“Uncle Bob” Monkhouse was the founder and director of YAKEBA. He passed away on November 8, 2009. Here are two testimonials from ALF and YKIP.
When Bob spoke you knew that as an ex addict he understood the problems created by drugs and alcohol. Through the charity that he founded, Yakeba, he not only helped many people deal with and overcome their addictions but he also worked hard to educate the youth to ensure that they did not take drugs in the first place.M/
Speaking with Bob you realised that he had a mission and a vision.A humble man who led by example and was a guiding light for many on this island.Our job now is to take his work forward .Bali will miss Bob Monkhouse ,a saviour of lives, a giver of hope and a true gentleman.
Mark Weingard
Director, ALF
Everyone called him “Uncle”. He was a mentor, a confidante, a counselor and most of all, a friend. He always had time for you, whether you were a government official or a junkie. With his perpetual cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, his eyes twinkled with laughter.
A few days before Bob passed away, he came into the YKIP office to have a chat with me. We talked about his life journey (not knowing it was about to be cut short), He told me about the HOW ticket (a ticket that consists of Honesty, Openness and Willingness to Change). “You can can on the bus with that ticket and you can hop off at any time. Most of us get on and off many times. And that’s okay. You’ll get back on again”, he told me. And then at the final destination you’ll find PAR (Participation [as a full member of society]), Acceptance [of yourself] and Recovery [from addiction]. I asked him what kept him going, what kept him from going back to using booze and drugs. “My faith in a higher power” he replied with no hesitation. Well, he has now met that higher power and can finally rest with peace.
Rucina Ballinger
Director, YKIP
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