By Monique Ebrington
COLDSTREAM resident Bec Dash took a year out of her university life to offer a Balinese orphanage a lifeline recently, and said she’d do it again.
The 21-year-old university student deferred her health science and psychology studies to raise funds and work on the island through the Kids Worldwide foundation.
Ms Dash heard about the Kids Worldwide foundation through a friend, Sarah-Rose McIvor, who had previously worked in an orphanage in Africa.
The foundation helps organise the placement of volunteers with children’s projects, in developing countries around the world.
Ms Dash said she decided that Bali was where she wanted to volunteer because she studied Indonesian at high school and through university.
“At (school) and we had a really good teacher, so I became really interested in the language as well the culture. I felt connected to Bali,” Ms Dash said.
“Also, I’d eventually like to get into community development or humanitarian work and, through my course, I’ve done a lot of theory work.
“I figured that volunteering would be a great chance to get some practical experience, and I could really make sure that it was what I wanted to do as career.”
Through product parties, sausage sizzles, a garage sale and other fundraising events Ms Dash managed to raise more than $5000 for the Balinese orphanage.
“The fundraising was quite stressful and tiring,” she said.
“It was the first time I’d done something like this before and I found it hard asking people for help.”
Despite her initial reservations she said that she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the support she received from her friends, family and the community.
“As well as all the money raised, we were also able to send over boxes of books, clothes, toy and school supplies,” she said.
“A lot of people had a hand in it by helping out. It felt like what was donated was from the community and not just me.”
She said that her parents, Rose and Nick, brother Ben and boyfriend Brenton were particularly supportive.
Ms Dash said that while her friends, Ms McIvor and Louise Huesmann, accompanied her on the trip she was still ‘shell shocked’ by the experience.
“The orphanage literally seemed like a house in middle of the jungle,” she said.
“There were 45 children at the orphanage ranging from two years old to around 17 years old.
“I’d have to say it was not what I was expecting but everyone was all so kind and welcoming it made things easier.
“While it was basic, all the children are schooled and fed, they exercise through yoga and they go to the doctors when they need it.
“It was certainly an eye opener for me and I’d definitely do it again.”
For more information on the Kids Worldwide foundation visit www.kidsworldwide.org.
