Our Projects
Women’s Health
Empowering Girls, Supporting Families
Tangkahan English Club
Supporting Education & Conservation
Elephant Grass
Supporting the Giants of Tangkahan
Tangkahan is home to nine incredible elephants, each eating between 150 and 300 kilograms of food every day. Elephants have always held a special place in our hearts, and supporting them — and the people who care for them — is something we’re deeply committed to. Over time, the community in Tangkahan has embraced more ethical and respectful ways for visitors to connect with elephants. Today, jungle patrols and gentle river washing experiences offer meaningful interactions while also supporting the mahouts — the dedicated caretakers who know and love these elephants best. To help contribute to their long-term care, Mate’s Gift purchased and cleared land to grow king grass, along with fruit and vegetables, helping meet the elephants’ daily food needs while also reducing pressure on the surrounding forest. This project also creates local employment, with community members helping to maintain, fertilise, and harvest the land. It’s a simple but powerful cycle — nourishing elephants, supporting mahouts, and providing income for families in the village.
Luna
A Story of Strength & Second Chances
Luna was rescued by Toba Animal Friends after spending her entire life on the streets of Medan, Indonesia. She’s under 12 months old and had already endured far too much — often mistreated or chased away simply because of how she looked. Thanks to kind supporters and the team at Toba Animal Friends, Luna is finally safe. She’s receiving the veterinary care, nutrition, and love she needs to heal — and we’re thrilled to share that she recently had her first vaccination, a huge milestone in her recovery. Her journey is far from over, but her future is looking brighter every day. If you’d like to support Luna’s ongoing care and help other dogs just like her, you can donate directly to Mate’s Gift: Account Name: Mate’s Gift (C L Reeves) BSB: 923100 Account Number: 17858777 Every donation, no matter how small, helps cover food, medical bills, and the safe space Luna needs to grow strong and find happiness. Thank you for standing with her.
Access to basic health products can change lives. In Tangkahan, Mate’s Gift supports local women and girls by providing reusable sanitary pads in thoughtfully made fabric pouches. These pads help ensure girls don’t have to miss school, and women can continue working comfortably and confidently — supporting not just their wellbeing, but also their families. The pads are lovingly sewn by a group of wonderful humans in Altona, Victoria, who came together after learning just how much this small gesture could mean. Their kindness and craft are helping create lasting change, one handmade kit at a time. This project is an important part of the Mate’s Gift mission. When women are supported, families thrive — and when families thrive, they’re more able to provide care, kindness, and compassion to the animals in their communities.
ClearVision
Restoring Sight, Supporting Lives
Through our ClearVision Project, Mate’s Gift collects donated reading and prescription glasses that are no longer needed, and matches them with individuals in Tangkahan who are struggling with their eyesight. Something as simple as a pair of glasses can make a world of difference — helping someone return to work, care for their family, or navigate daily life with confidence. When people can see clearly, they can earn a living, which in turn helps them feed their families and provide better care for their animals. It’s a small act of kindness with a ripple effect, and we’re always grateful for donations that give the gift of vision to someone who truly needs it.
The Mate Mobile
ACT Bali Dog Rescue on the Road
​We’re beyond proud to have supported the creation of the Mate Mobile — a vehicle that’s changing lives across Bali. Thanks to funds raised through our 2024 Sunday Sippers event and the generous support of our community, this van is now an essential part of ACT Bali Dog Rescue’s work. The Mate Mobile acts as a mobile sterilisation clinic, helping reach communities across the island with vital desexing services. It also transports rescued animals, supports adoption days, picks up supplies donated by travellers, and even helps dogs on their way to forever homes overseas. In 2024 alone, ACT sterilised over 4,400 animals, and the Mate Mobile is now helping them expand their impact even further. This project honours Mate’s legacy and everything he stood for: compassion, action, and lasting change. We’re incredibly proud to see the Mate Mobile in action and so thankful to our supporters for making it happen.
Before Mate’s Gift officially began, our connection to Tangkahan led to a small but meaningful project — helping build a brighter, more comfortable space for the village’s English Club, where local children gather to learn, grow, and explore the world through language. Over the years, we’ve contributed play equipment, books, stationery, educational supplies, and occasional cash donations to support the Club’s activities. While we haven’t played a huge role in the last couple of years, we’re proud to have been part of its journey — and we look forward to continuing our support in the years to come. The English Club also encourages conversations around conservation, kindness, and animal care — values that are closely aligned with everything Mate’s Gift stands for.
