Developing Dignity and Understanding of Ability and Disability
in Bali
Like many people, Aris was retrenched after the ‘Bali
bombs’ and had to try to make a living any way he could.
He spent most of this time busking his guitar on Kuta beach
in order to pay his meager rent and to eat. It was on the
beach that he met a Dutchman who worked as a volunteer for
Yayasan Senang Hati, or the Happy Hearts Foundation. This
man noticed that Aris has a physical disability and offered
to introduce him to Happy Hearts, who have a range of services
and facilities for use by disabled people in Bali. Aris contracted
polio as an infant, never received any treatment or special
assistance, and dropped out of school in his early teens.
He had come to Bali from East Timor, fleeing the violence
that saw many of his friends and family murdered and his village
burned to the ground. These life experiences had forced Aris
to be highly independent, but still he quickly recognized
that Happy Hearts could help him improve his life and even
to achieve his dream. “There I saw people my own age
but with different skills, so I saw a chance to learn and
get new experiences. Now I can paint….our talents are
encouraged. I learned for about 2 months and straight away
I could do canvases and I sold some. I make greeting cards,
paintings. My main hope is to have my own house in Bali…I
am saving for that”.
The Happy Hearts Foundation has been operating since 2003,
when its founder Ibu Putu Suriati and Ibu Ellen began organizing
outings for disabled persons, primarily to give them social
contact and support. Originally a group of around 15, the
organization has grown to a membership of approximately 180
people in all areas of Bali. The focus of all activities is
to build self-confidence or mental-strength, and to promote
independence for people with physical disabilities. The organization
teaches practical skills such as computers, sewing, paining
and English language, and serves as a site for the government’s
literacy program for school drop-outs. It uses volunteers
as well as paid contractors for teaching these skills and
for running physiotherapy sessions and other health-related
services. Mr. Glen Adam gave Happy Hearts a 5-year lease on
an unused school in Tampaksiring in Gianyar, and it is there
that most training takes place, and that 35 young people live
on a full-time basis. Most residents have been affected by
polio and thus have difficulties walking. Aqua-therapy is
offered to them by a paid physiotherapist using the private
swimming pool at a villa in Lod Tunduh every two weeks.
In Balinese communities, physical disabilities are not rare
but are rarely understood. They are often attributed to past
life issues and to magical forces, and are frequently a source
of shame for families. Ayuk at Happy Hears explained that
“many parents do not allow their disabled children to
go out of the family compound for fear they will be hurt,
but also for fear of shame and because of the inconveniences
for them and for others”. Understanding this issue,
Happy Hearts has special activities to reach out to parents,
to help them focus on their children’s’ abilities
rather than on their disabilities. In the past, Happy Hearts
went by word of mouth to find disabled people and approached
them and their families. As the organization became more established,
and particularly in the last 6 months, people have been coming
to them. The boarding house environment that enables people
to live independently from family has a big appeal for many
of the people at Happy Hearts: “so many of us were cooped
up at home” (in the village).
Happy Hearts runs on donations and good will from volunteers.
The members also make and sell their wares, such as paintings,
handicrafts and t-shirts, to raise funds as well as to generate
personal income. They frequently attend fairs and exhibitions,
for example in hotels and have a stall at the Ubud Writers
and Readers Festival. The lease on the school that Happy Hearts
is based in is coming to an end, so fund-raising for that
is currently the most urgent need. Cash donations are particularly
sought for the lease, however other donations of time, or
purchase of members’ products are also most welcome.
To visit or find out more about Happy Hearts, visit www.senanghati.org
or call 7470718. There are many ways that you can help this
organization change lives!
