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Bali Matters
 
Mind Matters Institute of Emotional Intelligence is highly involved in various philanthropic initiatives.  The most visible project at present is Bali Matters - a not for profit project instigated by Catherine Connolly & Rex Urwin to support sustainable living.
 
Bali Matters was initiated in 2005.  Mind Matters have spent several years running programs in beautiful Bali.  As part of our desire to give back to the wonderful Balinese who have supported us over the years, we have begun working with Balinese villages to create a sustainable model that honors the ancient wisdom of the Balinese culture, while assisting them in ways to maintain their culture and create opportunities in our ever changing world.
 
The Village, whose name will remain confidential for ecological reasons, is located in the heart of Bali, past Ubud.  Following meetings with the elders of the village to identify their needs and wants, Mind Matters set about developing solutions with them that enhance or maintain the culture, and deliver new methods to improve living conditions and sustainability.
 
The Village is particularly poor, and the elders were concerned that to maintain certain aspects of their true culture they needed to change the way they do things.  As Indonesia changes, it is becoming more evident Balinese children are required to learn other languages in order to gain employment and provide for their families as they become adults.  Tourism is a key industry in Bali.  With it comes opportunity, and also potentially the diminishing of cultural connections and values. 
 
Bali Matters has been set up with the key purpose being to create sustainable futures while maintaining the important aspects of culture.
 
Some of the initiatives already under way include:
  • Providing music and dance opportunities, instruments and costumes for the children so they can learn the celebratory dances
  • The introduction of organic farming practices to preserve the soil fertility and produce healthy crops
  • The establishment of a formalised cooperative economic model for The Village to benefit all
  • The provision of an English program designed to make learning fun, interactive and culturally sensitive 
  • Recycling initiatives to help The Villagers understand plastics and synthetic materials and how to dispose of them ecologically
A model for the world
Bali Matters is the model which other cultures can utilise.  Rex Urwin & Catherine Connolly will be travelling extensively during 2008 to learn about other cultures in need of assistance. 
 
Ancient Wisdom, the program run in Bali by Mind Matters pledges 10% of profit to Bali Matters.  It is also a masterful combination of the best wisdom from East and West melded together to create sustainable thinking.
 
Make a donation to Bali Matters Not-for-profit project
 
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