Hooray, We Are a Real Nonprofit!
What's the WINS Project?
The mission of The WINS Project USA, Inc. is to provide financial and other means of support for the Yayasan Widya Guna located in Bedulu, Bali, Indonesia. This is the official name of the orphanage. It translates into English as "Foundation for Children’s Education." Read more »
After months of waiting, we have finally received our nonprofit status from the IRS. We are incorporated and have a tax ID number. Earnie Giles started the process back in 2006 and worked long and hard to 
Earnie Giles get this accomplished. He made numerous phone calls to the IRS and persevered until the process was completed. Now that the work is complete, we can commence with the business of educating the children of Bali. Thank you, Earnie.
Thanks to Debra Griffiths and Wendy Chester
Debra Griffiths & Wendy ChesterRecently, Wendy and Debra from Australia were on vacation in Bali and visited the orphanage. They realized how hot and stuffy it was in the English classroom. Their generosity has brought about ceiling fans and standing fans to make the classroom a more comfortable place to learn. What a great gift to give to the children. The kids think that these fans are a gift from heaven. All of the children send their thanks to Debra and Wendy.
English Lessons at the Orphanage
We can speak English & the fans keep us cool.The English lessons at the orphanage have become so successful that they have been expanded from two to five times a week. Any of the children in the village are invited to attend the classes as well. The regular English teacher is Ibu Ayu. She lives in the village and has been giving English lessons from the beginning.
There are now four English-speaking volunteer teachers from different parts of the world. Valery is from New York, Romy from Mexico, Sandeh from Germany and Caroline from California. These women spend a lot of their time in Bali and have been a great asset to the orphanage.
Child Sponsoring
Primarily utilizing their website, the Dutch has been very successful with their child sponsoring program. At this moment, there are thirty-nine children that are sponsored. The money pays for the children's school fees and other related school costs. We will try to have our child sponsoring program up and running and on our website soon. We have been holding off on this until our nonprofit status was granted. You can go to the Dutch website link on our website and click on child sponsoring. All of the information about the children will be in English.
Please remember that there are orphans, children with one parent and even children with both parents. All of these kids need sponsors because their parents cannot afford the cost of sending them to school. We are accustomed to going to school for free and that does not happen in Bali. They have school fees, building fees, book fees and paper, pencils and uniforms to buy.
When you sponsor a child, the entire donation goes only to that particular child. The child will keep a ledger on how the money is used. Each child has their own bank account. Your child will e-mail you and also send copies of their ledger and their report card from school. Ketut supervises the children as they accomplish these tasks as well as controls access to the bank accounts. This is a great opportunity for the children to learn how to manage money and a bank account.
It is almost unheard of for children in Bali to have bank accounts. Nyoman keeps a separate ledger on each child and also checks the child's ledger. Our suggestion for sponsorship is $35 a month. This could be paid monthly, quarterly or annually which is the preferred method. This amount will cover all school costs for junior and senior high school students. If the child is in elementary school, it will be more than enough but the excess money is saved to help the child once they get into junior high school. Please remember $35 is only a suggestion – any amount you contribute will help defray the cost of the children's education.
The Dentists Makes a House Call
Open Wide!There was a group of dentists from Hong Kong that visited the orphanage. They came to look at the teeth of all the children in the village. This was a charitable visit and all of the dentists were doing this work for free.
After checking sixty children, the dentist found that only six children needed dental work. They were very surprised. Ketut told the dentists that the children have been taught to brush every day.
In the summer of 2006 when Donald Pinegar and Gill Rijnenberg were in Bali, they went to many stores and purchased a lot of toothbrushes and toothpaste. They talked to the children and Ketut about the benefits of good oral hygiene. Now all the children have their own toothbrush and are doing a great job. Ketut does not allow any candy in the orphanage.
This Story Will Make You Understand the Poverty of Children in Bali
While visiting in Bali in July, Gill and his daughter went to the village of Puhu. This village is a little north of Bedulu. Four children are sponsored in this village. One boy in the village is nicknamed Kocong which means the poor boy in Bali. If you are called the poor boy in Bali, then you must be in dire straits. Kocong real name is I Wayan Suardana.
