It Takes a Village To Raise A Child
Scared teen mothers to be, desperate family circumstances and shame, crime, abuse and childhood neglect are but a few of the unfortunate factors prompting the establishment of the Bali Mother and Baby House. Officially created and registered as the Yayasan Sahabat Anak Bali (YSAB) in 2012, this haven for mothers, future mothers, babies and children works closely in conjunction with the National Commission for Child Protection and The Indonesian National Police.
Opening in response to increasing reports of abandoned newborns, neglected children and illegal child adoption and trafficking, the Bali Mother and Baby House believes every child has the right to a safe childhood and is making good on its mission to protect children in Indonesia from crimes the likes of exploitation, violence, pornography, abandonment and trafficking.
Child abandonment and neglect is often something that is a result of fear, circumstance, assault, lack of education, marital situations, even lack of awareness and finance. Finding themselves in desperate situations emotionally and physically, some women make the difficult decision to abort their pregnancy or, if left too late, abandon their babies as (like some other conservative Asian cultures) children born out of wedlock or deformed children are seen as a sign of shame. Many women and young girls do not possess adequate knowledge about contraception and reproductive health, a situation often resulting in unwanted pregnancies, abortions and ultimately, child abandonment. Bali Mother and Baby House offers a safe house for neglected pregnant women and abandoned babies, along with a help line and a consultation room for women and teens, free day care for babies and children of underprivileged single mums and education for women and teens. Their consultation room functions as a safe place to share and raise awareness about reproductive health and contraception.
While circumstances leading up to the abandonment of any baby or child may not always be clear what will never be a chilling certainty is the number of babies left to die and never to be found.
The goal of the Bali Mother and Baby House is to rescue and save the lives of any babies at risk by encouraging desperate mothers to safely surrender their babies if and when they feel there is no alternative, with or without identifying themselves.
Over the course of the last few years, this haven has been a determining factor in some incredible and positive outcomes for children at risk but obviously this care comes in at a cost. Monthly fees to maintain the centre along with the basics to continue to care for the house’s precious ‘tenants’ (including two gorgeous newborn arrivals) totals nearly IDR20 million per month, an amount that is funded largely from donations and fundraising events such as the recent Carols by Candlelight at The Garden. If ever there was a time to give a little more to those who need it most it’s Christmas! If you’d like to contribute to this incredible and heart warming cause you can support Bali Mother and Baby House by becoming a regular sponsor of their safe house or assist by way of a personal donation to the account listed below. Check out the latest news about the Bali Mother and Baby House on their Facebook or Instagram pages:
https://www.facebook.com/balimotherandbabyhouse/
@balimotherandbabyhouse
Account Name :Yayasan Sahabat Anak Bali
Bank : Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI)
Account No. : 0368.01.001359.30.5
Swift Code: BRINIDJA
Beating the Battle of Holiday Boredom
Happy kids means happy holidays……. for everyone! But don’t wait for the whining to start. Win the war on holiday boredom before it even begins by signing the kids up for JSA Holiday Camps this December and January.
Organised to coincide with the bulk of the Bali and Australian school holidays, this year’s Junior Sports Academy Christmas Vacation camps include a whole variety of activities to encourage everything from outdoor play, sports, arts and crafts – any opportunity to get kids off their screens, out of the house and engaging with their peers.
The Junior Sports Academy is based at Finns Recreation Club; a venue that ensures children are safe, secure and supervised for the duration of the camp’s daily activities from sign in at 9.30am until pick up at 2pm. Choose to drop in for the days that suit you and your family’s schedule or sign the kids up for a full week and enjoy the discounted rates……along with a little peace and quiet!
Prices per day start from IDR400K for Finns Gold and Platinum members up to IDR600K for non members or weekly rates from IDR1.6 million to IDR 2.4 million respectively (Finns Social and Social Plus members are also eligible for a discount).
Week one of the holiday camps commences on Monday, December 17 through to Friday, December 21 with a program that incorporates tennis, parkour, soccer, tenpin bowling and trampolining as well as water slide fun at Splash and an opportunity for campers to try their hands at traditional Balinese arts and crafts. Weeks two and three of the holiday program will run Monday through Saturday as Tuesdays for both weeks are public holidays (Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) and camp will not operate on these days.
Camp fees also include a snack and lunch and some special extras when you sign up for a whole week! Choose the weekly camp option and enjoy the fifth day for free along with a complimentary pair of Bounce socks (compulsory wear during trampolining activities) as well as a free Bounce Board Session voucher to be used at a time of your choosing.
The three week program commencing December 17 until January 5 is now open for enrolment to all children aged 6 and over. Without the sole focus on sports, this December/January holiday program is aimed at getting out, keeping active and above all, having fun! Sign your kids up for JSA Holiday Camps by emailing: jsa@finnsrecclub.com .For a detailed outline of each day’s program head to
https://www.jsabalicom and click on the green ‘holiday camp’ tab.
New Year’s in Bali just went next level – Finns’ NY Festival
With less than a month to go until we drop the ball on 2018, if you still haven’t secured a spot for New Year’s celebrations it’s time to act fast! Finns have taken cork popping partying to the next level this year with their two day, New Year’s Music Festival and tickets sales have certainly moved into top gear
First and second release tickets have sold out so don’t delay any further, now is the time to buy before you find yourself minus admission and mighty sad ‘cos you’re missing the party!
This year’s event spans two days with the 18+ only, New Year’s Eve line up featuring Martin Solveig, Roger Sanchez, Robin Schulz and more. There are still a variety of entry options to suit all tastes, groups and budgets from General Admission right up to the Platinum Penthouse tickets which includes 3 hours of free flow beverages and canapes in the exclusive upstairs Penthouse. Penthouse guests enjoy access to all VIP areas and may just have the chance to rub shoulders with a few celebrities.
Those looking to welcome January 1 with their best buddies might opt for the Party Booth or VIP Double Day Bed entry – each catering for up to six people and including a bottle of Moet Chandon to help get the party started. The Party Platform is already sold out for New Year’s Eve but New Year’s Day is still available for you and 14 of your friends. Complete with dedicated security and your own waitstaff, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of all of the stage and pool action without ever having to leave your elevated podium!
Day two is an all ages affair and perfect for the whole family to see the likes of Clean Bandit, The Broods, Khalid, Robinson and The Rubens among others live on stage!
Make the most of the New Year celebrations for 2018, join the fun for the full festival and save when you buy a two day pass. That’s two entire days of first class, international musical acts live on stage at Bali’s best beach club destination…Not a bad way to wind up the year and kick start a new one!
Don’t miss the chance to adios another rotation around the sun and bring in 2019 at Bali’s biggest New Year’s party. Purchase your Finns Music Festival tickets ASAP and don’t forget, Finns Gold and Platinum members are eligible for 30% discount on selected tickets and Lifestyle and Social members 10% off. For detailed information regarding pricing and inclusions for all entry options head to: https://www.finnsbeachclub.com/fbc/new-years-music-festival/