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PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND NEEDS:
The new project, titled Rotary Club of Bali Nusa Dua Cleft Lip and Palate Operations 2025/26, aims to address the urgent medical needs of children suffering from cleft lip and palate deformities, primarily from economically disadvantaged families in Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, and Moluccas. These children face challenges in health, speech development, and social integration. The project seeks to provide 160 life-changing surgeries over 18 months, improving the health, self-esteem, and future opportunities of these children.
In addition to surgery, the project will focus on speech therapy, dental care, and nutrition counseling to ensure holistic treatment. The initiative also includes training one plastic surgeon to ensure long-term sustainability.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The project will offer comprehensive craniofacial surgical care to 160 patients, covering their transport, surgery, follow-up care, and speech therapy. It will be divided into two main focus areas: Maternal and Child Health (for children under 5) and Disease Prevention and Treatment (for children above 5). Patients and their guardians will also receive health education and assistance in enrolling in government health schemes to ensure long-term post-operative care.
The surgeries will be conducted by experienced plastic surgeons, many of whom have received specialized training under previous Rotary Global Grants at world-renowned institutes.
PROJECT SCOPE:
The project will cover Bali and neighboring islands such as East Nusa Tenggara and Moluccas. Operations will be performed in three hospitals with senior plastic surgeons. The project includes post-surgical care, dental treatment for patients over 5 years, and monitoring of speech and social integration through “Intelligibility Index” and “Stigmatization Index.”
In partnership with local organizations, transportation, accommodation, and medical care will be fully covered. The project will also include specialized training for one plastic surgeon at the Chang Gung Cranio-facial Institute in Taipei.
PROJECT PARTNERS:
Key partners include:
- · Yayasan Kolewa Harapan Indonesia: Responsible for patient scouting, hosting, speech training, and nutrition counseling.
- · Bali 911 Dental Clinic: Provides pre-surgical dental care for children over 5.
- · Hospitals (2-3): Surgical care will be provided by senior plastic surgeons in Bali, including those trained in Taipei.
- · Vifa Holiday DMC Indonesia: Will manage inter-island transport for patients and guardians.
- · District 2160 and RC Luxembourg-Horizon (Create smiles together initiative): Supports fundraising and awareness efforts in collaboration with Rotary and Rotaract clubs across BeneLux and beyond.
BENEFICIARIES:
The primary beneficiaries are 160 children suffering from cleft lip and palate deformities. Families will benefit from medical, nutritional, and educational support. Additionally, communities will see improved health outcomes, reduced stigma, and better access to healthcare services. Health professionals, especially plastic surgeons, will also gain through specialized training.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Community involvement is central to the project. Local healthcare professionals will be trained to ensure long-term impact, and the families will be educated on post-operative care. Public awareness campaigns will be conducted through the distribution of health booklets, contributing to disease prevention and early intervention.
The initiative Create smiles together will mobilize local and international Rotary and Rotaract clubs, as well as the public, in fundraising and volunteer efforts.
SUSTAINABILITY:
The project ensures sustainability by:
- Training a local plastic surgeon to continue providing specialized care.
- Encouraging patients and guardians to enroll in government health schemes for long-term care.
- Strengthening local healthcare infrastructure through partnerships with hospitals and dental clinics.
- Promoting community education on cleft lip and palate care and prevention.
FUNDING:
The project requires USD 195,000, allocated as follows:
- Operations, transport, and care: USD 160,000 (1,000 per patient).
- Surgeon training: USD 12,500 (6 months training in Taipei).
- Project management and monitoring: USD 12,500.
- Publicity and logistical support: USD 5,000.
- Enrollment of 160 families in universal health coverage: 5,000 USD
The initiative Create smiles together will contribute significantly to fundraising efforts, aiming to collect USD 190,000 to support craniofacial surgeries for children in Bali. This collaboration demonstrates Rotary’s commitment to improving global health and reducing inequalities through coordinated action.
FINAL THOUGHT:
This project builds on Rotary’s legacy of transforming lives through craniofacial surgeries. By collaborating with medical professionals, local organizations, and international partners, we can continue creating brighter futures for children, one smile at a time.
Rotary Club of Bali Nusa Dua was established in 1992, with currently 32 members from 11 different nations. Our signature project focuses on providing free cleft lip and palate surgeries to children and young adults in Bali and, more recently, to the islands southeast of Bali. To date, we have performed over 2,400 operations. Our key partner in these endeavors is Yayasan Kolewa Harapan Indonesia, with whom we have successfully collaborated for the past 10 years. Together, we are currently executing our 5th Global Grant for cleft lip and palate surgeries, which we expect to complete by February 2025.
The Rotary Club Luxembourg-Horizon, founded in 1980, now has 80 members. In collaboration with all Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Luxembourg, our flagship initiative, "Zesummen Ennerwee: open your heart, not your wallet," which provides a full day of support to people with disabilities, marked its 40th anniversary in 2023. From 2020 to 2023, we successfully completed our first Global Grant in partnership with Rotary Club Bali Nusa Dua, carrying out 218 cleft lip and palate surgeries.
More information upon request :
- RC Luxembourg-Horizon
- PP Jean-Marie HOFFMANN
- jean-marie.hoffmann@pt.lu
- Mobile/WA +351 621 131 181