Would you like your children to go to this school?Kocong lives deep in the woods with his grandmother. She is too old to work so there is no money coming in. Sometimes, there is no food and both of them go out in the woods in search of edible plants and fruits. Their neighbors have been kind and have tried to help out by giving them what they could. The neighbors are poor as well and must take care of their own family first. Kocong and his grandmother live in what we would refer to as a shack. It is tiny with no glass in the windows and has a dirt floor. To make matters worse, Gill noticed some men surveying the property around Kocong house. They said the new owners were going to build a new house on the property. Kocong grandmother, who was born there, has no documentation to prove that the land belongs to their family. The neighbors have tried to help but the new owners are wealthy and there is no chance they will be able to stay in the house for much longer.
The Kraus family in Hoofddrop, Holland, sponsors Kocong but he has to walk a great distance to go to school. The school as you can see in the photo needs a great deal of work. The villagers are too poor to pay the building fees and make the improvements needed to repair the school. Gill has spoken with the Anikita Foundation which is located in Holland. This organization helps the needy build new buildings and repair old ones. Hopefully, we will be able to work with them on this project as well as others in the future.
KocongCheri Leijer, Gill's sister, surprised Kocong with a new mountain bike that he could ride to school instead of walking. Kocong never lets go of the bike. He said it was like a dream that he now owns a bicycle. The photo shows the new proud owner with his bike.
Everyone hoped that Kocong would come to the orphanage but he cried and said he could not leave his grandmother. It was decided that he could stay in his village and come to the orphanage when he was ready. When the new owners take the land, both Kocong and grandma will have to move in with neighbors. Next year, Kocong will come to the orphanage to live. We will try and help the grandmother.
Senang Hati (Takes Care) Foundation
Ibu SikiIbu Siki is a new volunteer who will be helping children with special needs at the orphanage. Using her own money, she has been helping special needs students for years and is a very welcome member of the team.
The Yayasan has joined hands with the Senang Hati (Takes Care) Foundation. Senang Hati takes care of children with special needs. A Dutch foundation provides funding for such things as wheelchairs, crutches and therapy as well as making buildings handicapped accessible. 
Gill, Tamara, Wayan, Ketut and Ibu PutuWe, along with the Dutch, will provide for the education of these children.
Wayan Sukarman, pictured to the right, is nine years old and for the first time will be able to attend school. Senang Hati is operated by Ibu Putu, a very strong and courageous woman, who herself is in a wheelchair. The disabled have a very difficult time in Bali due to the lack of government programs.
International Doorways Students Find the Yayasan
Ketut and the International Doorways visitorsThis summer, a group of seven teenage students sponsored by International Doorways (please check their website for more information on this wonderful group at www.internationaldoorways.com) spent a month in Bali with group leaders, Scott Mandell and Joe Mong. Much of their time was spent enjoying all of the natural beauty that Bali has to offer. They enjoyed the same things as teenagers all over, swimming, snorkeling, white water rafting, etc.
Fortunately, this group was also here to do more than surf the waves at Kuta. They were here to do community service as well. Because of this organization, these young Americans were lucky enough to meet some beautiful and intelligent Balinese youngsters at the orphanage. These children needs financial, emotional and scholastic are met with the help of all of the teachers and volunteers at the orphanage under the direction of Ketut. 
Joe & Scott with two of our best dancersThe leaders from International Doorways were so moved by all of this that they have already signed on to do two more weeks of community service next year with this orphanage and another one for disabled Balinese children. It is also operated by Ketut. All of the Americans went home remembering these wonderful hours with the kids at the orphanage even more than the fun of snorkeling. This is a great group and we are happy that they are joining forces with us to help the children of Bali.
Meet Putu Who is a Very Special Child
Brandy teaches Putu sign languagePutu is deaf and cannot speak. She is seven years old and is full of energy just like any typical seven year old. She will have to attend a special school. One of the American students with Doorways International, Brandy Benson who is from Seattle, was so moved by the circumstances of Putu that she agreed to sponsor this beautiful child during her entire school life. Brandy spent her time at the orphanage trying to teach Putu sign language and she was able to make contact with her. This was a moving and emotional sight for everyone.
Putu has both parents but they cannot afford to send her to school or buy her a hearing aid. Scotties mother, Doris Mandell, has generously agreed to buy Putu the hearing aid. Gill took Putu shopping and bought her a schoolbag, shoes (most kids do not have shoes) books, paper and pens enabling her to begin her education.
The two guest rooms are available for $3.50 US per person per night. Each room is equipped with two comfortable beds and a clean, modern shower. Included is breakfast, consisting of pancake, tea and fruit. Lunch is also included if you wish to dine with the children. 