Senang Hati Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Senang Hati Foundation, also known as Yayasan Senang Hati, is a non-profit organization in Bali
that assists people living with disabilities. The name Senang Hati loosely translates as "Happy Hearts" in Indonesian
. The foundation creates programmes to develop self confidence, physical and economic independence, and increase awareness in the general community of the rights of people with disabilities. Senang Hati accomplishes this through the assistance of volunteers
, who provide skills training and social interaction. The society also provides wheelchair
s and housing, and runs Senang Hati Places, a home for disabled children.
by Judy Slatum. The wheelchair gave her increased mobility, allowing her to leave her parents' house, and giving her the opportunity to join with other female painters in Bali to form the Seniwati Gallery.
In 2000 Suriati held an exhibition of her work at the Bali Beach Hotel. At this exhibition Suriati met a number of other people with disabilities, and this led to the development of an informal network with others suffering from disabilities, which encompassed visits, activities, and excursions. With Vern Cork's arrival, (an Australia
n who was similarly a wheelchair user), the program was expanded, and grew to the point where they contacted the Bali Hati Foundation for assistance.
With the help of the Bali Hati Foundation, the Senang Hati Foundation was established through a notary as a non-profit organization
. In 2003, the foundation moved into a vacant school through a five-year lease donated by American businessman Glen Adams.
A primary function of the center is to seek out disabled people in Bali and provide friendship and assistance, in order to help them to move out of isolation from the wider community and into integration with society.
, as government funding for handicapped people is limited. Without assistance from the private sector
, many disabled Balinese people
, including children, remain marginalized
, thus limited from benefitting from or contributting to society. In many parts of Indonesia, and certainly in Hindu
Bali, having a disabled child is evidence of bad karma
.
Many people believe that the child is being punished and a "bad" spirit of a deceased ancestor has been reincarnated
in the child. Hence, a disabled child is a disgrace to the family. In the past these children were often hidden away in back rooms, were never sent to school, and received little or no medical care. Attitudes are changing but it is still not uncommon to come upon children, and sometimes even adults, who have been isolated in this way.
Through the assistance of volunteers, the foundation provides classes in reading and writing Indonesian, job skills, art, and handicrafts (some of which are sold to provide a small income for the handicapped students). Some of the disabled who have received artistic training have later gone on to become accomplished painters, most notably the five artists Wayan Tono, Wayan Damai, Putu Suriati, Ageng Sudin, and Holis Sudin.
Senang Hati, with the help of organizations such as the Wheelchair Foundation
, has provided wheelchairs to people with disabilities. In addition, the foundation provides a physical therapist and a audiometrist
who visit and treat patients.
The organization provides housing to more than twenty disabled people who would have difficulty living independently. The center is free for short term housing, but of those who stay at the center long-term, a small contribution is requested.
In partnership with other organizations, Senang Hati can help provide other forms of assistance when it is required, such as the payment of school fees in conjunction with the Dutch organization Stichting WINS.
Volunteers are a major source of assistance for the foundation. The center relies upon travelers who are willing to share their time for at least a week. Most of these volunteers are either British
or Dutch
.
The Senang Hati Foundation relies heavily on donations from both individuals and organizations, such as Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland and the Liliane Fonds. More specific assistance is provided by organizations such as the Wheelchair Foundation and various Rotary Clubs
. As well being funded through donations, Senang Hati operates an art gallery
and shop at their center in Tampaksiring
, Bali, where crafts produced by the disabled are sold.
Other fundraisers include dramatic productions: the 2008 production of Diah Larasati served both to raise funds for the foundation and to disseminate information about the rights of disabled children to attend school.
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
that assists people living with disabilities. The name Senang Hati loosely translates as "Happy Hearts" in Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
. The foundation creates programmes to develop self confidence, physical and economic independence, and increase awareness in the general community of the rights of people with disabilities. Senang Hati accomplishes this through the assistance of volunteers
Volunteering
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...
, who provide skills training and social interaction. The society also provides wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
s and housing, and runs Senang Hati Places, a home for disabled children.
