One of Rotary International’s goals is to make high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children worldwide so they can live longer and grow stronger. Rotary Club Bali Ubud Sunset [RCBUS] joins Rotary International in striving to achieve that goal here in Bali. We work to expand access to quality care, so mothers and children in Bali can have opportunities for a healthy future. RCBUS focuses mainly on The Karangasem Region and Ubud, being keenly aware that an estimated 5.9 million children worldwide who are under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented. RCBUS does this by working to ensure that three of our annual projects are successful. Those projects are the Bali Sehat Clinic, various water projects in Karangasem Regency, and Sewing for Living.
Bali Sehat Clinic is located in Culik, Karangasem Regency. Yayasan Bali Sehat was founded by RCBUS members, Sue and Ray Bishop, in 2012. RCBUS has funded Yayasan Bali Sehat “healthy Day” clinics in various banjars throughout Karangasem Regency. Their independent Clinic will open in May of 2021, providing the women of Karangasem Regency access to skilled health personal including doctors, nurses, midwifes and pharmacists. It will offer women education on how to protect themselves and their children from diseases, good nutrition education, good hygiene education, immunizations, safe deliveries of babies, breast-feeding instruction, access to regular checkups including pelvic and breast exams, eye exams, and dental exams and treatments. The Clinic will house a birthing room and dedicated space for pregnant women to exercise. Children will also have access to skilled pediatric doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, along with education about good nutrition, good hygiene, and how to prevent diseases. They will also have access to eye exams, and dental exams and treatments. More information about the Bali Sehat Clinic, including how you can donate to help support women in Karangasem Regency, can be found at http://www.balisehat.org .
An inter-continental effort between two Rotary clubs is responsible for bringing water to 87 families in Kedampal Village. RCBUS joined with the Alfredton Rotary Club located in Victoria, Australia. The Alfredton Rotary Club funded the project with the help of donor Damain Caine. Members of RCBUS managed the project to ensure that a network of pipes brings reservoir water directly to or very near to the homes of people living in this little village. Since October of 2020, the women of Kedampal have been able to fill their water jugs from a centralized place in their own community, saving them a 2 ½ hour walk one way to find water for their families. As there were fewer repairs to existing pipes than anticipated, there was enough piping material left over to also install pipes running to both the local children’s school and the local temple. RCBUS will stay involved in the Kedampal Water Project. Members will stay in touch with village leaders to make certain the water systems are working correctly. They will help with any necessary repairs. RCBUS members will also begin to teach water harvesting methods to help the villagers have enough water for crops, animals, personal hygiene and to drink.
The Sewing for Living project is sponsored solely by RCBUS. Balinese women are the foundation of Balinese society. They take care of children and family, do all the housework, provide help to the community, assist at temple and cultural events, construct and deliver offerings, and prepare ceremonial food, among other duties. Women are kept so busy that there is seldom time for them to work outside the home. It is important for women to make their own money, not only for their self-esteem, but to enable each of them to support her entire family should she become widowed or divorced. Sewing for Living teaches marketable sewing and crocheting skills that women can use from their homes. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many of these women are the sole providers for their families. RCBUS members are actively helping these women find markets for the items they produce in this class.
RCBUS is staying active while adhering to government mandates concerning the spread of Covid. We meet via Zoom to comply with the mandates and to include our members who left for Australia when the Indonesian government closed the country’s borders. When restrictions are loosened, we meet in members’ warungs and via Zoom so we can include all members.
If you would like to join this dynamic group of people who love Bali and work to help the people who live here, information to do so can be found at http://rotarybaliubudsunset.org/how-to-become-an-rcbus-member/
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