Welcome to the new column spotlighting the Bali International Women’s Association.
The Bali International Women’s Association (BIWA) is one of Bali’s longest-running, registered non-profit charitable organizations with no religious or political affiliations. Over the years it has raised and distributed funds for the Balinese community, particularly to women and children in need. Officers (an annually elected board of nine) and members all volunteer their time and energy, although there is a paid secretary and rented office, comprising the group’s overhead expenses.
BIWA has been at work in Bali over many years. It was founded in 1974 in response to a famine on the island, and since then it has repaired schools, funded medical and dental treatments in remote areas (BIWA’s pride and joy is its Mobile Dental Clinic), facilitated environmental education, provided assistance for AIDS prevention education, helped bomb widows get started on new careers, and given greater exposure to other local yayasans (charities). Actually, that’s just a few highlights. BIWA is always considering new channels for helping the underprivileged of Bali.
Expatriate women new to Bali, seeing poverty and its effects, often feel helpless. Some try to do a little good and become frustrated at societal barriers unfamiliar to them. BIWA is a wonderful alternative to the go-it-alone method of trying to lend a helping hand. Because about half the board members are Indonesians, BIWA’s work often goes straight to those who need it. Even the Governor of Bali’s wife is an honorary member. Time and again, BIWA members use their local knowledge to take action and avoid corruption or bureaucracy. Right after the Jogjakarta earthquake, a BIWA member mobilized the group and loaded an entire truck full of donations: drinking water, baby’s and women’s health supplies, new towels, and other items. She was in Jogja within hours, distributing aid directly to those who needed it most.
For the full list of BIWA’s aims and objectives, please visit the website www.biwa-bali.org
BIWA is a diverse group of women from Indonesia (about half) and 29 other countries. Most of them have businesses and active careers, many are raising families. Their motto is, quite simply, together, we can do better.
The tone of BIWA’s activities is often set by the group’s president. This year, Melly St. Ange has led the way with energy, laughter, and a very warm heart. She welcomes new members with genuine interest and affection, always has time to listen to suggestions, and has won the respect and support of a devoted board who work tirelessly to create ways of helping the community. Melly definitely inspires people to give just a little more to those who have made Bali such a beautiful island: its wonderful people.
BIWA members meet regularly in search of friendship, cultural exchange, mutual understanding and co-operative efforts to help others. BIWA members have a high profile and are often in the news. Sometimes BIWA members can be seen taking cleaning supplies to the inmates of local prisons (where prisoners can take care and responsibility of their surroundings, a definite step in rehabilitation); one BIWA president commandeered the international communications area of Sanglah Hospital in the aftermath of the 2002 bomb (quickly providing much-needed information to victims’ families), and there are whole schools in east Bali who remember BIWA as the women who provided their desks and books.
BIWA ladies often turn a few heads at hotels or restaurants, where they gather once a month. Members enjoy the social and networking aspects of these luncheons, but most of the agenda is devoted to raising funds, meeting the representatives of local charities, and learning about new needs in the community. Social welfare is the big picture, and the women take their role seriously.
BIWA membership is currently at approximately 250 and new members are welcome to join at any time. Any woman living in Bali, even part time, age 17 years or older, is eligible for BIWA membership. Yearly membership fees are Rp.250,000/yr and are payable in the first quarter of each year.(Reduced payments are applicable for parts of a year).
One of BIWA’s big fundraising activities is the annual Pink Ribbon Walk for the funding of breast cancer early detection services. This isn’t a fundraiser for nebulous cancer research projects, which you might hear about in western countries. This activity raises money for local public mammography equipment, something most Balinese women have never used, but which is a regular part of a woman’s health check up in developed countries. Early detection saves lives, and BIWA is at Bali’s forefront in raising money so that this service can be available to any member of the community, no matter how economically disadvantaged.
All are warmly welcomed, nay, enthusiastically urged, to take part in this simple and very popular fundraiser.
Bali Pink Ribbon Walk 2010 is set up as an enjoyable, gently physical activity co-organized by Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC), and the Bali Hotel Public Relations Association. It begins on Saturday - 15 May 2010 at Peninsula Island, Nusa Dua. It is a 4 - 5 km easy walk around the beautiful gardens & beaches of Nusa Dua.
For more information, contact BIWA at 361 288686.
Watch this space for more news about BIWA and its projects.
Renee Thorpe has been an active member of BIWA since 2001.
