After gaining experience from the past 3 missions where we had the opportunity to interact with kids, our volunteers from W3-O Design and Interactive Lab Singapore, once again, are eager to make a difference for the children of Maria Goretti Orphanage in Palasari-Negara, in Indonesia, Bali.

After continuous efforts of baking cookies in 2008 and 2009, we decided to do something different this time around. After a couple of brainstorming sessions with the team to decide on the potential beneficiaries and internal fund raising activities (from making keropok crackers, creating stationeries, and many others), we came up with the following conclusions:

Beneficiaries: Maria Goretti Orphanage, Bali – Indonesia.

Bali might seem like a “fancy and touristy” place, and people always associate the island with beautiful landscapes and cultures, party, feasting, shopping, and many other “fun-related” happenings. But the fact remains that among these “happy” things, there are small pockets of people who are less fortunate, and Maria Goretti Orphanage is one of them.

Located in Palasari Village in Negara, Western side of Bali, it is about a 3-4 hours drive from Kuta Beach (the most popular beach in Bali). Being away from the central tourist areas has made them rather disadvantaged and ignored. Not many tourists would want to go and visit them due to the long travelling time and hence they receive far fewer donations. The Franciscan nuns, guardians of the orphanage, need to find ways to raise funds for the 79 kids who are housed in 2 separate locations within Negara.

Despite the distance, THF and our volunteers have decided to make a difference for these kids.

Fund Raising Activity:
Selling Chocolate-coated Marshmallows to Friends

Our group of volunteers is a bunch of “energy balls” with high levels of creativity and artistic skills. So, after having baked cookies for the past 2 years, they wanted to do something different yet fun. The team had a few brain storming sessions when one of our members came up with the idea of Chocolate-coated Marshmallows. “WOW! This is something fresh and exciting!”, we all thought. But, we had no idea on how to go about doing it. And, just like an angel sent from the heavens, a friend of another volunteer who happens to be a pastry chef (in one of the 5-Star hotels in Singapore no less!) decided to donate her expertise and teach us the skills required to go forward with the idea. All of us were naturally very excited and thankful.

This year, we are targeting to sell 400 bouquets of chocolate-coated marshmallows, the same number of cookie jars sold last year. We think it is quite challenging, but we are all ready to work hard and make a difference for the kids in Maria Goretti Orphanage. We are hoping to be able to raise enough funds for the following items:

1. Mattresses, pillows, and other daily necessities (Comfort)
2. Some Toys (Love)
3. Educational materials (Hope)
4. Cash for school fees and foods

Besides this activity, we will also be collecting pre-loved items such as:
– Wearable clothes for primary to high school kids
– Children and educational books (English & Indonesian)
– Toys

The team is planning to pass whatever we can raise and collect to the orphanage during W3-O’s company and CSR trip to Bali in early October 2010. Some of the THF staffs will also be joining the company on this trip on their own personal funding.

Why should you support this effort?

1. Genuine Beneficiaries
Drawing on its strong and reliable network, The Humanity Forum (THF) has chosen the Maria Goretti Orphanage (also known as Palasari Orphanage) as this year’s beneficiary. The orphanage is an extension of the Sidhi Astu Orphanage (also known as Tuka Orphanage), which THF previously visited in 2007 with the same group of volunteers. As such, you can be assured the beneficiaries, and their needs, are very real indeed.

2. A Labour of Love
As part of W3-O Design and Interactive Lab CSR activities, they are working with THF on a pro-bono basis. Nobody, including THF staff, will get paid for their efforts. This means more of what you donate goes directly to the children of Maria Goretti Orphanage.

3. It’s YUMMY!
Under the tutelage of one of the best pastry chefs in Singapore, our volunteers have become adept at making great tasting chocolate-covered marshmallows. Only the finest ingredients are used and, thanks to the team’s creative and artistic skills, are also beautifully packaged, making them excellent gifts.