David Booth MBE, an English expatriate, together with some concerned Indonesian friends created the East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP) in 1998 to work within the poorest communities on the island to alleviate malnutrition and lack of access to basic services. Participatory community surveys in mid-1998 showed that thousands of people lived in abject poverty without water, sanitation, roads, schools, health facilities and electricity. Illiteracy was up to 100%. Malnutrition and iodine  deficiency disorders were endemic, iodine being the essential nutrient for healthy child births, brain and body development.

EBPP's strategy is to work with communities to identify their particular problems and develop attainable goals in accordance with their aspirations. They aim to build sustainable programs that will empower individuals and result in self-reliance. David volunteers 100% of his time to coordinate all project planning and design, supported by a dedicated and motivated Balinese office and field team.

The Annika Linden Foundation is excited to be supporting a number East Bali Poverty Project initiatives. Among the projects funded:

1. Comprehensive library resources for the school children and community of Desa Ban, Karangasem.
2. Production of an Educational Art Story Book, "THE ART OF LEARNING BY DOING", illustrated by the children of Desa Ban.
3. Provision of school uniforms for children studying in integrated education programs in Yayasan Ekourin's schools in Bunga, Cegi, Pengalusan, Manikaji and Darmaji hamlets, Desa Ban, Karangasem.
4. Upgrading of a dirt road to facilitate continuation of sustainable development projects for impoverished mountain communities, prioritizing children.
5. Goats for communities - a project which gives Peranakan Ettawa goats for nutrition (milk), education and sustainable economic development to benefit the school children and community of Cegi hamlet.
6. Provide bamboo-cement covers, filters and hand-pumps for rainwater collection reservoirs, to ensure a clean and safe household water supply for the most isolated families in Daya hamlet.
7. ALF funded solar power in Manikaji school in East Bali
8. The purchase of two laptop computers for the EBPP Education Team, which are now also being used to train the children in computer skills, especially in writing skills. Children at Manikaji school are also using them write stories and make newsletters about their local area.

The five major projects funded for 2009 are the Outreach Dental, Children’s Organic Garden, Community Organic Garden, Manikaji Integrated Education and Senior High School scholarships.  The dental outreach program has seen an astounding 1,025 patients in the first quarter of 2009. Both of the gardens are thriving and the children/community members are busy weeding, mulching and harvesting vegetables that are used for school and home meals. The Manikaji Integrated Education program supports 70 children in the hamlets of Manikaji Puncak, Manikaji Kaliaga, Manikaji Asti and Darmaji. There are 19 students now at the Senior High School level who meet three times a week for their studies.

More about EBPP: www.eastbalipovertyproject.org

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East Bali Poverty Project