Ydo Meet Muriel, a sailor, a human rights activist, wife and mother. The large, attractive Chairman Bali International Association Women AOS shares his long love affair with Indonesia and its commitment to human rights and the environment.
BIWA was created in 1974 by what I like to call seven intrepid women, some Indonesian and an eclectic mix of foreign women who met regularly to support each other. It grew and grew. They did activities together and looked for simple solutions to problems they have shared. To raise money that they would sell the goods they did together. Logically, they began to focus on other women who lacked access to society than men.
The concept of a company money came to Bali quite late. It was more a barter system before most of the jobs directly linked to life. There was less stress, more food and less debt. The transition to our company based on the current currency has been very difficult for an agrarian society based as Bali, where the Subak system is the safety of banjar . It is what you need to do to please the gods, ancestors and the harmony of life.
To continue these traditions in modern society of capitalism has many challenges. We are a resource for women in Bali who have been left destitute as a result of rapid changes in society. We help women to access what they need. Our social protection efforts include women, children and AOS, AOS health and education, support for prevention and rehabilitation programs for HIV / AIDS and environmental projects and education.
Tell me about yourself. Where were you born? How many languages do you speak?
I was born in The Hague and grew up in Belgium. I speak seven languages. I received my degree in social economy and languages when I was eighteen. I began working in the hospitality industry pending an opening in a hotel school. I went to Cambridge to study English and returned to Amsterdam to study international law.
Although the study of international law I was working for Amnesty International's main office in Amsterdam. I then made the hotel management school in Holland. After various jobs in the restaurant and hotel management, I moved in the tourism sector. It, AOS a company based people and I love working with people. There is a responsible tourism and sustainable tourism which takes account of ethics and responsibility.
After working in Paris for four years as ground operator for a US company, my husband Willem and I decided to move to Indonesia. We had traveled to and through Indonesia several times and always said we would return to start a cruise company. We are both sailors.
After sailing a beautiful schooner with an American friend of the Chesapeake Bay in Maine, we decided it was time to make a change in our lives and make good on our plans to go to Indonesia. I am a travel position with a firm leader thirtyday tours by land and sea from Singapore to Sumatra to Java, Sulawesi Bali.
At the time, the various installations. Tourists stayed in a hotel was available, which were often simple. People got sick or lost their passport. I learned to deal with all the problems of a diverse group of people traveling away from home in a different cultural context. There were no computers; Communication was by telex or telephone. Between visits, we looked for a boat to buy.
You came to Bali with a boat?
Yes, we found a boat and named his Matahari. We did sunset cruises from Benoa Harbour in Bali here. We rented to groups and events. We had some great events and parties on that boat! Nobody did that then. After the Gulf War, we had to abandon the boat and began working for Lotus Tours. Meanwhile, I also observed the locations and did pre-production. I was a purchasing agent, opened a restaurant and helped a friend set up a company recycled accessory.
with some like-minded people, we started lobbying hotels and businesses for better management and accountability of waste. I volunteered with the Vishnu Foundation, the first foundation of the environment in Bali. In 2000, I coordinated the first Bali wide clean, activities and programs for the Clean Up the World campaign. We educated people to be aware of their surroundings through competitions and games in schools and communities.
mid nineties I joined as a member. In 2002, I was approached to be the president. This was the year of the bomb. BIWA coordinated the hotline. We made phone calls for missing persons, referring them to resources and monitoring of many missing persons. There was so much to do and organize. We are always involved in emergency assistance in case of major crisis. We ensure basic needs are met and locate resources.
Our main function is to help women and children access they need. We are like a hotline for women who need references and resources. We get the investment to learn the work and life of core competencies and professional skills. We connect with organizations and health services. Women are in the greatest need. They are not given the opportunities of men in education and vocational training. Mothers are the ones responsible for the education of children and keep the family together.
We work with organizations to educate women about environmental and health issues such as AIDS and how to prevent diseases. For us, the word Äôcannot, AO does not exist. We have wonderful events to raise awareness and funds for our work. Members make new friends, network and give back! Together, we are able to share our many resources and meet the challenges ahead with the tools of education, awareness and compassion.
BIWA like a great organization to be a member.
An organization is only as strong as its members. Our members are diverse and members benefit in many ways. There are some 20 nationalities represented. BIWA is to promote friendship between women of different cultures and nationalities. Women make friends, help each other and work together to raise awareness and help women in crisis. Our mission revolves around wellness, health and well-being of our local communities.
We arrive at our 40th anniversary soon!
Our new office is here in Kuta Beach Walk.
E-mail: info@biwa-bali.org
Web: www.biwa-bali.org
Phone: 62 361 746 9607