- We are going to Bali and want to visit our sponsor child. Can you please supply us with details of his / her school, how to get there and what time we can arrive there? We are not sure what day we will visit yet.
No, unfortunately this is not possible. All visits must be organized in advance, and co-ordinated through the Foundation. Please email me with the date that you would like to visit your sponsored student. The drive to Singaraja is roughly 2 ½ - 3 hours from the Kuta / Legian area, so you need to make an early start. A visit usually is from arriving at the Learning Centre at 10.30am and finishing around 2-30 or 3pm. In reality, it is a long day trip there and back. Sponsors will have a Foundation volunteer / guide with them at all times to assist with translating etc. It is recommended that on your first visit that you keep it relatively low key. After initially visiting the learning centre your guide will take you to the school to visit your sponsor child, and you may then visit the family in their home. It is important that sponsors are mindful that these families are, in the main, exceedingly poor. Many live in conditions that as westerners we find difficult to come to terms with.
- Can we take the family or at least the children out for a meal and a swim at our hotel?Can we take our sponsor child to the Melka hotel to swim with the dolphins?
No, this is not deemed appropriate for a number of reasons. We have made this a firm foundation policy. We run a very tightly controlled system to look after the welfare of the children. There have been major pedophilia problems in the area on more than one occasion over the years. The village elders, heads of individual Banjars, have asked that we limit the visit to the school and home. We are in no way suggesting that any sponsor is a potential pedophile, but for obvious reasons we must adhere to and respect the wishes of the elders. In addition to this, have been instances where families have been ostracized in their village /community as there has been jealously amongst other families. Regardless of the aforementioned, initially most children are very shy. They would be terribly embarrassed being asked to participate in something like swimming with dolphins. If you have children of your own, imagine them being taken to a hotel by strangers. How would you as parents feel? Balinese children are much more insular than western children. The idea may be well intended but it is simply not acceptable under any circumstances. If and / or where time permits, your child lives near-by, and the volunteer guide is available you may also be able to take you sponsor child to Hardy's store or lunch at a warung where locals would eat. This is not deemed to be part of a standard visit. If you particularly want to do this then you must request in advance. We will endeavor to oblige but ultimately it will be at the discretion of the volunteer guide on the day.
- When we visit the school we want to take something small for each child in the class. How many children should we provide for and can you suggest what is best to hand out.
To be honest, we don't feel it is necessary to hand out anything to the students. This part of the visit is purely done so you can see where your child attends school. If you really feel a need to take something then we suggest a box of biros or a container of Chuppa Chups that the teacher or you can hand out. As numbers in classes vary considerably approximately 50 should adequately cater for each child to receive something.
- Can you please give details of our sponsor child's family? We would like to know how many siblings he /she has and what ages / sex. We want to take appropriate gifts for them.
No, this is neither viable, nor possible. The foundation does not keep detailed records of siblings. As it is, we currently have near to 400 sponsored children on our books. We have a listing of suggested gifts to take for the children and items that can be purchased for the family.
- Can you assist us with transport to and from Singaraja? We don't have a regular driver in Bali and thought you may be able to suggest someone who knows their way around up there. If we wish to stay in Lovina, can you help with booking accommodation?
Yes I can arrange for a reliable and trustworthy driver who has a comfortable, well maintained vehicle to pick you up and take you for the day. With the increasing costs of fuel and vehicle maintenance the cost for a full day trip is 400,000 rupiah. (this rate may change if there is an increase to fuel costs) I can also arrange for comfortable deluxe accommodation at a special rate for you in Lovina. I am happy to arrange this for you. Please email me the date that you wish to travel to Singaraja. helen@flavel.com.au
PLEASE NOTE:
If requested, I am prepared to arrange transport and/or accommodation at your request and at no charge. However, being overseas and thus outside of my (and the foundation's) direct supervision and control it is agreed that any loss, detriment or injury will be borne by the traveller(s). It is strongly recommended that you take out travel (sick and accident) insurance cover.
- Do you have a list of appropriate gifts we can take for our child and the family?
Yes, some items we suggest for children are listed below.
- Base ball caps, t-shirt
- Beginners English picture books
- Coloring-in books and pencils, pens, exercise books, pencil case
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap
- Hair clips, a brush and comb set
- Soccer balls / tennis balls
- Cuddly teddy bears / fluffy toys
- Chuppa chups or similar lollypop that can be handed out.
- Are there appropriate shops or market that we can purchase food supplies for the family once we are in Singaraja or is it best to purchase prior to going up there.
Yes, you can do either. If the family live close to Singaraja, our team member will take you to the traditional market to buy rice and supplies. However, if you are visiting a store such as Makro or Alpha in the Legian / Denpasar area feel free to purchase rice, noodles, coffee etc. and take it with you on the day.
- How do we maintain regular contact with our sponsor child?
We need to keep our student correspondence down to 2 letters a year. The reason is that we have close to 400 students sponsored spreading over the whole of the northern area of Bali. The area is very large and covers over 100 schools and villages. Sukadana and the team are stretched to the hilt, trying to run the foundation and still hold down their paid full time jobs or their University studies.
All email letters must first come to me, I then forward to Sukadana, for translation. A volunteer takes the translated letter to your sponsor child as soon as possible / when someone is visiting that particular area. If you would like a reply, then also a trip back to village to get the letter, translate it, send it to me and in turn I forward to the sponsor. It is rather involved and very much reminds me of the old carrier pigeon method. I'm sorry about this, but our sponsor program isn't geared to handle this. I wish we could offer “pen-pal” services but it's not possible.
First and foremost, our aim and the idea of the sponsorship is to give a child an education. These children are from the poorest families and in their current circumstances would not normally be able to attend school. Education is a wonderful gift, to give, and receive.
- If I am staying in Lovina or the Singaraja area and wish to visit my sponsor child, will the Helen Flavel Foundation Team be able to pick me up from my hotel.
No, this is not possible, we do not supply transport. You will need to either have your own driver, or find a local driving to take your to the Learning Centre, then on to the school and village.
The visit will be from 10-30am to 2-30pm - 3pm on one day only.
- I am confused having read differing things on Bali Travel Forum from other sponsors. Should I ask the sponsor to clarify or email you direct Helen?
Good question and thank you for asking. I have been very fortunate that Ken the Bali Travel Forum Administrator has been lenient with posts referring to the Foundation. I am always delighted to read "Just Back Report's" posted by sponsors that have taken the time to visit the students. I do however ask sponsors to contact me if they have queries regarding what is possible and what is not in relation to their sponsorship. The purpose of this addition to our website, Fact or Fiction - FAQ's, is to hopefully offset some of the enquiries I receive on a daily basis, but I am always here and available to answer your questions. If the answer to your enquiry is in the FAQ's, I will in the first instance direct you there.
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Sponsor FAQ's