Suitcase Squad
Goodies, One Flight at a Time
Mate’s Gift proudly supports ACT Dog Rescue in Bali through our Bali Suitcase Squad — a simple but powerful initiative that relies on the kindness of travellers heading to Indonesia. We regularly collect vital pet supplies and medical items including gloves, gauze, syringes, puppy pads, collars, leads, treats, flea and worm treatments, and more. With airline baggage allowances often underused, we invite travellers to take an extra suitcase or pack a portion of their own luggage with these much-needed donations. Once in Bali, supporters can either visit the rescue and meet the team (and puppies!) or arrange for a local driver to collect the goods directly from their accommodation. Whether you’re heading over soon or want to help from home, this project is a great way to make a hands-on difference with very little effort — and we’re always looking for new members of our Suitcase Squad.
Norris
Valentine's Day to Help Norris Heal
In February, Mate’s Gift held a Valentine’s Day party at Hairy Hounds Playground — a joyful, community-driven fundraiser that brought together supporters, carers, and dog lovers for a great cause. Thanks to everyone’s incredible generosity, we raised over $700 to support Norris, a sweet rescue dog under the care of ACT Bali Dog Rescue. Norris was found in the Mate’s Mobile, suffering from TVT (transmissible venereal tumour) — a painful, but treatable condition that affects many street dogs. With the funds raised, Norris was able to complete a full round of chemotherapy, and we’re thrilled to share that he’s now doing incredibly well. Hairy Hounds Playground remains one of our strongest supporters, not only providing a beautiful space to fundraise but also through the carers who are part of the Mate’s Gift fundraising team. This event was a shining example of what community support can achieve — and what a little love can do. If you’d like to continue supporting Norris or other animals like him, you can donate directly to: Account Name: Mate’s Gift (C L Reeves) BSB: 923100 Account Number: 17858777 Reference: Norris
Unused & Expired Medication
Giving Supplies a Second Life
Mate’s Gift collects unused and expired pet medications and treatments to support life-saving veterinary work in Bali and Sumatra. Many of these medications — including some human ones — are still safe and effective for animal use when administered by a qualified vet. Medications are collected from individuals and vet clinics, then stored securely by Mate’s Gift representatives at Hairy Hounds Playground in Williamstown North, Victoria. From there, they’re distributed directly to licensed veterinarians working on the ground across Indonesia. These professionals use the donations to treat animals in remote villages, on the streets, and in rescue care. All supplies are handled with the utmost care. Nothing is sold or misused — every single item is used for sterilisation, medical treatment, or emergency care. Vet Clinics Already On Board We’re incredibly grateful to the following clinics for their ongoing support: • Seddon Vet Clinic – Seddon • Yarraville Vet Clinic – Yarraville • Maribyrnong Vet Clinic – Maribyrnong • Altona Vet Clinic – Altona • Dr. Paws – Altona North • Petstock Vet – Altona North • Hobsons Bay Vet Clinic – Newport • Johnson Street Vet Clinic – Fitzroy • Avondale Heights Vet Clinic – Avondale Heights • St. Albans Vet Clinic – St. Albans We’re always looking to welcome more clinics into the program. Whether public-facing or behind-the-scenes, we tailor collection to suit your setup and schedule. Who Benefits Current projects supported by this initiative include: • Dr. Rini’s Mobile Veterinary Program (Sumatra) – delivering free sterilisation and treatment in villages like Tangkahan, Bukit Lawang, Toba, and Battang Gadang. • ACT Bali Dog Rescue (Bali) – supporting large-scale desexing clinics, emergency street treatments, and the care of 150+ rescue animals at a time. • Street Medication Programs – enabling local rescuers to treat animals on the spot using donated supplies. What We Collect We gratefully accept items like: • Antibiotics (oral/injectable) • Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) • Flea and tick treatments (e.g. Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica) • Worming tablets • Sutures (sizes 0, 1, 2-0, 3-0) • Anesthetics, pre-anesthetics, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin K • Syringes, IV catheters (22G, 24G), infusion sets • Wound dressings and gels • Antifungal creams and washes • Supplements for kidney, liver, skin and coat • Gloves, bandages, and general vet supplies This program continues to grow, and the impact is already significant. With your help, we can turn surplus into survival — and bring healing where it’s needed most.