Physical Independence

Ketut Sri’s Story

My childhood

I was not disabled from birth; when I was about three years old I got a fever that led to polio that left me unable to walk. For a long time I felt my life had no meaning. When my parents asked me if I would like to go to school, I said no because of my disability. Then when I was 15, I learned how to make wood carvings at home and became quite good at it. After some time other villagers came to learn from me. In my daily life my brother helped me by carrying me around on his back. My family loved me very much. As I grew older, I felt too embarrassed to go outside the family compound or to pray in the temple so I decided to stay at home and do everything there.

Senang Hati Foundation

When I joined the Senang Hati Foundation and obtained a new wheelchair, I felt a mixture of happiness and sadness. I was so pleased to meet new friends at the foundation’s centre who had handicaps. But I realized that there were many others in the world who, like me, were struggling to give meaning to their lives. I began to feel more confident at the centre as I was able to do many things. I enthusiastically got involved in wood carving, which I had learned when I was little. I was able to sell some of my work to foreign visitors who came to the centre. Slowly, my mind began to open. I found that I could talk and joke and express my feelings and exchange ideas and this made me feel relaxed.

Skills

I can carve wooden statues of Ganesha and this skill has brought me good fortune. For example, I became involved with the Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women in Ubud, and they arranged for me to go to Brisbane, Australia, in 2004 to participate in an exhibition. [exhibition of handicapped women artists?] At first I was scared to go but people encouraged me. Once I was there, I demonstrated how to make wood carvings, and I sold most of my carvings! I also met many new friends and was impressed by seeing many people enjoying life despite their handicaps. I was also taken sightseeing by the Seniwati staff to visit the zoo and other sights in Brisbane. I was so happy because I hadn’t imagined it would be possible for me to go overseas, yet this had come true for me.

Hopes for the future

I would like to go to school, because I never learned to read and write Bahasa Indonesia (language of Indonesia) properly. Now I regret my decision, made when I was young, not to go to school. I hope that the English course at Senang Hati can continue so that I can learn English, too.

Terima Kasih

The Kupu Kupu Foundation gave me my first wheelchair in 2001 and some years later Senang Hati gave me a stronger one. They also gave me glasses and arranged a sponsor for me to study English for almost a year at Bali Hati. Thank you.