A Spotlight on Bali’s Eco Heroes
Despite being one of the busiest tourist seasons for the island, the end of the year also happens to be one of the environmentally worst times for Bali. The wet season is like a purge, where the cleansing rains clear out the scattered litter around the island, and send it out to sea, only for

Trash Talk: Bali’s Burning Landfills (and How You Can Help)
Landfills across Bali have been engulfed in fire over the last three weeks, as dry heat and no rain have created the perfect storm for flames to rage through the towering trash heaps. This has caused a domino of challenges for Bali, from the direct hazard of fire and its resulting air pollution to the

SoleFamily Bali’s Mission to Open a Pioneering Outreach Centre in North Bali
To residents of Bali and regular visitors to the island, the name Solemen Indonesia surely is one that many will recognise. Founded in 2011 by a group of dedicated and compassionate people, Solemen Indonesia has worked tirelessly to provide health and medical care to the poor and marginalised who otherwise struggle to get the help

Bali Children and Kartika Soekarno Foundations Give Balinese Children a Brighter Future
For over two decades, the Kartika Soekarno Foundation (KSF) has strived to ensure that the lives of Indonesian children in remote and impoverished villages experience an ideal first thousand days of life since the foundation’s establishment in 1998. Upholding the ethos of Gotong Royong, a mutual cooperation where communities come together and women empower each

Living and Learning in Bali: Personal Perspectives from the Bali Island School
In collaboration with Bali Island School, NOW! Bali engaged the school students in a writing competition to hear their personal opinions on what life is like on the island. The students were asked to write up to 500 words around the theme “The Lessons that Bali Teaches Me”. The writing task prompted the students to

The Breeding Grounds of the Begawan Foundation
Beginning with a mission to conserve the critically-endangered Bali starling, over the years the Begawan Foundation has itself grown alongside the population of Bali’s endemic bird. Their operations centred in Melinggih Kelod, Payangan, have become breeding grounds, not only for starlings, but for youth education and regenerative farming programs, all of which work in synergy

Mission Paws’ible: For the Love of Dogs
Driven by their love of animals, Mission Paws’ible has been, well, on a mission to change the fate of Bali’s many uncared-for cats and dogs. Taking a holistic approach to their work that engages communities as well as directly caring for these animals, the organisation is slowly building a long-term solution that ensures their welfare.

BASAbali: The Journey to Digitise the Balinese Language
BASABali – a registered foundation in Indonesia and non-profit in USA – are a collective of linguists, anthropologists, students and communicators who are driven by the same mission: to ensure the continuation of the Balinese language. Alissa J. Stern, Founder of BASAbali; and Ni Nyoman Clara Listya Dewi, Head of Communications for BASAbali and a

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is an Experience Beyond Books
From 27 to 30 October 2022, the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) will take over Bali’s cultural capital for its 19th year running. There will be 150 storytellers — from writers and poets to activists and musicians — descending upon Ubud over the four days, all of whom will feature on over 50 panels,

Weaving the Ocean: Art Installation Turns Discarded Plastic Ropes into Refined Tapestry
The Coral Triangle Center (CTC), a Bali-based environmental NGO, has unveiled ‘Weaving the Ocean’, an art installation and exhibition by Indonesian artist, Ari Bayuaji, showcased at their Center for Marine Conservation in Sanur. The Coral Triangle Center has always made it its mission to continuously educate people about the oceans, and how to preserve and

A Message from Janet DeNeefe: Founder & Director of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Dear Readers, The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we view and experience literature and community. It has reminded us of the deep value, and essential effect creative programming has on our society. It also challenged thousands of arts organizations like never before. At the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, we wanted to ensure we continued

Scholars of Sustenance Organises Second Million Meals Paddle Fundraising Event
Food Rescue Foundation, Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Indonesia, has always been committed to feeding communities in need in Bali and Indonesia through the collection and redistribution of edible surplus food from hospitality partners including hotels, restaurants, bakeries and food manufacturers. In 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, SOS Indonesia managed an astonishing feat of distributing a

Bali 1928: Repatriating Bali’s Musical Memories
You can listen to a full interview with Bali 1928 in Episodes 23 and 24 of The NOW! Bali Podcast: “I haven’t heard this since I was a kid,” said Wayan Beratha upon hearing the scratchy recordings of a Balinese gamelan composition from 1928. The melodic tones of Curik Ngaras (Starlings Kissing) sparked a 70-year