In today’s world full of charitable and non-profit projects, it’s hard to choose one that truly touches your heart. There are so many options that sometimes we end up doing nothing. Not because we don’t want to help, but because we assume that “someone else will take care of it.”

I remember one campaign with the slogan “Someone Else.” It highlighted how relying on “someone else” may result in nothing happening at all. This thought stayed with me because I realized how many times I was that person who assumed someone else would take action. And that’s when I understood how easy it is to pass on responsibility—until one day you may realize that you were meant to be that “someone else.”

The HERIT team had the opportunity to visit the Bali WISE program, which is part of the R.O.L.E. Foundation. The Bali WISE program has been running since 2007 and has supported more than 1,858 girls aged 17 to 24. The foundation stands on two strong pillars: providing quality education for young women and sharing ecological knowledge and waste management training. Bali WISE focuses on girls from marginalized backgrounds in Indonesia who would otherwise have no chance to receive higher education.

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But it wasn’t until we met the girls of Bali WISE that we realized this program is not just another number in a report. It is a place where the future is being born — the future in the form of courageous young women who have finally been given a chance.

When we walked into the educational center, we were welcomed with wide smiles. So genuine that they reached deeper into us than we expected. They were happy to be able to receive higher quality education. Just imagine that for a moment… the joy of something that many of us take for granted. For them, it’s a privilege.

Many come from underprivileged families, and some had to take on responsibilities at a young age, such as caring for their younger siblings or helping their parents earn a living instead of studying. At Bali WISE, they get a chance to rewrite their story.

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How does it work?

The program takes six months – the first half is spent learning in class, and the second in practical training. The girls learn about the program through social media and apply on the Bali WISE website. After passing the initial selection, they attend an online interview together with their parents. As part of the process, the Bali WISE team also conducts an online house tour or requests documentation of the student’s living conditions to confirm that she truly needs financial and educational support.

Each student chooses one of two paths. The first is hospitality – learning everything from gastronomy and hotel operations to spa basics and introductory digital marketing. The second option is digital marketing – visual identity, branding, content creation, copywriting, while also gaining insight into basic hotel operations.

Beyond professional training, they learn financial literacy, mental health awareness, first aid, sustainability, environmental study, yoga, and martial arts. They practice English, develop confidence, and — most importantly — begin to believe that they have a future in their hands.

Classes are held in two locations: the main campus, which includes dormitories, classrooms, and offices and the ZeroWaste Center, primarily for environmental activities and larger sessions like yoga.

Throughout the program, the girls live in the dormitory, receive three meals daily, Wi-Fi, borrowed laptops, learning materials, and a small allowance to practice managing money.

Every three months, up to thirty students are admitted – about one hundred to one hundred twenty girls pass through the program annually. Sometimes the capacity isn’t fully reached, this time only 27 girls arrived because some couldn’t attend due to financial or family reasons.

Each one of them has a unique story. And each one now has the chance to write the next chapter with her own hand.

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And what happens afterwards?

Some of the Bali WISE students gain employment directly with the education partners. Others look for work on their own, but receive support in preparing their professional CV and job applications. Others return home and, thanks to their new skills, find jobs that are no longer dependent on luck. Some become flight attendants, others start their own small businesses. Some now work in luxury hotels, even in places like Dubai.

Six months of their life can mean a new beginning – not just in their careers, but in their self-worth.

And here we return to the beginning. No, we can’t save the world. Not everyone. Not all at once. But maybe there is one girl right now waiting for someone to support her. And maybe it doesn’t have to be “someone else.” Maybe it can be you.

If Bali WISE touched you the way it did us, you can contribute – whether one-time, regularly, or by sponsoring a specific student on her educational journey. Learn more at www.baliwise.org or on Instagram @baliwise and @rolefoundation.

We may not change the world. But we may change one girl’s world. And sometimes, that is more than enough.
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