Adrian

I am so thankful and happy that I had the opportunity to be a volunteer at BSF over the summer. Since I arrived in Bali, I noticed how warm-hearted, friendly and respectful the BSF staff is and I was amazed to discover all the great things they are doing for disabled people.

I did not know much about disabled sports before, but BSF showed me how lives can be changed through sports.

BSF is more than just a foundation, it’s a family. Almost everyone that works for the foundation is disabled, and I dare to say that I have never seen such hardworking, passionate and motivated people in my life. Beside the office work that some of them are doing, they are also talented athletes, but most importantly independent persons. Working closely with them, helped me see the full part of the glass, be optimistic and enthusiastic about everything and always have a winning attitude.

They are the kind of people that take nothing for granted and count their blessings rather than worrying about unnecessary things. Words are not enough to describe how amazing and intelligent the people I met in BSF are.

BSF gave me the opportunity to get a better understanding of what social inclusion is, how the athletes train and what facilities they need in order to compete at an international level. Together with BSF I had the chance to be part of the organising team of basketball/rugby events both in Bali and Singapore. I have also seen/experienced the hard work behind all those successful events organised by BSF.

I will always remember the Wednesdays and Fridays when we had wheelchair basketball/ rugby trainings and we played all together, the smiles on everyone’s face, the good food and breath-taking landscapes. The hot weather and sandy beaches. The sports events we organised. BSF staff trying to teach me Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian). The interesting traditions of Balinese people. The friends I made and all the memories we have together.

Therefore, looking back now, this experience seems just like a dream. It totally changed my perspectives and way of thinking, it made me become more open-minded and adventurous. I am grateful for every single person I crossed paths with and all the beautiful experiences I had during my stay in Bali.