My First Week at EBPP – A Warm Welcome and Eye-Opening Experience

I arrived at the EBPP office in Denpasar on Monday morning and was warmly welcomed by David and part of the local team. Despite an unexpected power outage that afternoon, which made for a dramatic start to the week, things could only go uphill from there and they certainly did.

Visit to Manikaji School

Over the next few days, I began to settle in, learning more about the incredible work EBPP has been doing since its founding in 1998. I was especially inspired by the story of how the organization discovered the remote village of Ban, which was once completely unknown to the government. The progress made since then is nothing short of remarkable.

On Friday, I had the opportunity to visit Ban Village for the first time. I met the rest of the EBPP team, visited the schools, and explored the community vegetable garden. What struck me most was the warm energy of the children, we were greeted with wide, genuine smiles at every turn.

What truly touched me was how happy and welcoming everyone is here. Even though daily life comes with many challenges, people radiate a sense of joy and community that is often missing back home in France, where life may be easier, but smiles are rarer. It’s a powerful reminder of what really matters.

This first week has already been an unforgettable experience, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

By Jules Ninet