Kuta Beach, empty as ever. Photo: Project Nasi
In recent weeks, COVID cases on Bali have surged, forcing the government to postpone reopening the island to tourism. And with the arrival of the Delta COVID-19 variant, the heaviest lockdown yet is in effect. Beach closures, restaurants and bars closed, essential businesses shut by 8 p.m. and any foreigner caught not wearing a mask is now risking deportation. Suffice it to say, the local tourism industry, an important income source for many locals, has been decimated. Yet, despite all this, there is good news.
Project Nasi, the grassroots Bali aid organization founded by Aussie surfers Sam Mahony and James Foley, is still tirelessly helping the neediest of locals get through this pandemic. In the past year Project Nasi has managed to provide over 280,000 meals to those who need it most. And with the latest, most strict, lockdown to date on tap, conditions on the island feel like early 2020.
The Nusa Lembongan Board Riders Club. Photo: Project Nasi
Despite the current lockdown, Project Nasi has also expanded operations to Bali’s sister island of Nusa Lembongan. This new wave of restrictions has caused a dire need for baby food and supplies and also supplies for the elderly. Partnering with the Nusa Lembongan Boardriders Club, Project Nasi is currently organizing boat lifts of badly needed supplies.
“Our boardriders club has stepped to the front of this emergency,” says NLBC President Komo Wilson. “We are such a small and humble island, but so many surfers have come and enjoyed our waves over the years. We’re hoping now they will help our young and old that are in need of so much.”
The NLBC focuses on community needs, organizing and delivering the food and supplies once they hit the beach. “It’s heartbreaking sometimes to hear of the peoples’ trouble,” continues Komo, “but us local surfers are working hard to keep everybody healthy and fed.”
The Project Nasi boat operations have been a challenge, and daily deliveries are becoming harder to manage with dwindling supplies. “We’re just a small operation,” says co-founder James Foley, “and it may seem like we’re just a drop in the bucket. But those drops eventually fill buckets. We hope any surfer out there that has ever surfed Nusa Lembongan will donate so we can keep our boat-lift Ops cranking.”
Project Nasi contributes 100 percent of all donations directly to the cause. You can donate on the GoFundMe page here, or with Paypal, here.
