Pencils For Kids’ inaugural field trip will be to Bali in July 2008. The official language in Bali is Indonesian. However, at home children first learn to speak Balinese. Only when they start 1st grade at age seven do they begin to learn Indonesian. If the children don’t attend school, they don’t learn to speak or read their country’s official language – effectively curtailing their opportunities.
Bali’s successful tourism industry has decreased 31% since terrorist attacks in 2002 and 2005, leaving more families vulnerable. In tourist areas, wages for a hotel employee are about $75 per month. In rural, non-tourist areas, wages equal about $40 a month. |
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Parents are required to purchase uniforms and all school supplies for their children; they also pay tuition once their children enter the 7th Grade. The government provides the school building, teachers, textbooks and limited teaching aids.
To help the greatest number of children, Pencils for Kids is collaborating with The Bali Children’s Project. This wonderful non-profit organization has been reaching out to Balinese families for the past decade. Its programs include educational sponsorship of individual children, family support, school improvements, teacher training and the creation of growing number of Montessori-based kindergartens in Bali. |
Linda Moselle Venter and Kadek Liatini of The Bali Children’s Project |
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The Pencil for Kids Backpack
With the help of our generous supporters, we will be providing backpacks filled with school supplies and a voucher for a school uniform to eight Bali schools – a total of 375 children.
Each backpack for Pre-K thru 3rd grade will contain:
- 1 voucher for a school uniform
- 2 dozen pencils
- 1 box of crayons (2dz)
- 1 package of markers (10)
- 1 dozen colored pencils
- 2 pads of coloring paper
- 1 pencil bag
- 2 erasers
- 1 pencil sharpener
- 1 ruler
- 1 glue stick
- 1 toothbrush
Each backpack for 4th grade thru 6th grade will contain:
- 1 voucher for a school uniform
- 2 dozen pencils
- 1 dozen ball point pens
- 1 package of markers (10)
- 1 dozen colored pencils
- 20 notebooks
- 1 pencil bag
- 2 erasers
- 1 pencil sharpener
- 1 ruler
- 1 glue stick
- 1 toothbrush
Our goal is to increase the number of schools throughout Bali that we assist each year.
Please join us in making this important endeavor possible with your support.
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