Sound as a Pound

Sound as a Pound: Mark Weingard (YKIP’s patron) has a wish for his birthday on July 16. He wants to give the gift of hearing to 1000 children, the elderly and others in need in Bali. The Annika Linden Foundation (www.alfoundation.org) is supporting a new program called BALI HEARS through our charity partner YKIP (www.ykip.org). We are asking people to give the gift of sound by donating "Sound Pounds": 45 British Pounds will pay for one hearing aid (that is approximately US$ 70 or 54 Euro); for that small price a child will be able to hear and communicate. We will not only be providing hearing aids, but the support and infrastructure needed to ensure that these aids are being worn properly. Please help celebrate Mark’s birthday by donating Sound Pounds. Mark is pledging up to 500 hearing aids as a matching gift; we already have commitments from two donors for 75 hearing aids (which means 150 hearing aids in total including Mark’s match). If you wish to help Mark celebrate his birthday, please click here and then email info@ykip.org and let us know you have given a donation for SOUND POUNDS. With many thanks and many happy returns to Mark!

Seraya Sports Day 2010

With funding from Carolyn Soemardjono and Lawyers on the Lounge, we held a Friendly Sports Match in Seraya Barat, Karangasem on Saturday August 7th, 2010. Sixty children from five primary schools participated; 15 of those students are in our KEMBALI program. Read more...

Seraya Kembali Distribution

It’s the beginning of the new school year and our first scholarship distributions were made to 88 students in Seraya Barat and Seraya Tengah. Uniforms, bags, school supplies, shoes, vitamins and lunch money were distributed by the YKIP staff and volunteers, Kayla, Tamar, Kiren, Genia and the Fischer, Ali Benkirane and Manuela Perraudin. The Fischers are sponsoring six children in Seraya as well as 31 children in other parts of Bali. We are grateful to Bapak Wayan Landra, the head of Seraya Barat, for his loyalty to our program. Without his assistance, it would be difficult to hold these distribution days as the students live far apart from one another.

Five New Libraries and Kindergarten in Seraya

In August, we installed libraries in all the primary schools in Seraya Barat; four of these are sponsored by the Annika Linden Foundation and one by the Soemardjono family. We provide books, tables, chairs and posters and if the library room warrants it, a fresh coat or two of paint. The students assist by covering each book and pasting in a check-out slip in the back. Thank you ALF and the Soemardjonos!
The NAME kindergarten in Seraya Barat and the NAME asked YKIP for some supplies for their school and Lene Fischer and family brought over beautiful sets of blocks from Switzerland for the tykers. Thank you!

Remembering Annika Linden

On June 19, 2010, we celebrated the 38 birthday of the late Annika Linden. Mark Weingard established a foundation in her name in 2003 to help her spirit live on and to make sure that good can be created out of the evil that killed her during the Bali tradegy of 2002. The Annika Linden Foundation supports the majority of YKIP’s health and education programs. At the party, each of the ALF-YKIP clients presented a "gift" to Annika: a song, a poem, a painting, a sculpture or a dance. It was an incredible afternoon of sharing, of laughter, of tears, of friendship. Read more...

Song of My Heart

Dayu Wiadnyani Manuaba, one of the ALF Uni sponsored students, held a book launch of THE SONG OF MY HEART, her bi-lingual book of poetry at the Four Seasons Jimbaran on April 21. Her poetry is quite profound and very heartfelt. The book is available at Ganesha Books in Ubud. Read one of her poetry here...