Meet Ngurah

At Salon Shique, we believe in sharing our success and good fortune.

Making a difference together!

In January 2008, Zak, the Director of Salon Shique travelled to Bali for a vacation.  He was fortunate enough to meet a young man called Ngurah.        

Ngurah lives in a small hut in a village in East Bali with his younger brother and sister, his father (his mother was very ill and recently passed away), his Aunty, his Grandfather, two Grandmothers and his Great Grandmother.
 
When they met, Ngurah was working in the hospitality industry and desperately wanted to be the first in his family to go to university. He and his father, who works in the rice fields, support the family so unfortunately there wasn’t enough money.  Even when Ngurah was awarded a scholarship for his tuition he was forced to decline as he was unable to work enough hours to provide for his family and attend his classes. After meeting Ngurah’s family and seeing for himself the daily hardships his family endure, Zak realized there was something we could do. 

Salon Shique offered to sponsor Ngurah, which to our delight was accepted.

In 2008, Salon Shique paid for Ngurah to attend a short course in English to prepare him for university.  Salon Shique pay for Ngurah’s 4 year tuition at university to study Food, Hospitality and Management.  However, this still left the problem of a loss of income to Ngurah’s family; this was easily solved when we learnt that Ngurah’s FULL time hospitality wage was the equivalent of $40 AU PER WEEK!  So, it was simple, Salon Shique pay Ngurah $40 AU per week for the duration of his studies. To assist Ngurah with his studies we also provided him with a laptop and any extras he needs (text books etc).

How can you help? It’s simple, by wearing Beautiful Hair Extensions by Salon Shique!  The $10 consultation from each new installation goes directly to Ngurah and his family. Your $10 is enough money to feed this family for an entire week! 

Our goal is to work together to give Ngurah and his family enough money for items such as flooring for their hut, savings for medical expenses and an education for the younger children. 

If you would like to make a donation to this family, it's simple Donate Now!

We are able to make a difference, not just for Ngurah, but to the many generations to follow.  He will have the education that his parents, grandparents and even great grandparents were unable to.  It is with education that we can break the cycle of poverty and help families like Ngurah’s survive.

Ngurah Feburary 2009 update

Zak has just returned from Bali after hand delivering our latest donations to Ngurah's family (find out more about Ngurah).  During his visit he was able to meet with the family and visit Ngurah's university again, see our donations be spent on a machine for Ngurah's fathers new business and once again get a first hand look at practical ways in which we can help.

Firstly, they receive rice from the local farmers then set it out to dry

Once dried, the rice is put through the new machine where it is cleaned and the husk is removed.

After this process, the rice is then returned to the local farmers.  His payment for his work is a share in the rice, this is enough to feed the family.  The family survive mostly on a diet of rice, fruit and vegetables they are able to grow.  Since his mother's passing, Ngurah's grandmother prepares the meals for his family in their kitchen, pictured below.

Ngurah's family kitchen

This is their family stove, as you can see there is still a lot we can do to help this family!

Ngurah has now completed six months of his degree, pictured below is Ngurah all dressed up for his classes in the clothes that Zak purchased for him when they first met.  Zak was able to visit his university again and catch up with Ngurah's teachers who are still very impressed with Ngurah's work and enthusiasm!

Ngurah's University

Zak and Ngurah

Mara, a client and friend also visited Ngurah and his family with Zak in Bali.  Below is her account of the trip;

Will & Grace in Bali (For those familiar with the TV show Will & Grace you will understand the reference- Zak played the role of the sensible Will, while I, Mara was indeed 'princess' Grace- two friends enjoying Bali and it's beautiful people!) 

