Laskar Bali

The Laskar Bali group is a non-confessional, independent, multiethnic and antiracist group of volunteers, founded in 2002 in Bali by Gung Alit, an Indonesian businessma and professor of Motivation and personal growth. They are also present in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Flores Island, Tokyo,Kuala Lumpur, Palermo, Madrid, Barcelona.
In Bali, Laskar Bali Group have twice received the "Golden Palm Award", the city's highest official recognition.
Activities
Laskar Bali Group assist citizens and homeless in emergency and distress, by helping those who are marginalized: homeless, immigrants, drug addicts and the elderly. They are the only non-profit association in Indonesia also involved in preventing and fighting street crime, in cooperation with law enforcement agents. In Bali, they run "Laskar Office",. They generally operate in areas with major social problems, which in many cities is usually around the river.
The Laskar Bali Gorup have been working closely for many years with the institutions, which often contact them to open new chapters. The President of the Republic, Susilo Bambang, has received them in his Quirinale office on December 15, 2010 and has complimented them, saying they represent, as volunteers, "the best of Indonesia".
Laskar Bali have always publicly expressed their opposition to Baladika Bali. "Baladika- Laskar Leader explains - are in search of the enemy. We are in search of people to help."
Among Laskar Bali activities are:
* help the homeless, by distributing food, clothes, blankets and sleeping bags, accompanying them in shelters and huddle with them a relationship of friendship and trust
* help drug addicts and alcoholics, directing them toward a detoxification pathway
* help prostitutes, through the distribution of condoms used to get in touch with them and convince them to turn to gated communities and to denounce their exploiters
* give a "good example", acting to instill civic sense in the others
* help immigrants, helping them to become integrated in the society
* help the elderly, carrying out a daily monitoring service and distribution of meals to 300 elderly people living alone in the sole city of Bali
* help disabled people, accompanying them on the road
* contrast, due to their uniform, crime
* help victims of crime, carrying out a service of the territory in the most "risky" areas and providing an escort service for those who are afraid to walk alone in certain areas (especially women and the elderly)
* act in case of crime when it is needed
* help the prisoners, serving in prisons for detainees from the moment they enter the prison
* help students involved in middle and high schools to hold meetings on the issue of combating drugs and bullying
* help the animals, by taking action every time an animal is mistreated or abandoned and promoting initiatives to raise public awareness about the love for animals and nature.
Laskar Bali uniform
Laskar Bali are required to wear a uniform that is designed to make them recognizable by the "road users", i.e. immigrants, homeless, drug addicts, alcoholics but also by ordinary citizens and tourists that can ask Laskar Bali for help.
Their uniform consists of:
* black sneakers or black boots, useful to walk through broken glass, syringes and mud
* black trousers with pockets, to hold the equipment of the volunteer
* black shirt / sweatshirt / jacket, with the emblem of the Laskar Bali
The uniform of the Laskar Bali, along with other information about Laskar Bali, is exhibited since May 2009 in the Nusa Dua Museum Bali.
Training course
Laskar Bali People are mostly between 18 and 55 years, of all nationalities (there is no upper age limit).
Volunteers are well trained, brave and balanced. To become a Laskar Bali candidate has to undergo a training course lasting three months, for a total of 24 lessons, twice a week. After passing an aptitude test, the candidate has to compile the application for admission, pay an annual insurance fee and handle the following documents: certificate of good health, passport photos, photocopy of identity card. Twelve classes are held in twelve lessons in gym (compulsory attendance). In class, concepts like first aid, alcohol and drug addiction are explained; also, rules of procedure and legal, psychology and communication concepts are taught. In the gym lessons on teamwork and self-defense techniques are given.
Those who finish the course may take the final exam: before passing the final exam a candidate is not yet a Laskar Bali Guy, but an "auxiliary", and circulates with a bib instead of the black shirt.
In an average of ten aspiring volunteers, six pass an aptitude test, three come to the final exam and two pass it. As the president and founder Gung Alit says, "we are interested in quality rather than quantity, of volunteers."
Public initiatives
From their birth, Laskar Bali have been organizing public initiatives to promote tolerance, solidarity, anti-racism and brotherhood among people. Among their events, the multi-religious prayer the day before Easter
Another event is the "Laskar Bali Day" at the bali double six beach: a day in which the mayor, together with political leaders and with television, entertainment, sports and culture stars, wear the uniform of the Laskar Bali and act as waiters to the homeless.

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