Community Engagement Helps Revive Rural Bali Village
In Bali, both Four Seasons resorts there are fostering economic growth in the village of Muntigunung through crop cultivation.
In the remote northeastern region of Bali, Muntigunung is considered the driest and poorest of Bali villages. The harsh climatic conditions have prevented sustainable development, causing problems such as impoverishment and malnourishment. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan are working hard to change all that.
The Resort at Jimbaran Bay has partnered with an independent non-profit organisation called Verein Zukunft für Kinder to improve the livelihood of Muntigunung people through the cultivation and sale of rosella flowers and cashew nuts.
The people of Muntigunung sow, harvest, dry and pack the cashews and rosella buds, which are then purchased by Four Seasons resorts at Jimbaran Bay and Sayan and served in their restaurants and spas.
Success in Muntigunung
Verein Zukunft für Kinder’s Daniel Elber says that Four Seasons’ involvement in the community serves as a role model of how future projects could and should be supported. Elber says aid by Four Seasons has been all encompassing—promoting the products at association events and giving advice on how to improve the products and much more.
Last year the people of Muntigunung harvested 80 tons of rosella flowers, produced around 40,000 boxes of tea, 4,000 boxes of rosella sweets and 1,000 glasses of rosella flowers in syrup.
The chef at Jimbaran Bay uses Muntigunung cashews for cookies, muffin topping, cashew brittle and roasted with spices as a bar snack. Rosella is served as tea in the spas and restaurants, as well as in a savoury cured duck dish.
Now Muntigunung is experimenting with growing Ayurvedic medicinal plants to meet the rising demand for a natural, holistic approach to health and the Resorts’ Ayurvedic spa treatments.
Community Engagement
Since 1993, the Resorts have contributed to the well-being of the area, contributing to the upkeep of religious temples and sacred grounds, promoting local artists and forming the primary employment of local villagers. Four Seasons employees share their time, energy and resources for cultural preservation, nourishment efforts and clean-up projects in the region. Guests can engage with the Muntigunung community with an excursion to the region’s mountains guided by women who live there.
Is there a school in the village? I ask as I did an art project with Cambodian children (and made a donation to their school program) when we traveled there, and have been thinking to find something similar to do in Bali when we visit in January.
The website link has pictures and the story of that visit — perhaps I’ll write the concierge at Jimbaran and see if we can set something up.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for your comment and questions about possibility to help the children of Muntigunung with their school programme.
According to Daniel Elber, the person behind all of the projects, construction of schools are actually not their prime targets. They are focussing on the water supply of 35 villages and as a second step on creating education and work for the adults.
With the support from few resources including Four Seasons resorts Bali, they are able to employ every year more people and bring them back from begging in the streets of Ubud and Denpasar. Creating work and income means that they are enabling the parents to create a good nutrition for the children and thereafter send them to school.
The best way to understand more on the projects is perhaps by participating in a wonderful trekking over the mountains to Muntigunung, in order to experience the way they organize help and to see a practical solution of a poverty eradication programe.
Please feel free to contact Daniel Elber directly at danielelber@hotmail.com should you wish to learn more about the projects.
Warm regards,
Prhativi
Thank you Prhativi, I’ll write to Mr. Elber. I found the organization’s web site and did see the brochures about the trekking trips, and the hotel also mentioned that they offer this trip to guests. We are traveling during the rainy season, so perhaps a trek isn’t the best choice for us, but I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my questions.