'I'm an Angel' descends to a beach in Seminyak, Bali
'I'm an Angel' descends to a beach in Seminyak, Bali
Maya Charles, Contributor, Kuta
For those who live on Bali, September remains the most enjoyable month of the year.
Still buzzing from the energy of the numerous tourists who "came and went" and the terrific celebrations of the high-season, many inhabitants view September as a time of reflection.
With the end to the busy tourist season, a sense of solidarity emerges, and many feel the desire to give back to the community.
And so it was at Ku De Ta restaurant, just north of Seminyak, on the eve of the first Saturday of the month -- children dressed as angels, local merchants auctioned prizes and smiling locals joined in the celebration of the third annual "I'm an Angel" charity fund-raiser.
On Saturday, Sept. 3, locals, expatriates and tourists gathered under the new moon for a night of inspiration.
With over 100 merchants and private donors joining Ku De Ta for a night of auctioning, raffles and dancing, Ku De Ta and "I'm an Angel" successfully raised aid for various charity projects.
In classic Ku De Ta form, guests were delighted by culinary perfection while a fire show and children's performance served as the evening's entertainment.
Produce and other essentials for the charity meal where donated by local traders.
Hotels, retailers, property companies, publications and restaurants provided auction and raffle giveaways for the evening. Despite a brief moment of uncharacteristic rain, Australian DJs Donni and Billy the Kid kept patrons dancing all night long.
The mission of "I'm an Angel", since its inception in 2003, is to provide sustainable development to communities challenged by the limitations of resource scarcity and socio-economic decline. The total aid raised from "I'm an Angel" is distributed on a monthly basis throughout the duration of each year.
Projects and programs, which target health care, resource scarcity and education, are dedicated to empowering rural communities and orphanages throughout Bali. With the support of Ku De Ta and the various merchants and private donors, each year has seen an outreach of on-going support.
Like many nonprofit organizations, "I'm an Angel" emerged from the determination of a few individuals and has evolved into a project that relies on many.
After successfully holding Jakarta's most elaborate wedding celebrations of 2003, Mike Mohan and Yawahar Punjabi -- the founders of textile boutique Alda Moda -- realized a celebration was an optimal way to raise funds. Mohan contacted Ku De Ta cofounder Arthur Chondros, and collaboration on the first "I'm an Angel" charity fund-raiser was underway.
In 2003, Ku De Ta staged the first "I'm an Angel" fund-raiser. With approximately US$20,000 raised, the setting and the fund-raiser were an expression of goodwill shared throughout the island. Following the success of the event, "I'm an Angel" committee members Tina Ardie (member of the "Kuta charity program") and Danielle Van Poppel began assessing development projects on the island.
A percentage of the funds was allocated for projects that focus on getting street children off the street. Funds were also allocated for children in orphanages across the island.
The majority of the funds were entrusted to Asana Viebeke Lengkong, an instrumental figure throughout the Bali recovery project (Bali bombings in 2002), who is dedicated to empowering communities to improve their standard of living.
The successive rise in aid, generated during the second and third Angel fund-raisers has allowed Viebeke and her team to extend their support throughout rural regions. Additional funding is allotted to support alternative sustainable development projects existing throughout Bali.
The funding provided from "I am an Angel" and the support directly administered through Viebeke's program extends throughout five of the eight regencies of Bali. They include the northern regency of Buleleng, Jembrana, Tabanan and Badung regencies and the municipality of Denpasar.
In rural areas located throughout these regencies, water scarcity, health care and education has reached a critical stage. Insufficient ground and drinking water has made it virtually impossible for populations in rural areas to survive.
"I'm an Angel" provides the funding and implementation necessary to create and maintain water-accessing infrastructure. In areas where accessibility is not possible, water is delivered and stored in man-made storage facilities.
Empowering and supporting the underprivileged with proper health care is a primary concern. "I'm an Angel" provides proper medication, vaccinations and education to those in need.
In addition, "I'm an Angel" provides medical professionals, mobile clinics and routine checkups throughout the year.
Promoting education throughout rural communities is essential to alleviating poverty and providing socioeconomic growth. "I'm an Angel" strives to empower children through access to books, school supplies, scholarships and improved classroom infrastructure.
If you would like to learn more about the "I'm an Angel" nonprofit organization or wish to lend support or make a donation, please contact: Ku De Ta (www.kudeta.net) or Danielle Van Poppel (artambassador@yahoo.co.uk).