Five People, Two-Hundred Students and One Unforgettable Day by Kendrick Myers

 With our jetlagged bodies, we all awoke early to make the hour long drive to Denpasar, Bali to Yayasan Kemanusiaan Ibu Pertiwi (YKIP). YKIP is a non-profit organization that was originally created to provide aid for children of those affected by the 2002 Bali Bombing, the deadliest terrorist attack in Bali.

What started off as a relief program quickly expanded to include any child in need.  Chakra shared with us that he is 1 of the 5 people who run the entire operation, providing scholarships to over 200 children from elementary school to university. The children are required to maintain good grades to receive the scholarships and are typically given a semester to improve grades if needed.

YKIP works with the community on small revenue generating projects and accepts monetary donations from all over the world. They keep the contact between the donors and children minimal and monitored for safety. The donors receive a letter from the children once a year in December as a form of appreciation and for them to see the difference their scholarship has made in the lives of the children.

After a enlightening visit learning from Chakra, we began the drive back to Ubud in the pouring rain. Although rain is nothing new for us all coming from Salem, we were not ready for this downpour. Through the humid, torrential rain, we trudged on through the streets with our ponchos and sandals. We stopped at the sweetest used book shop, small in size but was full of the best homemade trinkets and books from all over.

After the bookshop, we ran across the street to the post office where we all took a moment to write postcards to home. It was a quiet moment for everyone as we all took a few minutes to reflect on our experiences so far and share it with loved ones back home.

We ended the night eating dinner together, sharing our highs and lows of the day and enjoying each others company in conversation. After a full day, we ended the night by stopping for massages on the walk back to the hotel - the perfect way to relax and end the night.

It was a wonderful day of learning and adventure which deepened our insight and appreciation to the dedication some organizations such as YKIP are putting into supporting children’s education. Sharing this interest and experience with colleagues made it all the more special.