East Bali Poverty Project (Yayasan Ekoturisme Indonesia)

Yayasan Ekoturisme Indonesia, well known as East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP) is a non-profit organisation established in 1998 by a British resident of Bali after an appeal for help by an isolated rural village in the mountains of East Bali, forgotten by time and progress. The surveys conducted revealed thousands of people living in abject poverty without water, sanitation, roads, schools, health facilities and electricity. Illiteracy was approaching 100%. Malnutrition and iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) were endemic. When interviewed in November 1998 to determine their priorities and whether EBPP could help, over 1,000 families requested children’s education as a foundation for a better future An inspiring and productive collaboration thus began with the most disadvantaged communities. Starting from education as the first touch point, we continue to develop various environmental initiatives that harness human and natural resources for mutual benefit to improve living ecosystems, provide sustainable food sources and sustainable livelihoods for thousands of people and the future generations; while at the same time, ensure the preservation of the local environment and ecosystems. With the philosophy of “helping people to help themselves”, all programs are designed as models that can be replicated and executed by local people who transfer knowledge directly, and appropriate technology within their communities.