East Bali Poverty Project

Indonesia

In 1998 the Balinese village of Desa Ban – a cluster of remote hamlets on arid, steep land – was home to 15,000 people living in terrible poverty and beset with serious health issues. Over the past twenty years, the East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP) has facilitated a holistic community-led approach to improving lives in the village, centered on vetiver and bamboo as a base for sustainable, diverse agroforestry systems and slope stabilization. Communities built their own rainwater harvesting systems, healthcare facilities, and schools that function as community learning and development centers, featuring organic gardens and vocational training. Their story provides a blueprint for arid, rural communities seeking to revitalize their ecosystems, communities, and local economies.