Many years ago, a family of five graced the offices of YKIP wanting to sponsor some children in the KEMBALI program. That chance meeting has grown into an amazing circle of donors from the village of Jouxtens-Misery in Switzerland. The majority of children sponsored by the Swiss come from Seraya in East Bali, an area that is extremely dry and poor.
In 2009, 30 Swiss (including 15 young children) and the YKIP staff visited Seraya Barat and were feted with gamelan music and dances by our own sponsored students and a roaring rendition of “Frere Jacques” by the students themselves. The Swiss then returned the favor with a lively version of “Lupa Lupa Ingat” (a very popular song in Indonesia now). Each of the Swiss children presented a poster of themselves doing what they love most (making snowpeople, horsebike riding, ballet dancing) and describing it in Bahasa Indonesia!
Gifts were given out to all the Seraya Barat children (and even to the brothers and sisters and onlookers!). The children then all played Frozen Statues together, sang together, and made new friendships. The entire afternoon was sponsored by the Seven Families from Switzerland and we thank them for their generosity of time and spirit.
