The pair struck up a relationship with organisation Widhya Asin, which manages seven orphanages in Bali, after visiting the island on an impact trip with their church in 2007.
Since then the professional quilters have supplied the orphanages with quilting material and electric sewing machines to help fund the education of several of the children, many of whom have now gone on to study at a tertiary level.
‘You can get through high school there but in Bali you can imagine how quickly it has grown from rice patties to having so many people and hotels,’ Gail said.
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READ NOW‘If you don’t have a certificate these days you can’t go anywhere, so they finish Year 12 and have to go back to the paddy fields and villages.
‘These children are smart, willing to work and all they need is a break.’
The focus has shifted from providing supplies and training to helping the orphanages become self-sufficient by making and selling their own products such as uniforms and tote bags.
The Camdens have set up their own impact trip so people can experience rural Bali as well as make patchworks the orphanages can sell.
For more information visit www.houseofquilts.com.au.