Build the Budiasa family a safe home

Could you imagine living with 5 children, without electricity, water or a bathroom, in a collapsed building at the top of a mountain?

For the Budiasa family, this is their reality. A number of misfortunate events and lack of stable employment resulted in this beautiful family being forced to live in uninhabitable circumstances. 

About the Budiasa Family

We first met the Budisa family while delivering food supplies to their area.  The mother, Nengah muniasih, greeted us with her two youngest daughters, 7 year old Ni luh lina and 1 year old Ni Kaden anggreni. Having struggled to carry the supplies up the steep gradient of the mountain ourselves, we were stunned to learn that Nengah muniasih treks up and down the same route several times a day to collect water for cooking, cleaning and drinking, while also caring for her children. 

While spending time speaking to Nengah and learning more about the family's story, we were captivated by the children's excitement and infectious smiles, as they ran around in circles and played with the photographers. The beautiful photo above was captured just as we began to leave. Ni luh lina ran to the front of our group, kissing the hand of Jose for his kind donation. Since that moment, we have been working on ways to provide new accommodation for the family that will provide safe shelter, running water and basic amenities for the family. 

About Their Circumstances

When Mount Agung erupted in 2017, it sent an earthquake across the Karangasem district of Bali, collapsing part of the family’s home and making it an even more dangerous and unsuitable place to raise young children. 

Their home, a small, corrugated metal dwelling on the edge of a cliff, doesn’t have running water or electricity. Their kitchen has minimalist utensils for cooking on an open fire. The living space is a bamboo shelter, draped in tarp, no more than a meter from the edge of a perilous edge. A single bedroom with scattered mattresses sleeps all seven family members.

The Father, Ikadek, spends every day seeking any opportunity to work. Living in a struggling economic region, he is left with only periodic farm work, transporting wood, or shoveling sand. With COVID reducing the development in the area, his situation has become more and more difficult. As a result, his family is reliant on basic food packages, provided by Balinese volunteers.


While Ikadek searches for work, Nengah muniasih cares for the family’s five children. Every day, Nengah must carry a water pail up and down the mountain several times, while also preparing food and caring for the children. 

The family's children studied in the local primary school, around 5km away. Already, Ikadek’s elder children, Ni Wayan ekarini (19 years old) and Ni Made ani (14 years) have left their studies to work alongside their parents whenever there is an opportunity. Their middle child, Ni Ketut mariani (12 years), was fortunate enough to start school at the beginning of the year but has now had to leave her school work behind to help his mother take care of his 2 younger siblings.


How You Can Help

For just £2,800, we can construct the Budiasa family a suitable home, on their own piece of land, providing safety and security for the entire family. 

With the help of Relawan Bali and generous people like you, we can provide suitable living conditions for Ni luh lina (above) and her incredibly resilient family. This basic amenity gives the Budiasa family a chance to rebuild their lives, allows their children to carry on with their education, and most importantly creates a safe and habitable environment for them to live. 

Beautiful photos from Wanderskyy and Justravelynn, taken on a food donation with Rescue2000 , Lettuce Give Back  and Pescados Bali . Full permission to share these photos and stories has been granted by the family.