Lingua Light: Disrupting Bali’s Educational and Income Gap Through English Literacy

 

Lingua Light, founded by Yueying He and Shuhan Liu, provides high-quality and culturally-responsive English language education to underserved youths in Bali, Indonesia—with the broader goal of improving the lives of locals by reducing the educational and income gap in that region and breaking the cycle of poverty. 

“Over the past two decades, Indonesia, and particularly Bali, has experienced alarming income inequality, surpassing other Southeast Asian nations. This cycle of inequality is intricately linked to education disparities, perpetuating a feedback loop that demands intervention. English proficiency emerges as a crucial element in disrupting this cycle, particularly given that 80% of Bali’s economy depends on tourism, where English fluency is often a prerequisite for good-paying jobs and entrepreneurial endeavors,” He and Liu said. They added that children from low-income families do not have access to high-quality English language education, which limits their future job prospects and, in many cases, results in the continuation of the poverty cycle. Furthermore, a widespread lack of English proficiency leads to non-Balinese entities becoming heavily involved in the region’s tourism industry. In many cases, they demonstrate disrespect toward the local culture and its people—for example, paying Balinese locals less than minimum wage and convincing officials to look the other way when tourists violate the region’s customs.

He and Liu’s own experiences volunteering as English teachers in Bali showed them the depth of this problematic cycle, and ultimately inspired them to create Lingua Light. Being the first in their families to learn English, they understand firsthand how powerful English literacy can be, and realized that it has huge potential to positively impact Bali locals, particularly those in need. Through Lingua Light, He and Liu work to provide Balinese youths with the tools and opportunities to thrive in, and eventually lead, their local industries. 

“The aim is to initiate a ripple effect of positive change, taking the first step to break the cycle of poverty and fostering a more equitable and culturally vibrant future, leading to a paradigm shift in the lives of Bali’s children and youth,” He and Liu said.

Since its inception in 2021, Lingua Light has developed strong partnerships with 12 Bali villages, schools and the Bali Rastiti Bhakti Foundation, a nonprofit that works to support educational, cultural and social opportunities. More than 350 students have signed up for Lingua Light’s courses, which are largely taught by volunteers in the U.S. and supported by assistants located in Bali. While the organization is already making a difference in the lives of Bali’s youth, He and Liu plan to increase their impact by acquiring more computers and broader WiFi; onboarding a certified Indonesian English teacher to provide in-person classes; improving training for teachers; and creating more opportunities for the students to learn and practice speaking English. One addition to the nonprofit’s programming is a conversation practice program, in which Lingua Light will partner with seven universities in Bali to offer college-level students the opportunity to speak English with students based in the U.S. and Singapore.

“We aspire to contribute to fostering greater peace within the Bali community. In the context of our program, ‘peace’ does not represent exclusively the absence of conflict. Rather, it encompasses a state where every child and youth, regardless of income, has access to the tools and opportunities to succeed, while at the same time leading to reduced inequalities, the preservation of cultural heritage and the amplification of community voices,” He and Liu said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to have the opportunity to grow alongside these students, and their appreciation reinforces the meaningful impact of our program.”

To learn more and support Lingua Light, please visit https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjAzOTk4 

 

Sources, courtesy of Lingua Light:

1. https://www.oxfam.org/en/inequality-indonesia-millions-kept-poverty
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341253195_Determinant_Analysis_of_Education_Inequalities_in_Indonesia
3. https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/bicebf-21/125969578
4. https://borgenproject.org/english-in-developing-nations/
5. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/jul/05/research-backs-english-language-delotbiniere
6. https://archives.palarch.nl/index.php/jae/article/download/2709/3063/5963
7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738312000047
8. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/06/16/travel-colonialism-in-bali-how-tourists-dreams-become-the-locals-nightmare/