Meet Charles Antoine Descotis, CEO and founder of ticket to the Moon, which supports Yayasan Lestari.
How has your business evolved in Bali?
I came to Bali in 1996. My plan was to buy stuff and sell in the markets in Europe. At that time, everyone was doing sarongs and clothing or jewelry typical of Bali. I wanted to do something different. In India, we have done our own hammocks by tying knots in the corners of cloth. I find this fabric nylon parachute made in Indonesia which was perfect for hammocks. Hammocks fold up small enough to fit in the pocket size bags; they are elastic and strong.
So I started selling on European markets and music festivals. It was more for the nomadic lifestyle that to start a business. Other travelers were inspired and they asked for more wholesale products so they share the product that is part of this lifestyle. Before Ticket to the Moon became a company, it was more like a business tribe. Later, I am large orders of large companies and retailers. I set up a factory and started export products. I went to Europe to be completely free and just go where I wanted, and I ended up back in the system! I could not say no because it helped many people outside myself and it is a good product. You can be anywhere and hang a hammock to sleep.
What other products do you offer
We sell mosquito nets, chairs, baby hammocks, ecological bags, mini backpacks hung ?; products made with the concept of traveling light. We are the global leader in travel hammock, and we inspire many other brands that copy the concept.
What makes the single Ticket to Moon?
The main factor is the quality and strength of the Indonesian-produced fabric that is strong, durable, breathable, lightweight fabric; perfect for comfortable hammocks. Everything is done in our factory premises. At sixteen, I've never fired anyone. Today I have 100 people working for Ticket to the Moon. Some of these people started with me in a bungalow, cutting and sewing. I trust them; we have mutual trust. I do not even try to have control. We all work together and make and market a successful product. This is less stress on me. For sure I could make more profit if I ran things differently, but this way, they are happy and I am happy. And I have more free time to give to other interests.
How Lestari Foundation Mandorak start?
When I flew on my way Sumba Timor I saw a aqua blue lagoon in the middle of the island. It was so beautiful that I went to Sumba to find out where it was lagoon. It took two days riding to get there. The inner lagoon is actually the seawater with corals and sea life, like a small ocean surrounded by a small island. On the way to the lagoon I discover a beautiful beach where the foundation is now based in a traditional building that we built. I began to go often to Sumba to camp with friends in pristine nature. I met the chief of the tribe who married me to the ground and gave him five buffaloes. At first it was a place for me and my friends to go and enjoy. Then I realized how life was for them; malaria and dengue fever, no water, no roads, or education. The Kodi tribe was struggling to survive on subsistence agriculture and fishing. Gradually our projects we have undertaken to help local people to Kodi tribe, became what is now the foundation.
What are some of the achievements of the foundation
Since 2006, we are a located relief project West Sumba ?; Kodi tribe country on the west side of the island away from Sumba. Friends and I teamed up with local partners to help the people Kodi improve their living conditions while preserving their ancestral culture. We have built roads to facilitate trade and Kodi connect with the rest of Sumba. We accessed the water by digging wells and set up a school to teach Bahasa children. We provide projections of malaria and provide bed nets to fight against this scourge. We educate people to preserve their culture and their land of origin in Sumba. Fishing nets are provided to prevent the fishing bomb, which destroys the bed of the ocean. Kodi a traditional house was built as our headquarters to perpetuate their traditions and encourage unique crafts, horse games and harness making, traditional canoe boats, and ikat weaves. We teach waste management to avoid pollution and we help people access Kodi drinking water, food and health care. People are nice and friendly. They are so grateful to these simple programs, base, we are able to provide and they work hard with us to achieve our common goals.
How people can help this cause?
I invite people to lodge camp. I hope that when people see the natural beauty of West Sumba and the wonderful people there that they will be inspired to help. We need people with knowledge such as doctors, builders and teachers. We need compassion with creative vision. There are so many yayasans Bali to do a great job, but there is a great need in the Indonesian islands of the East where people live difficult lives. The disparity between these islands and Bali is huge. In East Bali there is poverty, but there is always food. I have a wonderful relationship with the people that I work with the foundation. I help where I find the greatest need. The work I do with the foundation motivates me to continue developing Ticket to the Moon.
Imagine a world where all companies were socially responsible! Thank you, Charlie!
Ticket to the Moon [For Dreamers Worldwide]
www.ticketothemoon.com
Yayasan Lestari Foundation Mandorak
www.mandorak. org