FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is Damara?
Damara Bali is a non-profit foundation support a beer life for the children from poor farming families in
Bali. Damara Bali Foundation was established in 2015 and registered as a non-profit Indonesia Foundation
(Yayasan) with the Indonesia Ministry of Law and Human Rights Indonesia No AHU – 0006690.AH 2015.
Who runs Damara?
Damara was founded by I Nengah Swikrama, who grew up in an orphanage and received education thanks to
the support of other people’s generosity. He has worked for over 30 years to assist children living in
orphanages. For the last 8 years before starting Damara he was the Director of Widhya Asih, managing an
organisation that provides homes and education to over 500 children and helps with many community
projects.
How does Damara help?
Our main aims are:
- Direct sponsorship of children who have dropped out/or are at risk of dropping out of school because
their parents are too poor to provide the cost of books, basic school supplies and uniforms. - Help poor farmers to have sustainable capability for generating income to provide for their children
and send them to school.
How is Villa Bugis associated with Damara?
Villa Bugis proudly supports Damara as its primary charity. Damara started with generous contribution from
Villa Bugis, a villa management company in Seminyak, Bali (www.villabugis.com). Villa Bugis have committed to
continue with annual donations and also with coverage of the cost of all administration of the charity to
ensure 100% of donations go directly to those that benefit most.
How many children are currently supported
Damara supports nearly 100 children for the school year 2019-2020, all living in extremely poor villages in
north and east Bali. All these children had already dropped out of school.
How much does it cost to sponsor a child?
The cost is quite small – IDR1,500,000 per year per child – or about AUD$150 per year
How is the donation money managed
Damara works with trusted school administrators who identify the children in need of help. No money is given
directly to the families, but is used for paying for direct expenses for the children to send school. Damara
representative visits regularly to monitor how the children are doing and receive school reports.
How are we matched with the children we sponsor?
Sponsorship is made to those most vulnerable, and in most need, as identified by their school, who’s staff
work very closely with Damara and the community. If you have children, we often try and match those with
similar gender and age group, for reliability.
Are we able to visit the children that we will be sponsoring?
Yes, this is possible after sponsorship has been made – it is a full day trip to and from the rural areas that the
children are living.
What do we receive after sponsorship?
You will receive photos and bio’s of the child you sponsor, it is also possible to communicate via written (and
translated) leers if you wish – as well as 6 monthly school reports and a quarterly newsletter
How do we make a payment?
We will send you a secure Credit Card Payment link – all Damara Overheads Finance and Admin services are
provided by Villa Bugis. Direct payments can be made into the Damara account, but this is usually costly with
fees from overseas, from both ends, not making it worthwhile.
How do we renew each year?
Each year we will contact you do renew your assistance and commitment, and you can then choose to renew the same way as inial payment was made.
DAMARA is a non-profit foundation supporting a better life for the children from poor farming families in Bali.
Damara Bali Foundation was established in 2015 and registered as a non profit Indonesia Foundation (Yayasan) with the Indonesia Ministry of Law and Human Rights No …AHU – 0006690.AH 2015
Nov 06, 2018 at 11:33 am – TripAdvisor
Our extended family booked the Villa Darma to celebrate my mother’s 80th birthday. What a treat! Booking, check in and check out was seemless. The villa staff could not do more for us, they were just lovely and so obliging! Bedrooms and bathrooms were wonderfully clean, modern and tastefully decorated. The pool at the villa was lovely and clean and the gardens were beautiful. I could not recommend the Bugis group more highly.
There are many, many villas in Seminyak to choose from and when deciding where to stay you look for certain factors that make some outstanding. These factors can include helpful booking process, convenient location, a high level of service by the staff, cleanliness, excellent standard of accomodation and generous outside areas.
Darma fulfills all of these. Excellent booking process to start, questions answered promptly.
Location – Drupadi is becoming more developed with shops, restaurants and spas all the way along so the villa location about 10 minutes walk from the top of Eat street works well. The pool are was spacious and the water warm, but still refreshing.
Fantastic villa in a great location. Walking distance to the main street of Seminyak, local restaurants and the beach. Staff were amazingly attentive and assisted us in every way. Such an amazing holiday was experienced by all. See you again soon.
We stayed here in January 2017 (9 of us) and the villa itself was amazing. Huge pool, living area and rooms. Very clean and the layout is perfect with all rooms opening up to the pool. We had a small party here and hired the staff to cook for us. The food was AMAZING. I would definitely recommend checking out their in-room menu and getting them to cook for you. Exceptional food and value for money.
