JULIA'S FUND TO HELP BALI KIDS
Donation protected
Hi. My name is Julia Pratt and I am a high school student at American Heritage School in Boca/Delray Beach, Florida.
When you were young, did anybody ever ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up? Some of you probably said "doctor, lawyer, teacher, president" while others responded "rock star, astronaut, actor, basketball player." Now, imagine not having a choice. Picture never having a say in your future. Crazy, right? Unfortunately, this is a reality in Bali, Indonesia. Kids across this island from villages such as Munduk, Bangli, Sukawait and Karangasem can only dream about such occupations. Usually, these thoughts remain just that – thoughts and dreams. It's us, the members of Education Rocks, who have a chance to make their dreams come true.
It all starts with an education. Nelson Mandela once said that "education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world," and he was right. I believe we are changing the world! What the Education Rocks does is pair students in the United States with students in Bali. The students in the U.S. become pen pals with the a child in Bali with whom they are paired. They write letters back and forth which are translated from English to Balinese and vice versa, and each of the children also sends photographs, drawings, and paintings. The pair of children really get to know each other one and develop a personal relationship.
While the relationships that are built are beautiful and long lasting, the most impactful thing that the American student does is raise money to send their Bali child to school. Indonesia is a third world country and does not have a public school system like we do. The average income in Bali is $400 per year and it costs $365 to send a child in Bali to school for one year. Imagine how many kids do not get the opportunity to learn in school. Now, because of Education Rocks, going to school is no longer a dream for these kids! The sponsors work tirelessly in order to raise the $365 needed to send their Bali child get an education. Students at my school alone sponsor over 100 Bali kids. We are making an impact on their lives and providing them with a once in a life time opportunity to go to school for free! If we are providing all of these children with an education, we are making the possibilities for their future endless. With a high school degree, the world is their playground. Not only does this incredible program work to send Bali kids to school but we also fundraise to provide mattresses for them and each summer, members of Education Rocks personally deliver the mattresses to the children's homes in Bali.
This will be the fourth year that I will be sponsoring the education of my friend from Bali. Her name is Komang Sudarmini, she is 14 and she lives in Munduk. Our relationship started when she was 11. I've been getting to know her since then. She sends me many letters which very often include the most incredible drawings. It's crazy to think about how close I am to a person I have never met. It's even crazier to think about the impact I'm making on her life.
After two years of being a member of this incredible program, I have been given the opportunity to expand my work and take on an even bigger role – I am now the head of Education Rocks at my school. This role requires a significant amount of time and effort. But, I am, and continue to be, up for the challenge. I speak at meetings, create fundraising opportunities, and was extremely fortunate to receive a large contribution from the Jacobus Family Foundation. With this contribution came even more opportunity for the Bali children. It was used to launch an english program for the kids at a local college. This summer, 15 Balinese children were able to take english lessons because of the donation. The main source of income in Bali is tourism. If kids are learning english at such a young age and becoming bilingual, the list of job opportunities for them are pages and pages long.
This will be my second year running Education Rocks and my fourth year being a part of this breathtaking program. I decided that this year I would not only sponsor Komang's education but also take on another Bali child. Her name is Ida Ayu Ketut Yasmika. She is 16 and from the same village as Komang Sudarmini!
This summer I hope to travel to Bali and meet both of them. But for now, I have to work on raising the $730 to send each of them to school this year! Last year, I participated in numerous fundraising events and took on a couple babysitting jobs. In addition to continuing doing that this year, I would love it if you could help! Any amount is deeply appreciated and WILL make a huge difference.
When you were young, did anybody ever ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up? Some of you probably said "doctor, lawyer, teacher, president" while others responded "rock star, astronaut, actor, basketball player." Now, imagine not having a choice. Picture never having a say in your future. Crazy, right? Unfortunately, this is a reality in Bali, Indonesia. Kids across this island from villages such as Munduk, Bangli, Sukawait and Karangasem can only dream about such occupations. Usually, these thoughts remain just that – thoughts and dreams. It's us, the members of Education Rocks, who have a chance to make their dreams come true.
It all starts with an education. Nelson Mandela once said that "education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world," and he was right. I believe we are changing the world! What the Education Rocks does is pair students in the United States with students in Bali. The students in the U.S. become pen pals with the a child in Bali with whom they are paired. They write letters back and forth which are translated from English to Balinese and vice versa, and each of the children also sends photographs, drawings, and paintings. The pair of children really get to know each other one and develop a personal relationship.
While the relationships that are built are beautiful and long lasting, the most impactful thing that the American student does is raise money to send their Bali child to school. Indonesia is a third world country and does not have a public school system like we do. The average income in Bali is $400 per year and it costs $365 to send a child in Bali to school for one year. Imagine how many kids do not get the opportunity to learn in school. Now, because of Education Rocks, going to school is no longer a dream for these kids! The sponsors work tirelessly in order to raise the $365 needed to send their Bali child get an education. Students at my school alone sponsor over 100 Bali kids. We are making an impact on their lives and providing them with a once in a life time opportunity to go to school for free! If we are providing all of these children with an education, we are making the possibilities for their future endless. With a high school degree, the world is their playground. Not only does this incredible program work to send Bali kids to school but we also fundraise to provide mattresses for them and each summer, members of Education Rocks personally deliver the mattresses to the children's homes in Bali.
This will be the fourth year that I will be sponsoring the education of my friend from Bali. Her name is Komang Sudarmini, she is 14 and she lives in Munduk. Our relationship started when she was 11. I've been getting to know her since then. She sends me many letters which very often include the most incredible drawings. It's crazy to think about how close I am to a person I have never met. It's even crazier to think about the impact I'm making on her life.
After two years of being a member of this incredible program, I have been given the opportunity to expand my work and take on an even bigger role – I am now the head of Education Rocks at my school. This role requires a significant amount of time and effort. But, I am, and continue to be, up for the challenge. I speak at meetings, create fundraising opportunities, and was extremely fortunate to receive a large contribution from the Jacobus Family Foundation. With this contribution came even more opportunity for the Bali children. It was used to launch an english program for the kids at a local college. This summer, 15 Balinese children were able to take english lessons because of the donation. The main source of income in Bali is tourism. If kids are learning english at such a young age and becoming bilingual, the list of job opportunities for them are pages and pages long.
This will be my second year running Education Rocks and my fourth year being a part of this breathtaking program. I decided that this year I would not only sponsor Komang's education but also take on another Bali child. Her name is Ida Ayu Ketut Yasmika. She is 16 and from the same village as Komang Sudarmini!
This summer I hope to travel to Bali and meet both of them. But for now, I have to work on raising the $730 to send each of them to school this year! Last year, I participated in numerous fundraising events and took on a couple babysitting jobs. In addition to continuing doing that this year, I would love it if you could help! Any amount is deeply appreciated and WILL make a huge difference.
Organizer
Julia Rose
Organizer
Delray Beach, FL