Indonesia
Bamboo Micro Credit (Inc) was established in WA in 2007 and its affiliate organization in Indonesia, Yayasan Bambu Peduli, the following year.
The aim of Bamboo is to raise funds in Australia and other countries to fund the operation of Yayasan Bambu Peduli, which is its operational arm in Indonesia.
The organizations combine to offer no-interest loans to people in poverty in Indonesia to start their own business. Indonesia is a developing country, it has a high unemployment and under-employment rate and a lack of Government support systems for people without jobs or skills.
Yayasan Bambu Peduli (YBP) connects closely with local communities, ensures that borrowers businesses are sustainable and that borrowers have the ability to repay loans. As it is recognized that business can suffer fluctuations, flexible repayment periods are supported. YBP operates in two locations in Indonesia, Bukittinggi in W.Sumatra and Bandung in W.Java.
Bamboo relies entirely on donations and does not borrow funds commercially, so reducing costs to borrowers. It has been successful in developing partnerships with Indonesia Institute and Global Development Group in Australia, as well as companies doing business in Indonesia and Mothers for Microfinance in Holland.
Website www.bamboomicrocredit.org.au
The current centre provides medical care and support services for all orphans registered on any of the islands 38 orphanages. The project is taking in children from all religious and cultural backgrounds. It also operates a mobile medical service on alternate days. The staff visit the orphanages on a rotating basis and the children are treated on site but if further medical treatment is required they are taken to Anak Anak Bali for ongoing care. During their stay the children have access to computer and english studies. The doctors and nurses also educate the orphanage staff and children regarding hygiene and health. They teach preventative measures to improve the children’s overall health and well-being. In the first year of opening Anak Anak Bali treated over 2,000 orphans and its preventative work is making a strong, positive impact.
The Yayasan Permata Bali Home for Street Children was founded in October 2000 when an Indonesian lady named Agustina Padatu (Tina) with a huge heart, rented a house in downtown Kuta to try and accommodate a growing number of street children at risk in Bali.
Many of the children come from poor villages in East Bali where their parents have no work and very little if any education. Most have experienced or witnessed neglect and abuse. The children are sent down into the city to beg or help their parents with any work they can get.
The children are “rescued” by Tina with the permission of family and village elders to live in the home and receive care, training in sanitation and hygiene, skills development and supplementary education in a loving environment as part of a wholist program of childhood development.
Due to the increasing need we now rent two houses in the same cul de sac and the centre functions for a total of 25 children and 6 staff members.
The Home is funded purely by donations internationally and all the staff are volunteers.
