Our Latest News & Stories

Saraswati Day (Hari Raya Saraswati) is one of Hindu Bali’s most important holy days, celebrated to honour the arrival of knowledge and learning. This celebration takes place every six months according to the Balinese calendar. For the Balinese community, especially students, it is an important occasion to show respect for knowledge while preserving cultural traditions. At EBPP schools, Saraswati is a special occasion that brings students and teachers together in preparation f

Every year on 28 October, we commemorate Youth Pledge Day, a reminder of the unity and spirit of young people who helped shape Indonesia's history. For us, the Youth Pledge is not just a part of history to remember, but also an inspiration for what we can do today. As young people, we have an important role in keeping our culture alive. At EBPP School, we learn about local arts and culture in our Arts and Culture lessons. We learn about traditional arts, passed down from our

Recognising a social issue is one thing; understanding why it happens is another. In EBPP’s Youth Empowerment classes, students are learning to take this next step by observing their surroundings, questioning common practices, and analysing social issues through a more critical lens. Having explored child marriage, sexual harassment and violence, patriarchy, and gender equality in their Youth Empowerment lessons, students are now applying their knowledge through simple observ

Education is constantly changing, and as teachers, we also need to keep learning and adapting. One of the valuable learning experiences I recently had was through discussions and mentoring with Bu Sari, a district-level education supervisor, particularly around the changes introduced through the 2025 Curriculum. With her experience, clear guidance and strong commitment to education, Bu Sari shared many useful insights and suggestions. Our discussions helped me better understa

Fold it. Cut it. Create it. Today, EBPP elementary students turned simple materials and ideas into hands-on learning! Students from Grades 1, through 6 took part in creative projects designed to help them learning through ‘trial-and-error doing’. Grade 1 students practiced folding and cutting, developing hand coordination, focus, and patience; Grade 3 students turned recycled cardboard and colourful origami paper into flower pots, discovering how everyday materials can be reu

“Why are you happy?” “Because I won a game on my phone.” It was a simple exchange, but it was not a question from the teacher. It came from one student to another at the end of our English lesson. What started with one word, ‘Why’, soon turned into a lively classroom conversation. I had asked the students to choose one word to describe how they felt that day. Their answers were quite different: “Happy,” “Lazy,” “Humble,” “Excited,” “Tired,” and “Fun.” One student said, “I’m h

What happens when students are asked to write a report, but instead of starting with a lecture, they start with an experiment? This is how EBPP Junior High School students are currently learning their ‘report text’ topic in their Indonesian language lessons. Rather than simply listening to an explanation about the structure and language of a report writing, they first explore, observe and discover something for themselves. Their experiments are simple but full of questions. T

Computer learning is very important because technology has become a part of our everyday lives. By learning about computers, I am not only learning how to use an electronic device, but also developing skills that can help me with my studies, future work, and communication. Nowadays, digital literacy is also very important because I interact with the internet and social media almost every day. I need to know how to find reliable information, distinguish facts from false inform

In last week’s art lesson, our students were asked to look closely at the objects around them and turn what they saw into art. Our elementary students focused on drawing real objects such as globes, cups, scissors, pencil cases, etc. They practised observing shapes and forms while learning the basics of pencil shading and gradation. Meanwhile, junior and senior high students explored colour and gradation using acrylic paint. Their subject was simple: a leaf placed in front of

Inspired by friends at EBPP’s Darmaji and Manikaji schools, students from Bunga, Cegi and Pengalusan have been asking: “When can we learn dryland agriculture too?” Now, their wish is becoming reality. Since mid-August, EBPP’s agriculture team has begun training these students to turn steep, dry land at their Daya Learning Centre into productive farmland. They are learning to measure slopes, build terraces with simple bamboo A-frames, and make organic compost from fallen leave

Throughout Ban Village, bamboo grows abundantly and is one of the communities’ most valuable local resources. It is used for construction, household items, Hindu ceremonies, musical instruments and many types of handicrafts. With creativity and proper skills, bamboo is a sustainable resource with significant economic potential. Recognising this opportunity, EBPP students are learning to transform bamboo into useful and valuable products. They have previously made balancing ba

As part of the students’ creative projects, Grade 1 and Grade 3 students took part in an engaging art activity using simple and easily available materials, including recycled paper and dried leaves. The project encouraged students to learn through hands-on activities while developing their creativity and fine motor skills. For Grade 1 students, the project focused on learning how to use scissors safely and correctly. Students practiced cutting paper and dry leaves into simple

Last week, EBPP collaborated with SeaBank and PerfectFit for a two-day women’s empowerment lesson at Darmaji School, which focused on financial literacy and healthy menstruation for 49 Darmaji School female students and women from the surrounding community. On the first day, Ibu Linda, Finance Director of SeaBank, introduced participants to simple but important financial habits: knowing the difference between needs and wants, appreciating what we already have, and learning to

The spirits of freedom and unity filled the air as the students, teachers, and staff of the East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP), and the local village police officer gathered at EBPP Daya School to celebrate the 81st Independence Day of Indonesia! The memorable day began with icebreaker games followed by a nutritious breakfast of boiled sweet potatoes and boiled eggs, perfectly fuelling everyone for a solemn flag-raising ceremony to honour the nation's heroes. One of the flag-ra

Preparing for Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations on 17th August at EBPP School has been an exciting and meaningful experience for all of us. As Independence Day approaches, we have been working together to prepare for the formal ceremony and many different activities. School feels more exciting when everyone gets involved and we look forward to celebrating Indonesia’s Independence Day together. The preparations also bring students closer: some of us practice for the fl

As we enter the dry season, Darmaji Hamlet is experiencing very dry conditions, with water sources becoming increasingly limited. It is difficult for many families to grow crops, and even our daily water needs must be managed carefully. For our community, water is precious, and every drop matters. Despite these challenges, my family is very grateful that we can still enjoy fresh vegetables from our own home garden. This is possible because my friends and I have been learning

At first glance, marching practice may look simple: students walking in step, standing tall, and following commands together. But at EBPP, it is much more than synchronized movement. It is a lesson in discipline, teamwork, responsibility, and leadership. During practice, students learn that every movement matters. One person moving too late can affect the whole formation, so they must listen carefully, stay focused, and support one another. They learn that success depends not

Joining a mixed-gender competition at EBPP School has been one of the most exciting and memorable experiences I have ever had. It is the first time I have had the opportunity to play on the same team with both boys and girls, and I feel proud to be part of this event. Until now, I had mostly seen sports competitions separated by gender. Because of this, participating in a mixed-gender competition made me realize that girls and boys can play together, support one another, and

When the rain stops and the dry season arrives, farming takes a different approach. At Darmaji Regenerative Agriculture learning Garden, our Darmaji students learn that agriculture is not only about planting and harvesting, but also about caring for the land, conserving resources, and preparing for the next growing season. During this period, students focus on maintaining the garden and strengthening the foundation for future crops. Stored rainwater is carefully managed to su

By: I Ketut Madya, EBPP Sport Teacher Hard work, discipline, and determination can take us further than we ever imagined. This has been proven by Deva, a 6th Grade student from EBPP Manikaji School, who achieved an outstanding result at the Student Sports Week (PORJAR) Pencak Silat competition. Deva’s journey began at the village level, where he demonstrated his skills, confidence, and fighting spirit to win 1st place. His success continued as he advanced to the sub-district