Adhiguna Halim
IPMI International Business School
Amelia Naim Indrajaya
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Fair Warung Bale is the profit center for Bali Sari Foundation, with activities centered around providing free health care to the local low income economy in Bali, Indonesia totalling 30,000 patients in 2015. This popular food stall employs 18 full time staff, and all profits from operations are donated to the foundation, providing 70% of their funding.
Bali is a world renowned island. It is a popular tourists' destination in Indonesia, known as the Island of the Gods. It boasts scenic locations such as volcanic mountains, untouched forests, coral reefs and beautiful beaches. Accommodations are easy to reach, ranging from budget inns to 5 star resorts. Food from roadside stalls to luxurious restaurants can be found on this island, serving tourists from all over the world. The number of international tourists arriving in the country is targeted at 4.6 million in 2016, which is more than the population of 4.2 million.
Beneath the island’s beauty and growing tourism industry, there is a rampant social problem. A significant part of the locals, especially those living in the rural areas, do not have access to quality health care, due to their economic limitations, as well as the availability of high quality local health care. Local clinics are available but not up to standard quality.
Alex Wettstein and Eka Nur Aziza founded Bali Sari Foundation in 2011 with a mission to provide free health and medical care for people in need without consideration for race, religion, origin, age, and color. All medical staff and professionals are employed by the foundation, either full-time or part-time. Its objectives are to:
Fair Warung Bale was established in the same year, as a sustainable source of funding for the foundation's activities.
Fair Warung Bale serves great tasting food, by using fresh ingredients in sizeable portions. Their menu offers a variety of food, more than 50 choices of food ranging from local Balinese and Indonesian favourites to fusion cuisines.
The ‘Warung’, which means Shop in Indonesian, currently employs 18 full time staff, working 2 shifts every day, 7 days a week. Outside the management team, the age of the crew is between 19 to 25 years old. There is no criteria for recruitment, such as education background or experience, only the love for serving others is required.
Training is provided for a minimum of 6 months, so new hires become competent in bar-tending, serving customers, and helping the chef, through a mentoring system. There is no specific job description, and all staff help one another. All compensation and benefits the staff receives are in compliance to the local labour laws.
The restaurant is profitable, with revenue ranging between IDR 15,000,000 (USD 1,100) and IDR 25,000,000 (USD 1,850) daily. Revenue from operations are able to cover operational costs, and all profits are donated to the Bali Sari Foundation.
“Fair Warung Bale is not a big restaurant, with a maximum seating capacity of 70 people,” said Pande Yulia, Team Leader at Fair Warung Bale, “Our kitchen is less than 5 square metres, it only has 2 stoves, probably smaller than an average kitchen!”
The location may not be big, but their enthusiasm, passion, and spirit is huge. “This Warung is our home, the team is family, and all customers are our guests. We will do everything to make our guests feel at home, share with them our mission, and let them understand that their meal helps the needy,” Pande added.
Funding is an annual concern for a traditional charity foundation because donations are not certain and may not be consistent, and government subsidies are a social cost to the economy. A business model has to be employed to bring in recurring revenue to support the cause of the foundation in a sustainable manner.
An idea developed over time as the waiting times during free medical services became longer as more patients participated, and the volunteers started providing snacks and beverages. This had brought the new ideas, as shared by the founder: "By serving high quality food as well for the public, this food stall can be a source of sustainable income for the health-care program".
This was how the Fair Warung Bale had started, a social enterprise which is the revenue generating engine of non-profit Bali Sari Foundation. Eka became the first chef.
Pande provided his point of view on their impact. “We are now recognised and endorsed by our local government, so our events attract a large crowd because they trust us now. We have reached 500 patients per event. Our budget for medical supplies is IDR 50,000 (USD 3.70) per patient. The social and economic impact to the community is significant. But these are small compared to what other establishments far greater than us can contribute to the needy. The small steps we are taking is spreading the concept of helping the community. Collective efforts from all of us will make a much bigger impact.”
The restaurant and the foundation also provides employment for residents from the local community. Staff at the Warung are not mandated to volunteer, if they do, it is out of their love to serve. Known affectionately within the foundation as “Angels of the Foundation”, skills are imparted to them, such as compulsory mastery of basic English and French, social skills, management and accounting experiences. Experience in working in so many roles in serving the customers also prepare them for the next step in their career elsewhere.
Pande shared his history with the Warung, “I did not know about what Fair Warung Bale stood for when I applied. I only needed a job to pay for my education fees to become a teacher, because my family was not financially well off. I have always dreamt of becoming a health care professional since I was a child. But being partially colour blind, I could not qualify. Working here, Alex has given me an opportunity to achieve my childhood dream of providing medical care to others. Working here has taught me that life is bigger than myself. I feel more satisfied and content with my life now that I spend so much time helping others. Many of our staff join us for similar reasons, mostly to pay for their education. They will eventually leave to pursue other careers, but will always come back as part of the family to visit and help out.”
The good cause of the restaurant generates excellent free publicity and as a result, the restaurant is full with guests from a variety of nationalities, with varying spending power. Expatriates can be found queuing up at this establishment. It is highly recommended to book for seats in advance because of the unbelievable popularity of this place. They are ranked very highly on several food websites.
By also providing employment to people who share the passion, their employees are more dedicated and empowered to provide the best service to the customers.
The social impact of Bali Sari Foundation is strongly felt in the lower income local community. Fair Warung Bale contributes to approximately 70% of the foundation’s funding. On average, proceeds from every meal will fund 2 free medical treatments. The amount of poor, sick, disabled, and disadvantaged patients treated are increasing steadily, from 18,000 in 2013 to 29,800 in 2015. The foundation targets to carry out 3 community service events monthly, such as free medical checkups, free eye care checks with spectacles provided if necessary.
Being recognised and endorsed by the local government, the events they hold attract a large crowd, reaching 500 patients per event. Doctors and medical staff are also employed during these events.
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Pande Yulia, Team Leader
