Asia Exchange
Charity

Here at Asia Exchange we strongly believe that we have the responsibility to help those who aren't that well off. This is done in the best way by supporting local organizations and participating in charity. Even though Asia Exchange's study abroad destinations may be considered to be heaven on earth, we encourage students to open their eyes and dig deeper. Understanding problems of developing countries is an enriching experience so we hope as many students as possible could take part in our charity activities.

Asia Exchange organizes a visit to an orphanage during the orientation week in Bali and Phuket . The time the students spend with the children is in itself already a huge donation. On top of that Asia Exchange also supports the orphanages with biannual donations. Please read below more about the children's homes we work with and students' experiences on charity. 

Seeds of Hope (Bali, Indonesia)

Even the greatest destinations in the world have their dark sides. Poverty and low quality of living are day-to-day life for the local people in many places in Asia – also on the paradise island of Bali. However, we have the chance to help and leave something good after us to the places where we travel, study and work. In 2010 Asia Exchange (AE) started its charity work in a children’s home called Seeds of Hope in Bali. As part of our charity program, we make a donation of 30 USD per each of our exchange students in order to make the living conditions of the children’s home better and support education. In 2010 the amount was a total of 5000 USD. Besides, our exchange students in Bali can personally get acquainted with and participate in the activities of the children’s home during their study abroad semester. This is a moving experience for both the students and the children.

Facts about Seeds of Hope

Seeds of Hope is located in the village of Dalungi and run by an old Balinese couple. The children’s home is like a big family where the older children take care of the smaller ones. The mission of Seeds of Hope is to ensure education and sufficient knowledge of English for the children in a loving and safe environment.

In the autumn of 2010 there were 69 children, from babies to 21-year-olds, living in the children’s home. Most of the children have experienced something shocking already at a young age and don’t have parents. Seeds of Hope will welcome more children when the financial resources and facilities allow so. The children’s home provides the children with alimentation, education and possibilities for a proper life. At the moment already 15 youngsters, whose education would’ve been impossible without the children’s home, study at university. The dream of a normal life with a job is becoming true to them.

Donations funding the activities

Seeds of Hope is completely dependent on donations. Money is needed to buy basic groceries, such as rice, but also for school appliances and construction of the house. Asia Exchange’s donations have been used e.g. to remove mould from children’s bedrooms, redo the toilets and fix the leaking roof of the kitchen.

Exchange students' contribution to charity work

Asia Exchange invites every semester the voluntary workers from Seeds of Hope to visit Udayana University in order to present the activities of the children’s home to exchange students. After that the students have the chance to visit Seeds of Hope where they can concretely get to know the life of the children’s home and spend time with the children. After this unforgettable experience some of the students visit Seeds of Hope regularly during exchange semester.

Visit to Seeds of Hope - Autumn 2010

On November 3th, 2010 over 30 AE’s exchange students participated in a visit at Seeds of Hope. The children welcomed the guests with a heart-rending musical performance. After that the visitors got to know the activities and building of the children’s home. After the tour the visitors gathered to watch performances made by the children. The youngest ones were singing and the older ones performed a traditional Balinese dance and some more modern moves to the music of Shakira.

Between the performances Sandra, the owner of Seeds of Hope, held a touching speech on the children’s backgrounds and the basic idea of the children’s home. She warmly thanked for the games, toys and clothes the students had brought together with a donation of 700 000 rupiahs. Sandra told about the renovation of the boys’ room that was done with the help of Asia Exchange. In the end the students had time to talk and play with the children. For example, the students played football with the children and talked with the beautiful dancers about their amazing performance.

"The visit was a great and emotive experience! The children’s performances and the gratefulness of the owner made the eyes of even the most robust students teary!"

Nitta, Saara and Niina from Turku University of Applied Sciences also took part in the visit. The girls told that they were deeply touched by the visit. They see Asia Exchange’s charity work as a very important thing. This became clearer during the visit. The girls were pleased to notice how we can affect in the children’s well-being and quality of life with small things. The kids at the children’s home seem healthy and happy which wouldn’t be possible without external help.

The girls thought that the best part of the visit was to see the children enjoy their lives despite their rough backgrounds. Nitta, Saara and Niina respect the way in which the children are raised at Seeds of Hope. The children are taught to take care of each other. This shared responsibility is very evident. The girls believe this to be partially culture specific. In a children’s home in a western country it wouldn’t be considered to be such an important part of the upbringing. The girls stated that Sandra is a very wise and experienced woman who also thinks children’s education is an extremely important thing.

Read more about Seeds of Hope here.

Asia Center Foundation (Phuket, Thailand)

In 2010 Asia Exchange started supporting Asia Centre Foundation (ACF) – children’s home in Phuket, Thailand. ACF is a non-profit organization that takes care of under-privileged children’s welfare and education. Volunteers and interns work at ACF together with its permanent staff.

ACF is in charge of several projects that help children of Phuket to have a decent life. For example the Patong Childcare Center project helps to take care of and teach 3-6 year old children whose mothers work for go-go bars at night and are not able to raise their children on their own. Another project is organizing Jumpstart Learning Center education to children from Myanmar living in Phuket. These children are not entitled to attend Thai schools and the same social benefits as Thai children.

AE exchange students can choose a project every year where money will be donated. Students vote on the project after visiting ACF.

Read more about Asia Center Foundation and the projects on the organization's website.

If you want more information on our charity activities, please contact us by phone or email.