Meet your host
Feel Lombok
Back in the day, when Gili was just another stop for travelers seeking a slice of paradise, a 17-year-old local named Dayat washed up on its shores from Lombok. His early years involved scraping together a living through odd beach gigs until he helped a tourist who lost his bank card. No heroics, just a bit of hospitality that paid off when the tourist later coughed up enough cash for Dayat to set up his own tour counter.
Then he met Hannah, a Brit with a knack for marketing. Together, they turned that humble tour counter into a company, a business that eventually stood tall in the island's landscape. But this isn't your typical fairy tale; it's a story marked by a gritty determination to make it work.
Success didn't dull their memories. Dayat and Hannah, now the dynamic duo, felt an obligation to give back. Built the "English Club" initiative, a practical response to Lombok's job scarcity. English lessons for the local kids, funded by the business. Simple.
Dayat knew English was the golden ticket for job opportunities, and with Hannah's British background, they rolled out the classes. Their earnings weren't just lining their pockets; they were funding a real-world project, helping local youth gear up for a better future.
Tourists got roped into the deal, too. English Club wasn't just a classroom; it was a cultural exchange. Visitors mingled with the locals, kids got to practice English outside the textbooks, and everyone learned a thing or two.
But then, the earthquakes of 2018 hit, slamming the brakes on the English Club. Dayat and Hannah had to shift gears, focusing on rebuilding the community after the disaster.
This company is more than just a successful business, become a symbol of resilience. The founders, Dayat and Hannah, weren't dreamers lost in the clouds; they were doers who turned a random act of kindness into a thriving business and a community support system. The story is less about dreams and more about rolling up your sleeves and making things happen, even when the ground beneath you shakes.
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