SMK Pariwisata PGRI Payangan, Raya Payangan, Gianyar 80572 Bali, INDONESIA Tel: 62 (361) 744 1526 www.pepbali.com 2 April 2010 Dear friends, We hope you will join forces with the world famous Billy Blanks and support the PEP Foundation's efforts to build an eco-hotel and training center for the Payangan community in Bali, Indonesia. The PEP Foundation (Yayasan Bali Citra Lestari) is a registered non-profit organization, managed by a board of Indonesian volunteers and an international advisory board. Its mission is to support projects that lead to sustainable tourism and education to eliminate poverty in Bali. While Bali has many luxury resorts, only a small percentage of tourist dollars directly benefits the local communities. Yet the UNWTO sees sustainable tourism as the best means for alleviating poverty in developing countries. The problem in Bali is that the average guest in an expensive resort uses 100 times more water than a local person and puts strain on the coal and oil fired generators that produce electricity. Rice fields and farmland are being cleared and sold to foreigners, eroding the food bank for local people. High school education is still an unaffordable luxury for over a third of Bali's youth and children are not protected from exploitation. The Eco-Hotel and Training Center will be built on land adjoining SMK PGRI Payangan Vocational High School of Tourism. No farmland will be lost and it will be kept small (11 rooms and a restaurant area). Underprivileged Balinese students will gain authentic training in hospitality and profits from guests will be used for student scholarships in Payangan. The training center will also be an experiential learning center in sustainable living for visitors, student groups and the local community with its eco-smart buildings, bio-filtration, waste-water management, hydro, solar and wind energy. Both corporate and UN funding is being sought and donors will be recognized through advertising on the PEP Foundation website and donor logos on display in the Training Center lobby. Billy Blanks and his family visited Bali in March 2010 and led fund-raising events for the PEP Foundation in Sanur and Ubud. Mr. Blanks also visited students in their homes and coached the local karate club. Just as Mr. Blanks was able to escape poverty and achieve his dreams, the children of Payangan hope you will give them the opportunity to go to school and realize their dreams. Sincerely, William Melville-Rea Chairman – PEP Foundation Advisory Board Sustainable Tourism and Education to Eliminate Poverty |
