Sustainability of Education Programs in Bali. We are the Children of the Future
'Sustainability' is currently a hot topic amid development and NGO work, both domestically and internationally. Everyone is striving for it, programs aim for it, it is appearing in degree and job titles around the world. It has a variety of focuses, agriculture, development, economics, health, and education. But what does it mean?! Well, in its most basic definition, it is to keep something in existence. To keep something in existence implies that something must be preserved AND maintained. When 'sustainable' is applied to development or NGO work it is an approach to planning that attempts to foster growth, without damage, for future generations. It is the grain that feeds us now and should feed us into the future and next generation. This is no easy task. It is especially no easy task when asking people to look past their present need for survival and into the future.
Let me steer you readers away from my tangent and back to the topic at hand, that being educational programs in Bali. One of the key words when considering sustainability is 'future'. Future is synonymous with children. Anywhere in the world, from the wealthiest families in the USA to the poorest in India, children ARE our next generation. They alone are the keys to our future, to our agricultural, economical, and cultural sustainability. They simply can't do this without our help, without the guidance of the present. Education is the one gift we can offer to children so that they can turn into bright, shiny, influential little keys. Education will provide for them the skills and confidence necessary to preserve our world and face the challenges of the future.
Education is not accessible all over the world. For those out there who assume that every child wakes up, brushes their teeth, eats a healthy breakfast, puts on their clothes and heads out the door for school, this is not the reality of our world. Many children do not go to school because they can't afford it, they have too many responsibilities at home, the closest school is a 2 hour walk through the jungle, or there is no school. In fact, 50% of all children living in Asia are living in poverty without one of the following; sufficient educational opportunities, proper nutrition, basic health care, clean water, sanitary living conditions, and space for outdoor activities and exercise. More than that are living without two or more. What are we going to do about this?
In this article, I will focus on Bali, as it is close to my heart. However, anywhere in the world will do, Bali, Indonesia, and beyond. In Bali, many children do attend schools. Some barely attend schools, and some don't go at all. Of course the latter is more common in rural areas of Bali, but it is still happening. It is happening for the same reasons above. Some kids are needed to work in the ricefeilds and help their families at home, where others simple can't afford the school fees for books and uniforms. This story becomes even more complicated when we look at the children who are going to school. Are they necessarily receiving a good education? Not always. In some cases, teachers are not trained in the subjects they are teaching, in other cases teachers are not motivated to come to school. Maybe the kids and teachers have come to school, but now what do they study from? Books? Sometimes. Library? Rarely. Okay, perhaps the kids and teachers have come and brought their books, but it is raining...inside the classroom. I could go on and on.
Why Bali? Well, due to Bali's rich culture that attracted so many tourists, artists, and anthropologists over the years, it has undergone rapid changes and development. So much exterior change that I am not sure the interior has caught up. By exterior I mean the buildings, restaurants, SUVs, clothing, and cell phones. By interior I mean infrastructures like education, health-care, waste management, etc. Education is a crucial link that can help provide solutions for this schism that has occurred. Education and support of education programs and initiatives can bring awareness to the lives of people whose livelihoods and futures are a part of these rapid changes. Education is a step in teaching children and communities how to live in a Bali that has so much potential in a positive and sustainable way. However, the education system in Indonesia has largely been centralized in the past and lacks the funding and strength it needs to be effective. In a way, we as westerners have ignited so many of the changes occurring in Bali, it is our responsibility to clean up any messes we may have made along the way.
Well now you have read this and your wondering "So...what can I do?" (or I hope you are wondering this). Well, you don't have to make any huge life changes and run out to join Peace Corps or try to build your own school, but what you can do is look around for people and organizations who are already working towards this cause and support them. They need to also sustain (stay in existence) so that they can reach the communities and children they work together with. It is all a huge chain of sustainability. Many of these organizations are working hard towards providing better educational opportunities, training for local educators, literacy programs, environmental awareness programs, programs in health and hygiene. However, these organizations need support. Many individuals have already offered their blood, sweat, and tears towards a cause. They now need help to insure that they remain so that they can continue fighting these battles.
There are many organizations out there in Bali focusing on education such as Bali Hati, East Bali Poverty Project, IDEP, Yayasan Mack, The VIBE Foundation, Ponkok Pekak Library and Learning Center, Bali Crisis Care Foundation, Sumatran Orangutan Society, and so many more. Please do your research and contact one of these organizations and offer them your support for a brighter future.
