The Jodie O’Shea Orphanage is a safe, happy place
where 22 children between the ages of 2 and 18 are currently
living under the care of 4 full-time ‘house parents’,
supervised by founders Alison Chester and (Ri)Yanto Samadi.
Jodie O’Shea died in the second Bali Bomb incident,
and to honour her memory and her love of Bali, Jodie’s
family in Australia bequeathed funds to the orphanage and
its name was established. The orphanage is located in the
quiet ‘Jadi Pesona’ housing complex in southern
Denpasar, tucked away between family homes and the rapidly-diminishing
rice fields that characterize so much of Bali’s capital
city outskirts.
According to Yanto and Alison, the husband and wife team that
established this facility in 2005, many children in orphanages
in Bali are severely neglected and even abused. Their own
experiences of sponsoring children in local orphanages included
several shocking realizations about the lack of care provided
and eventually prompted them to ‘rescue’ 13 such
children and offer them a better home and chance in life.
After the initial donation from Mr Anton Dreesman, the Orphanage
has since grown in both the size of its family and the facilities
and activities.
Yanto and Alison leased a house and land area, on which they
developed dormitory, bathroom and common-room facilities for
the children. The yard space is used productively at both
ends with organic vegetable and herb gardens, with paved and
lawn areas in between for play areas. The garden has been
set up with the technical support of IDEP, engaging some of
the children in planting and caring for tomatoes, aubergine,
spinach, dragon-fruit, chili, basil and mint. It provides
for some of their consumption needs, but more importantly
provides a healthy, wholesome activity for children who have
lacked such a focus in their lives. A large trampoline and
a gas barbeque that were both recently donated are eagerly
attended by the children when they get home from school.
Many of the children living at the Orphanage are from poor
families who cannot afford to feed, clothe or educate them,
and have either abandoned them or requested the Orphanage
to take them in. Many come from northern Bali (Singaraja)
and from Sumba (the poorest island in the province of NusaTenggara
Timur, to the east of Bali). Recently Alison and Yanto received
news of some poor families from Sumba who are living in squalid
conditions under a bridge in Denpasar, with a sick baby and
several small children. The sick baby has been helped by Ibu
Robin (see June edition of Non-Profit News), and the Orphanage
team is reviewing the possibility of taking on some of the
other children if needed.
Alison and Yanto’s vision includes helping the children
realize that they can have a good life, grow up to be self-sufficient
and - in many cases – help their families. They aim
to provide a model of care for neglected children and disadvantaged
families, and to this end they maintain relationships with
the families of several of the children in their care. In
this regard, Jodie O’Shea’s is a refuge, foster
home and orphanage “in one”.
Jodie O’Shea Orphanage depends on financial and in-kind
donations, and is grateful to the volunteers who assist caring
for the children, as well as with fund-raising and awareness-raising.
A recent donation of 40 towels was received from the Sunnybank
Ladies Bowls Club in Queensland Australia. Locally, the Sunrise
School at Canggu sponsors the Orphanage with outings, for
example to Waterbom amusement park. English lessons are provided
to the children after school hours, thanks to a targeted donation
from a sponsor in Bali. In the new school year, the children
will begin receiving computer lessons on Saturday mornings
at the Australian International School. The Canggu Club and
Bulldogs football team are also helping organize ways to involve
the children in regular sporting activities. Despite the list
of generous support that they receive, with a growing number
of children in their care, Alison, Yanto and the team at Jodie
O’Shea always need more and are very grateful for assistance.
To find out more, contact Yanto on 08123886052, Alison on
08123883542, or email alison@careforkkidsbali.com See also
www.careforkidsbali.com
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