I'm An Angel - About Us

In rural regions throughout Bali, water scarcity has reached a critical stage. Insufficient ground and drinking water has made it virtually impossible for populations in rural areas to survive. With a team of graduate engineers and architects (members of the ‘Yayasan Pratista’ foundation), IAA provides the funding and implementation necessary to create and maintain water accessing infrastructures. Maintenance repairs and water catchment systems are funded through the foundation. In areas where accessibility is not possible, water is delivered and stored in man-made storage facilities. Environmental education throughout the regions is implemented to improve social, economic and environmental problems.

Empowering and supporting the underprivileged with proper health care is a primary concern to the IAA foundation. Aimed at improving the future of populations, the foundation gives proper medication, vaccinations and education to those in need. IAA provides medical professionals, mobile clinics and routine check-ups throughout the year. In an on-going effort to reduce infant/mother mortality rates, proper education is emphasized to women. IAA continues to provide underprivileged children with the daily amount of vitamins and nutrients, necessary to maintain an adequate diet.

Promoting education throughout rural communities is essential towards alleviating poverty and providing socio-economic growth. In an on-going mission to improve the future for generations to come, IAA strives to empower children with the ability to learn. Text- books, writing equipment, school supplies, and uniforms are received by the foundation and essential repairs are made to school infrastructures. Classroom instruments and program supplies are funded through the foundation and teachers receive a salary bonus with the rise of student attendance levels. IAA funding provides additional education to students through extracurricular activities. Planning, transportation and field trip expenses are also funded through IAA.

With successful implementation of sustainable development, the foundation empowers communities to monitor their success. With this empowerment, communities are able to encourage the Indonesian goverment to match donation funds. As the goverment lends financial support, the foundation mediates and provides assistance as the community assumes responsibility for ensuring the funds are administered and implemented accordingly.

Like many noble foundations, “I’m an Angel” started by the determination of a few individuals and has evolved into a project that relies on many. After successfully completing Jakarta’s most elaborate wedding celebrations of 2003, Mr. Mike Mohan, Mr. Yawahar Punjabi (founder, ‘Alda Moda’) realized a celebration was an optimal way to raise funds. Acting with great speed, Mr. Mohan contacted KU DE TA co-founder Arthur Chondros and the two men immediately began collaboration on the first IAA charity fundraiser.

In 2003, KU DE TA staged the first IAA fundraiser. With just over USD $20,000 raised, the setting and the fundraiser was an expression of goodwill throughout the island. Along with providing the establishment and accommodation for entertainers, KU DE TA rallied local merchants and private donors to participate. Mr. Yawahar Punjabi, Mr. Mike Mohan and Claude Challe provided the entertainment for the evening of celebration.

Following the success of the event, the IAA committee began the exciting task of fund allocation. Committee members Tina Shazell (dedicated to the “Kuta charity program”) and Danielle Van Poppel began assessing development projects and programs existing throughout the island. Following recommendations by members of the local government and the “Kuta charity program”, the committee met with Asana Viebeke Lengkong.

‘Viebeke’ began to provide dietary needs to rural communities in 1996 and at the height of the Asian economic crisis of 1997-1998. Even though access to rural regions was difficult, Viebeke was dedicated towards providing support to communities in need. Maintaining the program with her own funds, Viebeke supplied communities with basic health care and dietary needs from 1996-2002. In charge of the environmental and population division for the World Bank communication forum in Bali, Viebeke was involved with evaluating, strategizing and implementing sustainable development throughout the island.

The committee was impressed by the means in which Viebeke empowered rural communities. IAA immediately began distributing the funding through direct channels. A portion of the funding was distributed in an effort to get homeless children off the streets- providing assistance with health care, food, clothing and shelter. A percentage of the aid was administered to children living within orphanages throughout Bali. The majority of the aid was allocated to Viebeke throughout the duration of the ‘2004’ year. Viebeke and her team of graduate engineers, architects and health workers applied the aid towards sustainable development projects throughout poverty stricken regions in Bali.

Building upon the success of the first KU DE TA fundraiser, the 2nd annual IAA fundraiser surpassed all expectations with over USD $30,000 raised. With an impressive increase of aid provided for the 2005 year, the funds from IAA reflected an outreach of on-going support. With an increased monthly stipend, Viebeke and her team where able to extend their support to rural regions throughout the island. Additional emphasis was provided towards assisting homeless children and children in orphanages.

Each annual IAA charity event since has held as much passion and dedication as the previous fundraisers. With more than 100 merchant and private donors joining KU DE TA for a night of wining, dining, auctioning & dancing, KU DE TA and the community continue to raise funds to provide ongoing support for the following years.
This year “I’m An Angel 5” 2007 raised over USD $50,000. The IAA committee is dedicated towards supporting the various projects and programs funded during the year 2007-08, and is eager to assist each new and promising proposal that comes their way in the future…

	Empower communities to sustain themselves through a system that enables aid to be shared and extended to each member of the community.
	I’m an Angel to collaborate with Program Coordinator and team ‘Yayasan Pratista’ Foundation to ensure proper engineering, construction and monitoring of various sustainable development projects.
	Supplement food and school supplies throughout school program to extend to over 1,800 students.
	Mobile learning center”- Enhancing ‘BALI CLEAN’ campaign -environmental awareness and empowering local community through educational tools towards promoting local wisdom.
	Scholarship projects - Sponsor kids who wish to and have the potential to maintain a higher education. Skilled training and specialized programs for those who qualify.
	Sponsor undernourished and medically handicaped children: provide money towards medical procedures. IE: cleft pallet surgery.
	Guaranteed mobile unit for transport to rural communities- distributing necessary supplies and administering health care.
	Customized health plan for women and children in rural communities.
	Empower community to encourage goverment to match funds provided by I’m an Angel.
	Community will continue responsibility of monitoring goverment aid and implementation (if desired).
	Foundation will be the mediator between the goverment and communities (if desired) with problem solving situations.
	Assessing needs of new destinations in the Region of Bangli: The Songan district and the Seraya district (located in the Regency of Karangasem).