International Humanity Foundation, Bali Centre

Along my travels I have met some amazing people and after hearing about their experiences volunteering with local communities I knew I had to do something as well. Plus I have finally admitted to myself that I'm not as young as I used to be and my body has struggled with all the punishment I have put it thru, the ridiculously long travel hours (30 hrs travel is nothing to me), lack of food (meat and dairy and alcohol), lack of sleep, which in my younger days would have been no problem. The lower back problem seems to be worsening in a way that I might actually have to see a doctor when I get back and I hate the doctors!

I am now donating my time volunteering with kids for International Humanity Foundation (www.ihfonline.org) It may sound sad but I actually missed working and began to find doing nothing but find material for my blog boring. I just needed to utilise my time more effectivly. I am working with local kids teaching them English and Maths in a tiny village on the Eastern coast of Bali called Buitan. The village has literally 3 shops and 3 cafes.
You probably all think I am living the Balinesian dream, and taking a nice relaxing break, but you would be wrong. It is so humid and uncomfortable. I honestly think I am melting. There are mosquitoes everywhere and thankfully my mate Simon gave me his mosquito net or else I would definitly have malaria by now, as I still refuse to take malaria tablets, much to the dismay of many people I have met! There is only freezing cold showers. The hours are long and the work really quite hard. We are not allowed to drink alcohol nor go to the beach and swim as that would mean getting into our bikini's and as the area is predominantly muslim and we don't want to offend anyone. But I am working with a great bunch of volunteers and everyone is so helpful.

International Humanity Foundation was set up by an American lady called Carol Sasaki and she really has put her heart and soul into this organisation helping kids get an education in Thailand, Kenya and Indonesia. Education in these parts of the world is expensive local people so if it were not for foundations like this and the donations it receives these kids would have no education.