Relaxation, relaxation and more relaxation.  Bali was a revelation to me in regards to the beauty of the soul and the bliss of the spiritual being.  I had achieved more with this holiday than any of my previous galavantings....the romance of Paris, the excitement of Spain, the art and character of Barcelona, the amazement in Monaco with all their bling and class, the sultry alps in Switzerland, and even the mystical magic of Egypt as  I closed my eyes and envisioned pharaoh’s and chariots scampering through the streets.  Bali with its poverty, and stenches as you walked through the villages, the lack of rules and regulations on the roads as they carried a maximum of six people on their motor bikes.  Bali was none of the places I had travelled to earlier, not even close and I  lived in primitive Western Samoa for 2 and a half years and still Bali was different...................Bali was magic, spiritual, humbling, and unforgettable as it changed me as a person.  I was sitting in a restaurant waiting for Will (Zak) as he went outside to check if Ngurah had arrived.  They say that first impressions are what count, well, Gracie (Mara) was not prepared, no way no how.  A young man drove up and parked his motorcycle, I could see him through the window as I was sitting in the restaurant, he smiled and I was hooked.  I had looked into the face of the purest form of beauty.  For the first time in my life I had witnessed a pure, innocent, untouched and beautiful soul, with a smile that lit the whole of my world.  Will (Zak), I thought “you were right, this child (mind you he is 26) will touch my life just as he has touched yours.
 
After speaking to Ngurah and spending time with him and his family I was humbled beyond words and when he proclaimed from the essence of his being “I am so happy with my life” my heart felt so ashamed at how unhappy we Westerners can be.  These people have nothing and they bend over backwards to please you and give to you and their community whatever they can.  We worry because we don’t have a new car or are jealous because the Jone’s have more or we can’t afford to go to the pictures.  All of our problems seem ridiculous and insulting compared to what these people  don’t have and yet...............they are blessed, they are grateful, they are pure and most of all they are real human beings as they live in what we consider squalor.  Imagine....your children never knowing what a McDonalds hamburger or KFC tasted like, then imagine the beauty and wonder of watching a young Balinese man taking his very first bite of a cheeseburger, realising that there is a hot water tap and a cold water tap, watching them imitate you as you squeeze antibacterial gel on your hands.  Imagine the wonder and laughter and not to mention the awe of children just wanting their picture taken so they can see their image.
 
For Gracie (Mara) there was awe, wonder excitement and total enjoyment in seeing this innocence and pure pleasure in motion, but there was also sadness and a good old reality check, not mention jealousy, yes jealousy as I watched them delight in the insignificant pleasures that we take for granted.
 
I thank my sunshine, my little king, my Ngurah for reminding me what really matters in this world and that is oneness, we are all one and all connected.  I thank God and feel totally blessed in being reminded of what really matters.  I thank Will (Zak) for being such a beautiful soul and being the instrument of my realisation, and for giving me the opportunity to share in this experience.  I love Ngurah as if he was my son and I bless my sunshine every day.
 
To all that read this I can only say that all the money collected for Ngurah and his family made them feel like millionaires and the gratefulness and love (and also shock) in their faces when Zak gave it to them will spread into this great universe of ours and change your own lives because of your generosity. 
 
Will & Grace in Bali!!!!  AWESOME !!!!!!
PS MY EXTENSIONS HELD UP A TREAT, ZAK WAS MOST IMPRESSED
 
God Bless and keep you all pure and safe
Love Gracie (Mara)

Mara & Ngurah in Bali

Ngurah visits Australia July 2009!

Ngurah has completed his first year at university in Bali successfully.  To congratulate Ngurah for his hard work and achievement, Salon Shique arranged for him to spend his uni break in Australia.

Upon landing, Ngurah was a little shaken (his first flight was mixed with fear and excitement - and a little motion sickness!) and he was very cold!  After giving Ngurah some suitable clothes for the winter Zak showed Ngurah the sites of Sydney.

Ngurah was able to explore Sydney before traveling to Melbourne.  There were many highlights, below are a few photos of their adventures!

Ngurah was able to visit our salon and meet the team and some Shique clients.  It was great hosting Ngurah and we can't wait for him to come back!

To find out more about Ngurah and how Salon Shique, together with our clients have helped click here