Transforming Lives of Disabled People
By Michele Cempaka

With more than 3,000 disabled people in Bali mainly due to polio, Senang Hati Foundation strives to provide its members with opportunities that will enable them to feel a greater sense of self worth, so that they can easily integrate and be accepted into mainstream society.

Senang Hati is a very special organization which is fully run and directed by the disabled. It initially began as a division of Sari Hati, but is now an independent yayasan which offers a multitude of services which are conducted by professionally trained disabled people. There are currently 250 members of Senang Hati Foundation, but only 30 members live at the residence due to space limitations. In addition, there is a salon, restaurant and art gallery on site featuring artwork for sale by the members. 

A recent achievement by the members of Senang Hati was when several disabled people went diving in Tulamben and put the flag in the water and then raised it to the top for Indonesia’s Independence Day on August 17th. Senang Hati members also make trips to temples and other public places so that people can become more aware and accepting of disabled people in the Balinese culture.  Other achievements include a small kiln which has been specially constructed for their ceramics classes. In addition, many members have learned sign language and are able to communicate with those who have hearing disabilities. Members are encouraged to become fully self-sufficient in their daily lives. Thus, all meals are prepared by the members themselves, and they also do the shopping, cleaning, laundry and gardening.

Ni Suriarti, founder and director of Senang Hati, would like to bring disabled people out of isolation and into society. She wants to assist with building up their self-esteem though training and education, so that the members of Senang Hati can become fully self-sufficient. She has become a well known artist in her own right. In 2003, she established Senang Hati through the sale of her paintings.  In 2006, they purchased land with the future goal of creating their own center which will provide more accommodation for their members, as well as space for additional programs.

Currently, Senang Hati offers a wide variety of educational programs such as English classes, special classes for older students, sewing and computer classes. Their economic program is also a vital component in preparing disabled members for autonomy. Members have a choice of learning how to make handicrafts which they can sell to earn a living, or do job training in hotels which have agreed to collaborate with Senang Hati. Many of the members live have radically changed their lives since joining Senang Hati, which continues to provide members in need with free wheel chairs, crutches, braces, prosthetic aids and free physiotherapy. A Physiotherapist comes once a week to help members with special exercises to strengthen their bodies which will give them a chance to become more physically independent.

There are several members like Nyoman Budiarta who would like a particular motorbike for disabled people so he can get around. He is currently training as an accountant for the dormitory on site, and is also a talented painter. His artwork is on display at Senang Hati, and at his home in Kedewatan, Ubud at the ‘3 Brothers + 1’ art gallery. Nyoman would be willing to swap three paintings in exchange for a Vario which costs approximately Rp15.000.000. He’d also like to add a passenger side car to the motorbike, so that his other brothers can ride with him.

Senang Hati has already created several programs which contributors can support such as: office operations, bursaries for children to enter mainstream schooling, health assistance, etc. There are specific projects under these main programs which people can choose to support.

The art gallery at the center has helped to raise income to offset some of the operation costs. However, Senang Hati is still heavily reliant on donations to fund activities, because they are a non-government organization. They must spend a great deal of their time and energy in attracting sponsors to support the yayasan.

They have been receiving some regular assistance from two large Dutch organizations: de Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland (SKN)) and the Liliane Fonds (LF). SKN has donated money for a second-hand minibus to drive members around and drive to villages in search of isolated disabled individuals. The LF donates money for wheelchairs, crutches and braces. LF also pays for medical operations needed to correct contractures, as well as making contributions to pay for some of Senang Hati’s classes. Anak-anak Lisette from Holland in cooperation with Develstein College donated computers and materials for the center’s activities. The funds that are provided are vitally important but unfortunately are still insufficient to pay for all of Senang Hati’s activities.

If you would like to support Senang Hati, you can donate your time or make a financial contribution to help their work. They can accept funds via electronic transfer to their bank account:
Bank name: Bank Mandiri
Account name: Yayasan Senang Hati
Account number: 145-00-0633958-0
Swift Code: BEII DJA
For more information about Senang Hati,
please visit: www.senanghati.org
For questions or comments about this column please email: michelina630@hotmail.com