie Carroll and Roy Massie got together and started Yayasan Kembang Hati, also known as the Blossoming Flowers Foundation. Their desire was to help destitute women and children from these areas rise above their current hopeless situation.

Today, five years on, the foundation has helped improve the quality of lives of scores of children, women and their families through education, health and social welfare programs and by providing enterprising opportunities that will allow them to attain a sustainable income.

Carroll was born in Peru, South America, of American parentage. She has lived in Indonesia for the last 15 years. She is the owner and director of PT Putrindo Empat Lestari, a business that produces jamu (herbal medicine) and operates a chain of spas. She is now living in Bali with her family.

Roy Massie is a doctor who specializes in third world medicine. He was born in Manado, Sulawesi. In 1995, he spent a year's sabbatical in Boston Medical Center specializing in this special branch of medicine.

Dr Massie is currently living in Jakarta and hopes to be actively involved in the foundation after he serves out his current contract with the government.

As chairperson, Carroll is assisted by volunteers from the local community who oversee the running of the orphanages and programs.

The foundation currently focuses on assisting orphanages that are in greatest need of aid.

"We provide basic funding for food, medicine, clothing, bedding, furniture and building repairs," says Carroll. "These enable the orphanages to provide rudimentary social welfare services to the children in their care."

Orphanages in Indonesia are not occupied solely by children with no parents. Some have no parents at all, while others still have parents but are forgotten or abandoned by them, explains Carroll. The majority of the children come from very poor one- parent households, with many siblings.

Orphanages are often opened by a caring member of the local community, with good intentions of helping disadvantaged children, says Carroll. However, sadly, no other criterion is required in the establishment of an orphanage.

"No supervision is imposed by any governmental or social body. They also lack funding. As a result, we often find that necessities such as food, shelter and medical attention are grossly inadequate," says Carroll. "Because of the economic situation in Indonesia over the past years, many of these orphanages are now in a worse situation than before due to the dramatic increase in the number of children in them."

Carroll relates the case of an orphanage called Miftahul Ulum. In 1999, soon after krismon (monetary crisis), Yayasan Kembang Hati discovered this orphanage in Singaraja, North Bali.

The children were all under the age of 12, with most being under the age of six. They were living in squalor, sleeping on grass mats on a dirt floor and eating, praying and attending school in two small rooms (3 meters by 7 meters of total living area) with mud walls and a corrugated zinc roof. One man cared for all the children and a woman came in to cook. The orphanage did not come under the jurisdiction of the government or any social committee, so there was no organization taking care of, or overseeing, it.

Yayasan Kembang Hati tried to sort out the situation. Improving the facilities and living conditions for the children were identified and prioritized. Clothing, beds and bedding and food were donated. Then Yayasan helped to build separate dormitories, one for the girls and one for the boys, as well as new bathrooms, a kitchen and a storeroom.

"Today Miftahul Ulum is a thriving orphanage where healthy children have a bed to sleep on and enough food to eat," says Carroll.

At Al Iman, in the mountain village of Pegayaman, children were found with skin infections, head lice and intestinal worms. There was no running water, the roof leaked badly over the sleeping areas and the children slept on the floor -- 14 youngsters to a room the size of a closet! It is no wonder the health and vitality of the children was critically low.

Presently, Kembang Hati is repairing the roof of the girls' dormitory, purchasing bunk beds for all rooms and tables and chairs for eating, reading and writing. Food and medication are supplied on a regular basis.

The foundation continues to monitor the orphanages. "Although much progress has been made," says Carroll, "the orphanages still need caring people to spend time with the children to help develop their emotional well-being".

Another objective of the foundation is to help women who are the heads of households living below subsistence level, to become self sustaining. This project involves providing micro credit loans for a training course, and a minimum sum of money to support the family during the training program.

As there is a large garment industry in Bali, most women take up sewing courses. Additional loans are also provided for the purchase of sewing machines and other equipment to set up home- based businesses.

According to Carroll, the foundation is in the process of getting a manager to oversee the administration of its operations.