SUPPORT PELAN BALI FAMILY DURING COVID-19

Dear friends, family, guests and all other people around us. We don't like to say it, but we need your help.

Covid-19 has turned the whole world upside down, including ours. In Bali it is not so much the virus itself, but the economic situation that has caused hardship for many families. Since March foreigners are no longer able to visit the island, and because Bali's economy fully depends on tourism, the Balinese community has been hit hard.

Unfortunately also at our Surf and Yoga Retreat Pelan Pelan we had say farewell to our last guests in March. Closing down our retreat was a difficult moment, especially with 19 employees who depend for their income on Pelan Pelan. Our staff is like family to us, and we feel a great responsibility for their wellbeing. Knowing that there would be no government support at all in Bali, Putu and I made it our priority to continue paying full salaries as long as possible. At first this seemed manageable because we expected that after 3 months surely we could slowly reopen and receive at least some guests.

This turned out to be wishful thinking. However, with high hopes from the government announcement that the airport would reopen for international tourism on the 11th September, we expected that we would all be able to 'survive' on our reserves for another few months if everybody would tighten the belt a bit. From July onwards our employees and their families live on a reduced salary and food supplies.

Last week we received bad news again, Bali will remain closed till (at least) the end of this year. Taking care of our enlarged Pelan family of 19 employees (+ their families) while receiving absolutely 0 income at all, has hit us financially hard. In order to keep paying our staff during the period ahead, we would like to kindly ask for your support.

Many of our cooks, housekeeping, receptionists, surf instructors, spa therapists and security staff have a family to feed, and all of their partners have been left without an income from March onwards. The large hotels (which are mostly owned by foreigners) have fired their personnel very soon after the lockdown. The situation is getting dire, as many people have lost their jobs but still need to feed their children and pay their electricity bills. Government support programmes like in Europe, Australia and the US, do not exist in Bali. A large part of the population is strugling to come around. Any donation can really make a difference. To give you an indication: for an amount of 150 euro one whole family can already survive for one month.

If you can spare any amount, and want to support our staff members please donate. We will make sure that every euro or dollar goes directly to our staff members, and hope that we can bridge the period ahead in order to welcome you again in 2021!

Many thanks ahead from all our staff members.
Putu and Emma