“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” Rotary’s Board of Directors and Trustees, June 2018.
Like most social organisations, Rotary International (RI) has a Mission statement – “Service above Self” – which defines the vision of the organization and helps focus and direct the activities of its more than 35,000 clubs and 1.2 million members worldwide as they work together on a wide range of social and environmental programs as well as charitable activities at global, national and local community levels.
To reflect this diversity and help maintain its focus, each year the incoming RI President introduces a new “theme” to draw attention to and celebrate a particular aspect or attribute of Rotary. The Presidential theme for this Rotary Year (2019 – 2020) is ”Rotary Connects the World”, and the activities of RC Bali Nusa Dua during this year fully reflect the accuracy of this theme.
In Bali there are three primarily English-speaking Rotary Clubs and fourteen or so primarily-Indonesian speaking clubs. While our activities and programs are somewhat separate, we are all part of a single and effective Rotary community, and it is indeed the case that Rotary connects the world! All clubs have strong connections with international Rotary Clubs, and the constant flow of visitors through Bali includes many Rotarians who like to visit Bali Rotary Clubs, and “exchange banners” in the customary way of creating a connection. These connections often provide opportunities to attract international Rotary Clubs and Districts to support local Bali initiatives, and if sufficient funds are available, it is possible to leverage these into a Global Grant.
A Global Grant can be provided by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) for major projects (in excess of US$30,000) which satisfy fairly strict criteria of focus and sustainability. The advantage of gaining a Global Grant is that the funds are leveraged by additional grant funds from the TRF – cash donations by individuals or Rotary Clubs are matched by 50%, whereas donations by Districts are matched by 100%.
Rotary Continues to Connect the World
Twenty years ago Rotary clubs in Bali brought together Rotarians from around the world to fund and build the ‘Bali Blood Bank’. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this achievement RCBND again reached out to Rotarians around the world (Hawaii, Pennsylvania and Michigan in the USA, and Luxembourg) and raised more than US$160,000 for the purchase of mobile blood collection equipment.
The equipment will be transported in two vehicles provided by separate Rotary Global Grants organised by RC Bali Taman and RC Bali Kuta who were supported by Rotarians in Japan and Korea. This improved service will bring mobile collection procedures into compliance with recently-improved Government standards, and will help ensure that the Bali community receives blood products of the highest standards in Indonesia.
This equipment was delivered to Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI – Red Cross Indonesia) in October 2019. Joining the formal Handover Ceremony was a party of 25 Rotarians from several Rotary clubs on Hawaii, visiting Bali to celebrate the culmination of the program they helped initiate. As well as forming friendships and taking in the delights of Bali, the visitors engaged with a number of Yayasan who are active in providing assistance to disadvantaged groups in the local community: the Kolewa Foundation, who support the RC Bali Nusa Dua’s Cleft Lip and Palate Program and provide services to deaf children; Yayasan Puspadi Bali who make prosthetic limbs for young people; and Jodie O’Shea house, an orphanage and welfare centre for children.
Cleft Lip and Palate Program
What has become the signature program for RC Bali Nusa Dua is the Cleft Lip and Palate program, which provides cranio-facial surgery and dental care for children and young people suffering from this disfiguring affliction. This has been running for now 25 years, and has brought huge benefits to over 1800 young people in Bali and Eastern Indonesia. This has been supported in recent years by two major Global Grants, involving 10 Rotary Clubs and Districts from The Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the USA, and further Grants are under preparation for a July 2020 start – and a 25-year celebration of engagement!
In keeping with the theme “Rotary connects the World”, 23 Rotary Clubs and Districts from 9 countries and 3 continents will provide support for the enlarged new programs which will cost nearly US$300,000 and provide new lives for some 260 young people. This will include additional specialist training for 2 Indonesian plastic surgeons at the renowned Chang Gung Craniofacial Center in Taipei.
Support and Engage with your local Rotary!
Bali Rotary clubs have achieved a great deal, but of course with more people to provide support, the more we can achieve together. If you have any interest at all in learning more about or becoming involved in Rotary, please contact a Rotary Club near you, or the Contributor to this article at president@rotarybali.org.
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