History
After contracting polio at a young age, Putu Suriati, the founder of the Senang Hati Foundation, lost the use of her legs. While house-bound, Suriati was taught to paint by her uncle, and she was able to make a living selling her works to tourists–until the mid-1980s, when competition made painting unprofitable for Suriati. Things changed in 1989, when she was given a wheelchairWheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
by Judy Slatum. The wheelchair gave her increased mobility, allowing her to leave her parents' house, and giving her the opportunity to join with other female painters in Bali to form the Seniwati Gallery.
In 2000 Suriati held an exhibition of her work at the Bali Beach Hotel. At this exhibition Suriati met a number of other people with disabilities, and this led to the development of an informal network with others suffering from disabilities, which encompassed visits, activities, and excursions. With Vern Cork's arrival, (an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n who was similarly a wheelchair user), the program was expanded, and grew to the point where they contacted the Bali Hati Foundation for assistance.
With the help of the Bali Hati Foundation, the Senang Hati Foundation was established through a notary as a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. In 2003, the foundation moved into a vacant school through a five-year lease donated by American businessman Glen Adams.
Aims
As described on their website, The Senang Hati Foundation aims to:- Meet with disabled individuals and lift them out of their social isolation
- Provide technical assistance to achieve physical independence
- Build confidence in those with disabilities by providing them with a normal social life
- Build self confidence through assertiveness training
- Teach skills that will enable members to become self supporting (in particular, skills such as painting, sewing, and woodwork)
A primary function of the center is to seek out disabled people in Bali and provide friendship and assistance, in order to help them to move out of isolation from the wider community and into integration with society.
Background
Non-profit organisations such as Senang Hati are important in IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, as government funding for handicapped people is limited. Without assistance from the private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
, many disabled Balinese people
Balinese people
The Balinese population of 3.0 million live mostly on the island of Bali, making up 89% of the island's population. There are also significant populations on the island of Lombok, and in the eastern-most regions of Java The Balinese population of 3.0 million (1.5% of Indonesia's population) live...
, including children, remain marginalized
Marginalization
In sociology, marginalisation , or marginalization , is the social process of becoming or being made marginal or relegated to the fringe of society e.g.; "the marginalization of the underclass", "marginalisation of intellect", etc.-Individual:Marginalization at the individual level results in an...
, thus limited from benefitting from or contributting to society. In many parts of Indonesia, and certainly in Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Bali, having a disabled child is evidence of bad karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
.
Many people believe that the child is being punished and a "bad" spirit of a deceased ancestor has been reincarnated
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
in the child. Hence, a disabled child is a disgrace to the family. In the past these children were often hidden away in back rooms, were never sent to school, and received little or no medical care. Attitudes are changing but it is still not uncommon to come upon children, and sometimes even adults, who have been isolated in this way.
Activities
Senang Hati, with the help of organizations such as the Wheelchair Foundation
Wheelchair Foundation
The Wheelchair Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in June 2000 by real estate developer Ken Behring, and based in Danville, California. The foundation partners with donors to provide wheelchairs to people who need them but can not afford them, mostly in developing nations...
, has provided wheelchairs to people with disabilities. In addition, the foundation provides a physical therapist and a audiometrist
Audiometrist
Audiometrist is a hearing care professional who specializes in the non-medical assessment and management of communication difficulties caused by hearing loss...
who visit and treat patients.
The organization provides housing to more than twenty disabled people who would have difficulty living independently. The center is free for short term housing, but of those who stay at the center long-term, a small contribution is requested.
In partnership with other organizations, Senang Hati can help provide other forms of assistance when it is required, such as the payment of school fees in conjunction with the Dutch organization Stichting WINS.
Funding and operation
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
The Senang Hati Foundation relies heavily on donations from both individuals and organizations, such as Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland and the Liliane Fonds. More specific assistance is provided by organizations such as the Wheelchair Foundation and various Rotary Clubs
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
. As well being funded through donations, Senang Hati operates an art gallery
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
and shop at their center in Tampaksiring
Tampaksiring
Tampaksiring is a town in central Bali, Indonesia. It is the home to the Gunung Kawi Temple and the Senang Hati Foundation.In the past, Tampaksiring is one of the governance center in Bali during the kingdom period....
, Bali, where crafts produced by the disabled are sold.
Other fundraisers include dramatic productions: the 2008 production of Diah Larasati served both to raise funds for the foundation and to disseminate information about the rights of disabled children to attend school.
External links
- Photo Gallery at IDEP site