As our Bali team approaches the Jodie O’Shea House – laden with gifts of food, toys, computers and basic essentials – there’s a real buzz in the air. It’s the team’s third visit to the House, so they know what to expect when the doors fling open – a rush of happy, energetic little people whose smiles belie their troubled beginnings.
The shelter, on the outskirts of the city of Denpasar, is home to nearly 100 children ranging in age from six months to 19 years. It was established in 2005 in memory of Australian woman and Bali bombing victim Jodie O’Shea. Jodie O'Shea House co-founder Alison Chester nursed Jodie in hospital in the aftermath of the 2002 terrorist attack. Alison formed a bond with Jodie before she passed, and decided to name the kids shelter in her honour.
Some of the children have been sent to live here by poverty-stricken parents. Alison and the team make sure they receive an education and that they get to regularly visit their families.
Our support for the Jodie O’Shea House (JOSH) allows us to make a difference in a way that brings our Australian and Bali alliances together. In Australia Luminary supports One Girl (and several other charities), an organisation dedicated to keeping young African girls at school to improve their future quality of life. For our Bali team it made sense to support a similar sort of charity with a focus on their local community as well as a connection to Australia.
For Luminary CEO Marty Drill, there is also a personal reason for wanting to support Jodie O'Shea House. “One of our team members at the time very narrowly missed being caught up in the tragic events of that terrible night in October 2002. He was in the Sari Club just moments before the bomb went off. It’s something that will be forever etched in my mind, and indeed in the psyche of the Australian and Balinese people. The Jodie O’Shea House represents the good that came out of that night."
"After visiting the kids shelter and conducting investigations to be confident it provided a safe and supportive environment for kids, the decision to partner with the Jodie O’Shea House was obvious," he adds.
Like many sponsors of the House, our main avenue of support comes in the form of donations of food, toys and essential items. We also provide them with our old computers to support the kids’ ongoing education. But it’s not all about material goods. There’s also an element of companionship.
“The connection with the kids comes easily to most people who visit Jodie O'Shea House, as the children are so happy and engaging,” says Marty. “They love having new friends to kick a soccer ball or shoot some hoops with. Equally, our team members walk away with a profound sense of gratitude for the fact that these kids are so willing to share their lives with them. Everyone comes away feeling a little bit richer for the experience.”
The welcome sign
Andik makes a new friend
The kids at play
Receiving a laptop from the team
You can find out more about the Jodie O’Shea Orphanage here: https://www.careforkidsbali.com/
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