Making Education a Dynastic Legacy

Long-Standing Bali Dynasty Resort Educational Support for East Bali Poverty Project Brings a Balinese Boy – Wayan Lias – to an University Education

(5/20/2012)

 

 

A long-standing commitment by The Bali Dynasty Resort to assist Bali’s underprivileged children is reaping genuine dividends by opening a world of opportunity for a young man from one of Bali’s poorest communities.

Dating from 2000, The Bali Dynasty Resort has provided generous support to a small remote hamlet in Northeast Bali. Funds provided to the award-winning East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP) have played a critical part in providing schooling to the children of Cegi and surrounding hamlets.

Educational assistance, agricultural guidance and a sustainable supply of fresh water have combined to help break the chain of poverty. Children attend school, illiteracy that was the norm among the areas young is now becoming a rarity, and a better diet grown by the children in school gardens is producing a generation of robust and healthy young children.

As part of efforts to provide intellectual stimulation for the children of EBPP visiting artists have regularly visited to teach art skills. Books on “Learning by Doing” and illustrated by the students have been published; fund raising auctions of children’s arts have been held; and exceptional artistic aptitude has been uncovered among the students of Cegi.

One such student, I Wayan Lias, a young man from Cegi has graduated from high school and has recently won a coveted place in the Fine Arts Faculty at the Undiksha University in Singaraja, North Bali.

A gifted painter, Wayan Lias built a small studio in Cegi that he shared with other children interested in art and underlining his long-term goal to become an art educator.

A selection of Wayan Lias’s painting is on display at the Bali Dynasty Resort where they are on sale. Proceeds from the sale will be set-aside in a special education fund for Wayan.

To celebrate his scholastic achievements and acceptance into university – still very much a rarity for anyone from Cegi, Lias was invited on his birthday to celebrate in Golden Lotus Chinese Restaurant at The Bali Dynasty Resort to share his joy and excitement with the hotel’s managers and members of the EBPP team.

Focused on the road ahead, Wayan said: "I can only hope to give back in the way that the Bali Dynasty Resort have done for me to the next young generation in my village and I will never forget the Bali Dynasty Resort graciousness."

Wayan Lias’ plans after graduation are to go back to his village to share the knowledge gained during his studies for the betterment of his community.

The Bali Dynasty Charity effort has supported the integrated education projects of the East Bali Poverty Project initially supporting Cegi and Pengalusan schools and now fully supporting the Pengalusan School. The program concentrates on educating more than 60 children learning the basics of reading, writing, mathematics, arts and crafts, health, hygiene and organic farming.

Since 2000, the Dynasty has raised over Rp. 2 billion (US$217,000) for the project making the Bali Dynasty Resort a leading sponsor of the East Bali Poverty Project.

Shown on Balidiscovery.com is Wayan Lias with Robert Kelsall, General Manager of Bali Dynasty Resort, showing some of recent paintings now on display at the Resort.

Source: BaliDiscovery.com