Project Why Not

Dare to Dream… and Why Not?

There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not? — George Bernard Shaw

When the Callaway family travelled to North and West Lombok and saw, first-hand, elementary schools in need of basic educational materials, they asked, ‘Why not?’

Why not provide support? Why not engage the energy and concern of the local people? And why not encourage investment in a community’s most precious resource: its children?

From these questions, Project Why Not was born. It’s a non- profit = organisation that has provided free education and support to the children of Lombok since 2017. It aims to set up a strong early educational foundation, foster creativity and build confidence. Funded entirely by donations, it works closely with locals to make sure children have access to quality learning and a better future.

The team is deeply grateful to its supporters and active sponsors, including Jeeva Resorts, Pearl of Trawangan and Pearl Sunset Resort.

The Founders

Fritzi Callaway is a co-founder of Project Why Not and the Klui Village Learning Centre where the project is based.

Originally from California, and now living in Melbourne, Australia, she travelled to Lombok in 2016 with her husband, Michael, and their children, Sierra and Dayton. It was a trip that was to be the beginning of a long-term connection.

‘The experiences we had and the friendships we made led to the creation of Project Why Not in 2017’, she says. ‘It was driven by a simple yet profound belief: we could make a meaningful difference in the lives of children by supporting some of the elementary schools in the western and northern regions of Lombok’.

Michael Callaway, Fritzi’s husband, brings more than 38 years of  teaching experience to the project. His commitment to education and consistent support have helped shape the project’s direction and ongoing development.

Fritzi’s daughter, Sierra, was also part of the founding family. She paused her legal career in 2018 to spend more time on Lombok as the island recovered from the devastating earthquakes. ‘It was confronting’, Sierra says, ‘but I also witnessed the positive attitude of the local community. I felt blessed to contribute to the relief efforts, made possible by the generous donations to Project Why Not. I will always be
grateful to my parents for sharing their passion with us’.

Dayton Callaway, Fritzi’s son, also played a founding role in Project Why Not. first felt a deep connection to Lombok when he visited with his family. After the earthquakes, he returned to help with relief work alongside his sister and was struck by the resilience of the local community. In 2019, he spent six months living in Klui with Patock and his family, forming a bond he describes as brotherhood. That time with the students and community strengthened his belief in the project and its impact.

Patock Pathurrahman, the project’s local founding partner, was born and grew up in Dusun Klui. As a local man dedicated to nurturing the younger generation, he was the ideal partner for a venture of this kind.

Patock has always enjoyed meeting people and is enthusiastic about sharing with visitors the rich culture of Lombok—the traditions, language and spiritual values that make Lombok unique. He sees it as a way to bridge cultural gaps and foster mutual respect and understanding. His meeting with the Callaway family was a fortunate one.

Two years after the initial inspiration for Project Why Not, the Callaway family and Patock joined forces to establish the Klui Village Learning Centre, a facility dedicated to pre-school aged children.

Patock is an integral part of the Klui community. He believes that strong family and community bonds are crucial for personal and collective growth. He works tirelessly to support both, making sure that the Klui Village Learning Centre is a nurturing environment for everyone. His commitment to the children of Klui stems from the belief that they are the key to the future.

‘Seeing the students grow and succeed brings immense joy and fulfilment,’ he says. ‘I think of them as family, guiding them academically, personally and spiritually, and helping them develop confidence and curiosity’.

His wife, Ony, is Head Teacher at the Learning Centre and also a partner in the project. She was born in Mataram, where she studied at the University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a proud mother and, like her husband, she dreams of making a difference in the lives of young children, including her own. Ony’s warmth, compassion and creativity shape all her interactions with students, making them feel safe, valued and inspired to learn and grow. She is also a skilled tailor, and she handcrafts uniforms for students and teachers at the Learning Centre.

She is the foundation on which the learning community is built, and the team is deeply grateful for her exceptional contributions—her unwavering commitment, her creativity and her constant loving presence.

Sustainability and Service

The partners are fully committed to protecting the environment. Patock actively encourages sustainable practices in the village and, in the classroom, he teaches students the importance of caring for nature. His environmental advocacy reflects his broader vision for Klui—a community that thrives in harmony with its surroundings, preserving its beauty for generations to come.

Through quality teaching, cultural outreach, environmental advocacy, leadership and dedication to education, the Klui Village Learning Centre continues to flourish. It’s a story of service and unwavering commitment to the community.

Fritzi Callaway has the last word: ‘My connection to Lombok continues to grow’, she says. ‘Through Project Why Not, I have found my greatest love and achievement. I have experienced great joy in watching it provide incredible opportunities for the students. I am deeply committed to enabling ongoing support and growth for the centre, in partnership with a community that has become my second family. We visit the island as often as possible and each visit renews my love for the children and the broader community of Klui Village’.

As the great Australian musician Paul Kelly reminds us, “From little things, big things grow.”