Help for Kintari

The Indonesian island Lombok got the attention of the world after few wasting earthquakes destroyed in August 2018 its northern part. In total four earthquakes (two of them with 6,9 Richter scale) killed hundreds of people and caused huge damage. Earthquakes are not uncommon in Indonesia; the country is in the so-called area of Fire circle, where approximately 90% of all Earth’s earthquakes happen. Myself, I experienced one with 5,2 Richter scale while staying at Lombok. Well, I slept over it. Luckily, it didn’t cause much damage, otherwise I might not be able to write these lines. Earthquakes are not the only one problem of the country, almost 26 million people still live in huge poverty. Although this is the lowest number since the measurements are executed, and it presents “only” 9.82% of the total population, the number is somehow a dangerous balance on a very thin ice – a bigger wave of inflation would return other millions, who are living today just slightly above the line, to the red area.

The reason of my visit at Lombok was a new project I again started based on a recommendation of someone from my wider area (herewith a big thank to my friend Maja M.). I didn’t have to be convinced a lot, after a short research and a discussion with Jana Wolfová, the founder of the Kintari foundation we agreed quickly. Currently, Kintari connects artists, students, travelers, teachers, doctors and other fans of Indonesia, who are interested into Asian culture. Since it’s been founded, the foundation presented its agenda in many cities of Czech Republic and Slovakia.

It all started in the year 2006 and since then there are several directions, which the foundation walks. It is the only Czech-Indonesian group in Czech Republic presenting Indonesian art and with these specific activities it collects funds for the development projects on Lombok. Kintari organizes mainly courses and workshops of Indonesian dance for public, groups, schools but also individuals, led by the dance group which has been founded within Kintari. The founder, lector and dancer Jana Wolfová gives speeches about Indonesia, the Lombok habits and culture, either on schools or to the wider public audience. The Kintari e-shop offers unique hand-made and traditional products of Indonesia. So far so good to the activities back “at home“.

The current activities of the Kintari foundation on Lombok are mainly focused on teaching English in the village Ngolang, in both its elementary school and kindergarten. The elementary school has been renovated by Kintari in 2009 – 2010, it has been equipped with furniture and schoolbooks. In the same school Kintari also ditched a well and built a lavatory. Introducing the hygiene to the kids, an epidemy of skin diseases has been stopped. The kindergarten has been built by Kintari in 2011. Since 2013 Kintari also supports the elementary school in the village Sukadana, where those kids are commuting, who cannot get an education in the state school. Other villages with Kintari English education are Petiwung and Sengkol. All the tuition is done during the whole year, which gives the kids a chance for better education and better future too. This could be connected for example with the tourist business, which is slowly about to boom on the island. The Kintari lectors are recruited from the volunteers, who are not paid for their volunteering and must cover all expenses from their own pocket. They went to Lombok for a mission; to help those, who need it the most. Last but not least, they also provide English lessons for the adults from very poor conditions.

The awareness of the kids and their parents about basic hygienic habits is tragic, which still leads to many skin diseases. Kintari also organizes medical help, provides medicaments and teaches the kids basic hygienic habits. Another activity on the island presents the support of the areas affected by the August’ earthquakes. While the main activities of Kintari focus on the more peaceful south of the island, the volunteers regularly also commute to the destroyed north and support the locals with food, water and other things important for their daily life. Kintari also recently organized a public donation for Lombok and many people from Czech Republic helped. Unfortunately, the attention of the world moved from Lombok to the city Palu on the island Sulawesi, which has been destroyed by an earthquake of 7,5 Richter scale and a following tsunami wave, thousands of people died.

How can you help

The best help is your financial contribution, for your money the school needs for the kids will be bought or food and daily needs for the people affected by the earthquakes will be secured. The easiest is to send your contribution directly to the Kintari bank account in Czech Republic:

Komerční banka
Praha 6 – Jugoslávských partyzánů 12
account number: 1051079008/0100
IBAN: CZ3601000000001051079008
SWIFT: KOMBCZPPXXX

If you don’t live in Czech Republic, you can send your donation to my Slovakian account: SK1083605207004206532449.

In both cases, please don’t forget to add a comment „Runeller – Kintari“  into the comment section and drop me a short message, this helps me to monitor the success of the project.

Another option how to help and support the foundation’s activities, is to buy unique Indonesian products from the Kintari e-shop.

Should you be interested into a real adventure, you can join the Kintari volunteering program and spend few months on Lombok, teaching English. I can guarantee that you will never forget these months.

Also read: Two days with Kintari