It is the eve of my 26th birthday and like many others facing a 'quarter-life crisis', I have asked myself numerous times: how will this year be any better or any more special?  

This may not be the year of great change for me personally, but there is an opportunity for those who just need a little bit of our kindness to bring about very positive change in their lives.

I have the privilege of working for Play for Change, a great foundation that aims to improve the circumstances of children and their chances at a better future. We support a small but amazing children's shelter in Bali called Yayasan Kasih Peduli Anak (YKPA), which has become well-known for its Bali Street Kids Project. YKPA has, for the past 7 years, brought aid to children living in the slums and also started makeshift education facilities and activities to help take them off the streets. Many of these children are exploited for begging, sexual abuse and criminal activities, often by their own families who are struggling to survive.

Of these children I was most touched by Repo, a wonderful 5-year-old boy with cerebral palsy whom I first met in 2013. He is one of many children belonging to a mother who had subjected him to abuse and neglect. At that point he had just been taken in by YKPA and was unable to walk more than 5 steps without falling down, and could barely communicate with anyone.  

When I visited YKPA again this year, Repo has become a much stronger and active boy who refuses help whenever he falls down. He is smiling ALL THE TIME! YKPA has managed to find free physical therapy for him at a local school as well as a sponsor who helps pay for his needs. Repo is now able to, in his own way, participate in activities with other children and has shown us so much love with the many hugs and kisses he now freely gives away. (:

The smiles and happiness of the street children are especially priceless because of the hardship they have to endure - and they are so much easier to achieve compared to the many things we ask for as city kids. I hope there comes a day when you can visit YKPA and understand how a small shelter can turn so many lives around through a pure determination to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

 

MY PLEDGE

To help raise funds, I promise to give up fast food for a year and run a half marathon if we hit the target. The people who know me (and still love me thank God) will tell you how much I adore fast food and abhor running. This will be a big change of lifestyle for me and I hope this will benefit YKPA Play for Change - and show everyone that you can making a genuine difference even in the smallest ways, even without having to give very much at all.

So I really hope that you can support Play for Change and myself by donating to this life-changing fund. There is no need to make huge donations but every single bit of help counts towards helping children like Repo.

Though of course if you want to see me fulfill my challenge, you have to help me hit my target! (:

 

Thank you everyone!

 

Much love xoxoxo,

Jasmine