- To empower illiterate and malnourished children through relevant education, improved nutrition, and basic stay-healthy principles; and
- To reduce poverty and promote culturally sensitive, sustainable development within impoverished rural communities that have little or no choice to alleviate their own plight; and
- To harness human and natural resources for mutual benefit by the reforestation of land devastated by the massive eruption of Mt. Agung in 1963, which denuded thousands of hectares. To improve the living ecosystmens, provide a sustainable food forest for the thousands of villagers, provide sustainable livelihoods for present and future, and ensure rain water is captured and conserved for the benefit of the land, nature, ecosystems, and most of all the people.
Community Motivation and ParticipationWe work with the community to identify their problems and develop attainable goals in accordance with their aspirations. They participate fully in implementing sustainable programmes which empower them towards self-reliance.
All our field staff joined us first as volunteers and were only taken on as staff members after they had proved their commitment to helping in the sustainable development.
We now have 47 full-time field staff, all Balinese. Forty one of these are from the village, another six from the adjacent village. They are already familiar with the difficult mountain terrain and their strong ties to the community help them introduce new concepts to their families and neighbours.
Many have been sent on training programmes to improve their own abilities and also so they can then transfer their new knowledge to the community of Desa Ban. Training courses have focussed on various aspects of organic farming, health and nutrition, appropriate building technology, accounting procedures and teacher training as well as English language training.
Our goals reflect our Philosophy: Sustainable, long-term change begins with education, education begins with children, and children must be healthy to learn. They are to:
- provide integrated and relevant education for children as a foundation for future empowerment;
- improve nutrition through a nutritious school meal and education for future growth;
- ensure better health through health education, improved nutrition and hygiene;
- eliminate iodine deficiency among children and reproductive-age women;
- improve farmland organically for long term food security and eventual self-reliance