Bringing Joy Beyond the Toy: Our Visit to a Local Orphanage Yayasan Panti Asuhan Bali Assalam

Sometimes, the best part of giving is realizing you came to give, but ended up receiving something too.

We thought we were going there to bring a little joy.

We didn’t expect to leave with so much to think about.

There’s something about meeting people in real life that makes you put your phone down for a second.

You stop scrolling.

You stop thinking about what’s next.

You’re just… there.

That’s how our day at Yayasan Panti Asuhan Bali As-Salam felt.

And somehow, what started as a simple visit turned into one of those days we found ourselves talking about long after we left.

So….why As-Salam?

When we were looking for a place to visit, we didn’t want to go somewhere simply because it was already well-known or frequently supported. We wanted to find a place that might not always be on everyone’s radar. A place that doesn’t get as many visitors or donations. And more importantly, we didn’t want to walk in assuming we knew what people needed.

So we asked.

What do you have less of?

What would actually be useful?

What do you need right now?

Because we’ve learned that giving isn’t always about bringing more. Sometimes, it’s about paying attention.

From all the things we did spending our day at the orphanage, talking to the kids was our favorite part and this is probably the part we didn’t expect.

We went there thinking we would be the ones bringing something to the table. But after spending time with them, we realized there was so much more to take away from the day than the things we brought. The conversations naturally turned to school, life, and the future.

And wow, they dream BIG. Not in a “one day, maybe” kind of way. They have things they genuinely want to achieve.

They want to study.

They want careers.

They want to build something for themselves.

And they’re working for it. They study hard. They stay motivated. They keep going.

There’s something really special about hearing someone talk about their future with that kind of determination. Especially when you realize they’re still figuring it all out, just like the rest of us.

Maybe growing up is just that.

Having a dream you’re not quite sure how to reach yet…and deciding to take the next step anyway. That thought stayed with us.

At Calmie, we talk a lot about growth. Our little caterpillar is basically a reminder that you don’t become your next version overnight. You grow slowly. You learn things. You have days when you feel like you’re getting somewhere, and days when you’re absolutely not. And then you keep going.

Seeing the kids at As-Salam working toward their own dreams made that idea feel a little different. It stopped being just something we put on a product card. It became something we saw in real life.

And yes, there were toys.

We brought Calmie along, of course.

There were smiles, curious little hands, and that very specific kind of excitement that happens when someone gets something they weren’t expecting.

And that part made us happy. Really happy. But if you ask us what we’ll remember most, it probably won’t be the toys. It’ll be the conversations, the laughs, the little moments in between.

And the feeling that, for a few hours, we weren’t a brand visiting an orphanage. We were just a group of people spending time together.