Do you remember our Indonesian School fundraiser from earlier this year? Thanks to your support, we were able to fully fund a toilet block for a school in Lombok and a library for a school in Bali! Both these schools didn't have the resources to provide these facilities and as toilets and books are pretty important, we're so happy that we could help. So, thank you!
Tracy and I had the amazing experience of visiting Indonesia recently, and were able to visit these schools in person, meet the kids and the teachers, plus we were able see in person the difference we've been able to make. Visiting schools like this is such a humbling experience - things we take for granted here in Australia, that a library will be clean and safe, and full of books, and that kids have a safe toilet to use when at school, are just non-existent for so many kids in Indonesia. We have so much, often without appreciating it, and others have so little, all due to the pure luck of our birthplace. This is at the heart of why we donate 50% of our profits to good causes - we got lucky in the life draw and feel it's only right we share what we have.
Lombok
Lombok is an island in Indonesia that is close to Bali but quite different. It's mountainous, has an active volcano, and amazing islands and beaches. The people are friendly, the food is delicious and the landscapes are incredible - we loved this island so much! In Lombok, we worked with Classrooms of Hope, an organisation that helps schools rebuild after the 2018 earthquake that left so much destruction in its wake. But, there's another really cool aspect to what they do - the classrooms and toilet blocks they build are made from earthquake-proof, recycled plastic blocks! This Indonesian initiative is tackling the island's plastic pollution problems while creating a sustainable and safe building product. Visiting our toilet block was such an incredible experience - to see this recycling technology in use, providing safe, sanitary facilities, is literally life-changing for the kids in these schools. We never thought a toilet block could make us cry, but it did!
Bali
Behind the touristy facade, Bali is much like the rest of Indonesia, where poverty and illiteracy rates are high. So, we teamed up with the Bali Children's Project, a local organisation that works with schools to improve education outcomes in multiple ways, one of which is building libraries. As children's book authors, we have a particular love for a good library, and so funding these projects seemed like the best way we could give back - sharing our love of books with kids, many of whom have never had access to books before! This is our third library and I must say, it's kind of addictive! Maybe we'll have to do another one!
Tracy and I were lucky enough to time our visit for the official library opening. This was an exciting event, with the kids all coming to school in their ceremonial clothes, governmental officials showing up to check it out, dance performances and ribbon-cutting. We even gave a speech, which was both terrifying and fun, and we danced, sang, and laughed with the kids. Most importantly, we enjoyed watching them discover their new library, full of hundreds of new, colourful books and two computers (most of these children would have never used a computer before)!
Both the Bali Children's Project and Classrooms of Hope are great organisations changing lives for children in Indonesia, and we're so happy that we get to be a small part of this. Of course, none of what we do would be possible without your support. So, thank you again, so much, for your purchases, shares and support. It means so much to us that we can not only sustain our own families and staff with our business, but we can also share our good fortune/luck/hardwork with others, making a real, tangible difference for children in Indonesia who deserve to have all the opportunities, safety, security and enjoyment that we had growing up, and that we offer our own children.
We still have some of our Indonesian Schools Fundraising Products available so if you want to buy some, we'll put the money raised towards our next project with one of these organisations.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the world at the moment - so many issues, so much injustice, unkindness and inequality and environmental destruction. We are so small and irrelevant in this world, BUT this doesn't mean we can't make a difference. It may be small, but we will keep doing everything we can to make a difference, every opportunity we can. And of course, we can't do any of this without your support! So thank you - together we are making the world a better place!
Jen & Tracy x