A Message from the Suwandi Foundation
The Suwandi Foundation knows its origins and operations today are impacted by these negative systems. Nonetheless, we do our best to confront these issues head on and engage more ethically through open conversations and improvement. Children, their communities, and their education are our priority, so we work side-by-side with the teachers who run the learning center to help achieve their visions.
Our long-term goals are to ensure that the local learning center we work with becomes independent from our financial support and takes greater agency managing volunteer English teaching assistants. We know that, often, volunteers are not highly experienced, and thus, we ensure that local teachers are the leading educators, those who know best.
By having service-learning internships and trips, we support their current needs for English language speakers with whom the kids can practice, as well as provide financial support. We also work to put cultural exchange and understanding at the center rather than feeding into voluntourism.
We hope you come into this experience not thinking about it as a vacation in Bali, but rather an opportunity to learn about the culture and use your privileges and skills to give back to a wonderful community.
Long-term social change happens (like the name implies) over the long term — as in decades. Cycles of poverty are not broken overnight, and it could be misguided to think that your few weeks as an intern and volunteer will be something that changes a child’s life significantly. However, together with local forces for change at Yayasan Loka Mawa Upadhi and the support of the Suwandi Foundation, you are one part of a longer-term effort to create more opportunities.
At the end of the day, be clear to yourself about your intentions, try to understand the community, and know there will be no quick fix for any long-term problem. It’s important to take these necessary precautions to guarantee that your volunteering work will be as beneficial as possible to the community you seek to help.