Two years old...

Yayasan Senyum is two years old this month and we are taking time now to reflect on our work so far and to plan for the future by establishing a strategic plan to take us forward.

Update is happy to report that, looking back on our recent past, we have plenty to be proud of which augurs well for our future...

Ayu and her uncle are welcomed home at Denpasar Airport by Yayasan Senyum's Patient Co-ordinator Oki. Above Ayu before her operation.

Our Patients

Three Patients leave for operations in Adelaide
 

In our last Update we reported on the three patients who had gone to the Australian Craniofacial Unit in Adelaide for operations at the end of March.

First to arrive home was Ayu who went to Adelaide for a reconstruction of her lower jaw. As we waited at Denpasar airport to collect her on the night of 26th of May we speculated as to whether we would recognize her. We didn't! Had she not had her Uncle Nyoman with her, we would not have known her. She was totally transformed!

It was not until the 14th of July that little Rasih and Arham were ready to come home. After three months in Adelaide and the strain of difficult operations Ibu Istri, from Bali and Ibu Warni, from Lombok, were glad to be home. They were, however, sad that this meant they would no longer be together to support each other.

During their time in Adelaide they had become great friends as had their children. Both mums had gained considerable confidence and talked constantly in praise of the hospital, the friendliness of the staff and the care given to the children.

Both children had grown considerably in the three months. Arham had operations to close his cleft lip and palate and reconstruct his nose. He looks terrific. Rasih had a severe bilateral cleft lip but she had the added complication of needing surgery on her skull. Unfortunately, as a result, Rasih suffered a rare complication of blindness in one eye. Rasih still has some mending to do but she is progressing well.

All three patients will come to Denpasar for check-ups when Prof David David has his clinic in November.

Rumiah

And a departure...

Rumiah, a young woman from Lombok departed for Adelaide in July. She is to undergo lip and nose reconstruction operations.

Donors...
 

The Smile Shop - it's a winner!

When Mary Northmore started the Smile Shop in December 2006, it was a bit of a gamble. Would a charity shop work here? Would we get donated goods? Would we get the rent money back!

Nine months later there are no doubts - it has exceeded all our expectations. Profits coming to Yayasan Senyum exceed Rp.100,000,000. It has enabled us to cover all on-going administration costs including wages, purchase a much-needed motorbike as well as meet unexpected patient costs such as when we were offered an operation in Adelaide for baby Rasih at very short notice.

Yayasan Senyum staff congratulate Carrie and her team, as well as all the donors of goods to sell and the buyer-donors who frequent the shop! Thank you all!

The Smile Shop has had a number of distinguished
visitors and donors.
Here on a visit on 10th August are
the Australian Ambassador Mr Bill Farmer and Mrs Farmer
meeting some of our volunteers.
Left to right: Jan, Mr & Mrs Farmer, Carol and Carrie,
our indefatigable manager.

The British Community Committee

Special thanks go to this group for the 50 million Rupiah grant for medical expenses which enabled us to complete the Lombok 70 Project. The grant covered the final twenty-one operations between April and June 2007.

How You Can Help - Donating or Volunteering - contact
Mary Northmore
Ketua Yayasan Senyum, Ubud, Bali
0361 975568 or hp 0811 395 963
Email: Click here

In Bali:
dedicated Rupiah bank account:
BCA Ubud, A/C No 1350249555 a/n Mary Northmore
dedicated US Dollars bank account:
Bank Permata, Menara Ubud branch, A/C No 5804194233 a/n Mary P. Northmore

Thanks to our generous donors who have contributed since the last Update:

Volunteers & Staff

The Indonesian Community in Adelaide

It is not just in Bali that we are blessed with wonderful volunteers. When our patients go to Adelaide for operations they are not as alone as they might be. The Indonesian/Australian community group, headed up by Aida Ravaie-O’Sullivan, reaches out to our patients, visiting them at the hospital, bringing warm clothing, yummy food, taking them out and generally supporting them. Interpreter Anastasia goes well beyond her duties in helping our patients through this difficult time.

When we send our patients off to Adelaide it is a relief to know that such a wonderful group of people are waiting to help them. Our returning patients tell us how much they appreciate the warmth and friendship shown to them. Thank you all!

Indonesian Consulate Staff in Perth

Travelling for the first time by air, going to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language and then having to transfer from an international flight to a domestic flight can be frightening. Travelling Qantas, our Adelaide patients go via Perth. Our grateful thanks go to Thea Soeryo from the Indonesian Consulate who has gone beyond the call of duty to meet our patients and see them onto their ongoing flights. Thanks Thea.

Aida with Ibu Warni and Arham at the farewell party held for them by the Indonesian Community before they left Adelaide.

Volunteers & Staff

Our new staff member Sukma.

Website - Paolo Scarabelli

Anyone who has had a look at our website lately will notice some interesting changes! Paolo, who lives in Denpasar and is a website wizard, has volunteered his services. He has made all the newsletters available both on the site and in PDF form so if you missed the earlier ones you can now see them at www.senyumbali.org. We are still developing the website with him. Thank you Paolo.

New Staff Member

We are delighted to welcome Desak Made Sukma Dewi to the staff of Yayasan Senyum. Sukma has just joined us as our new Office Manager. She is not only a most efficient worker but a delightful person who shows great empathy towards our patients. Welcome aboard Sukma.