Really nice place, Villa Darma, with good security and attentive and excellent chef and cleaning staff. Great location, very close and easy to everything. High end facility with lovely pool and rooms. A few niggles like doors not closing flush and the bogans next door playing doof-doof music until 5am but villa management were very apologetic and said they would sort them out which they did.
What a wonderful place to stay! The staff were amazing, especially our butler who went out of his way to help. Nothing was too small or too big for him and he took pride in making sure we were happy. They worked around us instead of working against us. He even made sure the mozzie coils were put into our rooms everynight.
Some might complain about the very few stains on the floors etc, but this is something I overlook when the place is secure and at all times I felt safe. Especially when the place is still beautiful and very well maintained. It was extremely comfortable and the beds were beautiful, clean and amazing!
We also stayed at the Villa next door and everything above is the same.Just smaller.
I would highly recommend staying in any of these villas, you will have one of the most amazing weekends.
We stayed at Villa Darma for 1 week and had a blast. It’s a great size and was perfect for our group of 19 (10 adults, 9 kids 4 and under). Good sized bedrooms, big bathrooms and ample communal space. The pool was big and the grassy area next to it was great for the kids to let off some steam.
The staff are very attentive, organising our transport and meals.
Our only issue were the mozzies. A few of the younger children got eaten alive. It may have just been the time of year but they were everywhere and, despite spraying the rooms and having mozzie nets over the beds/cots, we just couldn’t get rid of them. Such a shame as, otherwise, our stay was perfect.
Stayed October 2015, traveled with family
Hi Villa Bugis Team
We had the most amazing time thanks very much!
I would like to put on record that all your staff especially Gede and Katut were brilliant and very helpful and kind. You have a great team and I hope to stay with you guys again.
I would happily give your team and service 10 out of 10! J
Thanks again for making our stay so memorable!
Regards
Glyn
We stayed in Villa Darma which has 5 individual villas / rooms with their own bathrooms. It was a 3 generational holiday which accommodated us all very well. We used the pool a lot which was in the sun all day and the water was lovely. Great staff who were always happy and friendly and nothing was too much for them. Breakfast was good and was cooked for us in our villa each morning. We could easily walk to eat street or have a short taxi ride to shopping or the beach.
it was perfect for what we needed every couple and brothers/sisters had a room and bathroom to themselves, pool was great, clean and safe to swim in.
breakfast couple be anything you like just have to tell the staff the day before.
walking distance to circle K and alfa mart for drinks and food.
the staff can also organised taxis if needed.
Stayed in Villa Darma as a group of 10 people in May 2015 and we all had an absolute ball!
The villa is only a short walk to Seminyak’s best restaurants and shopping arena. The villa bugis staff were so friendly and very professional. Nothing was ever a problem. The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable. The pool was perfect and the landscape was well maintained! Be prepared for the mosqitoes.
Would highly recommend a stay in villa darma for a group of 10 people!
Peter and his team really accommodate to our requests well.
From multiple airport pick ups to helping to buy food for us.
The villa was located within walking distance to Semiyak Square and Bintang Supermarket.
We had originally booked another villa not part of the Villa Bugis group which was terrible. We rang the villa office & viewed it whilst they were cleaning which they apologised profusely , as not expecting us for a few hours to view. Had the most amazing time the staff were FANTASTIC. And made me feel super special on my 40th Birthday by surprising me with a birthday cake. I would HIGHLY recommend them. Can’t wait to come back
We booked Villa Darma after a disastrous first night in an unrelared villa in south kuta. We rang them at 10am and veiwed the villa at 12, they were cleaninf but they let us drop our bags off straight away while we went to the office to book and pay. I honestly could not have had a better time, the staff were amazing and bought us a cake as a suprise for our friends 40th. I will definitely stay again amd will DEFINITELY reccomend to friends and family. THANK YOU guys for making our stay so memorable.
Ketut was fantastic, waiteed for our delay flight arrival – helped us all.
Villa is beautiful, but kitchen could be a little better cleaned. Bedrooms, bath all great.
Fantastic facilities, perfect stay.
Villa BBW was exceptional – we loved this night.
Ibu Putu looked after us wonderfully, Ibu wayan cooked and cleaned. Indo breakfast everyday was very good tahnk you – See you next January.
Perfect on time – safe driver.
Everyday staff took care of us for all details.
Transportation perfect.
The entire team led by Putu was the best ever had. Special thanks to Nyoman too for his dedication and care.
Everything was perfect. We are very happy with all the assistant!