Alhor, our first mission is done and enough work is waiting for us!

On October the 28th a Kolewa delegation traveled to the Island Alor for the first time. From Denpasar(Bali) we had a  short stop in Kupang (Timor) and flew to Mali-airport. It was a thrilling flight because of the hard wind and a short landing strip. Especially the Indonesian team members didn’t feel well, but luckily they recovered fast.

We managed to get the help of one our local contacts, Zarus and driver Frenky, who were waiting fur us near the exit. Zarus arranged a car, made reservations at a hotel and already made some other preperations to locate children with a cleft lip.

Alor is a beautiful Island that is barely noticed by tourists yet and has a wonderful coast, seven gorgeous diving spots and has a pearl industry.  The people are friendly, approachable, live in simpel conditions and have restricted medical healthcare (not to mention plastic surgery). Alor has a relaxt atmosphere and looks some way Jamaican, because of the many rasta hairstyles we saw during our stay. Approximately 15 diffrent languages are spoken, called: ‘Papuan’. Luckily, Zarus speaks Bahasa Indonesia and a little bit English.

We went to local accomodations and restaurants. Sleeping, showering en toilet-use were not pleasant. However the food was very good (in Indonesian: ‘enak’). Our stay was at Hotel Kenari, which we cannot recommend for western people, but it was (sort of) acceptable (as other options were not availabe).

Our new scout prepared very well for our visit. We visited many consultation clinics and scouted multiple cleft lip children. Three of them we took with us to Bali for an operation. Next, we sailed to the Island Kepa and visited in Alor-Kecil a traditional village.

Soon it became clear to us that we are one of the first NGO’s with a focus on children with congentinal physical impairments. Posters and other information were happily received and hung up on the walls. Many people know potential patients we can help and therefore we decided to add Alor to our region we provide care to in Indonesia.

On the fourth day of our journey, we said goodbye to Zarus and offered him to continue ase a scout for our Indonesian organisation Yayasan Kolewa Harapan Indonesia. This young man, with background in architecture and without any current job or income, has pleasantly surprised us during our journey. He accepted our offer with big enthusiasm. Shortly, we will try to visit Alor again to pick up the next delegation of children we scouted. Two are on the wating list: a boy with a open palate and a girl with hydrocephalus.

 

In some cases a child with cleft lip or an open palate requires more sponsors. How does it work? First: the children (originating from Rote, Timor, Sumbawa and Flores) travel together with their parents and Kolewa staff to the Kolewa shelterhome at Bali, which requires costs for traveling and accomodation. Then, children and parents/supervisors will be lovingly taken care of at our shelterhome. Here they will be provided with a place to sleep, three meals a day and daily activities they can join. Next, which is most important, is to plan their medical journey.

Secondly, costs must be made for the operation, the accomodation of two nights at he hospital, medication and retesting at the Dharma Yadnya hospital. In 2016 these costs were covered by Rotary Club Nusa Dua (Bali) by means of a Global Grant. For 2017 we already made a new request. However, this will take several months. Before it can be granted, the accountability of the application must accepted by the international head office of the club.

The amount of the ticket price and operation can differ, depending on the duration of accomodation,. Though, approximately 500 euros is estimated for the operation and another 500 euros is estimated for traveling and accomodation. When the whole amount is donated by 1 sponsor, only that sponsor will named in showing pictures and publications of the progress. When only a part of the amount is donated (for instance 500 euros) than a combination of sponsors will be named in showing the progress.

Rotary club Nusa Dua still guarantees three operations per month at Bali and project Namaste supports the treatment of these children in the remaining costs. For that reason whe are urgently looking for companies, funds and private organisations who wants to financially support the whole process or only the operation on a monthly base.

For more information contact: info@kolewa.com

An example of the outlined situation is the little Aldius Putra from Flores. The dutch couple Suze and Andre support all costs associated with the operation. Project Namaste from Frankener, guarantee the travel and accomodation costs.

Both donations make it possible for Aldius to enter his medical journey. Shortly, he can live smiling again.

 

Bewaren