Wednesday, March 23, 2011

EduCare - Empowering People Through Education

History of EduCare:
Based on census year 2006, Bali has been populated by 3.431.585 people. It means that life is getting more and more competitive in this small island. In fact, the competition is actually happening in all walks of life, even in education. However, there seems to be some places which do not have adequate access on education. Therefore, those who concern about making a better world should really hold hands and do something. In this case, Karuna Bali Foundation works together with Campuhan College to create a service-based program, known as Rural Village EduCare Program.

Karuna Bali foundation is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-religious Indonesian organization, created to assist in providing education and individual growth opportunities to the people of Bali and elsewhere. Karuna Bali foundation is founded by I Wayan Rustiasa. The operational centre for Karuna Bali is located on the main Campuhan-Sanginggan highway into Ubud opposite the Indus restaurant. Fourteen full time Indonesian employees work in administration, project management, marketing and the teaching faculty. Karuna Bali goes beyond traditional teaching of its students. Based on the conviction that each student carries within himself and herself an innate knowing of their natural skills and creativity, our intention is to offer them the opportunity to direct their energy into these areas and thereby grow into their full potential.

EduCare Program is one of the Karuna Bali education programs that serve the rural village school through education by giving a computer and English training for teachers and students. EduCare Program is founded by Made Perdana Skolastika. It started by giving a computer training to 35 teachers in Tegalalang district started 1st November 2007 and finished on 15 February 2008. All the teachers will be given a certificate of completion for the office application on the 25th of April 2007. The second is in Jatiluwih Village, a village that is located in a very remote place where they don’t have any English teachers. EduCare sent ten of one year sponsored students of Campuhan College to do their community project, to enable them to apply the skills and the knowledge that they have received at Campuhan College and to build their awareness of constant giving and receiving. A special English program was designed by our students to enable the children to learn in very relaxing situation, interactive and fun way where they no longer feel that learning is hard and a burden. In the third season of the EduCare program, which is the writer involved in it, EduCare has changed its teaching method. That is also founded by Made Perdana Skolastika, and the teaching method is used until now. So far EduCare Program has served 265 students in seven schools and the program will continue to another schools.









Photography by: Hendrugs46
http://www.hendrugs46.deviantart.com/

Saturday, March 5, 2011

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - MARCH 2011

March 4th – Dark Moon - Tilem Kesanga
The Balinese adhering to the Hindu Dharma religion will celebrate ‘Tilem’ in temple ceremonies, which are mostly held in major temples and family shrines around the island of Bali. On this day Hindus make offerings to the Gods, placed on the ground at the entrance of each housing compound. The aim is to beg God’s grace; so that one’s dark thoughts will be guided by Him.

March 5th – Hari Nyepi – Balinese New Year 1933
Nyepi is the Balinese New Year’s Day according to the lunar calendar and is honored through a ‘Day of Silence’ of obligatory fasting, inactivity, prayer, and quiet throughout the island lasting for 24 hours. Purification offerings are made in every village on the day before to appease evil spirits, and a lively parade of ‘Ogoh-Ogohs’ (demon effigies) are carried throughout village streets to the sound of loud banging and lit torches to chase off the evil spirits. The noise can carry on throughout the night until morning, when silence reigns in the hope that if the spirits return to Bali, they will find it uninhabited. Restrictions are; no lighting fires, or lights after dark, no working, entertainment or pleasure, little noise from TVs and radios, and few signs of activity. No one is to go onto the streets (except the Pecelang), and the airport will also be closed. More info at www.balitourismboard.org

March 6th – Hari Ngembak Geni
The first day of the New Year after Nyepi. At 6 am you are permitted to make noise, leave your home, use electricity, and come out of hiding from the spirits. On this day all shops that are Balinese owned are closed, with the only shops being open owned by traders and staff from the other islands.

March 19th – Full Moon - Purnama Sasih Kedasa
The full moon (which has particular importance to the Balinese Hindus) falls on this day and ceremonies are held throughout the Hindu temples all across Bali. The Balinese that adhere to the Hindu Dharma religion will take offerings of food, fruit and flowers to the temple to be blessed by a priest. It is the essence of theses offerings that will be enjoyed by the deities. The Balinese themselves are then blessed by performing various rituals using holy water, incense smoke, petals and rice grains.

March 19th – Bali’s First Yogathon Fundraiser
Welcome to the first Yoga, Music and Dance A-thon, from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm at Desa Seni Canggu. The A-thon is a twelve-hour continuous event, that all can participate in, lending their energy to support a cause. Additionally it is a pre-festival BaliSpirit event. Take a sponsorship form from Desa Seni, then, ask your friends, co-workers, and family to support you. You will become their liaison to the cause. The more sponsors you bring with you to the A-thon through financial donations, the closer BaliSpirit Festival can come to its goal of raising $10,000. You can participate in all the events or in those that are of interest to you. An organic lunch will be served to all participants; relaxing and enjoyment by the pool are a part of creating a full day. Please come and enjoy this celebration of life, laughter and love, for Bali’s first ever yogathon. www.desaseni.com

March 23rd – 27th – The 4th Annual BaliSpirit Festival
Be a part of something that will change our world. The BaliSpirit Festival is a spiritually charged event that celebrates yoga, dance and music and the synergy of global cultural collaboration through the arts. The Fourth Festival will take place in Ubud from March 23-27, 2011.  Early Bird Tickets are available now. Held over 5 transformational and fun-filled days, this annual celebration brings to Bali a wealth of talented and respected creative masters from around the world, merging the indigenous and rich cultures of Indonesia in the spirit of learning, collaboration and the celebration of creative and spiritual diversity. www.balispiritfestival.com

Source: baliplus.com

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