Happy Giving Tuesday, a day that transcends borders and brings communities together through The power of generosity. Today, we’re reminded of the profound impact each act of kindness can have on the world around us. In a time when the world faces diverse challenges, Giving Tuesday serves as a beacon of Hope. It’s a call to action to make a positive impact, and to contribute to causes that resonate with our values.
This year, BeatBabel is giving back in Indonesia. 17,500 islands, fourth-largest populated country in the world. And in high demand for localization. Indonesia has over 700 languages, or 10% of the world's languages. It makes Indonesia the second most linguistically diverse country in the world, after Papua New Guinea. The main language is Bahasa, very close to Malaysian. Malay was used as a lingua franca among the diverse ethnic groups in the region, especially for trade and diplomacy. Indonesian was influenced by many other languages, such as Sanskrit, Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch.
For Thanksgiving, it has become a BeatBabel tradition to go visit our teams abroad, spend time and help the local communities. From orphanages in Cambodia to foundations devoted to mine-clearing in Laos, women shelters in Sri Lanka or schools in Baja, we like to give back to people who really need it. Covid made it more difficult to travel, but this year, we are back!
Burckhardt and Marie spent several days in Bantul, a small village about one hour from Yogyakarta. The goal was to not only understand the culture, but also to help the locals by supporting them and working alongside them. From batik to field working, the BeatBabel team lent a hand. Indonesia is proud of its artistic culture, whether it is batik or puppet making, but fewer people can afford to learn a trade. And some of the older traditions are disappearing. Some of the locals we met have been learning their trade since
age 6, and at age 40 are considered Masters of their art. It is amazing to watch the dedication, passion, and pride they take in their work. In the countryside, hardworking people often live off $3 a day and don’t earn enough to own a bank account…
Today, for Giving Tuesday, we want you to meet Mrs Sumari. This little lady is a bit of a legend in Indonesia, and her name brings about reverence and admiration. She is a woman entrepreneur for her community and makes the best tempeh in Indonesia. Tempeh is traditional Indonesian food, made from fermented soybeans.
She brings in many young women to teach them the trade and give them a chance at a future. Tempeh used to be poor people’s tofu. In the countryside during World War II, it was often the only food people could eat. At school, being called Tempeh boy meant that you were not so smart. Mrs Sumari changed that around and hired many of those young adults. She treats them with kindness and respect. And with the craze for vegetarian food, her Tempeh became the most famous in Indonesia and around Asia. There are more award cups and certificates on her wall than I have ever seen. Just this month, she won two contests. This tiny woman and her foundation are doing so much to help the local community. And it is important as we grow global that we respect all the people we work with and help keep cultural identities alive.
This year part of our donation also went to PPLH (Natural Environment Education Centre). PPLH works to educate and create awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation, along with community farming and ethical eco-tourism.
Travel, languages, culture, traditions are an important part of our trade. Whether it’s supporting local charities, volunteering time, or making a donation to a global Initiative, every effort counts. Let’s leverage our collective strength to create meaningful change and uplift those in need.
Together, like Mrs Sumari, we can create a ripple effect of compassion and make a lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most…
Thank you for your help and support!