Supporting Agus's education in Bali, Indonesia

In 2025, Deyan Minchev, founder of Creative Resilience Foundation, spent two months on the island of Bali in Indonesia. During his stay, he encountered a stark contrast rarely mentioned in travel stories about the island.

On one side is the Bali we all know: beautiful beaches, luxury hotels, restaurants, fashionable venues and visitors from around the world. A place where people spend substantial amounts on holidays, experiences and entertainment.

On the other is the reality of many local families living on very limited means and struggling every day to provide the essentials for their children.

Sometimes the amount a visitor pays for coffee and breakfast is comparable to the money a local family needs to cover a significant part of its daily necessities.

This side of Bali is easily hidden behind beautiful photographs and busy tourist areas.

It was this encounter with the island's different realities that inspired Creative Resilience Foundation's first initiative.

When we established Creative Resilience Foundation, we had a clear vision: to create opportunities for people with talent, creative potential and a desire to develop through education, art and cultural initiatives.

We planned projects to support artists, create new spaces for creativity and help young people develop their abilities.

But the trip to Bali brought an opportunity to begin with something very concrete.

Deyan learned about Bali Children Foundation, an organisation supporting children and young people from families with limited financial resources through education and professional development.

One of its programmes allows donors to make a long-term commitment to an individual child's education.

We decided that Creative Resilience Foundation's first project would be to support a boy from Bali who wants to learn, develop and build his own future.

His name is I Gede Agus Suyana, or simply Agus.

Agus is a young boy from Bali attending SMK Ratna Wartha Ubud. He is currently in Grade 11 and is expected to graduate in June 2028.

He is ambitious, curious and actively involved in school life. His favourite subjects include mathematics and physical education.

What first drew our attention to him, however, was his interest in creative activities and the island's traditional culture.

Agus takes part in traditional Balinese gamelan performances, an ensemble music tradition that is an important part of Indonesia's cultural heritage. He participates in community events and religious ceremonies in his home village.

He also practises traditional artistic fruit carving, an art requiring precision, imagination and a sense of form.

His connection to local culture and creative activities was one of the reasons we chose to support him.

For us, preserving cultural heritage and enabling young people to develop their interests are inseparable parts of Creative Resilience Foundation's mission.

Agus's family has limited financial resources, making the cost of education a serious challenge.

Even when tuition is accessible, everyday expenses for textbooks, notebooks, uniforms, school supplies and transport can be beyond a family's means.

Through Bali Children Foundation's programme, we therefore committed to supporting Agus's education with US$40 per month.

This contribution helps cover his essential school expenses: learning materials, supplies, a uniform and the transport needed to attend school every day.

We plan to continue this support until he graduates in 2028, with a total commitment of approximately US$2,000 for the period.

This is not a huge amount compared with major charitable campaigns. But for a family it can mean peace of mind, and for a child the chance to continue studying rather than having financial circumstances determine his future.

Agus does not rely solely on the support he receives. He works to acquire practical skills and experience while still at school.

For a short time, he worked after school at Bali Moon Guest House, earning approximately US$5.50 per working day.

He later received an opportunity for a vocational internship at Meruhdani Boutique Hotel Ubud.

There he is learning responsibility, discipline, teamwork and guest service. He helps prepare hotel rooms, welcome visitors and organise everyday activities.

Alongside school and his internship, he continues to take part in traditional musical performances and cultural ceremonies in his village.

At home, he helps his family with household tasks and the preparation of traditional Balinese religious decorations and offerings.

For us, this is the story of a young person who does not simply wait for opportunities, but does everything he can to make use of them.

Our role is to help ensure that financial limitations do not interrupt that path.

During the initiative, we received photographs and a video from Agus, giving us a glimpse of his everyday life, home environment and development.

Among the frames he sent is one in which Agus finds his own words for what the support means to him.

Supporting Agus is the first social initiative in Creative Resilience Foundation's history.

It marks the beginning of our work in a way that reflects our values: direct, long-term and tangible support for a young person's development.

The foundation will continue to develop cultural, educational and creative projects that create opportunities for artists, talented individuals and communities.

We believe that background, social circumstances and financial situation should not stand in the way of human potential.

Talent and ambition exist everywhere. Our mission is to help opportunities reach them.

Agus is one of many children receiving educational support through Bali Children Foundation.

The organisation works with children and young people in communities with limited economic opportunities in Bali and other parts of Indonesia, helping them continue their education and prepare for independent life.

If this story has touched you, you can also take part in a similar initiative.

Through Bali Children Foundation, you can make a one-off donation or join a long-term sponsorship programme for an individual child, supporting their education with regular monthly contributions.

You do not need substantial resources to make a real difference in someone's life.

Sometimes the most valuable gift is the chance for a child to keep learning and pursuing their dreams.

Donations and sponsorship programmes are managed directly by Bali Children Foundation. Creative Resilience Foundation does not collect donations on the organisation's behalf.