Food & Literacy Relief For Nusa Lembongan – Update 2

Firstly, we have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of our extended Lembongan Traveller network and we THANK YOU on behalf of the Lembongan community. This kindness has been echoed repeatedly by so many people in the last two weeks and also when we did our first “Food for Lembongan” fundraiser in April 2020 and our latest Food & Literacy Relief For Nusa Lembongan. It has shown, no donation is too small and together we can make a difference.

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We have raised over $36,000 across both campaigns for the Lembongan community and reached over 1200 families, with more people to receive in the coming weeks.  This is an outstanding achievement, a true testament to this special island and it’s incredible people for leaving an imprint on our hearts.  This has been an opportunity for us all to acknowledge their act of kindness of sharing their island home with us, always welcoming visitors with open hearts and the most wonderful hospitality.

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Thanks to your generosity, the current Food & Literacy Relief For Nusa Lembongan campaign has raised over $20,000 in two weeks. We implemented Stage 1 with deliveries this week of 400 food packages consisting of rice, noodles, sugar and oil, these supplies were purchased from local Warungs on Lembongan.

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Food packages were delivered to the Kepala Desa ( Village head) of Jungut Batu and Lembongan villages who then in turn will work with the Banjars of each village to ensure the packages go to those most in need.  There are 4 Banjars in Jungut Batu and 6 in Lembongan which includes Nusa Ceningan.

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The Lembongan Traveller have partnered with Bali Children Foundation (BCF), a relationship which started in 2016 when we fundraised after the Yellow Bridge collapse.  We are grateful for the support and guidance they provide from their experienced team who are committed to the prosperity of the Lembongan community.  BCF are particularly focussed on developing education and environment based programs.  We were honoured this week to be joined by BCF founder, Margaret Barry to assist with the distribution and hear her views on how we can keep driving support of the local community.

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GOING FORWARD…..

Our meeting with Margaret from Bali Children Foundation gave us the opportunity to discuss and plan initiatives moving forward and how to utilise the funds raised for maximum benefit of the community. It will be an evolving discussion as the situation unfolds, vaccinations roll out, how plans for return of tourism play-out and the impact these changes have on the local community in the short and medium term.

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Food Relief….

We plan to do another food distribution in April, we will re-assess then the items to be included as there is currently reasonable supply of fresh produce with many people farming during the wet season, however this will change as the rains end.

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Literacy Relief….

Primary schools on Lembongan have been closed since March 2020 and online learning has been done via Whats App.  Therefore the children who were meant to start Grade 1 in July 2020 haven’t actually “been” to school yet and along with their Grades 2 and 3 class mates have missed crucial literacy learning.

We have committed financial support to Bali Children Foundation for the development of a Literacy curriculum ( in Indonesian) aimed at Grades 1, 2 & 3.  This curriculum will be used by BCF across 5 different regions in Bali, including Nusa Lembongan.  BCF teachers, who are already based on Lembongan and implement BCF education programs within the schools will provide 2 after-school classes / week for each child, they will also develop a socialisation program and other initiatives to incentivise parents to encourage their children to attend these classes. The Lembongan Traveller’s fundraising campaign will support these initiatives as we see it fundamental to the future education of this younger generation to receive basic literacy learning.

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We have reviewed the framework which is being used as the structure for the syllabus and the beginnings of the class modules, 16 weeks each with two modules.  This dedicated literacy syllabus is being developed by BCF in parallel to the standard Indonesian primary curriculum so that resources and learning is maximised.

Currently, schools are aiming to re-open once teachers are vaccinated, for the beginning of the school year in July.  It is being suggested by the Education department that they will initially go back at 50% capacity until further community based vaccination programs are completed.

It is BCF’s aim to start the Literacy program in July with the re-opening of schools on Nusa Lembongan.

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We THANK YOU again for all your support to help the Lembongan community navigate their way through these difficult times.