This was a Facebook group formed by local expat Stephen Leonard to gather a group of people working together in solidarity to support one another and the broader society in Bali during the COVID-19 crisis, through proactive initiatives on the ground.
This group has grown to over 2000 locals and expats who are now working on several different initiatives, each of which have their own task force:
MASKS & FULL BODY PROTECTION WEAR – Donations of fabric and supplies are being sourced to produce thousands of protective face coverings to distribute for free throughout the Island. There is also sewing full body protection wear to be donated to the local healthcare community and to aid the economy by employing the local seamstresses to produce these.
COMMUNITY BILLBOARDS – The printing and erecting of street side billboards to educate to support and educate the community and villages on health and sanitation to fight COVID-19 and to break the chain of the virus transmitting at a community level.
3D PRINTING – Members of the group are collaborating with #printforlove and 3D printer owners to produce 3D printed parts to support health workers with personal protective equipment, emergency medical parts in short supply and virus spread mitigation devices. In partnership with the government and doctors they are supporting also the development of a prototype that transforms full face snorkelling gear into emergency respiratory masks.
SUPPORTING OTHER INITATIVES – This group is also providing a platform for many other groups to promote their initiatives to help the disadvantaged to receive care and food packages during this time, you can ready about some of these below.
Bali Buddies spent time with the different task force groups this week here in Bali to give an inside look at the initiatives in action!