When Community Comes First: A Night with Rice for Bali.

Last weekend, I attended an event at Morabito Art Villas in Bali - not for your typical Bali evening out, but one with real purpose. It was a charity night that left a lasting impression, hosted by two incredibly driven women: Christina Iskandar, founder of Diva Charity Inc., and Anggie Wayan, the heart behind Rice for Bali.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Bali over the years, and through the work I do, I’ve had the chance to connect with the island in a deeper way. This event was another reminder of the incredible sense of community and compassion that lives here - where good people come together to support those doing it tough in the parts of the island that are often overlooked.

Anggie started Rice for Bali back in 2020, right in the thick of COVID. With tourism at a standstill, jobs dried up, and many families were left with nothing. So she set herself a personal birthday challenge: to raise one tonne of rice to give to those in need. What happened next was nothing short of remarkable - she received 8.2 tonnes. That one moment sparked a movement, and she’s been running ever since.

But Anggie’s story goes back even further. She knows hardship firsthand. As a kid, she was out working by the age of 10, and only made it through university thanks to a Dutch family who let her clean their home in exchange for support. She’s lived it. That’s why her mission hits different, because it’s rooted in something real.

Why Is Help Needed?

The foundation focuses on the northern and eastern parts of Bali, where the land’s dry, the jobs are few, and the rice fields? Well, they’re scarce. Most work as day labourers,  when there is work - but some might only get 10 days of pay a month, earning the equivalent of $80.00 (AUD).

It’s hard to imagine when we’re back home paying more than that for a dinner out.

Tourism’s a double-edged sword here. On one hand, it creates jobs for those with skills. But on the other, it drives up prices. And that leaves low-income families struggling to keep up, especially when it comes to things like food, housing, and education.

What They Do - And How Much It Matters

Now, this isn’t just about rice. Rice for Bali runs eight life-changing programs, including:

• Rice for Bali – feeding over 10,000 families

• House for Bali – building 182+ homes and counting

• School for Bali – renovating 9 schools so far

• English for Bali – free classes (paid for with plastic trash, teaching kids about waste and the planet)

• Wheelchair and Bike for Bali – giving mobility and access to kids who walk hours to school

• Orphanage and Clothes for Bali – providing ongoing support and essentials for kids doing it tough

  
  

In short, they’re doing the kind of work that changes lives at the root. Better homes. Better chances at school. Dignity, where it was missing. And smiles - real, lasting ones.

Powered by People

What really struck me is how people power fuels all of this. Donations come from everyday people, and support from groups like Diva Charity is vital. Christina and her charity have sponsored 60 kids and helped build 12 homes through Rice for Bali. That’s the ripple effect in action, and it’s making a huge difference.

When I asked Anggie what the most urgent needs were, she didn’t hesitate: more homes, more scholarships, and more rice. As she explained, “Rice isn’t just a staple here - it’s our way of life. We eat it three times a day.”

Jason and Christina the Founder of Diva Charity Inc. 

Final Thoughts

That night at Morabito, I realised something. You don’t need to be a big corporation or have deep pockets to make a difference. You just need heart… And a willingness to act.

So if you’ve ever found yourself in Bali, felt its warmth, and wondered how to give back in a real, lasting way, this is it. Supporting Rice for Bali isn’t just charity. It’s community. It’s dignity. And it’s the kind of giving that stays with you long after your holiday ends.

Cheers to the people doing the quiet work that makes a loud difference.

If you'd like to support the incredible work Anggie and her team are doing, every contribution big or small - goes a long way.

You can donate to Rice For Bali directly here.